The internet is an invaluable recourse for many users. However, it also can pose many risks for unsuspecting users. One of the many risks that users can find themselves running into is known as ransomware. Scammers have long since used fear and intimidation with the intention to trick inexperienced users into giving up what they want. Often times could be anything from personal information to credit card numbers and more. Ransomware is a special kind of malware that can infect your system with devastating results. Some malware can do something as simple as displaying fake Anti-Virus and FBI warning messages and others can completely hold your system hostage. The latter are… Read More
Continue ReadingEmail Passwords Getting "Popped" in Seconds even in 2015?
Information Security has been a very hot topic for the past few years, especially in 2015. Every single day you can read about a new security breach at businesses that you frequent. There are nearly 300 security requirements or “controls” that many companies must adhere to, but for this article I will only talk about one small item (or is it really small?). Let’s talk about email. We use email every day to communicate with friends, family, and for work. I’d like to take a little deeper look at email and how important it is to us. Your email account can really be though of as being the “Keys… Read More
Continue ReadingApple Devices Vulnerable to Hackers
Many iOS devices could be vulnerable to a specific issue called the “masque” attack. This basically allows hackers to get into your phone and hijack traffic, as well as disable communication between apps. The way to acquire the malware is through a third party app installer. Many companies use this to install apps that aren’t on the official app store. The hackers disguise their malicious app as something that may be needed. The apps have hidden software allowing them to bypass user control. Apple released a software update in January to help fix this issue (iOS 8.1.3), but one third of devices are still on an earlier iOS. This will not affect many… Read More
Continue ReadingLastPass Security Breach
LastPass, a program that helps you remember all of your passwords and create new, secure passwords, has been hacked. This occurred in early June. The hackers got away with email addresses and the passwords to other accounts and plugins. Fortunately, the master password to any account was not taken, however it is recommended that you change your master password, and definitely change the minor passwords linked to the account. The chief executive of LastPass wrote in a blog on their website: “We are confident that our encryption measures are sufficient to protect the vast majority of users.” More information can be found on their blog and website at https://blog.lastpass.com/2015/06/lastpass-security-notice.html/
Continue ReadingSecurity Breach – AT&T Suffers from Inside Job
AT&T suffers from a security breach from three employees. Social security numbers, birthdates, and other private information was compromised. Read more at http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2014/06/13/personal-information-compromised-after-att-data-breach/
Continue ReadingAntivirus – False Sense of Security
Antivirus- False Sense of Security The Internet has become a part of us. Better yet, the Internet has become a major part of us. As someone who has been in the field for nearly 15 years, I am still amazed at how the entire world is inter-connected through the Internet and provides us an easy way to communicate and grow our businesses. With that said, the Internet also gives the bad people of the world a straight channel to the good people. By nature, we always steer around the “bad part of town”, but the Internet doesn’t allow us to steer clear. Forget your ADT Security System that you have… Read More
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