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Identity Theft Articles
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- What is a Virus? - by Submitted on Apr 20, 2015 from Robert SicilianoHave you ever had the chicken pox? This common childhood illness has another name—the varicella zoster virus. Like all viruses, varicella replicates itself, spreading though the body, and eventually appearing as itchy red blisters all over the body. But the virus doesn’t stop there; ...
Views: 1175 - 10 Ways to protect Yourself while traveling - by Submitted on Feb 13, 2015 from Robert SicilianoSome thieves specialize in hanging around tourist spots to spot the tourists and make them victims of hands-on crime such as purse snatching or a mugging. But don’t wait till you’re aimlessly wandering the piazza with your face buried in a huge map to take precautions against less ...
Views: 1173 - How Hackers use LinkedIn to Scam - by Submitted on May 13, 2015 from Robert SicilianoHackers love LinkedIn because it links them in—straight through the portal of the targeted company. Geez, how much easier could this be, what with all the publically-exposed e-mail addresses of key players (and also worker bees) in big companies that someone wants to hack. An article on ...
Views: 1172 - How to Spot a Splog - by Submitted on Feb 08, 2015 from Robert SicilianoI really enjoy reading blogs. And since you are here, reading my blog post, I’m guessing you do too. Blogs are a great way of gaining information and learning about different perspectives on a wide variety of topics. Unfortunately, spammers have tainted this medium with splogs. The word ...
Views: 1172 - 12 Simple Smart Ways to secure your Home - by Submitted on Dec 29, 2015 from Robert SicilianoBurglars actually peruse social media to see who’s on vacation. In fact, 69 burglars were interviewed by Edith Cowan University in Australia, and perusing social media kept coming up as a way to find victims. Keep your cyber mouth shut till you return. Here are more tips: Get to know ...
Views: 1171 - Don't Believe These 6 Mobile Security Myths - by Submitted on Jan 24, 2015 from Robert SicilianoSmartphones are picking up popularity. You can now access email, social media, and other things from a device that fits in your pocket (most of the time). And, although we hear about breaches and security flaws in the news, it seems like a lot of us don’t think it applies to our mobile ...
Views: 1171 - Xfinity Home Security Flawed - by Submitted on Mar 23, 2016 from Robert SicilianoBad news for users of the Xfinity home security system: It can report locked doors and windows that have been bypassed by an intruder and miss an intruder’s movements, says an article on wired.com. The intruder circumvents the system by using a radio jammer to block the 2.4 GHz ...
Views: 1171 - How your Webcam may be spying on You - by Submitted on Nov 11, 2014 from Robert SicilianoRemember that song from 1984, “Somebody’s watching me?” It was a great foreshadowing of things to come: These days, people really CAN watch you while you go about your business at home…through your computer. So if someone confides in you that “they’re spying ...
Views: 1170 - 15 Home Safety and Security Tips - by Submitted on Dec 04, 2015 from Robert SicilianoThere’s always a perfect time to assess your home’s safety and security. Do you employ all of the following practices? Make sure your house’s roofing is fire resistant. If not, get it remodeled. Not only should you have smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, but you should ...
Views: 1169 - 17 ways to prevent identity theft when traveling - by Submitted on Nov 20, 2015 from Robert SicilianoThere should be more TV commercials for preventing identity theft—it’s nearly epidemic. But also epidemic is the lack of identity security that people have when traveling. Here are some ways to avoid having your identity stolen while traveling: Prior to leaving for your trip, ...
Views: 1168 - Risks of Public WiFi - by Submitted on May 25, 2015 from Robert SicilianoWired internet or wireless WiFi, the warnings are out there: Don’t visit any websites that you have important accounts with when using a public computer (hotel, airport, café, etc.). Visiting even a more trivial account, such as an online community for cheese lovers, could sink ...
Views: 1168 - Simple steps to protect identity against theft. - by Submitted on Oct 25, 2012 from Steve BollerAlmost every week you can read a story about someone learning about the debt he never used or authorities busting gangs of identity thieves who spent hundred or thousands and sometimes millions of dollars stolen from unaware citizens. Naturally you can follow tabloid media desire, get ...
Views: 1168 - 7 Ways to protect Yourself Online - by Submitted on Sep 28, 2015 from Robert SicilianoThe biggest mistake that you can make to threaten your online safety is to treat the online world different—as far as your private information—than you would treat the physical world. In other words, if someone walked up to you and said, “Hi, can you please provide me with your ...
Views: 1166 - What is a Remote Administration Tool (RAT)? - by Submitted on Feb 21, 2015 from Robert SicilianoEver felt like your computer was possessed? Or that you aren’t the only one using your tablet? I think I smell a rat. Literally, a RAT. A RAT or remote administration tool, is software that gives a person full control a tech device, remotely. The RAT gives the user access to your ...
Views: 1166 - Beware of Home Security Scams - by Submitted on Dec 11, 2014 from Robert SicilianoWill the home security scams ever stop? The latest scam has fraudsters going door to door, posing as sales reps for “Trio Alarm.” They first make sure that the houses they visit already have a security system (e.g., security decals on windows), then tell the occupant that the company ...
Views: 1165 - Employees Are Biggest Threat to Healthcare Data Security - by Submitted on Mar 15, 2018 from Michael PetersHealthcare data security is under attack from the inside. While insider threats — due to employee error, carelessness, or malicious intent — are a problem in every industry, they are a particular pox on healthcare data security. Two recent reports illustrate the gravity of the ...
Views: 1162 - The Proverbial Identity Theft Bus Will Run You Over! - by Submitted on Jun 14, 2017 from Michael PetersThink about a time when you had a single credit card lost or stolen, and how much of a pain that experience was. Now imagine if your entire wallet was lost or stolen and the exponential magnitude of pain in the patootie that would be for you. Run Over by the Bus If you are a subscriber to ...
Views: 1161 - 8 ways to avoid holiday shopping scams - by Submitted on Dec 10, 2015 from Robert SicilianoSo what will you be doing this holiday season to avoid getting scammed? The scammers really come out of the woodwork during the holidays, waiting to snatch their victims. It’s easier than you think to avoid getting ripped off or getting your entire bank account sucked dry. Here’s how ...
Views: 1160 - Identity Theft Protection - Insurance For Your Identity, Part Three - by Submitted on Nov 18, 2009 from Jack WingateIdentity Theft is a very real threat in our society. Undoubtedly, you have read the staggering statistics regarding Identity Theft. If those facts do not make you step back a assess your current Insurance Program, I don't know what will. As I have spoken to countless people about the threat ...
Views: 1160(3 votes) - Cyber Security Best Practices When Using Public WiFi Networks - by Submitted on Aug 17, 2018 from Michael PetersOnce a luxury item, free public WiFi has morphed into a standard service that consumers expect when patronizing everything from restaurants and retail stores to airports and hotels. Free WiFi users aren’t just checking Facebook or posting vacation photos to Instagram, either; all of us have sat ...
Views: 1159 - Consumers smartening up to Privacy Issues - by Submitted on Jul 09, 2015 from Robert SicilianoAccording to a recent report from Pew Research, many Americans take privacy seriously—as in the cyber kind, but also offline. 9% of survey respondents thought they had strong control over how much of their personal information was collected and shared. 38% thought they had moderate ...
Views: 1158 - How to keep a Clean Online Presence - by Submitted on Jun 11, 2015 from Robert SicilianoAt any given time, someone, somewhere, is probably googling you. This could be a former classmate, a neighbor, someone you’re trying to do business with, a relative, who knows? Are you confident that whatever they find will be information that’s truly representative of you? Maybe ...
Views: 1154 - Catphishing is a Heartless Scam - by Submitted on Jul 11, 2015 from Robert SicilianoWhen someone online presents as a different person than their true self, this is called catphishing, and it occurs on online dating sites. Google the name of the object of your interest. Obviously, “Kelly Smith” and “John Miller” won’t get you far, but ...
Views: 1153 - Chip and PIN, will It save Us? - by Submitted on Dec 17, 2014 from Robert SicilianoMany Americans, says a recent survey by Gallup, worry about a data breach connected to the use of their credit cards. Interestingly, many people use a credit card for everything under the sun: even just a soda and bag of chips from the convenience mart. The more you use a credit card, the more ...
Views: 1153 - The World's First Biometric Password Lockdown App is here - by Submitted on Nov 17, 2015 from Robert SicilianoIt’s about time: a biometric for your smartphone that will change the way you think about biometric security. This revolutionary biometric comes from Biometric Signature ID and it’s called BioTect-ID, and though it’s a biometric, it does not involve any so-called ...
Views: 1153 - 10 Home Security Mistakes we make - by Submitted on Dec 05, 2015 from Robert SicilianoPlease, be humble and consider the possibility that you—yes you—might be committing numerous home security mistakes—that could really cost you if you don’t correct them. House Alarm Turned Off Some people only activate it when they are not home and others only ...
Views: 1151 - 15 Ways to protect your Identity - by Submitted on Dec 23, 2015 from Robert SicilianoThere are tried and true ways to protect yourself from identity theft—ways that you may not have even considered. Check them out (no specific order): Evaluate your passwords. Does every online account have a different password or are you using the same one for multiple accounts? Fix ...
Views: 1150 - 3 Ways We are Tricked into Cyber Attacks - by Submitted on May 04, 2015 from Robert SicilianoSo just how are hackers able to penetrate all these huge businesses? Look no further than employee behavior—not an inside job, but innocent employees being tricked by the hacker. A recent survey commissioned by Intel Security reveals that five of the top seven reasons that a ...
Views: 1150 - Don't Name Your Dog After Your Password - by Submitted on Jul 15, 2015 from Robert SicilianoRecently I got a puppy for my child. We decided to name the puppy 4wgu23x5#9. My wife,8yysH3m, thought we should name the dog 0x2%#b5. But I’m sure she’ll get over it. Meanwhile, I’m helping my older child with setting up a few social media accounts, and I suggested the two ...
Views: 1150 - Protect your Data during Holiday Travel - by Submitted on Dec 26, 2014 from Robert SicilianoYou’re dreaming of a white Christmas, and hackers are dreaming of a green Christmas: your cash in their pockets. And hackers are everywhere, and are a particular threat to travelers. Prior to leaving for your holiday vacation, have an IT specialist install a disk encryption on your ...
Views: 1150 - Things You should and shouldn't do on Public Wi-Fi - by Submitted on May 20, 2015 from Robert SicilianoPublic Wi-Fi is the location where you can get online: airport, airplane, coffee house, hotel, motel and more. Many people don’t give this a second thought, unaware of how risky this really is. Public Wi-Fi is very non-secure, a goldmine for hackers who want to steal your identity and ...
Views: 1149 - Twitters ups its Security Game - by Submitted on Sep 29, 2015 from Robert SicilianoTwitter recently announced its new tool to help with management and monitoring of its users’ accounts: the Twitter data dashboard. An article on lifehacker.com details what this new tool will offer. For instance, you will not need to use your real name on Twitter—and I have to ...
Views: 1149 - What is Catphishing? - by Submitted on Mar 03, 2015 from Robert SicilianoWhat is catphishing? It certainly isn’t Garfield lazily sitting in a canoe holding a fishing rod. Catphishing is when a fraudster fabricates an identity and tricks someone via cyber communication into a phony emotional or romantic relationship—usually for financial gain to the ...
Views: 1149 - 15 Top Facebook Privacy Tips - by Submitted on Feb 26, 2015 from Robert SicilianoYou wouldn’t have to worry about privacy issues on Facebook if you didn’t post sensitive, private information on Facebook…such as information that one day can be used against you. And really, you should share only what you consider “professional” information, even ...
Views: 1147 - How Parents can de-motivate Sexting in their Teens - by Submitted on Apr 07, 2016 from Robert SicilianoWhatever the appeal of sexting is to kids (attention), it’s definitely there, and won’t be going away too soon. Of all the things that teens can do in their daily lives, why spend time sexting? To feel cool To get a crush’s attention To make a relationship seem more ...
Views: 1147 - How to win the War on Phishing - by Submitted on Dec 04, 2014 from Robert SicilianoA phishing attack is a trick e-mail sent randomly to perhaps a million recipients, and the thief counts on the numbers game aspect: Out of any given huge number of people, a significant percentage will fall for the trick. The trick is that the e-mail contains certain information or is worded ...
Views: 1144 - 12 Home Security Mistakes We Make - by Submitted on Feb 06, 2015 from Robert SicilianoSmart criminals love dumb homeowners, but even a dumb burglar can score big when the homeowner makes just a little slip in security measures. Don’t nickel-and-dime your door locks; get high quality locks. A cheap lock is cheap. Don’t hide keys. Anyone knows to check under the ...
Views: 1143 - How to kick People off your Wi-Fi - by Submitted on Dec 08, 2015 from Robert SicilianoIf someone is “borrowing” your Wi-Fi service, there’s more to this than just the nerve of someone secretly mooching off of you. Their use of your service could interfere with bandwidth and mess up your connection. If they’re a bad guy hacker or even a skeevy child porn ...
Views: 1143 - What is ATM Skimming? - by Submitted on Jan 25, 2015 from Robert SicilianoEver hear of a crime called skimming? It may not be as dramatic a crime as assault or Ponzi schemes, but it can cause significant problems to you as your savings account can be wiped out in a flash. Picture a scrawny nerd tampering with an automated teller machine (ATM)—the ...
Views: 1141 - Six Cyber Security Best Practices for People and Businesses - by Submitted on Sep 20, 2017 from Michael PetersHacks do not happen in a vacuum; if one computer on a network is compromised, all machines on that network are at risk. For this reason, both enterprises and individuals have a responsibility to implement cyber security best practices – and this does not mean installing anti-virus software and a ...
Views: 1140 - 4 Tips for Spring Cleaning Your Digital Life - by Submitted on Apr 18, 2015 from Robert SicilianoSpring is in the air (if you’re in the northern hemisphere) and it’s traditionally a time to clean every nook and cranny and get rid of excess stuff in your house. But it’s also a good time to clean up your digital life. Just like your house, your digital life needs a good ...
Views: 1139 - Tips to prepare for Power Outage - by Submitted on Dec 14, 2014 from Robert SicilianoDon’t wait to be in the dark to find out you’re in the dark. Are you equipped for a power outage? A power outage can even occur in perfect weather, thanks to a construction team “hitting a wire.” Batteries. Don’t have these scattered haphazardly in some drawer. ...
Views: 1139 - Attention Lenovo PC Owners: Something’s Fishy with Your Computer - by Submitted on Mar 18, 2015 from Robert SicilianoDoes your Lenovo computer have Superfish VisualDiscovery adware (a.k.a. spyware) installed? It’s possible if you purchased a Lenovo PC any time in September of 2014 and thereafter. This Superfish software intercepts the Lenovo user’s traffic so that the user sees ads displayed ...
Views: 1138 - Four Ways to Protect Your Home from Burglars - by Submitted on Oct 17, 2016 from Mark BickmoreBurglary Protection Don't forget, protecting your property is not only about safeguarding your valuables. It's also about protecting you and your loved ones. Not every intruder is going to run away if caught in the act. Aggravated burglary and home invasions can be pretty nasty affairs and ones ...
Views: 1138 - 5 In-Demand Cybersecurity Specialties - by Submitted on Oct 28, 2015 from Robert SicilianoThere are numerous subspecialties within the booming cybersecurity field[i]. Here are some of the most in-demand professions: Cybersecurity Engineer: This is the all-around, jack-of-all-trades, go-to guy or gal of cybersecurity. For all intents and purposes, a cybersecurity engineer is a ...
Views: 1137 - How your Brain is affected by Phishing Scams - by Submitted on Feb 10, 2015 from Robert SicilianoA recent study says that people are more mindful of online safety issues than what experts had previously believed. An article on phys.org says that Nitesh Saxena, PhD, wanted to know what goes on in users’ brains when they come upon malicious websites or malware warnings. Saxena points ...
Views: 1137 - Privacy Alert: Is Your Computer, Cell Phone and Email Safe? Find Out Now! - by Submitted on Sep 06, 2015 from Wendy Montes de ocaWork computer. Home computer. Email. Mobile phone. These are just a few potential avenues that can be a security threat. Digital privacy invasion is a real threat. One that you are at risk for every day, and may not even know it. 'Big brother'...the powers that be in Washington along ...
Views: 1137 - Very effective Social Engineering Scams - by Submitted on Mar 09, 2015 from Robert SicilianoIt’s amazing how ingenious cybercriminals are, but the victims also need to take some responsibility for falling for these ruses, especially when the victim is a business that has failed to train its employees in cybersecurity measures. Ransomware The stuff of science fiction is here: ...
Views: 1137 - How to Avoid Bad Apps - by Submitted on Jun 24, 2015 from Robert SicilianoIf you think there’s like a million apps out there, that’s not exactly an exaggeration. For sure, there are more than you can imagine, which makes it easy to conceive that many certainly come with security problems. In fact, out of the top 25 most popular apps, 18 of them bombed on a security ...
Views: 1132 - Please Help Me Fix My Computer - by Submitted on Jul 24, 2017 from qurrat khanAbout a year ago, I said the exact same statement, "Help me fix my computer for free." While I would have normally be willing to pay just to have my computer fixed, the problem was I was heavily cash strapped and I really did not have any budget for my computer. So I told that same phrase to a ...
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