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Put the Stupid Phone Away! Pedestrian Deaths Rise

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If you like taking an evening stroll, walking your dog, or even hitting the pavement for exercise sake, you could be putting yourself at risk according to a recent report from the Governors Highway Safety Association.

The statistics are shocking; the report looked at how many pedestrians were killed by vehicles while walking in 2018, and it was not only a 4 percent increase from 2017, but the highest rate of death since 1990.

Why are these numbers rising? There are a couple of reasons. First, there are more SUVs and trucks on the road, and these vehicles are more likely to kill someone due to the weight and size. In fact, since 2013, the number of pedestrian deaths caused by SUVs has risen by 50 percent. Another reason for this is that people are not paying attention, both behind the wheel and on the pavement. Why? Smartphones. Alcohol was also to blame, as about half of the deaths reported in 2017 was caused by alcohol consumption by either the pedestrian, the driver, or in many cases, both. Of course, there is also the fact that the population has grown, so there are naturally more people out and about on the streets.

Population growth might not seem like a big deal, but the statistics show otherwise. When you look at the states that have had the highest population growth from 2017 to 2018, you also see that there is an increase of the number of deaths from pedestrians getting hit by vehicles. There has also been an increase in the number of people who are walking to work instead of driving when you look at statistics from 2007 to 2016.

The Governors Highway Safety Association also reports another unsurprising fact; the majority of these deaths are occurring after dark, and when comparing the number of pedestrian deaths during the day and at night, the nighttime deaths are rising quickly when compared to daytime deaths. When you look at the number of nighttime deaths between 2008 and 2017, there was an increase of 45 percent. When looking at daytime pedestrian deaths, there is also an 11 percent increase between those same years.

If you are looking for a safe place to walk around, consider New Hampshire. There was only one death in the first half of 2018. On the other end of the spectrum, New Mexico had the highest rate of pedestrian deaths. Almost half of all pedestrian deaths in the United States occurred in Florida, Arizona, Texas, California, and Georgia. None of us should have to worry about crossing the street, and this might be a sign that it’s time to improve vehicle design and improvements to the road.

Robert Siciliano personal security and identity theft expert and speaker is the author of Identity Theft Privacy: Security Protection and Fraud Prevention: Your Guide to Protecting Yourself from Identity Theft and Computer Fraud. See him knock’em dead in this Security Awareness Training video.

Smartphones for Kids aren’t such a good Idea

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Maybe you believe that kids should not have smartphones because the devices can tell a pedophile where a child is located. But there’s other reasons that perhaps you haven’t thought of: cyberbullying, violent porn, online drug purchases, you name it.

5WSmartphones give kids ongoing Internet access; they can’t live without this constant connection because it’s the normality that they’ve grown up with. Children and teens are a product of their technological times and can’t imagine getting through the day without constant connection to the cyber universe.

An article in The Telegraph features a perspective from child psychotherapist Julie Lynn Evans. She points out that the striking increase in youth suicides and youth emotional issues (e.g., anorexia nervosa, cutting) is the result of constant Internet access.

Evans has personally seen the correlation; the driving force of the mental problems gets traced back to cyberspace and the smartphone. Remember the good ‘ol days when the only access that kids had was at the family room’s computer or even the one in their bedroom? You can’t carry that thing around.

Evans’ voice is supported by the big rise in admissions to child psychiatric units, having doubled in the past four years. Self-harm is way up too.

Though many people assert that the smartphone is only a tool and should not be blamed for suicide attempts or self-harming behavior, and that family dynamics are the fuel behind it all, Evans makes clear that smartphones are a big part of the multifactorial process of depression and turmoil.

Smartphones have changed the world; is it such a leap that they can cause the rise in youth psychological problems? Especially when the bullies can follow their targets anywhere? And it’s not just bullying; there are websites that, for instance, give tips on being anorexic.

Kids under 16 can’t legally drive, but they’ll always have legal access to smartphones. It’s up to parents to set rules and have conversations. At the same time, parents must take some credit for bad outcomes: A 14-year-old girl from a stable homelife isn’t going to take advice on how to drop from 110 pounds to 70 pounds just because her smartphone can connect her to a “pro-ana” website.

Robert Siciliano personal and home security specialist to BestHomeSecurityCompanys.com discussing burglar proofing your home on Fox Boston. Disclosures.

Don’t Believe These 6 Mobile Security Myths

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Smartphones are picking up popularity. You can now access email, social media, and other things from a device that fits in your pocket (most of the time). And, although we hear about breaches and security flaws in the news, it seems like a lot of us don’t think it applies to our mobile device. Here are some of the most common mobile security myths.
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  1. “Antivirus protection isn’t worth it for a smartphone.” Just because this device fits in the palm of your hand doesn’t mean it’s not worthy of as much protection as your computer. It should have comprehensive security that includes, antivirus, anti-malware and anti-spyware. Think of how often and indiscriminately you use that little thing, even while you’re in between bench press sets or stuck in line somewhere. The more you use it, the more important protecting the information on it becomes.
  2. “If I lose my phone I’ll just call it to find it.” A better way to locate it is to use an app with global positioning system (GPS), like McAfee® Mobile Security. With GPS, you can see the location of your device on a map, much easier than trying to hear your ringtone.
  3. “Smartphones don’t get phishing scams.” Actually, phishing scams can occur via text (also known as SMiShing ) and social media apps. Plus, the mobile device’s smaller screen makes it harder to detect suspicious links.
  4. “Apps for my phone are safe if they’re from trusted brands.” Fraudsters can easily make a malicious app look safe, and can even find its way into a reputable app store. McAfee Labs™ found that over 80% of Android apps track you and collect your personal information. Apps are also the main way that malware can be downloaded to your smartphone or tablet.
  5. “As long as my phone has PIN protection, it’s fine to have apps automatically log into my accounts.” A PIN is incomplete protection because hackers may guess the PIN code or use software to nail the four-digit sequence. You’d be surprised how many people’s PINs are 1234 or 2222. Even if you have a longer PIN or passcode on your device, it’s good practice to not have your apps automatically log you in, even though this may be convenient. You don’t want something to be able to easily access your bank accounts or post random messages on your social accounts.
  6. “SMS” adds protection. The short message service does not provide protection or monitoring of any kind. This means that text messaging is not secure and in fact, it’s often subject to spam.

Keep your mobile device safe with McAfee® Mobile Security, available on both Android and Apple devices. The Android version includes antivirus and anti-malware software, an app manager, anti-theft features, and web protection. The Apple version includes Secure Vault to protect your pictures and videos from prying eyes.

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.

In with the New, out with the Old

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If you plan on getting a new smartphone, have you ever thought of what the next user of your old smartphone will find on it?

7WThis assumes you’ll be selling or donating it, of course. Are you SURE those risqué photos are totally gone, or that your diary entries have been wiped clean? Experiments have been conducted in which someone buys used smartphones for the sole purpose of seeing how much personal data was left behind by the previous owner. I’ve done one, it wasn’t pretty. We found data on half the devices we bought in the second hand market.

It’s unbelievable how much data was retrieved in these experiments, including addresses, e-mails, passwords and text messages. A factory reset is not a totally reliable way to wipe clean your smartphone, either, as shown by the fact that some Android phones, despite the factory reset, still contained the previous user’s data.

Before taking the first step in getting rid of your mobile phone, back up all of its data. This can be done with a flash drive or automated PC service. For Android and iOS, use Apple’s iCloud or Google’s Auto Backup.

Next, wipe your phone squeaky clean. No, not with a rag and bleach, but “wipe” means destroy all the data using a specific method. This is NOT done by hitting the delete button or even reformatting the hard drive. What you don’t see isn’t necessarily not there.

A reformatted hard drive can still contain your data. To wipe an Android or iOS, use Blancco Mobile. To wipe a Mac computer, use the OS X Disk Utility or WipeDrive. For Windows PC use Active KillDisk. If you use a factory reset for a smartphone, remove any SIM cards too.

What if you can’t wipe your device? If you don’t wish to give it to someone else, then literally destroy it. Don’t just toss it in the trash. Take out the hard drive and mutilate it with a hammer. If you do want to sell it or donate it (get the receipt if you do donate it for an IRS return), realize that your data will still be on it. You never know who will end up getting their hands on the device.

If the idea of hammering at the hard drive isn’t your cup of tea, then find out from the recycling company who conducts the downstream recycling. You don’t want your device—containing your data—getting into a foreign landfill. The recycling company should be part of R2, or “responsible recycling,” or be part of e-Stewards certification programs.

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.

Should You Use Near-Field Communications?

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Have you ever wondered what kind of superpower you’d have? I’ve always wanted to send messages and ideas with my mind to others. My dream can sort of come true with near-field communications (NFC).

7DYou’ve might not have heard of NFC, but if you have a smartphone, there’s a good chance you’ve used it. If you have ever used Apple Pay or bumped your Galaxy smartphone with your buddy’s to send pictures, you have used NFC. By definition, NFC allows smartphones and similar devices to establish radio communication with each other by bringing them close together, usually no more than a few inches or centimeters. It’s an exciting technology that has a lot of promise, but there are a few concerns too. Let’s take a closer look at the pros and cons of NFC.

Pros

  • Convenient. In a busy digital world, people like transactions that are quick and easy. That is one of NFC’s greatest strengths. No more digging around a wallet or purse for a debit or credit card, all you need is your phone. The technology is intuitive—bring your phone close to the reader and a simple touch and bam! Transaction completed. Think about how much time that would save at coffee shops, grocery stores, etc.
  • Versatile. NFC can be used for many situations and in many different industries. In the future, NFC technology could allow you to use your phone to unlock your car, access public transportation, or launch applications depending on where you are (bedside table, work desk, etc.).
  • Safe. If your wallet is stolen, thieves immediately have access to your information. With a smartphone, your data can be protected by a password and/or PIN. But the biggest strength is that with NFC payment, retailers no longer have access to your credit card information.

Cons

  • Security. Although NFC technology is more secure than magnetic strip credit cards, there are still security concerns. As people use this technology to purchase items or access cars, there is more incentive for hackers to break into smartphones to steal financial and personal information.
  • Usability. NFC will only succeed if merchants and companies adopt it as the way of the mobile commerce future. Although the technology is consumer-friendly, it is expensive to purchase and install related equipment. And it still may take years before there are enough smartphone users for NFC to add enough value to merchants to implement.

NFC is a new and blossoming technology with lots of potential. Whether you decide to use it or not, there are always things you can do to keep your personal and financial information safe. For tips and ideas, check out Intel Security’s Facebook page and Twitter feed.

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.

Removing Location data from Mobile Pics

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Those cutesy photos in your phone of your puppy can reveal your location because the images leave footprints leading straight to your home. The trace data is called EXIF: exchangeable image file format. It may contain GPS coordinates of where you took the photos.

6WApple’s and Google’s smartphones ask owners if it’s okay to access their location. Click “okay,” and this means every photo you take gets tagged with GPS coordinates. Thieves look for this information, which remains with images that are uploaded to Flickr, Photobucket, etc. (Facebook strips EXIF.) Crooks or pervs can then use Google Maps to get your exact location.

Prevent Geotagging: Six Steps

  • For social media applications, turn off the location services.
  • For iPhone, go to Settings, Privacy, Location Services, and turn off the location services.
  • For Android, go to Settings, Location Services, and turn off the location services.
  • There are apps such as Pixelgarde that wipe geotags from existing online photos.
  • For computers, Windows can strip out the EXIF; just right click the image, click Properties, then in the “details” tab, hit the Remove Properties and Personal Information.
  • Mac users can use XnView, but this bulk-stripper works also for Windows.
  • Run Hotspot Shield which masks your IP address creating an incomplete profile of location data.

Many people don’t even know that photos store location information. You’re a walking map unless you take certain steps to protect your privacy. With those pictures you take with a smartphone camera, you also record all sorts of goodies like shutter speed, type of camera, date the image was taken, and of course…GPS coordinates. Here are the details for protecting your privacy:

Windows Phones

  • Select photos in Windows Explorer.
  • Right-click them, hit Properties.
  • Beneath the Details tab, click “Remove Properties and Personal Information.”
  • A window will pop up; hit Okay.
  • You’ll see a copy of each right-clicked photo in that same folder. The copied images are safe to upload.

Mac OS X

  • Use an app called SmallImage. Download the file.
  • Open the app; drag photos into its window.
  • Uncheck the box called “Recompress at quality.”
  • Click “Process,” and the copied photos will appear in the folder.
  • To replace the original photos rather than make duplicates, uncheck the “Add Suffix” box.

Linux

  • You’ll need a tool, EXIFTool. Install it on Ubuntu by running this command: sudo apt-get install libimage-exiftool-perl.
  • Next, to create clean copies of your photos, cd to their folder, then run: exiftool -all= *.jpg.
  • It will then generate copies of the photos

There exist a number of other programs for removing location data from your mobile phone, but the steps described here are among the easiest.

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.

I’ve been hacked, now what?

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You’re not special; a hacker CAN get into your computer or smartphone. Would you know how to clean up this mess?

4DStart by locating the portal through which the hacker got in such as a browser, emal program. Next, disconnect/uninstall this gateway from the Internet so it doesn’t invade other systems.

Check for suspicious activity by looking at your Activity Viewer or Task Manager. Check the CPU usage—if it spikes, you can have a better chance of spotting malicious activity. In fact, get familiar with how your device runs so that you know what’s normal and what’s not.

Once you’ve snipped access from the hackers, assess their damage.

  • Bring up to date your antivirus and anti-malware systems. If any protection system is disabled, enable it. Do a full system scan—using both systems.
  • Remove anything that doesn’t look right. Various malware scanners will locate bad things, but those bad things will continue downloading if there’s a browser plugin or extension. So take a keen look at all the small items that you’ve downloaded.
  • Change all of your passwords. Make them long and unique.
  • After that, log out of every single account. This will force the hackers to figure out your new passwords.
  • Clear out all cookies, the history and cache in your browser.
  • You may still not be out of the woods at this point. Keep an eye out for suspicious e-mails, new addresses in your account and other phantom activities.
  • If things are still going awry, wipe the hard drive and then reinstall your operating system. But first back up all of your data!

Prevention

  • Have a firewall, and one that’s properly configured.
  • Do not click links inside of e-mails, even if the sender’s address is one you know.
  • Do not open attachments from senders you don’t know or from someone you DO know but would never have a reason to send you an attachment.
  • Delete e-mails with urgent-sounding subject lines or claims you won a prize or inherited money.
  • Have both antivirus and anti-malware applications. They are not one and the same but may be packaged together.
  • Know what your security holes are.
  • Can’t be said enough: Make sure all of your passwords are very strong.
  • Keep your operating system and everything else up to date.
  • If you’re on public Wi-Fi, be extremely cautious. Use Hotspot Shield to encrypt your activities. A Wi-Fi with a password doesn’t mean it’s safe.
  • Never let your device out of your sight. Never. If you think you’ll ever need to leave it unattended, first equip the operating system with a lock and strong password.
  • Back your data up routinely.
  • Your device should have a remote wipe option so that you can eradicate data should someone steal the device.
  • Be very cautious about what you share online. Your computer may have all the bells and whistles of security, but all it takes is one lapse in judgment to let a hacker in, such as falling for some Facebook scam claiming you can watch a video of the latest commercial airliner crash caught on tape.

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.

15 tips to Protect your Digital Life

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How much of “you” is stored inside your smartphone? For some of you, the answer will be “My entire life.” And that’s practically true. For many, all sorts of highly private, sensitive information, including photos, are stored in that little device called a smartphone.

7WBut here is a better question: Did you know that “you” can be hacked into or in some other way stolen? And remotely at that? And some hacking methods can be very sly and sneaky. Even if your device is tethered to your waist every second, you still need to protect it from remote thieves. Here’s how to protect your smartphone.

  1. Customize your mobile so that if some smart-azz at a party snatches it, they won’t be able to figure out how to get your information. Use a custom lock screen and ambiguous icons for nameless applications—the dork-head won’t have a clue. Do you really want to have an icon sitting on your screen labeled “Finances,” “Banking Info” or “Hot Pics”? Remove default apps too. This won’t stop a skilled hacker, but it will stop the typical doofus in his tracks.
  2. Avoid public Wi-Fi such as at airports, hotels and coffee houses unless you are using a VPN from Hotspot Shield.
  3. Disable your GPS to keep your location hidden.
  4. Stay clear of unofficial versions of the popular applications. These are often found on 3rd party sites.
  5. If you use Google maps, disable or don’t enter your home address.
  6. If you’re not using the Internet, get offline.
  7. Keep far from applications that require some kind of strange permission.
  8. Don’t save your passwords in your browser, even though this is convenient. Instead use a password manager; this is more secure.
  9. Enable a passcode on your device. If you have an Android, customize your lock screen. For the iPhone, use a longer passcode, not a PIN.
  10. Go through all of your apps to make sure that they don’t have access to personal information that you don’t want them to have access to. Pay close attention to all of those checkboxes you click for the “agreement” portions of installing apps. Every month, audit your apps.
  11. Never save a password in a very private application like that of your bank’s. Having to log in every time is a small fee to pay for the security this brings. Similarly, always log out completely from your e-mail every time you’re done using it.
  12. Use cloud encryption for your personal information. The Android allows encryption for all data on the device.
  13. Keep the phone’s operating system and app software updated. Don’t get lax with this.
  14. Anti-theft software. Enable the remote wipe function. This kind of app will help you locate a lost or stolen smartphone, but don’t delay in setting this up.
  15. Keep a backup of all of your device’s data.

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.

Stop! Do You Really Want to Send That Photo?

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Yes we all use (or at least 96% of us do) our smartphones to take photos. But almost half of us (49%) have sent or received intimate content (photos, texts, etc.). So it’s time to stop and think about what we’re sharing and with whom.

I’ve said this before…the rise of smartphone usage has provided us with tons of convenience, but also brought about different risks we need to consider. Sharing intimate or racy information via mobile devices can set you up for potentially adverse situations.

A study by McAfee shows a number of adults sharing private details about their lives, including those of an intimate nature such as nude photos and sexts—all of this on unsecured digital devices—now, that’s just asking for a social scandal.

27% of us still don’t secure our mobile devices with a basic personal identification number (PIN) or passcode. And 38% of us have shared our PIN or passcode with our significant other. This puts you at risk for cyber stalking, identity theft and leakage of their intimate data.

love-relationship

Come on now people, stop being so reckless. No matter what your age group or gender, a lot of you are engaging in behaviors that will sting you in the end. The time to wake up and get smart is BEFORE something adverse happens that will expose you in ways you never wanted.

Here are some things you’ll want to remember as we head into Valentine’s Day before sending that loving message.

  • Be careful what you share. Don’t share your passwords with anyone, including significant others and family members. If you absolutely need to share it, create a unique code just for that account, and change it immediately if you suspect foul play.
  • Put a PIN on it. Always use a PIN or passcode on your smartphone and other mobile devices. If your phone is lost or stolen, anyone who picks up your device could get access to all your information and publish it online.
  • The delete button is your friend. If you do send personal or intimate messages, take the time to delete the content from your mobile device and personal accounts as soon as possible. It doesn’t take that much time and it could save you years of damage control for your reputation.
  • Once you share, it’s no longer yours. Remember before you hit send, post, tweet, etc. that once you share private information it’s now out of your control and you’re reliant on others to protect your privacy–for better or for worse.

To join the conversation use #SextRegret or follow McAfee on Twitter @McAfeeConsumer or Facebook.

Also, don’t forget to play the Crack the PIN to win game that was launched by Intel and McAfee to encourage people to take simple steps toward privacy everywhere by locking, tracking, and encrypting their devices. Go to www.mcafee.com/PINit to try and crack the pin to learn about why it’s critical to protect your mobile devices with a PIN and try and win a Samsung Galaxy tablet or McAfee LiveSafe™ service if you guess the PIN!

The Futures Company and MSI conducted surveys in the US, UK, Australia, Canada, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, The Netherlands, Japan, Mexico, China, India, Singapore and Brazil among 9,337 men and women, ages 18 to 54. The survey was conducted in December 2013 – January 2014.

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.

5 Technology Tips to navigate Winter Travel

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Being stuck at an airport due to winter weather can be a real downer, but with an assortment of devices, apps and other instruments for connecting to the world, you can make that down time pass in a jiffy.

10DWith today’s technology, gone are the days where you nearly go bonkers doing endless crossword puzzles or reading one celebrity magazine after another to pass away the time, or where you go nuts wondering when you’ll be able to board a plane home. Following are common concerns and their tech solutions.

Juicing up

Being stuck in an airport for hours is no reason to be disconnected from the cyber world.

  • Check out the terminal’s tech shops where you can buy a smartphone case that also doubles as a battery pack.
  • They may also sell a battery pack that’s pre-charged.
  • You can also use a kiosk that charges devices for a cheap fee.

Entertainment

Here are some fun suggestions that will help pass time:

  • Dots: A low-cost puzzle game in which you try to connect as many same-colored dots as you can within one minute.
  • Minecraft Pocket Edition: This simulates building in a virtual world, and you can make it as simple or as complicated as you choose.
  • Angry Birds Star Wars II: This is a puzzle video game involving 30 different characters. 

Navigating

  • An app for Android and iOS, called Airport Life, will help you get around large, confusing airports. This app includes a feature that updates automatically flight information and other data.

Flight Status

  • See if your preferred airline provides mobile apps through which you can book a flight, check its status and even select seats.
  • Visit the FlightAware website to track flights.
  • The Misery Map site provides an interactive graphic that shows detailed flight information for various airports. It also displays weather information.

Stranded overnight?

  • Hotel Tonight is a free app for the iOS mobile that displays vacant hotel rooms for a discount in over 150 markets.

Robert Siciliano, is a personal security expert contributor to Just Ask Gemalto and author of 99 Things You Wish You Knew Before Your Mobile was Hacked! . Disclosures For Roberts FREE ebook text- SECURE Your@emailaddress -to 411247.