Entries by Robert Siciliano

The Top 10 Tax Scams of 2024

1. Phishing Scams: Cybercriminals send fake emails or create fake websites pretending to be from the IRS or tax preparation companies. They often request personal information, such as Social Security numbers or financial details, which they then use for identity theft or fraudulent tax filings. 2. Identity Theft: This scam involves stealing someone’s personal information,…

Common Types of Mobile Cyber Attacks and How to Prevent them

With the ubiquity of people owning smartphones and having a growing dependence on them for e-commerce, it has become an attractive avenue for cybercrime. Security researchers report a 500% surge of mobile cyber attacks, as scammers try to steal bank details and passwords or even get full control of phones. However, other forms of mobile malware have invasive…

Prepare Your Digital Life Before You Die

In life as in business, we need to have contingency plans. That means backing up our back up and that means having a plan for when we expire. Nobody really wants to deal with that expire part. Nobody wants to address the fact that the clock is ticking. But you need to. Being in the…

The ‘Zelle Fraud’ Scam: What it Is and How to Avoid it

Zelle is one of the most famous platforms to quickly send money to loved ones, friends, and family. However, now cybercriminals are taking advantage of it to get people’s account information. Using clever tactics to fool clients, fraudsters are now taking advantage of the existence of Zelle to get customers to give them their account…

Are You a Hard Target for Cyber Criminals? You Must Be

Cyber criminals hate a hard target. In the language of security, a “hard target” is someone difficult to hack, while a “soft target” is someone who is especially vulnerable. Put yourself in a criminal’s shoes: Which home would you attempt to rob: the one with the back door open or the one with the spotlights…

Credential Stuffing: What It Is and Why You Should Be Concerned

A recent credential stuffing attack on 23andme.com left most people bemused, if they noticed it at all. A similarly muted response followed the leak of millions of user records on known hacker forums. What is a hacker going to do with your ancestral history? The answer may surprise you and should concern you if you…