risksec Archives - Page 2 of 2 - Cyber Protection Group

DNA Testing Kits and Privacy Concerns

July 12, 2019

DNA Testing Kits DNA testing kits like 23andMe, AncestryDNA and FamilyTreeDNA have been purchased and used by many to discover more information about ancestors and their heritage. Consumers purchase kits from various brands as gifts for friends and family as well as buying such kits out of genuine curiosity. DNA test kits are able to open doors to the past and allow people to connect with their genealogy in a whole new way. All in all, such DNA test kits services are in high-demand these days, but an even higher demand exists for the data within the kit. Let’s take a look at what happens to your DNA after receiving… Read More

Ransomware: The Basics

July 5, 2019

Ransomware Within the past month, countless city governments, corporations and individuals have fallen victim to a ransomware attack. For example, three city governments in Florida are dealing with ransomware attacks currently. Along with being attacked and losing their data, they are paying hundreds of thousands of dollars to get it back because they did not properly prepare for such an event. Continuing, in order to get a better understanding of how anything can be vulnerable to this type of attack, let us break down exactly what ransomware is. What is Ransomware? By definition, ransomware is, “malware planted illegally in a computer or mobile device that disables its operation or… Read More

Technology Accessories Under $50

June 28, 2019

Technology Accessories Browsing the Web If you are anything like me, you love to browse Amazon. It is almost impossible to not find what you are looking for, plus a couple of items you didn’t even know you needed. Plus, with Amazon Prime and free two-day shipping, it’s hard to resist. When I was in the market for a new MacBook Pro charger, I stumbled across a cord organizer for said charger. Just like that, the organizer made it’s way into my cart and I proceeded to check out. Finding new tech accessories like the charger organizer inspired me to browse through what other tech accessories Amazon has to offer.… Read More

Using a Password Manager – Part 1

June 21, 2019June 21, 2019

password manager If you are like me, then you may struggle with trying to remember your password for the many social media, banking and other online accounts you have. The Login Struggle With everything being online based these days, a username and password is an essential part of paying bills, connecting with others and maintaining security. As I sat at my computer trying to remember my email password, I decided to explore the realm of password managers. I have always been curious about using one to store all of my passwords. I then decided to conduct some research on password managers to see if using one would useful or… Read More

How Instagram Chooses Ads for your Account

June 14, 2019June 14, 2019

Instagram Ads Whether we like it or not, ads are popping up all over social media, quite literally. Now, a user cannot even scroll through five photos on Instagram, for example, without seeing an ad. But, nonetheless, millions of users continue to post, like and share on Instagram. As the endless scrolling continues, a user might begin to notice that the ads showing up in their feed are products or accounts they might be interested in. How does this happen? According to Instagram, they “use information about what you do on Instagram and Facebook (parent company) and on third-party sites and apps” to cater ads to users. Further, a user… Read More

Apple AirPods Secret Feature

June 7, 2019June 10, 2019

AirPods as Listening Devices AirPods are currently one of the most popular wireless earbud options out there. With their one-tap set up, great sound quality and 24-battery life, Apple AirPods have many great features. One feature users may not know about is that AirPods can be used as a listening device. In IOS 12, there is a hearing or live listen feature available on the swipe up control center. This feature allows an iPhone user to place there phone in one spot and listen in to the audio on their AirPods from a distance. Wondering how to set up this feature? Here’s how: How to add… Read More

Creating a Strong Password

May 31, 2019

password Strong Password Tip and Tricks Strong passwords (PWs) are a critically important component to protecting an account. Within an account, a variety of personal information resides. In this article, several tips on creating a solid password as well as a few security tips regarding passwords will be addressed. To begin, in 2019, a user cannot use passwords like QWERTY, 12345678 or PASSWORD anymore. Due to the fact that cyber attacks on the rise, the accounts with simple passwords would be the first ones to be hacked. Creating a Password Several levels of PW strength exist. Here are a few examples of PW combinations (plus an example of each)… Read More

Two-Factor Authentication – Proactive Security

May 24, 2019

Two-Factor Authentication two-factor authentication In 2019, the world is seeing first hand, the rise of cyber attacks. As a result, we have have seen many attacks focused on large companies worth millions. Further, individuals logging into Facebook or their online banking are targets as well. Hackers target everyday people that are not aware of security regulations and procedures like a large company where such items are required. In everyday life, they are not. Consequently, individuals appear as easy targets due to the lack of security knowledge. To combat this, strong password appears to be the best defense. However, strong passwords are beginning to not be enough to… Read More

What is Phishing?

May 10, 2019May 10, 2019

Introduction to Phishing Phishing is one of the top tactics used to steal personal information (2). This scam occurs when someone posing as a legitimate business, person, etc. fraudulently solicits information from an unsuspecting user.(1). Often times scammers pose as bankers, technical support agents or an employee at a doctor’s office. This tactic is often times successful. This is due to the fact that most people wouldn’t think twice about answering a call from one a doctor’s office or a local bank. Regardless, the end goal is simply to steal information. But, who they target and how the scam executes varies between the different methods. To find… Read More