The U.S. Consumer Confidence Index, released by TRUSTe®, shows an alarming trend: A high percentage of U.S. people over age 18 are unnerved about their online privacy, and this trend is worsening. This survey was conducted online among 2,019 U.S. adults and reveals that 92 percent of the participants are on edge, at least some…
Unfortunately in today’s world, scammers are coming at us from all angles to try and trick us to get us to part with our hard earned money. We all need to be vigilant in protecting ourselves online. If you aren’t paying attention—even if you know what to look for—they can get you. There are numerous…
Security truths evolve—meaning, they change, and you must keep up with this, particularly with wireless security. Advice for wireless security can quickly become outdated. There are actually three big wireless security myths swirling around. #1. Limit the IP address pool to restrict number of devices that can connect. Even if your cable company tech recommends…
The duking out between banks and retailers was launched this past December when a credit card data breach occurred to an estimated 110 customers of a big retail store. Is the retailer responsible? Should the credit card issuers or banks take the brunt of preventive action? What about the consumer? Lawmakers are trying to figure…
Tax related identity theft is reaching nightmarish and epidemic proportions. Heed the following to minimize your risk. File taxes early. ‘Tis the season for tax fraud, and scammers like to get a jump start from the beginning. File early before the fraudsters file. Use electronic filing. Paying the IRS via e-filing is fast and more…
As a security analyst, I have always endorsed getting a dog for home protection. I’m going to provide some tips on what to look for in a home security dog, but first I want to briefly share a riveting true story that was reported on Madison.com. “Slim” is a police dog. Police in Madison, WI,…
It’s way too easy for anyone to pretend to be someone else. When hiring, make sure you use identity proofing measures so you don’t get scammed. When hiring, the first concern most companies have is determining how effective an employee will be. In fact, the first concern should be determining if the person is actually…
It wasn’t pretty: those fairly recent credit card breaches at a few big-name retailers. As newsworthy as these were, they’re actually not the greatest risk for wealthy folks; a bigger foe is a money management firm lacking sufficient checks and balances. Attack schemes: Another type of attack can hit an organization hard: some cyber punk…
Online users need a VPN (virtual private network), a kind of service that gives you online security, and Hotspot Shield’s service has a free version. A VPN hides your device’s IP address and interferes with any company trying to track your browsing patterns. Many online companies take peoples’ data without their authorization, and then share…
Having been a home security expert for years, I am always amazed at how dumb criminals could be, but there’s always a homeowner they can outwit, such as in the case below: A man burglarized two houses in Marshall town, Iowa, and then sold the loot on Facebook, says a story in the online Times-Republican.…
