Entries by Robert Siciliano

5 ways your identity is stolen

Chances are good that in the coming year, you will be asked to provide your or a family member’s Social Security number (SSN) at least a few times. And because of all you’ve heard about identity theft and all the advice like “never give out your Social,” you will hesitate, ask why the person needs…

School WiFi Often Open and Insecure

Many elementary, middle and high schools are offering WiFi, and of course colleges and universities provide it as well. Some provide the networks with a required login access, and for others it’s open, unencrypted and free for anyone to jump on. Traditionally, when we think “login,” we believe that also means encrypted and secure. However,…

I Really Want My Phone to Be My Wallet. Don’t You?

Wallets suck. Seriously. Mine hurts my butt when I sit down. I have to remember to take it with me, and then I’m always afraid of losing it. There’s nothing fun about it. And…well…it’s dirty. It really is—money is dirty, and the cards you hand to people with dirty hands that handle dirty cards all…

Are You as Secure as a Fourth Grader? (Hint: No)

Security is the big picture. Security is in the finest details. Security is software and hardware. Security is awareness, intelligence and vigilance. Security is obvious, is obscure and is theater. Security is a journey and not a destination. It’s a path you take, but not a place you ever really arrive at. Security is an…

4 Ways to Share Paid Hotspots

There are a number of scenarios you might be in where friends, family and colleagues need to jump on a (read: your) wireless connection, but they’d rather not pay a connection fee. So if you have the goods right in front of you and they can connect for free, they may buy you a cookie.…

Rihanna’s Home Targeted by Burglars

Chances are, if you own a $12 million home like Rihanna, someone with bad intentions is going to want a piece of it (or something in it). But you don’t need to be rich to be the target of a burglary. Millions of less extravagant homes are burglarized every year. BET reports, “The singer’s Cali…

The Legal Right to Delete Stupidity

Anyone who is online and has ever posted something or sent something or liked something has a regret or two. And if you don’t have a regret, you’re arrogant and pompous and think way too highly of yourself and your musings. Anyway, recalling a digital boner isn’t always easy. And now, when you hit enter…

Scammers Use Online Calendars to Phish Victims

You’ve been here before: You’re at work, you get a notification via a popup, then an email, then a text reminding you of an appointment on your calendar. For most busy professionals, this is pretty normal because you know you need multiple points of contact to remind you of your schedule so you don’t look…

Apple Makes Life Harder for iPhone Thieves

You probably know that iPhones are high on the wish list of thieves all over the country—so much so that data from the New York City Police Department reveals that iPhone and iPad thefts have soared 40 percent compared with the same period last year, according to CNET. A total of 11,447 cases of stolen…