Online Safety
Computers around the world are infected. What happened? On Friday, May 12, 2017, a massive cyber attack called WannaCry took place globally, affecting millions of computers, thousands of companies and agencies, and catching most of the world totally off guard. This brand of hack falls under the category of ransomware, which you can learn more…
So, if the internet is vast and accessible to all, then the Dark Web is the online activity that takes place in murky waters below the surface, under the radar. And it isn’t for the innocent or faint-hearted. Fortunately, it’s not easy to get to either.
Anybody with a little know-how can find, view and “capture” your IP address. With the right technical know-how and a computer trick here and there, companies, government institutions, and the typical nerdy IT guy—and even your annoying teenage neighbor—can spy on your IP address. They can sniff out your IP address without your permission. But…
Are you concerned about how to protect your privacy online and the safety of your personal information on the internet? You should be. It’s not that the internet is an inherently dangerous place. But it’s certaintly not a safe, secure refuge where your personal information is carefully protected. All you need to do is follow…
Be the champion and wrangle a promotion out of it. Companies are in the business of making money through selling products and services. But the way companies operate today primarily revolves around having a strong online presence and having networks and servers to run day-to-day operations. Even some of the biggest companies with massive IT…
It’s scary to think that’s the data breach news you hear on the news are all true and not exaggerated. You hear stories in the news about data breaches, identity theft, hacker and more all the time.
Every week, publications such as The Wall Street Journal and business sections of major city newspapers report the latest incidents of corporate hacking. As it turns out, the problem isn’t caused exclusively by a growing number of hackers armed with new tools and strategies. The companies being hacked make their own contributions to their security…
Personal computer hacks have become so common that almost everyone has to deal with it at least once in their lives. And it’s not just simple pranks that amateur hackers used to pull in the early days of mainstream computer adoption. Today, cyberattacks are sophisticated, well-orchestrated, and capable of posing severe threats to the personal…
#5 is simply awesome. There’s a war going on every day in cyberspace. It’s a war that puts companies and agencies trying to serve their customers against the cyber-thieves (hackers, spies, etc.) trying to get at their data. But online attacks can also come from close by: From some online thieves prowling unsecured wireless networks…
When there’s a cyberattack, it makes the news—but most of the time it doesn’t do anything to makes us as aware, worried or alert as we should be. That’s what bothers many cybersecurity experts. In their opinion, most of us are not taking aggressive-enough steps and actions to protect our credit and bank accounts. Their…
Who bothers to research the latest scams, malware, or phishing techniques? Not many of us. We all have more fun things to do online. Besides, you’re too smart to be scammed by some online trickster. Or are you? According to most statistics, most of us (over 90%) wouldn’t easily identify a “sophisticated” phishing attempt. Phishing…
Many Americans are afraid for their personal safety these days. Chapman University conducts a survey on fears in the U.S. each year and as of 2018, 23 percent of respondents were afraid of walking alone at night. Twenty-eight percent were afraid of mugging, and 25 percent of abduction or kidnapping. If you’re one of the…
It’s the everyday habits that put you at risk. There are two types of people who go online. Those who have run into trouble or have been hacked Those who have (luckily) managed to avoid any issues We say “lucky” because the majority of people are “guilty” of online behavior that tends to put them…
Let’s face it — traveling isn’t what it used to be. It’s not just about packing a suitcase full of clothes and a new book or magazines. Today, most of us can’t leave our homes without a laptop, tablet, camera and a smartphone or two. That’s why these travel privacy and safety tips are so…
Talk about a bad day: That’s how you’d feel if a hacker managed to gain access to your home computer. Yes, it may seem that hackers primarily attack large companies, but the truth is that they can also target your computer just as easily. Of course, they can’t do anything until they get “inside” your…
Has your computer been moving slower than normal? There may be a reason—malicious software. When the performance of our hardware begins to behave unusually, our default reaction is to think that it’s a virus. Though a virus is always a possibility, more often than not the issue is a specific type of infection known as…
“Yeah, yeah, yeah.” That’s what most people say to themselves when they read another article on passwords and the need to be smart about them. Or maybe what they say is “da-da-da.” Most people are lackadaisical about the topic because they haven’t had an account breached (broken into) because of a password takeover. Or maybe…
A wireless home network is one of the most convenient of modern conveniences. Having Wi-Fi at home so we can connect our smartphones, tablets, laptops, and even refrigerators to the Internet makes our lives easier. But it is also a wifi security risk. Hackers are just waiting to crack open your network and uncover your…
We look at that news differently. WhatIsMyIPAddress.com looks at how news of another network attack affects the customers of that attacked company. We wonder how it affects you (because perhaps you’re a customer of the company) and want you to know what you should do. There’s a reason for that: the “sensitive data” that was…
As a super strong extra layer of security, two-factor authentication prevents a thief who knows your login credentials from signing in.
There are so many scams and so many people losing money. What we really need more than anything is good advice for avoiding scams. Advice we can remember, trust and follow.
When you think of artificial intelligence (AI) your mind might rush to the paranoid fantasies of the dark future of The Terminator franchise or Hal 9000 in 2001: A Space Odyssey. When will super-smart machines destroy us all? Countless movies have explored the perils of machines developing self-awareness. How safe is AI in reality, and…
Grandparents and parents are being tricked with fake voices as cybercrooks combine family emergency scams with AI. You can’t believe what you see or hear anymore, not with the very convincing combination of scams and AI. Artificial intelligence is the con artists newest tool in their bag of tricks. According to a Wall Street Journal…
Have you used artificial intelligence today? You most likely have, whether you realized it or not. AI-powered tools, platforms, and technologies have become so common that you can’t escape it even if you tried—unless you go seriously off-grid and take up residence in a forest somewhere. If you’ve never stopped to think about the effects…
Phone call-based scams are nothing new. But it seems like scammers are working overtime to find new ways to cheat and steal from their victims. The latest phone scams involve AI voice cloning to trick people into thinking that they are being contacted by a loved one. Protecting yourself from AI phone scams requires an…
Cybercriminals are leveraging recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI) to supercharge their efforts to compromise login credentials. AI tools provide the ability to automate password cracking on an unprecedented scale, posing serious threats to online security. Hackers are now using AI to crack passwords in seconds that would have previously taken years. AI Dramatically Speeds…
People are finding a lot of uses for Apple’s AirTags, including tracking pets, luggage, and camping gear. With assistance from an Apple AirTag, Aunny Grace shockingly discovered that her lost luggage wound up in a homeless encampment with all its contents missing. Her Apple AirTag led the way. As tech devices in our lives become…
Once email addresses fall into the wrong hands, there’s a greater chance the criminals might work on discovering your email password and compromising your account. Even scarier is that information in a data breach sometimes includes passwords. Even if it doesn’t, hackers and cybercriminals have ways to guess or uncover passwords…it happens all the time.
Tell Amazon ASAP if you’re a victim of a delivery scam. Amazon takes fraud and scams quite seriously and offers a range of services on its website to help you stay safe. They have a page dedicated to protecting their customers from scams.
“There’s an app for that.” is something you may hear as a joke, but truly, it seems like there are apps available for everything. We use apps for navigation, socializing, dating, ordering food, and even meditating. There are even apps to manage our other apps! But you’re probably wondering: What are these apps doing in…
With the releases of macOS Ventura and iOS 16 in 2022, Apple rolled out a new feature called lockdown mode. It’s an excellent additional layer of protection, however balancing security with usability is something Apple users are going to have to evaluate. Some people may find it works well while others are frustrated with the…
Protecting yourself from online threats is a big job. In an era of increasing digital surveillance and cyber threats, Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) have become a go-to tool for protecting online privacy and security. Sometimes, VPN users will even call their preferred VPN “unhackable.” But how accurate is that label? VPNs can certainly increase your…
There are a lot of things people can do online that aren’t legal. Downloading pirated movies, for example, is one of them. Many people have heard about VPNs, or virtual private networks. They know using a VPN can hide their IP address, masking a person’s actual location. And it works! If you’re in New York…
Beware: because of scams like gift card draining, you really need to think twice and be on your toes when buying a gift card from a gift card stand at a supermarket or a drug store. Buying a gift card is one of the quickest and easiest ways to shop during the holidays or to get a gift for a birthday, anniversary, graduation, or just to say, “thanks for being you!” It’s so quick and easy that scammers have found a way to steal the value of the gift card right from under your nose.
Finally, FBI, Others Stop the Avalanche Network If you follow stories about online thieves and cyberterrorism, the news is almost always about hackers getting away with a huge, damaging attack. But in early December of 2016, the FBI and the United States Department of Justice released good news to the citizens of the U.S. and…
The typical office worker spends an average of 45+ hours a week at work…or on work. And these days, with everything being networked and accessible, most of that time is spent working on the company computer. Of course, many companies today like providing laptops and even tablets to their employees so they can take their…
Many of us have been there before – behind the proverbial bars of social media punishment. We’re left shocked and reeling, wondering: How did we land in Facebook jail? Perhaps we shared an article our Uncle Bobby sent us, or tagged someone in a graphic photo who then reported us to Facebook. Facebook flagged our…
A backdoor is a hidden vulnerability or a method of bypassing a website’s normal authentication procedures that allow access to that system. A backdoor attack is a type of cyber attack in which a hacker gains unauthorized access to that system. Although they are technically a virus and a kind of Trojan attack, backdoors aren’t…
When First Republic Bank of San Francisco failed in early May, 2023, it was less than two months after the failures of both Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank. These newsworthy failures are the first banks to fail since 2020. Additionally, according to the FDIC, there have been 566 bank failures since 2000. Although Signature…
2FA is an extra step at login that ensures only you can log into your accounts, EVEN IF someone has your username and password!
Target. Home Depot. The IRS. The Social Security Administration. Fitbit. LinkedIn. Time-Warner Cable. Twitter. What do they all have in common? They’ve all been hacked on a major scale. The list of companies and organizations getting hacked is diverse and long, accounting for millions upon millions of email addresses and more, stolen from customer/client databases…
Email tracking software provides invaluable visibility into how your recipients engage with your emails. These data and insights can help you significantly refine and optimize your outreach campaigns for better results. Better emails lead to more sales. We’re going to review 10 leading email tracking tools for 2023 based on their key features, pricing options,…
Whenever you open a web browser and connect to the Internet, you take a security risk. The web is full of malicious cybercriminals. To protect your privacy and safeguard your device against attacks, you need a secure web browser. Google Chrome is the most popular web browser on the market—as of 2019, 2.6 billion Internet…
Most of us couldn’t live without messaging apps. Whether we’re talking to family, friends, or colleagues, these apps keep us communicating no matter where we are in the world. As convenient as messaging apps are, they can also lead to privacy issues. Messages you think are private might be read by third parties, or the…
The advances in technology over the decades are phenomenal. Consider this: The mobile phone/smartphone in your pocket has more computing power than NASA used to go to the moon in the 1960s—the Apollo Guidance Computer (AGC) had approximately 64Kb of memory and operated at 0.043Mhz. Arguably, you’re also probably more attached to it than some…
Netflix has become a household name for the digital natives and nomads of today because there are few creature comforts — like a library of your favorite movies and TV shows – that you can bring with you and have access to anywhere in the world with a click of a mouse. If you go…
As the largest digital marketplace in the world, Amazon unsurprisingly attracts many scammers looking to make money off unsuspecting online shoppers. Although the company has made many efforts to reduce this kind of activity on its website, people always find a way around it. Amazon customers aren’t the only targets of these scams, however. Some…
What it all comes down to is this: Because of the new AI scams, you simply cannot believe what you see, hear, or read these days. More than that, you need to slow down and think before reacting or responding to any message, video, email, or text you receive…starting today.
As the digital landscape evolves, the quest for robust cybersecurity solutions has led us to blockchain, a technology that’s redefining the parameters of digital safety and trust. Imagine a world where keeping records doesn’t depend on one big, central keeper. That’s blockchain for you – a distributed network that says goodbye to the single point…
Does Brute Force Password Cracking Still Work? If you challenged a friend to crack your password, they’d probably try entering some of the most commonly used passwords, your child’s name, your date of birth, etc. If you challenged a seasoned hacker to crack your password, they’d probably do it in under a minute, thanks to…
Hacking has evolved. No longer does hacking only encompass the nefarious activities of a bored teenager or a Russian spy. People are hacking for good, or ethical hacking, now. An entire field has developed around ethical hacking — penetration testing or pentesting — which involves hackers being paid to test a company’s cybersecurity defenses. Getting…
In today’s digital world, when you never know who could be watching your activity online. You may wonder how to best keep your information safe. One way to stay relatively anonymous is with a temporary phone number or burner number. When you consider how often you use your phone number to sign up for online…
There are plenty of us who don’t know that much about computers, other than how to use them. With some luck, maybe the last computer you purchased (or was purchased for you) is still working. However, once it’s time to go shopping for a new computer, it can get a little nerve-racking if you haven’t…
A scammer can spoof an email address, a phone number, or a website by mixing or using letters or symbols to help you think it’s legitimate. Spoofing, as far as email is concerned, is creating and using a fake or specially constructed email address in place of a legitimate one.
Bypass content restrictions, Netflix blocks and government censorship with a VPN. What a VPN is and how it works A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is an online service that can help bypass internet restrictions, allowing you to view the content you want. First, a VPN takes the Internet connection you’re on—whether your home connection or…
Rapid advances in technology have allowed us to incorporate cool new toys and tools into our daily lives. The doorbell camera is no exception. Gone are the days of staring out your peephole or even opening your front door without knowing who lurks on the other side. Doorbell cameras aren’t relegated to large mansions, either.…
How Your IP Address Could Lead Anyone to Your Front Door You probably don’t think too much about your IP address, but maybe it’s time you did. Most people (and maybe you) know their IP address is a digital address of some sort that helps the Internet deliver content to your computer. And perhaps you…
In a world where rapid advances in technology have brought numerous benefits to our lives, we might not immediately recognize the cybersecurity threats that face us in the most common smart devices we use daily. Most of us understand the need for online firewall protection and antivirus software. Even when our computers’ operating systems come…
You meet someone online, but something doesn’t seem quite right. They seem to lead an abnormal lavish lifestyle. They are constantly traveling, their photos look like they’ve been in magazines, and seem to have an amazing job. But suddenly… that all changes. They start asking you for money out of nowhere, they refuse to meet…
It turns out that CDK Global, a primary provider of services to the dealerships, suffered a cybercrime: a ransomware attack that knocked the company’s systems offline and rendered them useless…even unavailable.
After a natural disaster, it’s natural to feel sympathy for the people affected. Some people volunteer to travel to help clean up and rebuild after a hurricane, tornado, flood, or other disaster. For most of us, though, the best way we can help is by donating money to those doing the work. But there are…
Whether you are shopping for a VPN for the first time or you are ready to make a switch to a new platform, your best option is to take advantage of this year’s free VPN trials. It’s a great opportunity to “try before you buy.” After all, each VPN has its own features, which may…
HTTP status codes are a communication tool between servers and browsers. The status code is what allows both the server and the browser to know exactly what is going on when it comes to requests and responses. If you have ever noticed a “404 Error” on a website you’re trying to load, then you have…
As you know, free Wi-Fi that gives you an Internet connection seems to be available anytime you’re out of the house and where you need it the most. You can connect at coffeehouses in the morning on your way to work, at lunch you can find wireless networks at most dining spots, and you can…
fter exploring the CR Security Planner, ourselves, we’ve learned the best way to use it and know what to expect. We put together the Easy Start Guide for everyone.
The threat of a cyber attack can strike terror in the hearts of anyone who spends time online. From hacks against individuals like phishing schemes or evil twinning, to large scale cyber attacks such as malware and ransomware, it seems like malevolent hackers lurk in every corner of the Internet. The good news is that…
Cryptocurrency scams reached unprecedented levels in 2024, and the importance of protecting yourself from these internet scams continues to rise. In 2024 alone, Americans lost $9.3 billion to crypto fraud—a staggering 66% increase since 2023. Digital currencies are gaining mainstream popularity, which means there are far more potential scam victims than there were just a…
The scammers (or pretenders) who claim to be able help victims recover money in a crypto fraud cases are lying. They’re giving false hope to the desperate victims while taking their money along the way.
Crypto rug pulls cause billions of dollars of losses for unsuspecting investors. Unfortunately, they’re a common occurrence in the cryptocurrency space. They involve attracting investors to a crypto project, then stealing their funds or leaving them with worthless assets. It can be tough to know when a new crypto project is worth investing in or…
What is cryptocurrency exactly? Cryptocurrency can best be described as a digital form of money. The “crypto” in the name comes from the cryptography, or coding, that’s part of the process. This includes standard computer coding as well as complex mathematical algorithms or “codes.” Why cryptocurrency? What’s desirable about cryptocurrency is that it’s decentralized. This…
The term cyber attack may cause your palms to sweat and your body to shake in fear. Cyber attacks sound as malevolent as terrorist attacks, and in some ways they can prove just as harmful. Many of us assume we’ll never have to deal with this threat — we have Internet security and firewall protection…
Cyberattacks on individuals and companies have evolved to such an extent that good cybersecurity has become a fundamental part of daily life. Even as experts develop ways to thwart cybercriminals, hackers keep getting around their defenses. That means that all the sensitive information about you or your company is at risk of being stolen, sold,…
The COVID-19 pandemic has touched nearly every aspect of our lives and caused ripple effects that will continue for years to come. Many consider the economic damage as one of these knock-on effects, but it may not be the biggest threat to come out of the pandemic. What could concern us the most in the…
Cybersecurity Awareness Month Checklist: Use this helpful checklist to improve your online security habits and privacy profile.
With more people working remotely from home, it’s important to boost security for the home office.
Need to know the latest on viruses, malware, privacy, data breaches, IoT, threat intelligence, etc in 280 characters or less? WhatIsMyIPAddress.com is here to help! Twittersphere is full of security experts, researchers, and hobbyists who are more than eager to share their thoughts, news, and researches on information security, industry best practices and latest threats.…
If you run a small business, cyberattacks are the last thing you might anticipate. You may have cybersecurity protocols in place that you assume will protect you from online scams and malevolent actors. However, from phishing scams to ransomware, criminals often target small businesses. Lured by the potential of easy access to valuable data, cybercriminals…
If any of your personal information is available online, the chances are, it has been exposed to cybercriminals via a data breach at least once. Most corporations have ways to mitigate this exposure and will inform you if a breach has occurred. However, a disastrous personal data breach can lead to identity fraud and a…
Using a data breach check tool is the best way to find out if you have accounts that have been compromised.
Personal data privacy should be your personal mission! One phrase that was in the news (and still is) at the end of 2016 was “Russian hackers.” Online overseas criminals were being blamed for hundreds of data breaches, including interfering with the Presidential election. If there was ANYTHING good to come out of all that news,…
Not all hackers are out to steal your identity or even your money. Sometimes, like real-life street vandals, hackers just want to disrupt business-as-usual for a company for no reason other than just to do it. That’s the idea behind an attack known as a Distributed Denial of Service, or “DDoS.” A DDoS is aimed…
You spend most of your adult life saving for retirement, assuming that the money you put away in an investment account or a 401(k) will be safe. But your investment account is like your bank account or any other online account you have. It can be hacked. If someone gains access to it, they can…
If you’ve ever been a victim of a cyberattack, you may have experienced overwhelming emotions and adverse psychological impact. You are not alone. Behind every nefarious cyber scheme, there’s a human element that preys on victims’ emotions. Cybercriminals are driven by their own psyches and often exploit human nature to achieve their goals. Through psychological…
Digital forensics is a subcategory of forensic science that looks at evidence found on computers, digital devices, internet networks, and any other digital platform. If forensics is the science of investigating a crime scene, think of digital forensics as the science of investigating a digital crime scene. When someone uses the internet or a digital…
Most of us rely on the Internet daily for work, social media, bill payments, and more. Nevertheless, digital privacy is vital to us all. Risks to the personal data we share online are numerous, and even the stoutest cybersecurity measures can’t eliminate them all. Federal and state laws exist that help to protect us against…
An old adage says that there are two things certain in life: death and taxes. As we’re thinking about our 2020 returns, you can certainly add “new tax scams” to the list. New tax scams keep popping up. While all adult citizens of the U.S. are gathering information to file their taxes with the Internal…
IPVanish is a well-established, US-based VPN service that has been providing fast, secure connections since 2012. Offering apps for all major platforms, IPVanish aims to provide a full-featured VPN solution for securing devices and data on the go. We reviewed IPVanish a while back, but let’s take a closer look at some of its most…
The internet’s Domain Name System (DNS) serves as our trusty translator, turning website names into IP addresses that computers can understand. Unfortunately, DNS’s universal use has also made it an ideal vehicle for cyberattacks to slyly sneak in. DNS tunneling has emerged as one of the most troubling threats, providing attackers with covert communication channels…
Protecting your personal information today requires a lot more effort than it used to! It seems like there are always new ways for scammers to access your information, including your passwords, log-in credentials, banking information, credit or debit card numbers, and even your Social Security number. Keeping stopping phone tracking is one of the many steps you…
Throughout Cybersecurity Awareness Month, the Department of Homeland Security and the National Cybersecurity Alliance will focus on key topics and provide tips to help everyone learn and adopt new and improved online habits. These are tips that cybersecurity experts routinely stress, but are still not widely implemented by consumers and employees.
As our smartphones become the hub for everything from banking to personal communication, keeping them secure has never been more important. These devices hold a goldmine of sensitive data—and that makes them a prime target for cybercriminals. One emerging technology promising stronger protection is the embedded SIM card, or eSIM. Unlike traditional SIM cards, eSIMs…
Spyware may sound like something James Bond or another secret agent might use in the latest spy thriller movie. But it’s very real, and it’s way more common than most people think. Part of spyware’s method is to be hard to detect, so you may not even realize your device is infected – especially if…
Imagine, if you will, that you’re hooked on a soap opera. For years, your favorite character has been Wiley Finlay — a dashing, handsome, and reliable hero. However, he begins to act out of character. He looks like Finlay, he sounds the same, but Wiley Finlay now has a mustache to twirl and takes part…
ExpressVPN has long had the reputation of being one of the best, fastest, and most secure VPNs available. Three unique things you need to know about ExpressVPN: Quick overview: There is much to love about ExpressVPN, and there is probably one thing not to like: the comparatively higher monthly cost at any subscription level. The…
In recent years, AI face-swapping apps, also known as “deep fake” apps have become hugely popular. Users can swap out their face with a celebrity, put their face in a premade video, or swap faces with friends. While these apps were created for harmless fun, they’ve raised many concerns about data privacy, spreading disinformation, and…
The term for this trend of tricking consumers into visiting fake websites is website spoofing. They’re not necessarily imitating other websites’ primary home pages. Instead, they create webpages/websites that seem to be associated with a company or organization.
There’s a con artist lurking in every corner of the internet and on in our day-to- lives. It’s no wonder our friends and family are constant in danger of falling for scams.
There are five English-speaking countries who agree help each other out when it comes to tracking down illegal information on the internet. It’s called the Five Eyes Alliance.
It’s not something anybody wants to think about it, but it’s true: scammers prey on people who have just survived natural disasters like floods, fires, and storms. Flood victims need to be aware of in-person and online scams that are designed to target victims and charitable donors alike. Let’s go over the most common ways…
Use the Data Breach Check resource from WhatIsMyIPAddress.com Here’s a word of advice: Unless you’ve done a data breach check recently, you won’t know if the network attack hurt you or might one day. An email hack checker can quickly tell you whether your address has shown up in known breach datasets, so you can…
Criminals may sometimes work diligently to steal money, but other times, they just want to take the easy route. One way they do that is to open credit accounts in the name of an unsuspecting, easy victim. If you take steps to freeze your credit, they’ll have to move on to another victim.
In pursuit of criminals and justice, The FTC shares the details of consumers’ fraud reports with law enforcement agencies and organizations that fight fraud. Your fraud report is valuable to the fight against scams and fraud.
You get an email that’s flowery and formal from Mr. John Kennedy (the one who works on an Alaskan cruise ship) stating that he is looking for either a long-term relationship, marriage or possibly a business partnership with you. Could this be THE one?! Or, you find out you are the descendant of a fabulously…
It’s common to fear getting hacked. But you may not exactly know how it will happen or what to do when it does. The whole ordeal can be insanely stressfu. And that anxiety can quickly escalate as you try to get your device or account back in working order. To effectively solve the issue, you…
By now, you’ve probably read dozens of articles about how important strong passwords are. If you use passwords a lot but haven’t taken the time to strengthen them, then it might be time to start using a password manager. Password managers have become a popular method for the average Internet user to keep track of…
GhostSurf is a computer software program that allows for anonymous surfing of the Internet. Like other software programs of this nature, Ghostsurf provides security for the private browsing of Internet websites. It also provides peace of mind. With Ghostsurf you get ideal Internet anonymity, which means that you have the ability to surf the web…
No, we are not referring to nerds who work at Google! Read on. Google is so much more than just a search engine. With advanced search operators and queries, Google can be used as a powerful hacking tool to uncover hidden information and exploit vulnerabilities. This technique is known as “Google dorking” or “Google hacking.”…
Visit online the Google Safety Center, which includes a link to Google Family Link.
Google was experiencing ongoing troubles with employees being fooled, tricked, duped and hacked by scammers. Scammer’s were getting employees to somehow provide their login credentials, or at least the part the scammer needed.
Usually hackers are just content to mess up our lives by infiltrating a network and disrupting business. Typically, they find their way into our networks or computers to do their trickery. Recently they’ve decided to change things up by taking over a home or business’s router, the veritable heart of any home’s our business’s wired…
The hotel industry is being targeted by hackers who are calling hotels and taking advantage of their reputation for excellent customer service. But if you think this story is just about the hotel industry, think again. It’s simply another twist on a scam from the hackers’ playbook…and it can affect businesses and individuals alike. Armed…
If there’s an open window, a crook will climb in. If there’s a crack in a network’s operations, a hacker will slip through it and find a way to do damage. Individuals and businesses need to learn that hackers are always on the prowl, but large organizations are at greater risk because they have more…
When you hear the word “hacking” you probably imagine someone wearing a hooded sweatshirt, sitting in a dark basement tapping madly away at a keyboard? This image could be of a hacker – or a hacker could be the mild mannered old woman sitting one table over from you at a coffee shop. She’s smiling…
In 2011, America and the world saw protests as they hadn’t seen since the 1960s. One of the biggest was Occupy Wall Street, which began on September 17, 2011, in New York City’s Wall Street district. Thousands of people poured into the area in an attempt to bring Wall Street’s business to a halt. That…
Hackers don’t typically tell their victims that they’ve been hacked. Most of the time, when hackers gain entry to computers to do their dirty work, they don’t want anyone to know. That way, they can come back another time to see what else they can do or find. Because of that, you might not know…
Hackers and cybercrooks count on people to have bad online or computer habits—they know there’s a high percentage of us that are too busy to take even a few simple steps that would make us less vulnerable.
Microsoft Windows, Apple’s Operating System (macOS) and antivirus program manufacturers have been battling hackers since the personal computer was invented.
We’re not all IT (internet technology) types, but don’t tell that to VPN review sites! They make it hard to compare or choose a VPN. Turns out, with the VPN Simplifier from WhatIsMyIPAddress.com, how to choose a Virtual Private Network is a no-brainer.
VPN Deals alert! If you know about VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) and have been waiting for the lowest monthly cost for a top-rated VPN (maybe under $3.00!) check out the Holiday VPN Deals that are available right now!
If you’re a Home Depot customer, hackers may have stolen your consumer data. Did you do something wrong, like not protect your PIN at the register, or expose your credit card number? Not at all. All you did was use your payment card at the register to buy your lumber and plants. The hackers did…
A honeypot is a trap used to lure hackers or cybercriminals. The name comes from espionage — spies who use romantic relationships to steal information set “honey traps” or “honeypots.” In cybersecurity, honeypots work in a very similar way. Honeypots are set up to look like vulnerable networks and lure hackers. If a cybercriminal does…
Her shark tale about her business getting scammed via a fake email is all too common. Getting the money back is rare. Let it be a lesson to learn now. In case you missed it, there was yet another story about yet another corporate scam—and this one made the news because it involved a celebrity…
In the Summer of 2023, the Circa Hotel in Downtown Las Vegas was swindled out of $1.2 million by a crafty scammer who decided to use an imposter scam.
Cybersecurity is vital to our online lives. From grade school kids to professionals to retired grandparents, most of us spend a significant amount of time on the Internet. Unfortunately, cybercriminals lurk in the most innocent corners of our online activity, waiting to strike. Cybersecurity measures are utilized on our smart devices, many organizations have a…
With all the recent news about hackers and huge online attacks—think of the cyber attack on Sony Corp. in late 2014—it’s easy to think that hackers have the upper hand in the cyber wars. But that’s not the case. One reason it seems that way is that when large companies (Sony, Target, Home Depot) or…
Do you know what the hottest commodity on the market is these days? It’s not a trending stock or cryptocurrency. It’s information. Your information. The news is full of stories about data leaks and identity theft that target businesses and individuals that it makes us wary of giving anyone our personal information online or in…
Encrypted messaging apps like Signal, Telegram, and WhatsApp make sending and receiving messages more secure. But how do these apps work? Which features make them more secure, and should you start using one? Let’s look at what’s behind encrypted messaging apps so you can decide for yourself — are they worth it? What is end-to-end…
What is a hacker? During the 1990s, the term “hacker” originally denoted a skilled programmer proficient in machine code and computer operating systems. In particular, these individuals could always hack on an unsatisfactory system to solve problems and engage in a little software company espionage by interpreting a competitor’s code. Unfortunately, some of these hackers…
SO, if you geek out on Mr. Robot even half as much as we did, it’s pretty amazing to consider how art imitates life — and how life imitates art. In the premiere of season 2 of Mr. Robot, the society hackers made good on their threat to bring down the evil E Corp. With…
Technological advances in the Internet and software applications have introduced amazing consumer conveniences, some of which were practically science fiction just 20 years ago. We’ve moved way beyond the email and shopping online. For example, today’s technology allows you to manipulate your vehicle—start it up, turn on the heater, get the radio playing—without your having…
By now, you’ve likely heard about multi-factor authentication (MFA). You’re probably using it for most of your sensitive accounts. All the cybersecurity blogs you read (including this one) told you that you should be good and protected now. But advances in cyber protection don’t stay “advances” for long. Hackers always catch up, it’s just a…
In recent years, once fantastical biometric authentication tools have become a reality. For example, fingerprint scans, facial recognition, and iris detection offer unique and virtually tamper-free identity authentication. You might enjoy peace of mind and assume your biometric-protected devices and data cannot be hacked. However, as biometric technology becomes more widespread, increasingly sophisticated cybercriminals continue…
As Artificial Intelligence technology continues to evolve, the multitude of ways in which it can help us appears endless. From building brand recognition to customer service support to image generation, when used correctly, AI can be an extremely helpful tool. Present and future legal regulations can help prevent AI from being used for nefarious reasons,…
When it comes to software, most of us know only that software programs—we also call them applications or computer programs—help us to do all of the important things we do on our computers. We couldn’t live without our spreadsheets, writing programs and Internet browsers, because that’s the software that helps us take care of business…
Online shopping has grown tremendously in the last decade, especially in 2020. Digital Commerce 360 estimated that ecommerce in the U.S. grew by a whopping 44% in 2020 compared to 2019. More online shopping has led to more cybercrime directed at online retailers as well. Tech company Red Points surveyed 150 U.S. ecommerce brands in…
Unfortunately, global, national, and local humanitarian crises are mostly out of our control. A hurricane or a tornado hits and wipes out an entire town. A pandemic strikes worldwide and millions are left suffering. Often, this brings out the best in humanity — common people band together to help those in need. However, crises also…
The world of technology is full of tools to help protect your online security. At times, the plethora of tools available may seem overwhelming. However, whether you’re protecting your professional or personal online presence, understanding the privacy options you have is paramount. One option at your disposal is SOCKS5 proxy. It sounds super technical and…
You’re enjoying a night at home — binge-watching Law & Order:SVU. You feel relaxed, comfy, and happy. Suddenly, there’s a loud knock at your door. You open it to find several FBI agents standing on your porch. They inform you that your IP address has been linked to criminal activity. They have a warrant for…
The 2010s was one of the worst decades from a cybersecurity standpoint. Some breaches were geopolitical, going after nation-states. But many affected individuals and their data. Here’s a list of some of the biggest hacks of the 2010s that compromised user security and changed the way we think about cybersecurity. The Democratic National Committee The…
As technology continues to make rapid and significant advances, the crucial need for robust cybersecurity increases as well. Cybercrime affects everyday people, businesses, and governments around the world. From stolen data and ransomware to insider threats and phishing schemes, the risks are constantly evolving. The evolution of digital forensics in cybersecurity has bolstered protective measures…
Every day it seems like a new scam rears its ugly head, perpetrated by cybercriminals and fraudsters intent on stealing your identity and wiping out your bank account. GPT AI and other rapid advances in technology help scammers to grow more sophisticated in their schemes, and scams are increasingly harder to detect. From social media…
The last thing you want to have happen to your computer is for it to get a virus. If that happens, you could face a long list of potential problems that you wouldn’t wish on anyone. Just one of the following virus symptoms could give you a nasty headache: Your operating system slows to a…
The browsing history on your computer holds a ton of information. Your search history shows all the things you don’t know that you quickly Google. It can reveal the things that worry you about your health, the law, or politics. Your browsing history can expose the things you look up at 3 am when you…
Did you know there are a handful of steps you can take today that can help you protect your browser and your personal information? Many of the things you can do involve changing the privacy menu settings/options on the Internet browsers you use or your favorite social media websites. Those options have been there all…
In a world where we increasingly depend on our digital lives for personal and professional activity, threats to our cybersecurity lurk around every online corner. We can use our smartphones for almost everything we need online, but we need to utilize cyber protections to keep ourselves safe. Cybersecurity has become a paramount concern for everyone…
Adults and kids alike enjoy hours submersed in the adventures of online gaming. You can network and connect with other players, let your imagination run wild, build your character, and fight bad guys — all from the comfort of your own couch. However, if you leave your personal information exposed, bad actors can target you…
Why are they dangerous? Because most, if not all, of our accounts, are tied to our email. There’s also a ton of private information lurking in your email. You communicate with your financial institutions and manage passwords and validation across all of your accounts. With so much happening in your inbox, there is the potential…
With data breaches and privacy violations running rampant online, protecting your security is more crucial than ever. Unfortunately, hackers, internet providers, and even government agencies can monitor your browsing activity and steal sensitive information. Your best defense against these bad actors is to use a virtual private network (VPN). A VPN Hotspot Shield will encrypt all…
For many of us, our smartphones become an extra appendage — we need these devices by our sides to fully function. We can’t imagine living without their consistent benefits, and we keep them on us at all times. When a smartphone battery dies, or we leave our iPhones and Androids at home, we feel lost…
Although challenging, finding hidden profiles on social networks is an achievable task. Try these hacks.
Zelle is a popular peer-to-peer payment service that allows users to quickly and easily send money to others using just a phone number or email address. But how can you tell if someone you want to send money to has already signed up for Zelle? Here are the main ways to determine if someone has…
Avast is best known as a popular free virus protection software program. However, Avast doesn’t just offer anti-virus software. They also offer their own VPN service: Avast SecureLine VPN. Although Avast SecureLine VPN isn’t free, it is quite affordable. What makes it even better is the free trial! To download the free trial, simply visit…
Imagine spending hours on your website, carefully creating every page and post—only to have it hacked and all of your hard work ruined. Nobody wants to be in this situation, especially if they run a website where they collect user information and a breach can expose all that personal data. The first thing you should…
Have you ever come across an ad online, started to click on its link, and then realize something seems … a bit off? As cybercriminals become increasingly sophisticated and more brazen, Internet phishing schemes masked as legitimate links can fool even the most tech savvy among us. Bad online actors may reel us in through…
Wouldn’t it be great if we didn’t have to worry about the security of our data online? As soon as you start to learn about how many threats there are to your personal data and safety on the internet (especially with smartphones!), the days of worry-free scrolling and clicking disappear. The unfortunate reality is that…
Most of us have signed up for a website’s product or service, only to receive a deluge of spam emails afterward. This is annoying, and while there are several ways to declutter your inbox, one of the most effective strategies is creating a temporary email address. Temporary, or disposable email addresses take no time to…
You will be a victim of a cyber attack at some point. They happen so frequently these days, with new security gaps being discovered and exploited every day. No matter how safe you’re being online, you’re human. You can easily slip up — and cyber attackers these days are relentless. Where does this leave you?…
The holidays provide a good time for you to take steps to prevent identity theft. These are basic precautions that important year-round. And they’re especially important during the busiest season for families, shoppers and cybercriminals.
How to Prevent a Stolen Laptop (or Stolen Phone) and the Data on It While many criminals today are finding ways to steal information from the comfort of their home by using malware, there still exists the thief who seeks the thrill of the touch—the touch of your phone or laptop, that is. The sad…
As you are probably aware by now, the Venmo app enables users to connect their debit card or bank account to their profile so that they can send money to friends, family, or businesses. The app has been around since 2012 and was acquired by FinTech giant Paypal a year later. With over 52 million…
Better yet, warn your friends and family too. If you haven’t been scammed or conned on the Internet, count yourself smart…or lucky. As you likely know, con artists and scammers have moved from knocking door-to-door and stopping strangers in a mall or parking lot—they now know the Internet is the place to be. The bad…
When you receive a phone call or text message from someone purporting to be an agent of the IRS and demanding payment, it can cause panic and fear. Even if you instinctively feel as though you’re the victim of a tax scam, you may reactively follow the instructions of an authoritative-sounding “IRS agent.” The good…
You play a role in preventing social engineering. So, just what is social engineering? It’s a vague term that’s used for online shenanigans and trickery by dishonest people. Here’s what it means to you. Not all “hacks” or online schemes/scams are computer to computer…some start simply “person to person.” Yes, there are online scams that…
In our influencer-informed culture, everyone wants more followers, friends, or contacts for their social networks. After all, you may be networking, building a brand, or promoting your business. You might get an unexpected follow or a random friend request which is great for any budding entrepreneur, influencer, or content creator. And yet, these requests can…
Imagine traveling back to the 1990s and explaining streaming services to someone. “Streaming is like cable, but so much better,” you might say,”Imagine having every TV show and movie you’d ever want to watch just a click away.” They might shake their heads or ask about flying cars, but they’d have a tough time believing…
Online shopping is quickly becoming the norm, as evidenced by its impact on U.S. retail sales. According to Forrester, U.S. online retail sales will reach more than $500 billion by 2020, up from $373 billion in 2016. Meanwhile, brokerage firm Credit Suisse said in a recent report that more than 8,600 brick-and-mortar stores are likely…
Have you heard about the Operation Triangulation attacks that targeted iPhones from 2019-2023? According to Kaspersky, a somewhat controversial Russian cybersecurity software company, Operation Triangulation is a previously known hardware vulnerability in iPhones that was exploited through iMessage by sophisticated cybercriminals. Kaspersky itself was attacked through this incredibly sophisticated attack. Their researchers conducted extensive analysis to…
It’s frustrating, but it’s true: Cyber criminals routinely target workplaces, especially small businesses. Online attackers have learned through trial-and-error that breaking through a company’s security, whether through hacking or social engineering, can lead to a pretty big windfall. IT directors, CTOs, and other security professionals are responsible for maintaining internet and data security within their…
If you haven’t been living under a rock for the past year, then you know what Zoom is. Chances are, you’ve used it yourself many times. And if you know about and use Zoom, then you probably also know about the major security issues Zoom had back in March and April 2020. The application became…
The good news is that you don’t have to become a cybersecurity pro to protect yourself from fake emails. A good dose of common sense and a greater awareness of email fraud are enough to put you on guard.
It’s hard to avoid using the Internet on a daily, if not hourly, basis. From banking to online shopping, our activities are part of a hyperconnected world. Thus, proactively protecting your personal data online is no longer optional — it’s essential. Every seemingly innocuous click you make online can leave behind digital breadcrumbs that data…
You could lower the risk of running into any troubles online, and get on the Safepath, with just a handful of steps that are fairly simple to do, meaning not very technical.
In the digital age where privacy feels like a luxury, the idea of your laptop’s webcam being hacked isn’t just paranoia, it’s a real possibility. With cybercriminals getting more creative by the day, it’s essential to know the signs that might indicate your laptop camera has been hacked and is under someone else’s control. Let’s…
In a world where hackers lurk around every corner and cyber criminals want to make you their prey, where can you turn? … If you read this line in the voice of a grave movie announcer, you’ve got the tone right — cyber crime can impact us all, and it can be downright scary. The…
From the social media pages you follow and your online shopping purchases to your preferred online news source, advertisers track your digital activity to analyze your online behavior and target you with their campaigns. For decades, tracking cookies have been used as an effective tool for advertisers. However, as the general public becomes increasingly concerned…
It’s almost becoming part of the daily news, or so it seems. You check the weather forecast, the sports scores, and see who was the latest victim of an attack by hackers. In September, the latest news and by far the biggest victim was Yahoo, who announced that the account information of 500 million users…
Whereas a successful salesperson is good at selling a product, a successful con artist is good at selling the scam. At the heart of that is the singular skill that really makes a scammer and a salesperson equally successful.
Have you ever received an “Important Message Alert!” or “Warning: Your Computer is at Risk” pop-up while on a random website? Or, have you ever fallen prey to the “IRS is coming to arrest you” phone calls? Most people detect these scams before they can wreak major harm, but they exist because some people fall for them.…
There are plenty of resources available to consumers to report crimes, scams, and identity theft. However, not everyone has a team or resources in place to help them fight back and reclaim their identity. That’s where the Identity Theft Resource Center is different.
An adult website just got hacked. Customers are nervous, regretful. There’s a good chance that some husbands and wives, boyfriends and girlfriends, soccer moms, up-and-coming young executives and politicians (and millions more) are holding their breath, hoping for the best, changing their ways and may even be headed to church soon. That’s because an adult-oriented…
If you know the 4 P’s of an imposter scam, you can spot one easily and avoid becoming a scammer’s victim of financial fraud.
As our lives have become increasingly digital, and more of our data is handled on the Internet, protecting personal and confidential data has become an entire industry. Which industry? InfoSec. If you work in IT or consider yourself a tech person in general, you’ve probably heard of InfoSec. “InfoSec” is an abbreviation of Information Security.…
Google is expanding its technological dominion with intriguing new services, and one of the most compelling recent additions is its VPN service, which aspires to rank among the best in the market. For those subscribing to the 2TB+ Google One plans, not only do you get extensive cloud storage and phone backup, but also an…
Most of us desire long-lasting relationships and romantic love. Yet, our full schedules and cemented routines may leave little room for testing the dating pool and meeting new people. Thankfully, social media and online dating apps and platforms allow us to begin romances without leaving the confines of our homes. There are many stories of…
Your access to the Internet is determined by many factors. Your school or your local library can put limits on websites you can see. However, beyond that, most of us are used to accessing pretty much what we want on the Internet. Some households even put Internet filters on their networks, voluntarily, to prevent access…
Most Americans spend a lot of time online. The internet is where we get basic information, do much of our professional work, connect with friends, meet new people, and shop. The frequency with which we use the internet can create a false sense of security. After all, if we’re online all day, every day, and…
Once hackers have breached a network and stolen account information, they can — at their leisure — access your accounts as if they were you.”
You can do everything on a phone or computer: Shop. Bank. Make new friends. Become famous! So, what’s to worry about? Actually, more than you think, and maybe more than you want to know.
Have you ever received an email from Paypal telling you to “click on this link” to verify charges to your account? And then you look closer at the actual address that the email came from and it’s [email protected]? That’s IP spoofing. It can be a real nightmare for Paypal and for you. Defining IP Spoofing …
IP Vanish is ideal for those who spend a lot of time online streaming or gaming and don’t want their Internet Service Provider or a platform to track them. This well-regarded VPN is recognized for providing excellent speeds and having an impressive global reach.
Your IP address, along with your computer and Internet browser, is your connection to the Internet. But that only gets you connected. What really makes the Internet come to life, and have value for us, is all of the websites where we can connect to our world—our favorite websites; our bank accounts; Facebook and LinkedIn;…
Smartwatches became all the rage with tech-savvy consumers when they hit the market in 2015. With all the high-tech features of a smaller smartphone right on your wrist, and even some new bells and whistles, what could go wrong, right? Unfortunately, a lot. But that doesn’t mean you have to ditch your favorite new gadget.…
There’s seemingly no end to the way cybercriminals can attack you and your personal data. One type of attack that’s been used for decades and is still prevalent is keylogging. Imagine if everything you typed on your keyboard or tapped on your mobile device’s keyboard was recorded and stored somewhere and someone can read all…
Much like the famous LoJack for cars, LoJack for Laptops does nothing until needed; that is, when you report your laptop’s theft the company’s recovery experts start the recovery process. Over 100 devices are lost or stolen every minute and more than 12,000 laptops disappear weekly from U.S. airports alone. According to the Computer Security…
The popularity of genealogy and DNA testing services like 23andme, Ancestry.com, and MyHeritage are helping people learn more about themselves. You can have your DNA tested for diseases and genetic conditions, your full ethnicity, and in some cases, your genealogy can help you meet long-lost relatives. Or, maybe these DNA companies are just logging your…
Fintech makes our lives easier. If you’re out at the farmer’s market with no cash in your running shorts or you’re splitting up a bizarrely complicated restaurant bill with 8 friends, it can solve a lot of problems. By simply clicking an app on your phone or watch, you can conduct financial transactions on the…
Everyone who has watched mobster or drug-trade movies has heard the term, “organized crime” or “black market” and understands what it means. Instead of a corner drug dealer or small-time thief working alone, a network of criminals come together (under the radar) to break the law and make money on a large scale. In the…
There are number of ways seniors can be fooled by scammers via their phones. However, there are seven ways we can help seniors and others be more scam savvy.
Malicious Chrome extensions that sneak past Google’s security are now seen as a growing threat to online privacy. Seemingly safe and helpful extensions are often embedded with hidden programs that track user behavior, compile data for sale, or steal data and sell it on the Dark Web where cybercriminals can access it.
Not all hackers are after attention. Some just want money. You might think, and hope, that being aware of all the latest scams and tricks that are on the Internet will keep the online thieves away. After all, if you’re smart AND you know what to look for, you won’t fall for somewhat obvious scams…
Like anything else, the Internet has its rewards and it has its inherent risks. You can make it fit perfectly into your lifestyle and activities, from arranging meetings and gym workouts; filling your calendar; reading and watching education videos; to attending virtual meetings.That’s how you develop an online profile.
It would be wrong to conclude that the younger generation is more gullible and that’s why they’re falling for scams in greater numbers these days. You could simply say they’re learning the hard way and learning fast—and there is some truth to that.
Money-lender Dave does the one thing that all scammers do: It lied to its target through its advertising. Sure, there are small disclaimers here and there, yet Dave preyed on the triggers that consumers (who need money) would respond to. Dave likely knew and likely counted on the fact that people rarely read the fine print.
Strange things can happen when someone is over-eager or even desperate to find work or to come up with a way to make some money. In today’s world, many people go searching for solutions online. It’s when you’re looking for work opportunities on the Internet that you might accidentally walk right into a trap—a fraudulent…
The Nintendo Switch is one of the most popular gaming consoles in production, thanks to its unique hybridization of at-home and on-the-go gaming. Although most Switch owners have a primary focus on gaming, some users may want to have an additional layer of security and versatility that is best accomplished with a Virtual Private Network…
The year 2020 saw the worst coronavirus scams, but you still need to be aware of con artists trying to swindle us. It shouldn’t have been a surprise that coronavirus scams were a significant problem throughout all of 2020. Do you think it’s over now that the pandemic has eased up a little? Not so…
Hackers and others maybe utilizing “packet sniffing” to read your personal data You’ll often hear that you should be careful when using the Internet, because you never know who’s spying on us. Indeed, there are some Internet gurus out there (more than you might think) who are convinced that most Internet Service Providers (ISPs), the…
The internet has became a monster.
Every day and every minute. It is the biggest influence on your childrens’ thoughts, dominates their time, steals their focus and lures them into a world that’s more illusion than reality.
You think it would be obvious or automatic that parents would be in control of what their own children are doing or seeing online. Sadly, that’s not the case. Not even close. It’s not even necessarily a battle between parents and the world of the internet. It’s a battle between parents and their children as well.
Even though your account passwords seems like the basic place to start, cybersecurity experts say starting there takes care of most of your account security and worries.
Our digital lives and new work-from-home lifestyles have made it more common than ever to rely on apps and devices. It was inevitable we’d end up exchanging money using our phones. Apps like Venmo, Paypal, Zelle, and Cash App all let you send and receive money from your phone or computer. These apps have been…
Are you suspicious that your computer is infected with malware? Microsoft has a built-in program that runs a malware scan on your PC for free. It’s incredibly simple, and it keeps your computer safe. In the past, Windows Security had a reputation for being useless, but now it’s on par with Avast and Kaspersky. In…
In an era where cyber threats are a constant risk rather than a possibility, businesses cannot afford to be complacent about cybersecurity. This is why it is crucial that you understand what pentesting is. Penetration testing, also known as “pen testing,” serves as a vital diagnostic tool to identify and resolve security weaknesses before hackers…
From catfishing to email phishing scams to AI deepfakes to ransomware cyberattacks, at times it may feel as though malevolent hackers are lurking in every corner of our online lives, just waiting to attack. Although collectively, we have built-in cybersecurity measures on our laptops, smartphones, and other smart devices, anybody can fall victim to an…
The Private Internet ACCESS VPN will deliver the security, performance, and online access most users want. Behind the scenes, PIA works hard to protect its infrastructure from outsiders, which protects your online experience.
You won’t believe the passwords that some people STILL use. Microsoft has finally put its foot down—even though most people won’t even know it unless they start to create a dumb password. In May 2016, Microsoft started using a system that would reject password requests—when opening a new account or creating a new password—that had…
You can indeed pay some companies for identity theft protection services. However, even then, they’ll mostly notify you and offer assistance when something has gone wrong with one of your accounts—or when they see something has happened or is happening. In those cases, it might be too late.
One of the many responsibilities of the Federal Trade Commission is to provide guidance to consumers about scams and hoaxes, including those perpetrated online. Lately, the FTC has been warning consumers about health insurance scams, which can lead to massive financial losses, inconvenience, and identity theft. To protect yourself from these scams, it is so…
Someone you know will be contacted by a con artist today…but that doesn’t mean they’re doomed to fall prey like other scam victims. The more we know, the safer we are.
If the WannaCry virus missed you, the next one might not. If you missed the news (or saw the headlines but didn’t have time to check it out), there was a global hack attack of the ransomware variety the second week of May (2017). It struck 150 countries, thousands of companies and millions of computer…
Digital privacy has been an important part of online security since we first created the internet. Today, more and more parts of our lives are interconnected with online activity, and concerned citizens are taking action to protect their digital footprint. Whenever we go online, we are creating a data trail. Sometimes, these trails are inconsequential—does…
Most people love the convenience of going online at the local coffee shop, the airport or the hotel lobby; but most people don’t know that going on the Internet in those places (called “hotspots”) isn’t as secure as you might think—or as safe as you need it to be. The reason? A public Wi-Fi/wireless connection is…
What Does Pump and Dump Mean? Pump and dump schemes are a deceptive form of investment fraud that have found new life in the digital age. But what is a pump-and-dump scam, exactly? At its core, a pump-and-dump scheme involves artificially inflating the price of a stock (often a penny stock) through false or misleading…
People concerned about internet privacy are starting to investigate virtual private networks and exploring PureVPN. PureVPN provides pure protection online by hiding your actual IP address and encrypting all your online traffic, which is what 99% of internet users and privacy seekers want.
Today’s world moves at lightning speed compared to the previous generation. To stay ahead of the curve, you must be innovative and understand the intricacies of quantum computing and cybersecurity. With its unparalleled processing capabilities, quantum computing has the potential to revolutionize the digital world. However, it comes with a challenge. Let’s address how quantum…
QR codes are everywhere these days! Whether looking up a restaurant menu or scanning a code to play a game with friends, it’s not uncommon to pull out your smartphone and scan a QR code. Unfortunately, this useful tool has been exploited by cybercriminals. Just like phishing attempts try to get you to click on…
The phrase “ransomware” strikes terror into the figurative hearts of corporate heads and IT professionals. A dark, malevolent cloud seems to hang over every ransomware mention or sighting. Even for the average internet user, ransomware sounds like a black plague of data, and something to avoid at all costs. The fear is valid – ransomware…
There are always people eager to make fast and easy money and
lonely adults are always looking for romance online. That’s why even crazy scams work.
VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) exists to help people with their voice-based communication using the Internet – or, in other words, to let users make phone calls via the Internet. This technology is instrumental in a business context. Members of a team can use Voip to communicate with each other. VoIP is also an excellent…
When you hear red team vs. blue team you might think of those old games of capture the flag. When you find out it’s related to cybersecurity you may think it’s a reference to The Matrix. Do you take the red pill or the blue pill? But in cybersecurity, these are the two approaches to…
There are a variety of methods to banning someone from a website, forum, game, or chat. Some of the common methods and solutions are listed below. In general, your best option to remove a ban is to humbly apologize for your actions which lead to you being banned in the first place. Banned by IP…
Adware is an annoyance at best to most computer users. The name “adware” is a short form of advertising-supported software. Like commercials on regular media, adware is one way for software promoters and developers to offset the costs of software production by offering advertising opportunities to their clients. It comes bundled right in with the…
You might think of the attorney general as a politician, but they are, in fact, servants of the people in their state. An attorney general’s sworn duty is to ensure justice and safety for consumers in their state. Protecting consumers from fraud, scams, and other crimes is what they do.
One thing all consumers need to do is to report all scams to the right agency or authority. Scams continue to be a growing problem, and it’s clear to every crime and cybersecurity expert that scams aren’t going away. Year by year, they continue to grow.
It’s seduce, solicit…surprise! It’s happening all the time and is still a major problem and concern. People looking online for friendships, romance, love and marriage wind up getting their emotions abused, their hearts broken and their bank accounts drained. That’s the whole point of an online-problem known as an online romance scam—to gain someone’s affection…
Scammers aren’t stupid. They’re devious, tech-savvy, great actors and greedy. Scams target everyone, which is why millions fall victim every year.
So, what makes scammers an appealing target group for cyber criminals? Here’s what the consensus on that is: The older generation tends to be friendly and more trustworthy. Many 75 and older become isolated and long for connection. A good majority of seniors have accumulated wealth through investments, real estate, pensions, and insurance benefits.
You’ll hear news reports about scams, but rarely are they called “scary scams.” They should be—because everyone should be quite afraid of what the true impact on their lives could be if they were to get scammed.
So much of managing our privacy and cybersecurity involves not sharing secrets over the Internet. Some people love to overshare on social media. They can post all kinds of personal information or send emails with passwords or credit card numbers. But how can you safely share private information like this over the Internet? From Netflix…
With more passwords to keep track of than ever before, writing down all of your usernames and passwords on a notepad next to your computer just isn’t going to cut it. If your solution is to use the same password for every website, you’re just asking to be hacked (particularly if that password is “password”).…
If you’ve ever wanted to access location-blocked content with your PS5, you’ve probably noticed that you can’t use VPN apps on your PlayStation. While Sony discourages users from using VPNs by not making them available in the PlayStation store, there are still ways to use a VPN with your PlayStation console. This guide covers two…
The exciting world of the Internet is built on layers of algorithms, applications, encryptions to ensure function and multiple security protocols to ensure our identities aren’t stolen each time we open a website. The endless possibilities that await us at the mere click of a button couldn’t occur sans the rapidly changing technology that created the…
Social media has become all about algorithms. Whether you’re chasing followers, likes, swipes, or fame you can end up under the thumb of the algorithm. The issue is: what if the algorithm decides not to share your posts? What if people can’t find your profile, see your photos or read your posts? When something like…
There are a lot of really great things on the internet. But there are also a lot of risks. Even something as simple as visiting a less-than-honest website could open you up to the dangers of phishing and malware. So people who find out about new protection options often want to enable them to protect…
The chaotic sea of the Internet offers so much content and interactive opportunities, it can feel overwhelming. In order to stay afloat and retain the knowledge that we find within a click, many of us download and share files. Although there are multiple ways to download online files, torrenting has become one of the most…
Our digital activity spills into almost every aspect of daily life. We click on our weather apps to choose what to wear, we check our email as we leave the house for work, and social media scrolls fill our moments of boredom. Most of us barely give a second thought to the digital footprint our…
What are the signs your phone has been hacked? And what to do if I am being hacked? Near the city of Olympia, Washington, in October 2016, people in the region were calling 911 and hanging up before operators could answer the call. Then, the same phone would call 911 again. Over and over. Finally,…
Hackers Took Over My Router and I Had NO Clue. Graphic artist was a victim of DNSChanger virus. Are you safe? We’re all aware that hackers can do something to our computers through a network virus. But did you know they can attack your router—the key to directing all your Internet activity? More than that,…
As you probably know by now, you can buy just about anything online these days. Over the past 10 years, online shopping has grown tremendously over the Internet to the point that most have shopped online for clothes, airline tickets, sporting events, concert events, and more. It’s gotten so convenient that it’s easy to forget…
A recent study from Check Point Research revealed hackers can gain access to smart lightbulbs.
How to prevent your smartphone from being hacked What are the signs that your phone has been hacked? Today’s smartphones can do MORE than computers did 30 years ago, and can do more than some of today’s laptops, at least in terms of versatility. That’s great news for those of us who have active online…
The rise of social media has seen an increase in the popularity of quizzes. Many users spend countless hours answering questions on a variety of topics. While these quizzes can be fun and entertaining, they also come with significant risks that users should be aware of. In this article, we will examine the various dangers…
Social media scams are all too common. According to the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC), people reported in the first six months of 2020 losing a record high of $117 million to scams that began on social media. These scams can vary in type, but many of them start with sending an unsuspecting victim a…
Here’s a true and alarming story that’s also, unfortunately, becoming a common occurrence. Anyone reading this who works with sensitive company information should take note. An executive assistant received an urgent email from her boss, the company president. The email directed her to wire funds immediately to a vendor—the vendor was going out of town…
Instagram is beloved by over 1 billion people for sharing visual moments. But where there’s fun, there are also scammers looking to scam. From phishing messages to fake influencers, you really need to watch your back. Don’t let the scammers steal your money or your precious meme collection! Here’s how to spot sneaky Instagram schemes…
Tip of the Day. The IRS Doesn’t Make Phone Calls. Every time tax season rolls around, so does tax-scam season. In 2016, a common scam was for online thieves, pretending to be agents of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), to send emails to U.S. tax-paying citizens and demanding payments. In 2017, scammers once again turn…
Spyware is similar to Adware, but it has malicious intent. Both types of programs are stealthily introduced to the user’s computer. In the case of Spyware and some Adware, the user is unaware of this invasion. The presence of either can be the cause of slowing down the speed of a computer. Spyware is also…
Why Do You Need a VPN? VPNs keep your online activity private by encrypting your traffic and masking your IP address. This prevents your internet service provider (ISP) and others from tracking what you do online. VPNs also help protect your digital privacy. By hiding your true IP address, VPNs prevent companies and governments from…
For most internet users, SurfShark VPN delivers the best levels of security, privacy, and internet access. It passes all the security testing and protects you whenever and wherever you are online with Surfshark protection running.
In recent years, news of major corporate data breaches and ransomware schemes seems to lurk around every Internet corner. In a world of multiple online threats, we could all use an extra layer of cybersecurity. Although there are numerous ways that we can protect our online presence and personal information, using a Virtual Private Network…
By now, you’ve probably realized that your phone uses your location to deliver some services to you. Apps like Google Maps wouldn’t work at all if they didn’t track your location. And while you may be comfortable with some location tracking, it’s doubtful you’re okay with advertisers using your phone’s location to send you targeted…
There’s a story of a man who never locked his car when he made quick trips to the local grocery store. He figured he’d just be in and out in a few minutes and felt that there wasn’t anything valuable in his 10-year-old car anyway. But he forgot the one thing an opportunistic crook might…
Criminals will stop at nothing to try and steal your money, including impersonating government agencies. IRS scams are some of the oldest in the scam artist’s playbook, and they’ve only grown more sophisticated in the digital age. But because everybody has to deal with the IRS, these types of scams have become well-known and you…
As we collectively increase our social media interactions with strangers, more and more of us may create fictional online identities. For those with benevolent intentions, fake identities can allow us freedom to be ourselves, protect our personal information, and express our thoughts and beliefs on hot-button social issues. However, malevolent users may use bogus identities…
Scammers have a scheme for every age group, because every age group today congregate somewhere online, looking for connections, information and more. For teenage males, that “more” is often connections with new female friends online. And that’s what scammers are exploiting these days. According to a story in the Wall Street Journal in November of…
We’re used to hearing “red flag” conditions. Hopefully, we know they indicate a dangerous situation or risky conditions ahead. Scams have red flags too, but they’re not quite the same. Let’s see why. Here are some examples we’re familiar with: What about for consumers about scams? That’s the topic we’re exploring here. Actually, a red…
If everyone knew how incredibly versatile a VPN is at protecting us online, nobody would go online without one.
Hackers never rest. They will seize any opportunity to take down websites or prevent you from reaching the websites you want to visit. In October of 2016, an online company that monitored and routed Internet traffic for millions of people went down for almost 12 hours. Just another hack story, right? Yes, but you should…
The sophisticated state of malware in 2024 can be intimidating. But smart thinking, caution, and technology can defeat it. To understand what malware is capable of today, it’s worth exploring the history of this kind of cybersecurity vulnerability. Understanding the evolution of malware will help you know how to protect yourself from whatever comes next. What…
The Remote Work Security Revolution: Why Your Home Office Is Under Attack That cozy home office setup? It’s become the new front line of a cybersecurity war most people don’t even realize they’re fighting. While millions celebrated ditching the daily commute, cybercriminals quietly exploited the largest expansion of attack surface in corporate history. With WebEx,…
We are super reliant on our phones. We don’t just need them for catching up with friends or business calls. Some people run their entire lives from their phones. Mobile devices have become as important to our lives as computers. And yet, we don’t realize all the ways someone having our phone number can put…
Why you might want to wait to get everything connected. The “gee whiz!” future that computer wizards and Internet experts envisioned for us a few decades ago is finally here. It happened when smartphones, new smart devices, wireless networks, the Cloud, and other hardware/software innovations magically came together, making it possible for people, businesses, and…
3D printing is transforming the way we design, manufacture, and innovate, but it’s also opening a massive hole in the fence of intellectual property protection. At the heart of the problem is the digital nature of 3D printing: it runs on files that are easy to create, easy to copy, and incredibly hard to protect.…
An imposter scammer is the worst type of manipulation. It takes advantage of our trusting and believing nature and creates an opportunity for the criminal to steal our money, identity, and, sadly, our faith in others.
When it comes to losing your phone or having your personal data stolen, you probably think, “That’s never going to happen to me.” This conviction might be driving your phone security habits. The problem is this: once it does happen, it’s too late to do anything to protect yourself. While it may seem like backing…
This Scam Report Preparation Guide from EasyPrey.com helps you prepare to fill out your online report and makes filing a complete and accurate report simpler, faster, and more efficient.
Roll back the clock forty years ago, and the senior citizens of that day were likely the most targeted age group. Today, however, technology and societal interaction has changed that.
VPNs are an essential resource for keeping your data secure and improving your privacy online. However, there is a lot to learn about these important tools. They have great benefits, but not all VPN providers are the same. Depending on how you want to use your VPN, the best option for you might not be…
Facebook is one of the most popular websites in the world. It can be a great place to connect with other people — but it’s also riddled with scams, hoaxes, and fraudulent schemes. One hoax in particular has started making the rounds again recently, and you should be aware of it so you don’t fall…
“Influencers are the future of marketing!” You’ll see a lot of headlines like that and articles (with plenty of statistics) telling you that hiring an influencer (and influencer marketing) MUST BE part of a modern marketing mix. Are the marketing experts right? It’s hard to know if you influencer marketing is the real thing or…
It’s one of the most asked questions on the internet. “What is a VPN?”A definition seems like a great place to start. VPN stands for “Virtual Private Network.” It essentially creates a secure, unhackable network inside the internet for you to use by encrypting your traffic and hiding your IP address. In a nutshell, your…
Here are three well-known social media platforms that are readily available to kids (and predators) to know about. They could easily land them into trouble, according to the website, security.org.
When it comes to choosing a VPN, speed is often a top priority for users – and for good reason. After all, who wants to wait an eternity for a web page to load or suffer through endless buffering when trying to stream their favorite show? A fast VPN can make the difference between a…
We’ve seen Twittersphere explode with bite-sized information security (InfoSec) news over the past few years. We’ve also given you a list of the biggest influencers to follow. Recently though, podcasts have growninto one of the most popular ways to get cybersecurity news and information. It’s not hard to imagine why. Several hours’ worth of reading…
Our Android devices contain massive amounts of personal and sensitive data. Using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) is one of the best ways that an Android user can properly secure that data and shield online activity from prying eyes. A quality VPN generates an encrypted tunnel around your device’s traffic, hiding your true IP address…
Each individual computer runs on multiple ports. For instance, when a person opens his or her email, the computer’s server will open a port through which new mail will be downloaded through a connection to the email server. Certain ports on an individual’s personal computer are open continually, making them a target for any potential…
Quite honestly, most experts will tell you to avoid free VPNs. They have their reasons, but that doesn’t mean the aren’t several worth checking out.
You’ve heard it before: strong passwords help secure your accounts. But even a strong password might not be enough. If there’s a data breach and your info gets published online, it won’t matter if your password is “password123” or “q35Hiu%iL18.” Hackers will still be able to use it to get into your account. To make…
Did you know that all VPNs change your location, and many of them let you choose your location? VPNs hide your location by changing your IP address, and most of the time, you can choose where you want your VPN-provided IP address to be located. When your internet traffic exits a VPN server, it appears…
You’re at an airport, and you need to email confidential, time-sensitive data to your boss. Suddenly, your VPN (Virtual Private Network) won’t allow you to connect to the airport’s Wi-Fi network. Your palms sweat, you feel ice coursing through your veins — you don’t want to get fired, but you can’t send these vital documents…
There was huge hack of Twitter in Summer of 2020. with all kinds of surprises. Here’s what made it newsworthy: The mastermind of the attack was a 17-year-old from Florida. He didn’t act alone: He recruited for his attack 19- and 22-year old guys from overseas. The leader of the Twitter hack managed to achieve…
It’s a fancy-sounding term few of us know, but two-factor authentication is a security feature we should all know and use. There is an online security feature knows as 2FA (for two-factor authentication) that all banks, credit cards and stores offer to their customers. Some of us don’t know it; others know about it but…
“Creeper,” the first computer virus, hit servers over 50 years ago. However, Creeper wasn’t used for nefarious purposes. It was a test to see if programmed code could self-replicate, and it is known as the first “worm” virus. In the decades since, and especially since the dawn of the Internet, computer viruses have been used…
For those who don’t work in IT, coding terminology can feel a bit overwhelming. However, gaining some basic knowledge about encoding and online security measures is easier than you might think. One such term is Base64 coding. It may sound like a phrase used in science fiction films, but it’s actually an essential part of…
CSRF attacks are an old and well-established method of attacking individual users on website domains by forging iframe requests. Fortunately, most sites have protections in place to prevent this kind of attack. Even so, it’s a great idea to understand the basic methods of how attackers use CSRF requests, because this knowledge can make you…
There’s probably nothing more underhanded than for someone to trick or fool you by pretending they want to help, or for someone to masquerade as a good guy, when in fact they’re out to do you harm. In real life, maybe it’s someone impersonating a police officer or a priest and taking advantage of your…
Advance-fee fraud, also known as a 419 fraud, is a type of scam in which the victim is convinced to advance money to a stranger. In all such scams, the victim is led to expect that a much larger sum of money will be returned. The victim, of course, never receives any of this money.…
“The single best thing someone can do to better protect their accounts is to choose and use a password manager,” explains Chris Parker, CEO of WhatIsMyIPAddress.com. “With that simple decision, you significantly improve your account security.”
Using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) is one of the best, secure ways to access the Internet and keep your data safe. What a VPN is and how it works First, a VPN is an online service you sign up for to protect your Internet connection. Second, a VPN takes the Internet connection you’re on—whether…
Our phones go everywhere with us. Many of us treat our phones as an extension of ourselves. We use them for work, fun, social connections, information, and so much more. Whether you’re someone who prefers texting, scrolling social media, talking on the phone, listening to music, or simply having the ability to look up anything…
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is warning all travelers to avoid falling victim to a vacation scam this summer. They advise everyone to include wisdom, common sense, and skepticism when creating their packing lists for vacations and weekend getaways.
Let’s say you get a text, call, or email from your bank, letting you know that something is wrong with your account. You need to respond right away! Perhaps your account has been hacked, and the bank is letting you know. Or you have fraudulent charges on your account. Worse, your account may be frozen…
You may have heard of virtual machines before, but do you know what they’re capable of? In the last 15 years, large companies have started using virtual machines to simplify their IT infrastructure. But can a virtual machine be beneficial to you as an individual user? More importantly, how secure are virtual machines? Before diving…
Vishing…it’s indeed an unusual sounding word, but there’s nothing funny about it. Vishing is a phone scam in which criminals call people with a scary sounding (but untrue) story about the compromised bank accounts and the money in it. But their goal isn’t to scare the individual…it’s to swindle them. It could happen to you,…
Now, you can find the best VPNs at VPN TruRank, a new list compiled by WhatIsMyIPAddress.com “With the hundreds of VPNs out there, we want to help you save time, your sanity and some of your money if you’re looking for a VPN. That’s why we created VPN TruRank” — Chris Parker, President and CEO of WhatIsMyIPAddress.com…
Using a VPN (Virtual Private Network) when you’re online is still very wise and important and that’s especially true if you’re sending private, sensitive emails or shopping online from somewhere other than home.
Using a VPN is absolutely the best way to optimize your personal internet experience. What a VPN is and how it works A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is an online service that creates a more secure Internet connection, stops spying and tracking, and helps you bypass filters, blocks and restrictions. Many users rely on VPN…
One of the things we have mentioned to do in the past to help your cybersecurity is to beware of suspicious emails, especially phishing links. What is a phishing link, you ask? First, you must understand what phishing is. We have an article to help you there. Essentially, phishing is an attempt to lure you…
WhatIsMyIPAddress.com and our sister website, EasyPrey.com, focus on providing content and links to information and resources for scam help. Our goal is to increase your awareness and education about scams and fraud, and to help you stay safe.
Web tracking is the activity (and ability) of a website (using special software tools) to keep tabs on website visitors. As you might expect, Web tracking is meant to improve your experience online with that website—much in the same way that television commercials are intended to improve your life (not just your TV-viewing experience) when…
If you saw a sign on a store window that said “FREE! FREE! FREE!” it might catch your attention and you might draw closer to read the sign…and chances are you would look for the fine print. As consumers, we all know that things aren’t always what they seem at first glance. We know that…
What do you think is more likely to happen? A) Having a hacker steal your credit card information over the Internet and charging thousands of dollars on it the next day, or B) getting tricked online by a simple letter in your email box from a con man? The answer is B—online con artists and…
Advances in technology have made our personal and professional lives easier. However, the more technology is integrated into every facet of our daily lives, the more we rely on it. For example, most businesses need a secure and visible online presence to remain viable, and a digital supply chain is vital to organizational success. Nevertheless,…
We’ve all had some pretty crazy images burned in our brains watching science-fiction biometrics in movies over the years. Iris recognition was a big thing in Blade Runner because it distinguished the replicants from the humans. In The 6th Day, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s clone enters an elevator using a stolen thumb for fingerprint recognition. And there…
It seems like every day, our real lives get more intertwined with our digital lives. Availability disruptions in the apps and platforms we use can cause major interruptions to our daily lives. Among the most troubling digital threats is a Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attack. By flooding networks and servers with malicious traffic, DDoS attacks block…
Public Wi-Fi is great. It’s convenient, and it’s free — it always feels good when you can save a few megabytes of your mobile data. But do you ever stop and think for a moment before connecting to a public Wi-Fi network? The emergence of evil twin Wi-Fi hotspots indicates that you should. Evil twin…
If you’re interested in learning more about online security and how different components of the Internet work, a basic search of terms can feel overwhelming. When you see technical vocabulary like SMTP, CNAME, and MX record, you may be tempted to let your mind drift and dream about penguins. You are not alone. However, most…
The person on the other end of your match might not exist. Not in the way you think, anyway. They have a name, a job, a backstory, maybe even a cute rescue dog. They remember that thing you mentioned last Tuesday. They know your favorite band. But behind the profile photo and the perfectly-timed messages,…
Cyber criminals and spammers use email spoofing to trick email recipients into believing that they have received a message from someone they know or an account they trust. To commit an email spoofing attack, the attacker forges a fake email header. It displays a familiar (but fraudulent!) name to the recipient. Because most people take…
Ethical hacking has become a vital part of the information security field today. Skills in penetration testing, password cracking, and social engineering are hot commodities for companies that want to boost their security. If you want to become an ethical hacker, or if you’re just curious about the profession, what do you need to know?…
During the 1990s, the term “hacker” originally denoted a skilled programmer proficient in machine code and computer operating systems. In particular, these individuals could always hack on an unsatisfactory system to solve problems and engage in a little software company espionage by interpreting a competitor’s code. Unfortunately, some of these hackers also became experts at…
When you hear about cloning in relation to cyber hackers or online activity, you probably think of IP addresses and Internet connections. However, your MAC (Media Access Control) address can be cloned, too. You may find yourself in a coffee shop, with sweat dripping from your nervous brow. The public WiFi network name is showing…
MD5 (Message-Digest Algorithm 5) is a hash function used to authenticate files and verify data against corruption. It was developed in 1992 and used for a long time as a cryptographic hash function, but since 2005 it’s been considered less secure. What is MD5 encryption, and if MD5 isn’t recommended for cybersecurity anymore, why is…
Anyone who uses the internet–in other words, everyone–needs to understand the concept of Personally Identifiable Information (PII) and the potential risks associated with its exposure or theft. PII refers to any information that can be used to identify an individual, whether on its own or when combined with other relevant data. With the increasing reliance…
Could you learn privacy tips from them? There are some people out there who would not risk, at least in certain instances, sending emails using an ordinary, everyday email account like Gmail, Outlook, or their company’s email. We pinpoint here the email basics. Who might they be? Hackers People on the run from the law…
You’ve seen detective shows or movies where the bad guys kidnap a wife or child and then demand a huge sum of money, or ransom, from the family for the loved one’s safe return. A form of that crime has found its way online, and today it affects businesses, cities, and ordinary people just like…
An SSID is a Service Set Identifier. Simply put, your SSID is the name of your network. It helps to think of an SSID as a label people see, while your IP address acts as a deeper network identifier that devices use to route data. When you look at a list of available Wi-Fi connections…
Netflix’s You has changed the face of stalkers. In it, former Gossip Girl star Penn Badgely plays Joe Goldberg, a lovable rom-com hero who just happens to also be a deranged serial-killing stalker. There are more Joe Goldbergs out there than you might think. And they are taking advantage of technological advancements to take their…
With such a vast amount of information and data stored on our iPhones, it is more important than ever to take extra steps to secure our data and online activity. One of the best ways for iPhone users to protect their personal data is to use a Virtual Private Network (VPN). A VPN creates a…
When your cell phone rings and it’s an unfamiliar number, do you pick up the call? According to the Pew Research Center, 80% of Americans don’t answer the phone if the number is unknown to them. There are plenty of reasons for this, including the fact that Americans receive 33 million robocalls a day, not…
Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) is a packet-switching protocol that was designed for micro-browsers. Most mobile wireless networks and mobile phones from 1999-2010 used WAP to access the Internet. For years, WAP provided the framework so that wireless devices can communicate instantly between themselves and the Internet. Today, WAP is essentially obsolete, as modern mobile browsers…
The words cyber attack can cause a racing heart and sweaty palms for anyone who uses the internet. Warnings of these attacks seem to greet us at every turn, and safety precautions when we’re online have become increasingly vital to our security. Cyber criminals look for increasingly sophisticated ways to infiltrate our personal files and…
SQL injection is a mechanism that cyber attackers use to interfere with application queries to a database. Specifically, SQL injection exploits a security vulnerability and gives hackers access to data that they shouldn’t have access to. How SQL Injection Works To understand SQL injection (SQLi), you have to first understand code injection and SQL. “Code…
Let’s say you’re upgrading to a new computer and you want to donate your old one or even give it to someone else. Before you just hand it over, take a minute to think of the life’s worth of information stored on it. You’ve created files, written personal and business emails, stored pictures, and videos…and…
If you find yourself reading this article for any reason other than having had your laptop stolen, do yourself a huge favor and read this article about preventative steps for keeping your laptop (and the data on it) safe from theft. It’s always good to take steps that can help you avoid stress and anxiety.…
These days, it seems like data breaches happen so frequently consumers can hardly keep up. Almost every week there are headlines about another company that’s been breached. What should you do if you have an account with one of these breached organizations, and your information has been exposed? When you hear about a data breach…
Cloudflare is an incredibly popular global technology firm that provides a wide range of internet services. It focuses primarily on improving the performance, security, and reliability of websites. It is used by small businesses and large corporations alike. Government agencies, nonprofits, educational institutions, and e-commerce platforms use it too. On rare occasions, people find themselves…
Every day, new, increasingly sophisticated online scams crop up — it gets tough to know how to protect your cybersecurity and how to spot these scams before you become unwitting prey. Hackers and other cybercriminals are often members of large, organized groups hoping to bilk unsuspecting people from all walks of life from their personal…
Is the threat of malware real? The answer is definitely yes. Fortunately for most of us, the most serious malware attacks are going after large targets these days, such as government agencies and large international corporations. For example, in late November 2014, Sony Corporation was the victim of a severe and successful hacking effort by…
There are tons of ways for hackers and cybercriminals to do damage. But sadly, this often happens by simple mistakes people make to give hackers access. While, yes, they can find their way onto your network or device… they’re most often let in. One of the easiest ways for cybercriminals to get onto your network…
Online dating can be a bit of a drag. There’s the waiting for replies, answering the same questions over and over, and screening out duds. But it can evolve into a real nightmare if you don’t take proper precautions. While many people dating online are just looking for love, there are plenty of safety concerns.…
Parents may want to get familiar popular apps because platforms like Instagram may not be safe for youngsters, especially if their kids are using it—which they probably are. It is one of the most popular apps for kids and teens, even it’s not the best place for them to be. As it turns out, Instagram…
When Ashley Madison, the dating website for cheaters, launched in 2002, it was seen as a fringe space for clandestine affairs. However, by 2015, the site claimed 31.5 million members and boasted international, high-profile recognition. Despite a questionable mission — to foster and facilitate infidelity — Ashley Madison was primed to “go public” and hoped…
Technology makes our lives increasingly easier, and every imaginable task becomes more efficient. In recent years, tech tools have even helped to connect and streamline smart devices in our homes and offices. The Internet of Things is one such tool quietly becoming an integral part of modern life. From voice assistants and smart thermostats to…
In the days before the Internet and Wi-Fi services, people used aluminum foil to increase the strength of their TV or radio antennas. Aluminum foil could provide an amazing solution when a dark and stormy night threatened to disrupt the Super Bowl or a breaking news story. Today, you may scoff at the idea of…
The bad news is that hackers, especially foreign-based cybercriminals, have leveraged AI technology to turn it against U.S. companies and businesses. In this case, it’s suspected that hackers in China, sponsored by their government, were behind the attack.
Windscribe VPN provides the ultimate privacy, security, and simplicity with an easy-to-use website interface.
Words of Advice Before You Use a Wireless Network Again Part one of a three-part story. A recent firsthand investigative report showed just how easy it is for a hacker to go to a coffee shop or airport, tap into the wireless network (like everyone else), and begin collecting information off the laptops and smartphones…
Part two of a three-part story. This is the second installment of our series about how easy it is for you to get hacked when using the free Internet at a coffee shop or airport. In Part One, we saw how a hacker (Mr. H.) was able to see the Internet activity of others at…
WordPress powers over 40 percent of the web. The user-friendly content management system allows non-web developers to create and run websites, through the use of plugins. WordPress plugins let you add functionalities and features to a website without having to know how to code. They can be immensely useful but they can also slow down…
Yes, it’s a hassle to remember to create stronger passwords every time you open a new account…and that’s why many people don’t do it. They use simple (“abcd,” “1234”) stupid (“password”) the same password every time. Anything but a strong password. And hackers just love us for it. Almost every medium- to large-size company has…
Please be aware that the use of proxy servers without the express permission from the owner of the proxy server may be illegal in some states and/or countries. Use them at your own risk. Use your favorite search engine and search for ‘proxy server list’. You’ll find many sites with lists of proxy servers, their…
Your aunt just got a hot tip from you about an amazing NFT investment opportunity and your best friend just got a sketchy link from you which she wasn’t sure she should open. Your social media has been hacked and you’re the last one to know. If this has happened to you, you are certainly…
Beware of any calls you get to talk about Zelle and fraud, even it’s from your “bank.” There’s nothing wrong with Zelle), but scammers are getting victims to pay them money from their Zelle accounts.
We put a lot of faith in the websites and online services we use. But they’re not always safe. Hacks and data breaches can compromise your personal data and leave you exposed. Learn cybersecurity basics and stay safe online with these guides.