If you aren’t in the habit of backing up your data, you might assume that it’s difficult or tedious. But I’ve got news for you, it’s easy-peasy. Nowadays, backing up is a complete no brainer. There are many backup options. New PCs often come bundled with backup options included in the “bloat ware.” Microsoft Windows…
GUNS GUNS GUNS. People love their GUNS. Guns are deadly. And as far as the constitution insinuates, that’s the whole point. Frankly, I like the feel of a gun’s craftsmanship and the occasional target or clay pigeon shooting. The idea of guns makes sense to me for purposes of protection, although, I’m always concerned with…
You hear a lot about identity theft protection these days. But what does it look like? I’ve subscribed to no less than six different services in the last decade. Most of them make their presence felt in the form of a charge on your credit card statement, and that’s about it. One thing I like…
The day when your wallet becomes a relic, like an 8-track tape, isn’t here quite yet. But we are getting close. Thinning out your wallet isn’t just nice for your pants pocket. It’s also a good way to minimize your risk for identity theft, should your wallet ever be lost or stolen. As long as…
As more online retailers introduce mobile ecommerce applications, criminal hackers are taking notice. Existing mobile operating systems are under attack and, like standard PC operating systems, they sometimes fail to provide the necessary security to support a payment application. Current research is primarily geared towards securing mobile payments, but there is a lack of coordination…
Recent reports of “The Oak Ridge National Laboratory, home to one of the world’s most powerful supercomputers, has been forced to shut down its email systems and all Internet access for employees since late last Friday, following a sophisticated cyberattack.” The sophisticated cyber attack was reported to be the lowly unsophisticated phishing email. Phishing is…
If there were a criminal hall of fame with an award for the coolest criminal, it would have to go to the pickpocket. Pickpockets are sneaky creatures who manage to function exactly one degree below the radar. Pickpockets whisper through society, undetected and undeterred. They are subtle and brazen at the same time. They are…
In Colorado Springs the Gazzette.com reports an eighty-three-year-old grandmother has a simple message for the bad guys: “Nobody better mess with me.” “A man used a crow bar or similar tool to pry at the back door of her central Colorado Springs home. Throwing her 112 pound frame against the door, she wasn’t having it.…
Every industry involves four main parties. There are, most obviously consumers and manufacturers. There are also those who provide services or supplies to the manufactures, or produce peripheral products that work in tandem with the original product. Finally, there are the watchdogs, keeping tabs. Watchdogs are usually either government regulators or third party nonprofits. IBM…
The impact of a burglary far surpasses the cost of replacing stolen items or damaged property, as research by ADT Security reveals break-ins cause anxiety in 34% of victims. Honestly, this number seems low. I still have anxiety from a break-in from a home I owned 15 years ago, that was 4 houses ago! That…
