How to recognize Online Risks

/in , /by

Would you give up your bank account and credit card numbers to a stranger on the street after he approaches and asks for them? Of course not. But that’s essentially what people do when they’re tricked by online crooksters into revealing sensitive personal information, including their Social Security numbers.

http://www.dreamstime.com/stock-images-online-risks-sign-road-banner-image34668294One of the most common ways this is done is through phishing.

  • The phishing attack is when the thief sends out thousands of the same e-mail. If enough people receive the message, sooner or later someone will take the bait.
  • The bait may be a notice you’ve won a prize; a warning that your bank account has been compromised or that you owe back taxes; an alert that something went wrong with your UPS delivery; or something about your medical insurance.
  • These subject lines are designed to get you to open the e-mail and then follow its instructions to remedy the problem—instructions to the tune of typing out your personal information including passwords.
  • Sometimes the fraudster has already gained information from a victim and will use that to make the victim think that the phishing e-mail is legitimate.
  • These e-mails contain links; never click on them. They’re designed to entice people into giving up personal information, or, the site they take you to will download a virus to your computer.
  • Sometime the e-mail will contain an attachment. Opening it can download a virus.
  • What if the e-mail appears to be legitimate, complete with company logo, colors, design and details about you? Contact the company first, by phone, to see if they sent out such an e-mail. Don’t click any link to get on the company’s site; instead go there via typing into the URL field.
  • You may have heard that hovering over the link will show its true destination, but this isn’t always the case.
  • Remind yourself that you are not special: Why would YOU inherit money from some strange prince in a foreign country?

Passwords

  • Passwords should never contain words or names that can be found in a dictionary. I know you so desperately want to include the name of your favorite football team in it, but don’t. Such passwords are easier for hackers to crack.
  • Never use keyboard sequences; again, a hacker’s tool can find these.
  • Make a password almost impossible to crack by making it at least 12 characters, a mix of upper and lower case letters, and include numbers and other symbols.
  • Use a different password for every account.

Anti-malware Software

  • You should have a complete system that’s regularly updated.
  • Have a firewall too.

Virtual Private Network

  • Download Hotspot Shield to encrypt your data on public WiFi hotspots.
  • Shield your IP address from webtracking companies who desire your information to sell you stuff or from search engines who hand that data over to the government.

Secure Sites

  • Whenever possible, visit only sites that have https rather than http, because the “s” means it’s a secure site.

A padlock icon before the https means the site is secure.

Robert Siciliano is an Identity Theft Expert to Hotspot Shield. 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.

Company proves why you shouldn’t post Kids’ Pics online

/in /by

What if you knew there existed a possibility that some company, without your knowledge, grabbed a photo of your child and put it on their product and then put their product online for sale?

2PKoppie Koppie sells coffee mugs with photos of kids on them—and YOUR child could be one. Though this begs the question, who on earth would want a coffee mug with a photo of a stranger’s child on it, there’s actually a market for this.

Koppie Koppie has taken photos of kids from Flickr. Koppie Koppie is actually more of a social experiment, says the duo who run the site at koppie-koppie.biz. The pair claim that the drive was to raise awareness of privacy issues, yet at the same time, insist that they haven’t done anything wrong because they haven’t violated Flickr’s rules.

The images that Koppie’s founders use come with the Creative Commons licensing rights: Commercial re-use is not restricted.

Though what Koppie Koppie has done is actually legal, it still counts as a violation of the rights of the parents of those kids.

Writers use these photos for their articles, for instance, an article about parent-child relationships, but with professional child models, the parents of the young models know this. So is taking the use of the photos up a notch (or two or three?) by putting them on mugs as a display crossing the line or is to create awareness that maybe you shouldn’t be positng pictures of your children online?

These guys found a loophole and slithered through it, since the privacy policies of social media fall short with explaining the context of how images can be shared online. But they make a good point.

Going further down the continuum, we may have a company sooner or later selling T-shirts with YOUR child’s face on them—without your knowledge.

Koppie Koppie says it will take down a mug of your child within two weeks of your complaint. But think of how many parents will never read this article and know what Koppie Koppie has been up to or anyone else for that matter.

Robert Siciliano is an identity theft expert to BestIDTheftCompanys.com discussing identity theft prevention. Disclosures.

1 Billion Records hacked

/in , , /by

Billions and billions—it’s only a matter of time before this becomes the number of hacking incidents in a single year, because just in 2014, over one billion records were hacked out of 1,500 different hacking incidents, says a recent report.

4DSome other findings from the report:

  • A little over half the breaches involved credit card numbers, Social Security numbers and other personal information.
  • Most hacking incidents occurred in the U.S.
  • 55 percent of the incidents involved retailers, primarily affecting point of sale systems that lack encryption technology.
  • The private sector, combined with the government, took up 17 percent of the hits.

The government has had it; the White House plans on devoting an office entirely to figuring out how to stay ahead of cyber crime. Let’s hope that the White House really dissects cyber attack technology.

What can consumers, the private sector, retailers, banks and the governments do to make it difficult for hackers to cause mayhem?

  • Go through all of their passwords and replace the weak ones with strong ones. A weak password is less than eight characters (some experts advise that it be at least 12), contains actual words or names, contains keyboard sequences and has limited character variety.

    Keep in mind that an eight-character password such as $39#ikPw is strong and superior to the 12-character 123qwertyTom. But maximize the strength by making the password at least 12 characters and a jumble of character gibberish. A password manager can do this all for you.

  • Install antivirus software. This means antivirus, anti-spyware, anti-phishing and a firewall. Then make sure they are always updated. This software should also be installed on your smartphone and tablet.
  • If you’re still using windows XP because you don’t want to part from your comfort zone, get out of it immediately, because it won’t be so comfy when your system gets dismantled by a hacker. Windows XP is no longer subject to security patches and updates by Microsoft. You need a version, such as MS Win 7, that receives regular updates.
  • Your router has a password that’s been set by the manufacturer. Hackers know these passwords. Therefore, you should change it. Next, turn your WPA or WPA2 encryption on. If you don’t know how to do these things, contact the router’s manufacturer or google it. And unless you have encryption while using public Wi-Fi, consider yourself a lone zebra wandering around in the African savanna where prides of hungry lions are watching you. Get a VPN. Google it.

Robert Siciliano is an identity theft expert to TheBestCompanys.com discussing  identity theft prevention. Disclosures.

Strengthen Your Digital Defenses with the 5 Habits of Practically Unhackable People

/in , , /by

At the start of the year, we all made our resolutions for 2015. Now it’s March—how are you doing on your resolutions? If you’ve already broken a few, no worries; New Year’s doesn’t have the monopoly on making goals to better yourself. This is especially true with digital safety. At a time when there are so many security breaches, it’s important to commit to strengthening your digital defenses year-round.

1DWhen making goals, it’s important to emulate people who have already mastered what you’re trying to learn. So in this case, what do super secure people do to stay safe online? Intel Security has the answer—here are the 5 habits of practically unhackable people:

  1. Think before they click. We click hundreds of times a day, but do we really pay attention to what we click on? According to the Cyber Security Intelligence Index, 95% of hacks in 2013 were the result of users clicking on a bad link. Avoid unnecessary digital drama, check the URL before you click and don’t click on links from people you don’t know.
  2. Use HTTPS where it matters. Make sure that sites use “https” rather than “http” if you’re entering any personal information on the site. What’s the difference? The extra “S” means that the site is encrypted to protect your information. This is critical when you are entering usernames and passwords or financial information.
  3. Manage passwords. Practically unhackable people use long, strong passwords that are a combination of upper and lower case letters, numbers, and symbols. Yet, unhackable people don’t always memorize their passwords; instead, they use a password manager. A password manager remembers your passwords and enters them for you. Convenient, right? Check out True Key™ by Intel Security, the password manager that uses biometrics to unlock your digital life. With True Key, you are the password.
  4. Use 2-factor authentication (2FA) all day, every day. When it comes to authentication, two is always better than one. 2FA adds another layer of security to your accounts to protect it from the bad guys so if you have the option to use 2FA, choose it. In fact Intel Security True Key uses multiple factors of authentication.
  5. Know when to VPN. A VPN, or virtual private network, encrypts your information, which is especially important when using public Wi-Fi. Practically unhackable people know that they don’t always need a VPN, but know when to use one.

To learn more about the 5 habits of practically unhackable people, go here. Like what you see? Share the five habits on Twitter for a chance to win one of five prize packs including a $100 gift card to Cotopaxi or Hotels.com.*

You don’t need to wait for another New Year to resolve to become a digital safety rock star – start today!

*Sweepstakes is valid in the U.S. only and ends May 16, 2015. For more information see the terms and conditions at intel.com/5habits.

Robert Siciliano is an Online Safety Expert to Intel Security. He is the author of 99 Things You Wish You Knew Before Your Mobile was Hacked! Disclosures.

Tips to Stay Digitally Safe on Spring Break

/in , /by

Give me a break! In the next month, students will get the week off for spring break—a much needed reward after months of hard work and, for some, gnarly winter weather. Spring break means free time, family vacations, trips with friends, and timeless memories.

7WBut, spring break can pose some risks to your online reputation and your identity. So whether you are going to party it up in the Caribbean or you are taking the kids to Disney World, here are some tips to keep you digitally safe this spring break.

  1. Don’t bring more technology than you have to. Do you really need to bring your laptop, tablet, and smartphone on your beach vacation? The more devices you bring, the more chances for someone to steal or compromise your device and your personal data.
  2. Backup your data. No matter what devices you decide to bring, make sure you back them up before you leave. You don’t know what will happen on your trip, don’t risk your data.
  3. Share when you get home. It’s tempting to share that family picture with Mickey, but it could alert thieves that you aren’t home. Wait until you return home before you share your vacation pictures online.
  4. Review your privacy settings. Just because you aren’t sharing anything from your spring break on social media, doesn’t mean that your friends aren’t. Check up on your privacy settings so you can manage who sees your content, and as best as possible, what others say about you. That embarrassing video of your belly flop doesn’t need to be seen by everyone.
  5. Be careful when using public Wi-Fi. Don’t log on to bank/credit card sites or shop online when using a public Internet connection. You don’t know who else is on your network.
  6. Install security software on all your devices. Use comprehensive security software likeMcAfee LiveSafe™ service to protect your devices no matter where you are.

Have a great spring break!

Robert Siciliano is an Online Safety Expert to Intel Security. He is the author of 99 Things You Wish You Knew Before Your Mobile was Hacked! Disclosures.

Everyone is vulnerable to Attack

/in , , , , , /by

There’s the war on drugs, the war on terrorism, the war on cancer and the war on cyber threats. In fact, more people are vulnerable to cyber attacks than they are to the first three threats combined.

7WSo pervasive is this threat that President Obama fully recognizes that everyone is at risk. He even signed an executive order recently in the hopes of promoting the sharing of more cybersecurity related data between the government and the private sector.

Recently President Obama presented a speech at Stanford University; the attendees included government officials and leaders in the tech world. He admitted that the government is a bit befuddled over how to provide the private sector with protection from cyber threats. And don’t forget that many hackers operate overseas, making them tougher to track down.

Obama’s message is that it’s difficult for the government to simultaneously protect the public and not be intrusive into peoples’ privacy.

He referred to the cyber world as the “Wild Wild West,” but it sounds more like the Wild Wicked Web. But he likens it to the Old West because people want the government to play the role of sheriff.

With practically the entire world online (even people living in huts along rivers have computers), everyone’s a potential victim.

Obama has really been putting his foot down hard about this, having begun in 2013, when the so-called cybersecurity framework was formulated—a scheme that’s designed to enhance cyber security, and this protocol has been put in place by some major corporations.

But Obama hasn’t stopped there. In January he announced plans for additional protection for the private sector.

Nevertheless, many people, including business decision makers, believe that the Obama Administration isn’t moving fast enough. They want to see these plans in writing, but these executive orders have not been made obtainable, perhaps making some tech leaders feel that Obama isn’t taking things quite as seriously as he says he wants to.

Regardless, the onus of responsibility is on you good reader. Nobody is going to protect your device or data better than you. Keep reading, keep your devices updated and maintain your awareness of various scams because criminals are getting better and better every day.

Robert Siciliano is an identity theft expert to TheBestCompanys.com discussing  identity theft prevention. Disclosures.

This is what Passport Security looks like

/in /by

Sixty different materials go into the printing of a U.S. passport. That little booklet of a thing contains up to 30 pieces of security—and you can’t see most of them. And good luck trying to get details on these security features.

PPThe author of an article on gizmodo.com points out that he tried to get specifics from Homeland Security, but that the “forensic lab’s experts couldn’t discuss the security.” The author then sought answers from passport and forgery experts.

Holograms

When you see or hear the word “hologram,” what do you think of? Passports use holographic technology. The gizmodo.com article mentions that the biodata page of a passport probably has a see-through hologram.

It’s possible to almost forge a hologram. One way is to press metal onto it, then use the metal as a die cast to create more holograms. There’s also a device that stamps out holograms, but these days they’re difficult to get ahold of. Usually, holograms come with other security features that make forging difficult, such as special inks.

The drawback to more complex security with the passport is that some of the features can be missed in the inspection process because there are so many to remember. This creates a margin through which fake ones can pass inspection.

Ink

The gizmodo.com article talks about how the ink’s composition, and elements of the paper are part of the security. What can be done with ink to distinguish an authentic passport from a forged one? Some inks dissolve when they’re tinkered with. Some change color when cooled or heated. Some contain a design that’s visible only under UV light.

The paper, too, may contain unique fibers such as fluorescent ones. There are many other secrets that a forger could never know (though this article is obviously revealing some of them, but even then, this doesn’t mean the forger would necessarily be able to figure out how to duplicate these features).

Text one-seventh the width of a red blood cell

“Nanoprinting” is used for the passport: Text may be as small as one micron. Talk about a tiny font size. The best forgers can’t touch this. Another way to foil a forgery attempt is to deliberately create an anomaly in the text, such as a slightly raised letter.

The gizmodo.com article says that the most troublesome part of a passport to duplicate is the font. From a macroperspective, the typeface may seem easy to duplicate, but there are hidden, deliberate features visible only under a microscope. A forger won’t be able to replicate microscopic intentional ink bleeds.

Your passport will have an electronic chip in the upper left-hand corner that contains your data, including photo. The article explains that a security researcher, showed how he could clone such a chip.

Nevertheless, when all is said and done, passport forgery exists and forgers do get away with it. And as mentioned previously, there are so many security features to look for, that inspectors can’t all remember every single one, and the very one(s) they skip may also be the ones that would show a forgery. The technology needed to duplicate a passport is sold online.

At any rate, for the most part, your passport is an extremely secure instrument. Its security technology is ever-evolving. By and large, you can use your passport with peace of mind. Hold onto it tightly. Don’t let it out of your sight. When you don’t need it make sure it’s in a safe place that you won’t forget about.

Robert Siciliano is an Identity Theft Expert to Hotspot Shield. 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.

The Guide to Securing Your New Tech Toys

/in /by

Ho ho ho! It seems that this year, Santa’s sleigh was filled with technology—laptops, smartphones, gaming consoles, etc. Playing with and learning about your new tech toy is fun, but remember to secure your device. It would be a total bummer if your new toy was suddenly compromised by a virus or hacked into. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to protect your new device.

7WComputer/laptop

Install security software. Free software is not recommended, as it provides only basic protection and you’ll likely end up purchasing more anyways. Your security software should include:

  • A two-way firewall: monitors the activity on your devices making sure nothing bad is coming in (like unauthorized access) and nothing good is leaving (like your data).
  • Anti-virus software: protects your devices from malicious keyloggers and other malware.
  • Anti-phishing software: watches your browser and email for suspicious inbox activity.
  • Anti-spyware software: keep your PC spyware free.
  • Safe search capacities: McAfee® SiteAdvisor® tells you what websites are good and which are suspicious.

Smartphone or tablet

  • Be leery of third-party apps.
  • Turn off automatic connections to Bluetooth and Wi-fi.
  • Apply app and OS updates.
  • Never store sensitive information on your device.
  • Use mobile security software for iOS or Android that includes anti-virus, anti-theft, app, and web protection.

Gaming or electronic device

  • Create backups.
  • Don’t store personal info on the device.
  • Connect only to a secure Wi-Fi network.
  • Make sure you apply any OS updates.

Now have a great time with your new tech device. Play with ease of mind, knowing your device is secure.

Robert Siciliano is an Online Security Expert to McAfee. He is the author of 99 Things You Wish You Knew Before Your Mobile was Hacked!  Disclosures.

How The Internet of Things can go very wrong

/in /by

The Internet—one of history’s greatest inventions—is also one of history’s greatest platforms for crime. Here are ways things can go very wrong with the Internet of Things.

2DMed-hacking. Researchers have hacked many medical devices. Though it apparently hasn’t happened in the real world, yet, but it looks like it’s only a matter of time before medical equipment becomes hacked, such as automatic insulin pumps and pacemakers. The FDA is quite new to looking into this potential.

Sauna house. It’s possible for a hacker, if not currently, then in the near future, to get into your connected thermostat and kick it up to 120 degrees. Yes, it’s great to control the thermostat when you’re away from home…but someone else who has too much time on his hands might think that’s great, too!

Smartphones. Maybe one day it will be smarter to go back to the dumb phone. At least a dumb phone can’t be used by a hacker to turn things upside down for you, such as getting ahold of your financial account numbers or sensitive photos.

Your printer can get hacked. Someone could remotely bust into it and view your documents. A crook can infect your home printer with a Trojan to not only spy, but install malware. And if your printer is potentially a target for hackers, imagine what else around your house could be, such as your router and any other gadget that’s connected to the Internet.

From carjack to car-hack. A connected car can be hacked via its wireless enabled radio, with commands then going to the steering wheel or brakes. Know any computer geniuses who hate you and know your car is connected?

Satellite airline equipment is vulnerable to malicious invasions; this has potential repercussions to the communications involving airplanes and ships. This kind of hacking can go as far as tricking a plane to redirect its course.

The TSA carry-on baggage scanner can be hacked into and then used to get weapons past TSA checkpoints. There’s even a feature that can show fake images on the X-ray screen.

So, don’t worry about any of this. But DO something about it. At a minimum lock down your wireless with encryption. Routers come with WPA/2 security and it should be activated. Otherwise deploy antivirus, antispyware, antiphishing and a firewall.

Robert Siciliano is an identity theft expert to TheBestCompanys.com discussing  identity theft prevention. For Roberts FREE ebook text- SECURE Your@emailaddress -to 411247. Disclosures.

How sharing Files puts You at risk

/in /by

Okay, so you were taught to share your toys in the sandbox, but little did your parents know that years later, sharing your files could result in disaster.

11DPeople share personal and business files all the time on their computers without realizing the security risks. Not all data breaches occur due to malicious events. An annual Ponemon study reveals that 35 percent of leaked data results from unintentional carelessness of the user and 29 percent from network malfunctions.

Workers and consumers alike, quite frankly, are clueless about safe practices and are using practices that are not approved by their company’s IT department. Let’s look at the specifics.

Tunnel vision. Often, users don’t see the grander scheme of things when sharing files. They have tunnel vision and go for the most convenient, cheapest route without considering security. This is how sensitive material gets put at risk. Such users may also end up getting their personal information cluttered up with other family members data or even co-workers data when bringing your own devices to work.

Public sharing settings. Before you share its important you know what you are doing. Years ago I had uploaded a file to a cloud based storage portal and the default settings at the time were “public”, which I didn’t recognize. Shortly after I connected a social site to this service and definitely didn’t realize that document which had personal information was being shared publicly on the social site. When I realized this I felt stupid, and sick.

P2P file sharing. Sharing files over peer networks, such as pirated music etc. creates a hacking risk. The P2P software is a welcome mat to cyber criminals who want to steal information like credit card numbers and information on secret documents. It’s not surprising that P2P software is often in a system that’s been hacked.

The solution is to avoid having P2P software installed at all, including on any BYOD devices. You don’t want to be “that” employee. Along the same lines, make sure that devices are set so that installation of new software cannot occur without the decision maker’s knowledge.

Using just any cloud services. The typical cloud storage is designed for consumers, not businesses, and unless you look at all the settings they can be a risky way of sharing files. Always insist on a higher-grade type of security and storage rather than settling for the run-of-the-mill file sharing service. Look at what security and encryption they have in place, whether you can manually and easily delete files or if they have an expiration date.

Using e-mail to share files. If you send an important document via e-mail, a troublemaker could “see” it while it’s in transmission unless it’s encrypted. By default the email should read HttpS in the address bar when logged in. And of course if you are on free WiFi encrypt that data with Hotspot Shield to prevent WiFi data sniffers.

Flash drives. Think of these little tools as a syringe injecting a virus into your blood. You stick one of these into your computer, and if the drive has been seasoned with malware, your computer will get infected. Anti-virus software, however, can scan a flash drive and its files and knock out any malware.

Robert Siciliano is an Identity Theft Expert to Hotspot Shield. 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.