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Identity Theft Articles
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- Malware Hack Attacking the Grid…BIGLY - by Submitted on May 16, 2017 from Robert SicilianoFor more than four years, malware has been posing as legitimate software and infecting industrial equipment across the globe. The malware, which looks just like the Siemens control gear software, has affected at least seven plants in the US. According to security experts, the malware was ...
Views: 775 - Second Hand and Discarded Devices Lead to Identity Theft - by Submitted on May 10, 2017 from Robert SicilianoA new study was just released by the National Association for Information Destruction. What did it find? Astonishingly, about 40% of all digital devices that are found on the second-hand market had personal information left on them. These include tablets, mobile phones, and hard drives. The ...
Views: 735 - Getting Rid of an Electronic Device? Do This First… - by Submitted on May 06, 2017 from Robert SicilianoA shocking study by the National Associated for Information Destruction has revealed some terrifying information: 40% of electronic devices found on the second-hand market contains personal information. This information includes usernames and passwords, personal information, credit card numbers, ...
Views: 789 - Phishing is Getting Fishier - by Submitted on May 02, 2017 from Robert SicilianoIf you are like most of us, you have undoubtedly received an email that has asked you to click on a link. Did you click it? If you did, you are like 99% of internet users because clicking links in normal. But in some situations you may have found that the link took you to a new or maybe spoofed ...
Views: 826 - Parents Beware of Finstagram - by Submitted on Apr 25, 2017 from Robert SicilianoYou have surely heard of Instagram, the photo sharing social network, but what about “Finstagram?” If you are like most parents, you have rules about the social media practices of your kids. However, once you learn about Finstagram, those might all go out the window. When you ...
Views: 737 - Investigators Using Social Media to Find Missing Children - by Submitted on Apr 24, 2017 from Robert SicilianoGone are the days when social media is only used to share what you had for dinner or announcing to the world that you are headed to the gym. But social media has become a platform for any and everyone to say what’s on their mind, and sometimes that’s great, but all too often it ...
Views: 912 - Why Do Schools Keep Getting Hacked? - by Submitted on Apr 19, 2017 from Michael PetersK-12 schools, colleges, and universities are attractive targets for hackers. Their networks contain an enormous amount of identifying information on staff members, students, and students’ families, including names, birth dates, addresses, Social Security numbers, and even health records. ...
Views: 981 - 5 Tips for Keeping Your Ecommerce Store Secure Over the Holidays - by Submitted on Apr 18, 2017 from Michael PetersOnline shopping is booming, but customers will shun ecommerce if they do not feel their data is secure. Just as “Video Killed the Radio Star,” ecommerce is making shopping malls go the way of the horse and buggy. In 2016, consumers reported making 51% of their purchases online, up from 48% in ...
Views: 1057 - DNC Email Hack Highlights Need for Proactive Email Security - by Submitted on Apr 18, 2017 from Michael PetersThe NSA isn’t the only Washington organization being embarrassed by a data breach. The sorry state of cyber security in America has taken center stage in this year’s presidential election. In June, it was discovered that Russian cyber criminals had managed to hack the Democratic National ...
Views: 903 - Hackers’ Next Target: Smart Toys - by Submitted on Apr 18, 2017 from Michael PetersCyber criminals don’t care who they hurt. This was made obvious during the rash of ransomware attacks on healthcare facilities this year, where hackers locked down electronic health records systems, putting patients at grave risk. There is great concern that the proliferation of Internet of ...
Views: 1052 - Study Shows Millennials Choose Convenience Over Security - by Submitted on Apr 18, 2017 from Robert SicilianoTo those of us consider Tom Cruise the movie star of our day or even Grunge as the music we grew up with, looking at millennials, and the way they view life, is fascinating. These “kids” or young adults, many are brilliant. They really do define “disruption”. However, ...
Views: 717 - The Six Worst Data Breaches of 2016 - by Submitted on Apr 18, 2017 from Michael PetersAs 2016 comes to an end, we look back at six of the year’s worst data breaches and what went wrong. It seems like not a day went by this year without reports of yet another major data breach, or two or three data breaches. From healthcare to fast food to adult entertainment, no industry was ...
Views: 939 - Ransomware Attacks Show that Healthcare Must Take Cybersecurity Seriously - by Submitted on Apr 10, 2017 from Michael PetersWhile healthcare providers and healthcare industry vendors cannot afford to ignore HIPAA compliance, a new threat emerged in 2016 and has only gotten bigger in the past year: ransomware attacks on hospitals and healthcare providers that are not seeking to breach patient information but instead ...
Views: 829 - What is PCI DSS Compliance? - by Submitted on Apr 10, 2017 from Michael PetersConfused about PCI DSS compliance and what your business needs to do to comply with it? This article will explain PCI DSS and the importance of complying with this important information security standard. What is PCI DSS? PCI DSS stands for the Payment Card Industry (PCI) Data Security ...
Views: 869 - What is HIPAA Compliance? - by Submitted on Apr 09, 2017 from Michael PetersConfused about HIPAA and whether your business must comply with it? This article will explain HIPAA and the importance of complying with this complex federal law. What is HIPAA? HIPAA is the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, which was signed into law by President ...
Views: 907 - Spear Phishing: Don’t Take the Bait! - by Submitted on Apr 06, 2017 from Michael PetersDon’t let your business get caught on a spear phisher’s hook. Like regular phishing, spear phishing involves sending legitimate-looking but fraudulent emails asking users to provide sensitive information and/or initiate wire transfers. However, while regular phishing emails are sent out en ...
Views: 839 - New York State Cyber Security Regulations Emphasize Governance, Risk & Compliance - by Submitted on Apr 06, 2017 from Michael PetersNew York State Cyber Security Law Heavy on GRC and Proactive Cyber Security The first phase of the New York state cyber security regulations, which apply to insurance companies, banks, and other financial institutions operating within the state, went into effect at the beginning of March. ...
Views: 1118 - Cyber Insurance Market Full of Uncertainty and Skimpy Coverage - by Submitted on Apr 06, 2017 from Michael PetersDespite the escalating intensity and frequency of cyber attacks, fewer than 1/3 of U.S. businesses have purchased cyber insurance policies. A recent report by Deloitte provides insight into why organizations are deciding to go without cyber coverage, as well as why many insurers are hesitant to ...
Views: 1165 - Will Cyber Insurance Cover Your Business After a Ransomware Attack? - by Submitted on Apr 06, 2017 from Michael PetersDon’t depend on a cyber insurance policy to cover your losses after a ransomware attack. Hackers have discovered that there’s fast, easy money in holding enterprise systems hostage, especially in industries that process and store highly sensitive data, such as education and healthcare. The ...
Views: 1125 - Smart Toys Put Children and Parents at Risk of Data Breaches - by Submitted on Apr 06, 2017 from Michael PetersInternet-connected smart toys, a popular holiday gift item, have vulnerabilities that put both children and parents at risk of data breaches and identity theft. Smart toys, which connect to the internet and offer children a personalized, interactive play experience, were a very popular gift ...
Views: 978 - It’s Time to Get Serious About Education Cyber Security - by Submitted on Apr 06, 2017 from Michael PetersK-12 school systems, colleges, and universities are being increasingly targeted by hackers, yet education cyber security is as woefully lacking as other industries, as these recent incidents illustrate: • In November 2016, Columbia County School District in Georgia admitted to a breach of ...
Views: 879 - Doxware Takes Ransomware to the Next Level - by Submitted on Apr 06, 2017 from Michael PetersDoxware Leaks Your Private Data if You Don’t Pay the Ransom Ransomware began grabbing headlines about a year ago, after Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center paid hackers thousands of dollars in ransom after it got locked out of its systems. This large payday apparently encouraged hackers to ...
Views: 1041 - These Real-Life Stories Will Show You the Importance of Door Security - by Submitted on Apr 03, 2017 from Robert SicilianoIf you are like most people, when you think of burglars, you think that it “won’t happen to me.” But, it very well could happen to you, because it happens each and every day across the country. I have taken some time to gather some recent real-life stories that will not only ...
Views: 725 - Hey Kids, the Internet is FOS - by Submitted on Apr 02, 2017 from Robert SicilianoThe internet is a beautiful place. It is the way we communicate, the way we create, and the biggest business platform that has ever been generated. However, it is also a hazard, as anyone can put anything on it, and it’s extremely difficult to tell fact from fiction…especially if ...
Views: 910 - Researchers Say Office of Personnel Management Hack Leads to Ransomware - by Submitted on Mar 27, 2017 from Robert SicilianoIn June, 2015, it was revealed by an anonymous source that the Office of Personnel Management was hacked. This office, which administers civil service, is believed to have been the target of the Chinese government. This is one of the largest hacks in history involving a federal ...
Views: 664 - How to Digitally Secure The Remote Teleworker - by Submitted on Mar 23, 2017 from Robert SicilianoIf you employ remote workers, your IT staff has a unique challenge keeping your organization safe. Fortunately, using a combination of best practices for cybersecurity, user awareness campaigns, and a strong policy will help to keep data safe. New advances in mobile technology and networking ...
Views: 769 - Top 7 Tips for Online Security - by Submitted on Mar 22, 2017 from Karen ColeThe smallest of tasks in our daily lives are continuously depending on the internet; from switching on our lights, closing and opening our gates and doors, or even switching on your cooker to start the process of cooking a meal before you get home from work. Those are the simple things, not ...
Views: 1514 - The Mind of the Misunderstood Cybercriminal - by Submitted on Mar 17, 2017 from Robert SicilianoThere are a number of misconceptions about cybercrime and those who engage in it. To a cybercriminal, there is no target that is special unless they have a grudge or beef with a particular entity, and as a rule, they will often cast their net wide and then move to attack the easiest prey they ...
Views: 691 - Woman Chained Like a Dog, Man Killed - by Submitted on Mar 07, 2017 from Robert SicilianoBack in August, 2016, Kala Brown and Charles Carver arrived to a 100-acre property in South Carolina for a cleaning job. Charles Carver never made it off the property, and Kala Brown spent more than two months in a metal shipping container, allegedly held captive by Todd Christopher ...
Views: 821 - What Are Smart Home Systems? - by Submitted on Mar 05, 2017 from Peter MainSmart home systems refer to a variety of different and overlapping electrical and wireless systems that will enable a smart home or a smart house to function as a combined whole unit. Central to understanding the nature of the systems is an understanding of the basis of what a smart home is ...
Views: 1109 - Humans are Natural Predators - by Submitted on Feb 28, 2017 from Robert SicilianoAccording to a new study, genetics and evolution have made an impact on the murderous behavior of the human species. However, becoming civilized has tamed some of these instincts. Scientists have looked at the homicide rate of more than 1,000 species that kill their own, and noticed that ...
Views: 763 - Remember This: Hackers Like Strong Passwords, Too - by Submitted on Feb 22, 2017 from Robert SicilianoIn late 2016, a huge data breach occurred. More than 412 million accounts were affected when hackers got into FriendFinder Networks. According to sources, approximately a million of those accounts had the password ‘123456,’ and approximately 100,000 has the password that was ...
Views: 686 - How to Secure Your Home or Business On the Cheap - by Submitted on Feb 17, 2017 from Robert SicilianoIt doesn’t matter who you are or where you live, your home is at risk of being burglarized. According to numerous studies, in the US alone, a burglary occurs about once every 18 seconds, which equates to about 5,000 a day. Fortunately, you can secure your home or business against ...
Views: 793 - What is Sextortion? - by Submitted on Feb 14, 2017 from Robert SicilianoA Massachusetts man is on trial. His crime? Stalking. But, it’s probably not what you think. The 48-year-old was chatting and sharing photos with a 16-year-old girl, and these chats and photos were “sexual in nature.” The pair met on social media, and when the girl asked to ...
Views: 1363 - How to Make $5 Million a Day in Cybercrime - by Submitted on Feb 08, 2017 from Robert SicilianoThis post isn’t exactly a “how to” but if your current employment isn’t bringing in the bacon, I’m sure your criminal mind can figure it out. In the biggest digital advertising fraud in the history of the U.S., it was recently found that a group of hackers is ...
Views: 772 - Survive Falling Through Ice - by Submitted on Feb 02, 2017 from Robert SicilianoIt can be truly terrifying to fall through ice on a frozen lake, but if you remain calm, it can save your life. Most people don’t realize that you have more time than you think, according to experts. This is due to the concept of thermoregulation and how your body deals with the shocking ...
Views: 839 - Home Door Kick-in Prevention - by Submitted on Feb 01, 2017 from Robert SicilianoBurglars love doors, because that’s their No. 1 way of gaining entry to a house. When thinking of ways to make your home safer, you should really home in on your doors. Solid wood door without a window (ideally with solid wood core) Top flight deadbolt (ideally two) Reinforced frame ...
Views: 952 - Consumers Have Given Up on Security - by Submitted on Jan 30, 2017 from Robert SicilianoAccording to a recent study, online security for most people is too bothersome. The US National Institute of Standards and Technology published the study, which shows that most people who use the internet have just given up and don’t follow the advice given to them about online ...
Views: 745 - Your Hacked Mobile Phone Number is Like Your Social Security Number - by Submitted on Jan 24, 2017 from Robert SicilianoIf you have a cell phone, and you use it in any way associated with accessing online accounts (and many do), you are putting yourself at risk of getting hacked. With only a phone number and a bit of information, which is easy to get through social engineering, a hacker can break into your ...
Views: 881 - Desperate Teens Turning to Prostitution and Drug Dealing to Survive - by Submitted on Jan 20, 2017 from Robert SicilianoTeenagers across the country are falling into drug dealing, theft, and prostitution in order to eat. This, according to a recent study, which found that poverty has been increasing throughout the U.S. Researchers at the Urban Institute in Washington, D.C. have taken a close look at the ...
Views: 738 - Fake News is Becoming Too Real - by Submitted on Jan 17, 2017 from Robert SicilianoFake news is a problem that is taking the internet by storm, and it ran rampant during the 2016 Presidential Election. In fact, many believe that fake news stories had a strong impact on the outcome of the election. In a survey following the election by the Pew Research Center, a whopping 64 ...
Views: 843 - Top 3 Social Engineering Scams - by Submitted on Jan 12, 2017 from Robert SicilianoThink about hackers breaking into accounts. If you think they need top-notch computer skills, you would be wrong. These days, instead of requiring skills behind a keyboard, hackers generally rely on strategy…specifically a strategy called social engineering. This means that hackers ...
Views: 827 - Small Business a favorite Attack Vector - by Submitted on Dec 29, 2016 from Robert SicilianoSmall businesses are hardly immune to attacks by hackers. The illusion of low attack risks comes from the publicity that only huge corporations get when they are breached, like Target, Sony and Anthem. These are giants, so of course it makes headline news. But when a “ma and pa” ...
Views: 742 - Stop being a Social Media Idiot - by Submitted on Dec 27, 2016 from Robert SicilianoLeave personal details off your Facebook page. Does the whole world—or even your private circle, many of whom you haven’t seen in person for years, or even at all—have to know you’re laid up from hernia surgery (i.e., vulnerable, defenseless)? Try this experiment for ...
Views: 792 - Oh No, iOS Hacked by NSO - by Submitted on Dec 22, 2016 from Robert SicilianoRecently, says a report at wired.com, it’s been unveiled that the obscure Israel-based NSO Group has been selling spyware delivered to smartphones through vulnerabilities in Apple’s iOS operating system. “Pegasus” spyware can put a surveillance out on nearly everything ...
Views: 830 - How to erase Yourself from your Job - by Submitted on Dec 20, 2016 from Robert SicilianoYou shouldn’t leave any digital trace of yourself after you leave a job. Hopefully, you’ll be leaving voluntarily and thus have the time to first make backups before you delete anything. This may seem easy, but you need to take inventory to make sure you get EVERYTHING. Note: make ...
Views: 782 - 10 ways to beef up Digital Security - by Submitted on Dec 15, 2016 from Robert Siciliano#1. Keep everything up to date. You know those annoying popups telling you updates are available? Do you ever click out of them? Don’t. Always update at the time these appear. #2. Two-step verification. Two-step verification or authentication should be set up for all your accounts that ...
Views: 863 - Thieves steal 30 Cars using Software - by Submitted on Dec 13, 2016 from Robert SicilianoWho needs a hanger to steal a car when you can use a laptop? Despite today’s vehicles having far more sophisticated security protection, thieves can still break in—like the two crooks who stole at least 30 Dodge and Jeep vehicles…with just a laptop computer. In Houston, ...
Views: 773 - Security training: the Human Being is impossible to fix - by Submitted on Dec 08, 2016 from Robert SicilianoAs long as humans sit at computer screens, there will always be infected computers. There’s just no end to people being duped into clicking links that download viruses. A report at theregister.co.uk explains how subjects, unaware they were guinea pigs, fell for a phishing ...
Views: 752 - Hacking the CEO with Social Media - by Submitted on Dec 06, 2016 from Robert SicilianoIf the super big wigs could get their social media accounts hacked, you can too. If you can believe it, the Twitter accounts of the following were recently hacked: Google CEO Sundar Pichai Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer Oculus CEO Brendan Iribe Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey Shouldn’t ...
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