Recent hacks involving several high-profile social networking accounts once again highlight the potential vulnerability of social media. The sheer volume of users and the information that gets posted on social media sites create plenty of opportunity for an attacker to use social engineering or other methods to gain access to the accounts of individuals and organizations. The more information you post, the more your security and privacy are at risk.
Cyber Security Newsletters
What is Java? Java is a computer language that allows programmers and application developers to write software that can run on many different operating systems. Many applications and websites require end-users to have Java installed. Websites incorporate Java applets (small applications) to enhance the usability and functionality of a website. In general, when a user visits one of these websites, depending on their browser’s security settings, they may have no idea that the Java applet is automatically running.
If you’re traveling this summer, chances are you’ll encounter a Wi-Fi hotspot (network) or two. Wi-Fi in airports, hotels, train stations, coffee shops, and other public places can be convenient, but they’re often not secure, and can leave you at risk.
Senior citizens are embracing the digital age in greater numbers every year. Fifty-three percent of adults ages 65 and older now use the Internet and online tools such as email, according to the Pew Internet & American Life Project. Among those Internet users, seventy percent report going online daily. Not surprisingly, the Internet offers many benefits to older Americans, including the ability to better stay in touch with family members, near and far and across generations. A 2012 study by Microsoft and AARP found that online communication often was credited for improving dialogue among family members. The Internet helps senior citizens connect with society, bringing vital information and resources to them. For instance, they can bank and shop from the convenience of their homes. There are many sites geared toward the needs and interests of senior citizens, and growth of such sites is expected to continue.
The amount of data on the Internet is staggering. As consumers of online services, we create information through our use of social media, online shopping, and many other activities. Public records are also a source of information about individuals, which can get posted online. It is important to be aware that once this data is online, that can be difficult to remove.
In the pre-Internet era, con men, also known as confidence men, would gain victims’ confidence through the use of deception, to defraud them. The same principles are being used today, only now to an even greater efficiency through the use of online scams. One of the most prolific means for online scamming is phishing.
It’s tax season and criminals are seizing the opportunity for scams. Don’t become the next victim. Scammers leverage every means at their disposal to separate you from your money, your identity, or anything else of value they can get. They may offer seemingly legitimate “tax services” designed to steal your identity and your tax refund, sometimes with the lure of bigger write-offs or refunds. Scams may include mocked up websites and tax forms that look like they belong to the IRS to trick you into providing your personal information.
We’ve come to depend on our smartphones so heavily it is hard to remember what we did before we had them. If you have a smartphone, you now carry a fully functional computer in your pocket or purse. That’s a tremendous amount of information at your fingertips! Therefore, it is paramount that you safeguard the smartphone.
During 2012, cyber security incidents included theft of public and private intellectual property, hacktivism, ransomware, malware targeting mobile devices, and a surge of other malware, Black Hole Rootkit and Zero Access Trojan. What will we see in 2013? Below is a brief roundup, listed in no particular order, of several threats and trends we can expect during the next 12 months.
What is Cyber Crime? Cyber crime is a term that covers a broad scope of criminal activity using a computer. Some common examples of cyber crime include identity theft, financial fraud, web site defacements and cyber bullying. At an organizational level, cyber crime may involve.....
