How to Use Foursquare to Get Free WiFi

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https://safr.me/webinar/  | Robert Siciliano is the #1 Security Expert in the United States with over 25 years of experience! He is here to help you become more aware of the risks and strategies to help protect yourself, your family, your business, and your entire life. Robert brings identity theft, personal security, fraud prevention and cyber security to light so that criminals can no longer hide in the dark. You need to be smarter than criminals yesterday so that they don’t take advantage of you today! If you would like to learn more about Security Awareness, then sign up for Robert’s latest webinar!

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Know Foursquare? As the company itself puts it, “Discover and share great places with friends. Over 30 million people use Foursquare to make the most of where they are. Discover and learn about great places nearby, search for what you’re craving, and get deals and tips along the way. Best of all, Foursquare is personalized. With every check-in, we get even better at recommending places for you to try.”

Cool! But how does it work?

Foursquare is a location-based social networking website for mobile devices such as smartphones. Users “check in” at venues using a mobile website, text messaging or a device-specific application by selecting from a list of venues the application locates nearby. Location is based on GPS hardware in the mobile device or network location provided by the application. Each check-in awards the user points and sometimes “badges.”

People who use Foursquare are “portable” by nature—in other words, they move around a lot. They also thrive on, and feel the need to connect to, some form of wireless, either on their mobile or their laptop. As a result, Foursquare has become a great tool to find either a free wireless connection or one that requires a password, and that password is available in the comments on Foursquare location listings such as those for coffee shops and restaurants.

Frankly, I don’t use Foursquare like others do because I don’t like telling the world where I’m at. But I do use it to seek out a WiFi connection and its required password.

Another option to get WiFi passwords via Foursquare is to use another app called 4sqwfi in tandem. The 4sqwfi app uses Foursquare’s API and its user-generated venue tips, and its algorithm filters and displays only the relevant venues.

Keep in mind that with all this WiFi use, you want to protect your information. Use a free VPN for WiFi security like Hotspot Shield. It creates a virtual private network (VPN) between your laptop or iPhone and your internet gateway. This impenetrable tunnel prevents snoopers, hackers and ISPs from viewing your web browsing activities, instant messages, downloads, credit card information or anything else you send over the network.

Robert Siciliano is an Identity Theft Expert to Hotspot Shield VPN. He is the author of 99 Things You Wish You Knew Before Your Identity Was Stolen See him discussing internet and wireless security on Good Morning America. Disclosures.

What are the risks of BYOD?

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As companies cut costs, and employees desire more freedom of choice, they increasinglybring their own mobile  devices to work. . The opportunity to eliminate the significant expenses associated with corporate mobile devices excites even the most staid CFO, and the IT guys are told to “make it work.” This development has come to be known by its acronym“BYOD” (Bring Your Own Device).

Sometimes there is no enforced policy in place. Employees do what they want, and permission happens later, if at all. The nurse brings her personal iPad to the hospital and uses it to record patient data she sends via email to the doctor, in addition to reading a book during precious downtime. The salesperson plugs a smartphone into their work PC to charge or sync something, or check personal email over the corporate Wi-Fi.

Using your personal device in the office is convenient and simple, but it’s not secure. Do you have anti-virus installed? Is your iPad’s wireless connection encrypted? Is the app being used secure? What if the device is lost on the bus on the way home—the device with confidential patient information, emails, or presentations on it?

One of the IT Department’s deepest concerns is regulated data. Almost all businesses operate under some form of regulation where fines or penalties are imposed in the event of a data breach: the leak of personally identifiable information like names, addresses, account numbers, and health records.

Then there’s the issue of your device breaking something else on the network. While your company’s IT guyhas a relative lock on all the work laptops, desktops, and even some of the mobiles, the IT department quickly loses control if you bring your new Droid or iPad and then connect it to the corporate network. Now the IT guy has to worry if that last app you downloaded will infect other computers on the network.

No matter what you do, make sure whenever you use your BYOD on a wireless network that the device is protected.  I use VPN specifically when I’m on my portable wireless devices. If I’m on my PC laptop, iPhone or iPad and I’m traveling on business, I know I’m going to be connecting to various free public Wi-Fi services at the airport and in my hotel or at a coffee shop. Before I connect to any Wi-Fi, I launch Hotspot Shield VPN. It’s a free VPN, but I prefer the paid version; the expanded paid option is a little quicker and offers a cleaner interface. Either way, it’s agreat option that will protect your entire web surfing session, securing your connections on all your devices and eliminating some of the potential headaches for your IT department.

Robert Siciliano is an Identity Theft Expert to Hotspot Shield VPN. He is the author of 99 Things You Wish You Knew Before Your Identity Was Stolen See him discussing internet and wireless security on Good Morning America. Disclosures.

How do I shop with my mobile securely?

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To stay safe while mobile shopping:

Go big. Do your online business with major retailers, or those you already know, like, and trust. The chances of a major online retailer stiffing you, or of their database being compromised, are slimmer than those of an unknown.

Do your homework. If you search for a particular product and wind up at an unfamiliar website, do some research on the retailer before putting down your credit card number. Search for the company’s name and web address to see if there have been complaints.

Don’t give out more personal data than necessary. Many retailers require your name, address, phone number, and credit card information. This is normal. But if you are asked for anything beyond that, like bank account numbers or your Social Security number, run hard and fast.

Vary your passwords. Often, online retailers will ask you to register with their website when you make your first purchase. Never register using the same password you’ve already used for another website. Otherwise, if one website is hacked, your password could be used to infiltrate your other accounts.

Use HTTPS sites. Websites that have a secure checkout process—with “https://” in the web address (as opposed to “http://”)—are safer because they encrypt the transaction against interception by thieves.

Keep mobile security software current. The latest security software, web browser, and operating system are the best defenses against viruses, malware, and other online threats.

Automate software updates. Many software programs can update automatically to defend against known risks. If this is an available option, be sure to turn it on.

Use a free VPN for Wi-Fi security like Hotspot Shield. Itcreates a virtual private network (VPN) between your laptop or iPhone and our Internet gateway. This impenetrable tunnel prevents snoopers, hackers and ISPs from viewing your web browsing activities, instant messages, downloads, credit card information or anything else you send over the network.

Robert Siciliano is an Identity Theft Expert to Hotspot Shield VPN. He is the author of 99 Things You Wish You Knew Before Your Identity Was Stolen See him discussing internet and wireless security on Good Morning America. Disclosures

How do I protect mobile devices while traveling?

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Traveling for business or pleasure can be hectic, unnerving, and often draining. It’s not uncommon to hear somebody say, “I need a vacation”, after returning from their vacation. When traveling, the last thing you need to worry about is having your critical possessions ripped off.  So here are some things to consider:

Airplanes: Always keep your mobile device with you when you go to the bathroom or stretch your legs. Clip it to your belt or slip it into a pocket when you are napping. Never put it in the overhead compartment!

Rental Cars: My wife traveled to Spain, got off the plane, rented a car, and drove off the lot. At the first stop sign, a man knocked on her passenger window and pointed, saying, “tire, tire.” She put the car in park and walked over to the passenger side. The tire was fine and the man was gone. When she got back in the car, she discovered her purse had disappeared from the front seat. Her mobile phone, driver’s license, passport, cash, and credit cards were all gone. Keep your eyes open for scams and keep your device clipped to you at all times!

Hotel Rooms: Hotel rooms are never secure. I was recently traveling and entered my hotel room to find somebody else’s stuff, including their mobile, laid out on the dresser and bed. This has happened to me dozens of times. Sometimes the clerk assigns the same room to two people, or the keys work in multiple rooms.And ,of course, everyone on the staff has access.  It’s important to never, ever leave anything of value in your room, always engage the security lock on the door when inside, and take your mobile into the bathroom with you. If you go to the fitness center or restaurant, take your mobile with you or put it with other valuables in the safe (and don’t use a combination that’s easy to guess, like “1234”)!

Public Wi-Fi: Mobile devices are more secure on your carrier’s network than a Wi-Fi connection. But if you have to use Wi-Fi, consider using a personal VPN to tunnel through the public Wi-Fi and encrypt your connection. Cover all your bases by installing Hotspot Shield VPN. A free, ad-supported program, Hotspot Shield protects your entire web surfing session by securing your connection, no matter what kind of wireless you are using—whether you’re at home or in public, using wired or wireless Internet. Hotspot Shield does this by ensuring that all web transactions are secured through HTTPS. It also offers an iPhone and Android version.

Robert Siciliano is an Identity Theft Expert to Hotspot Shield VPN. He is the author of 99 Things You Wish You Knew Before Your Identity Was Stolen See him discussing internet and wireless security on Good Morning America. Disclosures.

Your W-Fi Router Might Be Easy to Hack

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Recently I became aware that many if not most home Wi-Fi routers are very easy to hack by cyber criminals.  I thought, my mom has Wi-Fi, and so probably does your mom. So here is a letter you can share with your loved ones—be they tech-savvy or not, to protect them from the hidden dangers lurking in their homes

Dear Mom,

I don’t want to scare you too much, but I want to let you know about a potential issue with your Wi-Fi router. First, Mom, your router is not your modem. In most cases your modem is the small box with a row of blinking lights that connects directly to your internet service provider’s feed which is either a cable connection coming out of the wall or a phone line. From there the signal is converted and sent to your router through a “cat5” cable that looks like a bigger,fatter telephone wire. Your router (in most cases) is the thingy that’sthen plugged into your computer or gives off your wireless connection.

Anyway, a recent study saidresearchers “have discovered critical security vulnerabilities in numerous small office/home office (SOHO) routers and wireless access points. We define acritical security vulnerability in a router as one that allows a remote attacker to take full control of the router’s configuration settings, or one that allows a local attacker to bypass authentication and take control. This control allows an attacker to intercept and modify network traffic as it enters and leaves the network.”

In case you didn’t catch all that, it basically means the cyber bad guys can break into your internet data stream just like a burglar might break into your car or house and grab important stuff like your passwords, SS number or bank account info that you don’t want them to have. A lot of common big name routers were tested and a lot of them failed. They warned that basically even if your router was not on the tested list, you should still be concerned.

Jake Thompson, one of the security analysts, disclosed  some easy-to-implement tips, including some obvious ones like making sure that you change the router’s default username and password credentials. However, he cautioned, not all routerslet you change the username. They also recommended that “people use WPA2 security protocol, over WEP” but that is probably going to be beyond your understanding

So I am going to recommend something even simpler: adding  a layer of protection by installing  a VPN.  Consider it an easy, cheap (in this case free) insurance policy. When on a PC or laptop, install and launch Hotspot Shield VPN. It’s a free VPN software, but I prefer the paid version; the expanded paid option is a little quicker and offers a cleaner interface. Either way, it’s a great option that will protect your entire web surfing session, securing your connections on all your devices regardless of any security issues with your router.

And BTW, how’s your cat?

Robert Siciliano is an Identity Theft Expert to Hotspot Shield VPN. He is the author of 99 Things You Wish You Knew Before Your Identity Was Stolen See him discussing internet and wireless security on Good Morning America. Disclosures.

What’s the difference between using Proxy vs VPN?

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If you live in or travel to a country that controls what websites their citizens can and cannot visit then you might not have access to sites like Facebook or YouTube. In this case you may have considered using a proxy or a VPN.But what’s the difference?

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is a network set up to communicate privately over a public network. A VPN protects your data between your laptop, iPad, iPhone or Android device and an internet gateway. It does this by creating an impenetrable, secure tunnel to prevent snoopers, hackers and ISPs from viewing your web-browsing activities, instant messages, downloads, credit card information or anything else you send over the network.

A proxy server (sometimes called a web proxy) generally attempts to anonymize web surfing. There are different varieties of anonymizers. The destination server (the server that ultimately satisfies the web request) receives requests from the anonymizing proxy server, and thus does not receive information about the end user’s address.

Proxies and VPNs are both designed to change your IP address and manipulate your internet browsing to allow you to access YouTube, Facebook etc. – so they will essentially unblock those restricted sites.

However a proxy doesn’t offer encryption, which means the information you are sending and receiving may be intercepted and stolen on public Wi-Fi. AVPN, on the other hand, will act both as a proxy and allow the access but also keeps your information and communication private due to encryption.

Hotspot Shield  is a great VPN option that protects your entire web surfing session, securing your connection at both your home Internet network and public internet networks (both wired and wireless). Hotspot Shield’sfree proxy protects your identity by ensuring that all web transactions (shopping, filling out forms, downloads, etc.) are secured through HTTPS—the protected internet protocol.

Robert Siciliano is an Identity Theft Expert to Hotspot Shield VPN. He is the author of 99 Things You Wish You Knew Before Your Identity Was Stolen See him discussing internet and wireless security on Good Morning America. Disclosures.

5 Must-Have Security Apps for the Business Traveler

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Prior to a trip it’s not uncommon for many of us to load up our smartphone with the latest time-killer games, social or travel apps. But an essential family of apps often overlooked revolves around security. Business travelers are in a unique category due to sensitive information they may carry but all of us are more at risk when we leave home and hit the road. Here are a few essential to take with you:

Hotspot Shield: Free, Protect yourself from hackers and identity theft while using Wi-Fi hotspots (VPN encrypts all traffic); protect your identity, your IP address and stop unwanted tracking. Share and communicate privately. Keep all your web activities anonymous and private, share and communicate with your colleagues without leaving a trace. An added bonus: get access to your favorite US apps and services—Pandora, Netflix, Hulu, PBS Kids, etc. when traveling overseas. Also save on overseas data roaming charges!

Lorex Live: Free, View live, full-screen security video from your home/office security cameras, wireless security cameras, or any other security camera at any time, from where ever you are. Keeping an eye on your home/office, your kids, or even your pets will make for a much more relaxed trip.

Kryptos: Free, Kryptos is a secure, fully encrypted voice communications application. Kryptos utilizes military grade 256 bit AES encryption to encrypt voice communications before transmission using 2048 bit RSA for key exchange.Kryptos provides VoIP connectivity for secure calls over 3G, 4G and WiFi. Users will download and install the client software and must then activate their account with Kryptos.

McAfee Mobile Security: $30.00 McAfee Mobile Security is the industry-leading mobile security solution that gives you confidence to explore everything the new mobile world has to offer, and do it safely. When you select new apps, shop online, browse social networks, or use your phone for banking and payments, McAfee Mobile Security is there to protect you. Its comprehensive security that’s as simple as it is powerful.

My TSA: Free, Check approximate wait times at TSA security checkpoints at the airport of your choice and add your own wait time for others to see.Quickly search whether you can bring items with you through the checkpoint onto the airplane.Consult the TSA Guide on how to prepare for and get through the security checkpoint quickly. Watch TSA Videos on tips for a smooth travel experience.

Robert Siciliano is an Identity Theft Expert to Hotspot Shield VPN. He is the author of 99 Things You Wish You Knew Before Your Identity Was Stolen See him discussing internet and wireless security on Good Morning America. Disclosures.

College Students Need to Protect Wireless on iPads

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A recent study estimated that nine out of ten undergraduate students will own a smartphone by the time this year’s crop of freshmen is slated to graduate. As this demographic grows, college students are increasingly at risk of having their privacy compromised. Mobile-using students also tend to use unprotected public WiFi networks more, which adds additional risk factors to their profile. These factors combine to transform the generation that grew up using the internet most frequently into the generation that’s the most vulnerable online.

Hotspot Shield a wireless VPN has been downloaded more than 100 million times on PCs, Macs, iOS and Android platforms. The company experienced explosive growth in 2012 and, according to Quantcast, is among the top 35 online destinations based on total internet traffic.

The new version of the popular application includes:

  • Privacy protection for anonymous web communication, browsing and sharing online at dorms, cafes and offices.
  • Twenty percent greater mobile data savings capabilities, saving users up to $30 per month in mobile data fees.
  • The ability to access US and UK TV shows and other services online by switching IP addresses—a must-have when traveling abroad.
  • A new user interface that makes it easier than ever to view bandwidth savings and manage features.

To celebrate the launch, AnchorFree will kick off a contest to help US and UK college students keep their digital lives private and secure: the Hotspot Shield College Privacy Challenge, with $50,000 in scholarship awards distributed among the top three finishing universities. During the Challenge, any college student registering with a school-provided “.edu” or, in the United Kingdom, “.ac.uk,” email address will receive a free subscription to Hotspot Shield VPN for iPhone,Android, PC and Mac for one full year—up to a $42 value. The contest begins April 1 and will run through June 9.

More information about the Hotspot Shield College Privacy Challenge can be found at http://college.hotspotshield.com.

Robert Siciliano is an Identity Theft Expert to Hotspot Shield VPN. He is the author of 99 Things You Wish You Knew Before Your Identity Was Stolen See him discussing internet and wireless security on Good Morning America. Disclosures.

FTC and Consumers Want Companies to Take Privacy More Seriously

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A recent Wall StreetJournal article drew attention to the fact that, “Companies are watching you. They want to know where you go on the web, what you buy and what causes you support—with the hope of sending you targeted offers based on your preferences and lifestyle choices.”

When browsing the internet, consumers without proper protection are unknowingly sharing lots of personal information they probably wouldn’t if they knew they were being watched.

Now Google Inc., another company known for watching over our shoulders, has reached a  $7 million settlement with some 30 U.S. states over a 2010 “Wi-Spy” incident in which its Street View mapping cars collected passwords and other personal data from home wireless networks.

The chairman of the Federal Trade Commission Edith Ramirez recently remarked, “Over the last three years, the FTC has issued more than 50 enforcement actions on privacy and data enforcement, and no fewer than five major policy reports giving guidance to companies.”  Concern about data privacy is reaching critical mass.

It’s no wonder why AnchorFree, the provider of the world’s most popular consumer virtual private network (VPN), is Forbes’sixth most promising company in America.

The Silicon Valley start-up has provided over 100 million global users with Hotspot Shield—a free app that enables secure browsing, online privacy protection, mobile data compression, and freedom to access all internetcontent across iPhones, Android devices, PCs and Macs.

Companies taking consumer privacy seriously are getting the attention of consumers and government agencies alike.

According to AnchorFree’s CEO, David Gorodyansky, “Being selected as the sixth most promising company demonstrates the importance of empowering consumers with choice and control over their personal information online. From safeguarding personal privacy to protecting against hackers and identity theft, VPNs such as AnchorFree’s Hotspot Shield arm us with the tools we need to enjoy all the information and communication benefits that the internethas to offer—safely.”

I couldn’t have said it better myself.

Robert Siciliano is an Identity Theft Expert to Hotspot Shield VPN. He is the author of 99 Things You Wish You Knew Before Your Identity Was Stolen See him discussing internet and wireless security on Good Morning America. Disclosures.

What Kind of Wireless is Secure…and What Isn’t?

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Wi-Fi was born to be convenient—but not secure. More than anything, though, it depends more on what kind of wireless we’re talking about.

Public. Free, unsecured Wi-Fi is the least secure. Shared Wi-Fi in public, at home or in the office lacks encryption of the data packets streaming from the connected devices. In other words, your data is unlocked and free for the picking. Is the threat of data or identity thieves widespread? You bet. Your local coffee shop or airport could easily (and probably does) have a hacker sniffing out data for fun or profit.

WEP. Home or office Wi-Fi with Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) encryption offers minimal security. This encryption is 15 years old and has since been compromised to the point where it’s basically useless. As a result, newer routers aren’t even equipping routers with this antiquated security.

WPA. Home or office Wi-Fi with Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) encryption is better than its predecessor, WEP. WPA is a certification program that was created in response to several serious weaknesses researchers found in WEP. WPA and WPA2 are tougher to crack, but not impossible.

Mobile 3/4G. Mobile broadband has a degree of encryption that has been cracked, but the necessary hardware isn’t widely deployed by criminals. Researchers have demonstrated how the system can be hacked, but it’s still more secure than other options.

Cover all your bases by installing Hotspot Shield. A free, ad-supported program, Hotspot Shield VPN protects your entire web surfing session by securing your connection, no matter what kind of wireless you are using—whether you’re at home or in public, using wired or wireless Internet. Hotspot Shield does this by ensuring that all web transactions are secured through HTTPS. It also offers an iPhone and Android version.

Robert Siciliano is an Identity Theft expert consultant to Hotspot Shield VPN. He is the author of 99 Things You Wish You Knew Before Your Identity Was Stolen See him discussing internet and wireless security on Good Morning America. Disclosures.