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Think Twice Before Using Your USB Flash Drive

10/6/2014

Be aware that a new malware threat can infect your USB flash drive, which in turn can cause catastrophic destruction to your computers and network.

A new threat called, "BadUSB" can be executed from any USB device, not just flash or backup drives (eg: USB keyboards).

To make matters worse, currently there is no way to defend yourself against the potential threat other than not to use USB devices.

Sure, you can use cloud storage for your non-sensitive data instead of USB backup drives. However, I don't trust storing my sensitive data where other people have access to it. Nor do I want to find out the place I chose to use ended up being the next place to be breached leaving your data vulnerable.

Even worse, BadUSB remains imperceptible to antivirus software and mobile security apps, and lives on even after the contents of the drive and devices have been deleted and reformatted. -Sara Angeles

Read Sara's Full Article on Discovery >

Flashlight Apps That Install Malware on Your Smartphone

10/1/2014

There are many apps on Google's Play Store that can be dangerous to use, which is why you should scrutinize the permissions that each app requires before installing it.

Some apps cross the line by installing malware on your smartphone that can compromise all of your personal data (including username and passwords you enter on your phone). A good example of this type of infiltration is through a simple flashlight app used by hundreds of millions of unsuspecting people.

Brightest Flashlight Free and Super-Bright LED Flashlight are just two of the many flashlight apps available on Google's Play Store that require too many permissions and installs malware.

If you'd like more proof, read the "FTC Approves Final Order Settling Charges Against Flashlight App Creator".

Click on images to enlarge.

Requiring Unnecessary Permissions

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Special Report

What Flashlight App Do I Use?

I use the Privacy Flashlight app which only requires access to your camera/mic. Some will argue that it could turn on your microphone, but then it would need access to your WiFi to gain control.

It needs access to your camera because it uses it's flash bulb, nothing more.

There are other flashlight apps that you can use but be mindful of the permissions that they require.

Click on a picture above to enlarge and read the captions (hover your mouse over the enlarged picture to view the arrow to advance).

Install the Privacy Flashlight App from Google's Play Store...

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Malware is Only 1 Click Away When Using Facebook

9/2/2014

Don't let curiosity get the best of you.

Unfortunately, for our customers, we see dozens of computers every year that were infected when they unsuspectingly clicked on a link while using Facebook.

I've been telling our customers for years, "Have you heard the saying, curiosity killed the cat"? Well, it's true. Don't click on links just because you're curious, it's better to be safe than sorry.

Ultimately, we are responsible for infecting our computers because we're the person clicking on a potential threat. And, don't be fooled to think that antivirus software will protect you, even if you've spent $100.00 or more on it. The simple truth is, it won't. As far as the antivirus software is concerned, you said it was okay to click on a link or download a file.

The best way to protect yourself, is to know where the threats come from when using Facebook.

There's a terrific article on MakeUseOf by Kihara Kimachia.

He'll show you 5 places on Facebook where potential danger can lurk and how to avoid them.

Clickjacking Threats
Phishing Exploits
The "Facebook Team"
Rogue Facebook Applications
Malware Attacks

Do you remember how life was without Facebook? Probably not. The site has pervaded our lives and it is no surprise that Facebook is now prime hunting ground for anyone with nefarious intentions. -Kihara Kimachia

Read Kihara's Full Article on MakeUseOf >

View Other Facebook Posts >

Be Mindful Of The Dangers Using Public Computers

7/17/2014

Google Images

When you're using a public computer at the library or a hotel, there are hidden dangers that you should be mindful of such as key-logging software. That type of malicious software can capture your sensitive log-in information without your knowledge.

I make it a point never to use public computers; I travel with a used laptop with a VPN installed.

I came across a good article entitled, "You Should Treat Public Computers Like Public Bathrooms". It shows you what to be mindful of if you have no choice but to use a public computer.

"When I was in college, the main campus library had several computers set up on the first floor for public use, and invariably, whenever I used one, a previous user had not logged out of her Gmail account. So when I tried to load my account, I would instead find myself staring at the entire contents of someone else’s inbox. Of course, I would then log that person out and sign myself in—but those brief moments when I had complete access to another person’s email were terrifying nonetheless. How could people be so careless with something as valuable as their email account?" -Josephine Wolff

Read Full Article >

Security When Traveling >

Facebook Likes & Shares Have a Hidden Agenda

6/4/2014

Jennifer Golbeck studies how people use social media. She explains what clicking on those not-so-innocent buttons are actually telling Facebook about yourself.

View Other Facebook Posts >

Crucial Security Settings to Implement on Your Router

5/11/2014

Google Images

It's important to make a few security changes to your router, so that you can better protect yourself from attacks.

Crucial Changes to Implement:

The router administrator password and username should be changed from their default settings.
The name of your wireless network (SSID) should be altered from: Actiontec, Linksys, etc.
Change the wireless security mode to WPA2 and utilize a long password.

"Your router is the first line of defense against hackers trying to access all the internet-connected devices in your home. Sadly, many of the top Wi-Fi routers are easy to hack. You should be concerned—and also make sure your router is set up properly." -Melanie Pinola

Read The Full Article on Lifehacker >

10 + 3 Ideas To Keep Your Laptop Secure While Traveling

5/9/2014

Our twitter friend, Deia wrote an article on WiseBread, listing "10 Helpful Ways to Keep Your Laptop Safe While Traveling".

"Leaving your laptop at home is supposedly going to help you relax, but what if you're more anxious without your laptop? You may not be working during the trip, but there could be possible emergencies to handle. And let's not forget that a laptop can function as a travel agent, a guidebook, and an entertainment center, too." -Deia

Number 3 mentions using a laptop security cable. I've purchased and have used this brand from Amazon for several years. It's inexpensive, easy to use and built to last.

I'm a strong advocate of Deia's #6 idea to use a VPN. I've used a VPN since 2009 for daily home/office use and especially while traveling (more VPN articles).

Plus 3 Additional Tips That I Use:

Enable an admin and user password in your BIOS settings, usually found under the Security tab. This gives you an added layer of security before Windows is loaded. I've done this for all of my customers over the years and I use them on our PCs/laptops (this is not a cure-all for theft but it can prove to be an effective deterrent).
Instead of giving your old laptop away, keep it for traveling purposes. Format the hard drive, perform a clean-install of the operating system and drivers. Afterwards, I never put any sensitive data on it, maybe a few bookmarks. Now, if it's lost or stolen, it won't bother you as much because it wasn't your main laptop.
When logging into your online bank or credit card accounts, don't have either recognize the laptop that you're using. Also, don't check the box that asks to keep you logged-in, if applicable. I always select the option that 'this is not my laptop', or similarly worded. Two things happen when you choose that option: [1] It will always ask to send a 2-step verification code to your phone, if utilized (which may be a pain, but it helps to keep your laptop a bit safer if it's stolen). [2] It will help prevent being automatically logged into your account without your having entered any credentials (which is a good thing if your laptop ends up in the wrong hands).

Click on images to enlarge

Booting-up Laptop

This is NOT my laptop

Read Deia's Full Article on WiseBread >

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Five VPN Services You Should Consider

3/24/2014

A VPN, or a Virtual Private Network, is a great tool to protect your privacy and security while you use the internet. Whether you're at home or using public Wi-Fi while traveling, the best combine great pricing with security features and privacy guarantees that make them worth your trust. -Alan Henry

Read Alan's Full Article on Lifehacker >

View My VPN Choice >

Does Your VPN Takes Your Anonymity Seriously?

3/16/2014

Millions of people use a VPN service to protect their privacy, but not all VPNs are as anonymous as one might hope. In fact, some VPN services log users' IP-addresses for weeks. To find out how secure VPNs really are TorrentFreak asked the leading providers about their logging policies, and more. -Ernesto

Read Ernesto's Full Article on TorrentFreak >

View My VPN Choice >

VPN Services You Should Know About

1/10/2014

VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) are no longer just for work. VPN prevents snoops from eavesdropping on your online activity, whether that's marketers, someone malicious, or even the government. -Fahmida Y. Rashid

Read Full Article on PCMag.com >

View My VPN Choice >

Are You Positive Your VPN Service Is Anonymous?

1/4/2014

It’s taken a long time but today we bring the first installment in a series of posts highlighting VPN services that take privacy seriously. Our first article focuses on anonymity and a later installment will highlight file-sharing aspects and possible limitations. -Enigmax & Ernesto

Read Full Article on TorrentFreak >

View My VPN Choice >

Top 7 Reasons That I Prefer Private Internet Access

6/14/2013

VPN = Private Internet Access (PIA)

I've used several different VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) over the years, but ever since I started using Private Internet Access in January 2013... I've never looked back.

Top 7 Reasons That I Prefer PIA

Simple to use interface.
Not a computer/smartphone resource hog while it runs in the background.
Does not store log files of your internet activity, ever.
Inexpensive yearly cost.
Can be used on 5 of your devices simultaneously (eg: PCs, laptops, smartphones & tablets).
Encrypted WiFi.
Unlimited bandwidth (over 5 devices).

Of course there are many other features that are useful but you can read through those on Private Internet Access' website.

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Unsecured Public WiFi Connections

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Whether you travel a lot or just prefer using public WiFi, you should definitely consider using Private Internet Access to secure your connection.

Who should consider adding strong public WiFi security encryption layers to protect your privacy and data?

That's an excellent question and the short answer is, "YOU".

Do you perform any of the following activities while using an unsecured public WiFi access point (eg: cafe, library, bookstore, airport or hotel)?

Check email.
Login to social network websites (eg: Twitter, Facebook, Google+ or Pinterest).
Share sensitive data.
Login to banking or credit card accounts.
Login to apps on your smartphone to watch programs/movies via; Netflix, Hulu+, M-Go, VuDu, Crackle, etc.

If you answered, "Yes" to one or more of above then you should sign-up without further delay to enjoy all the same benefits that I do.

Low Cost Peace Of Mind For 5 Devices

I recommend paying for the $39.95 yearly subscription because then you'll receive the lowest price possible.

Now, if you take the $3.33/month cost a step further and divide that by 5 devices, it's a mere $0.67/device each month.

If you're not 100% convinced, then sign-up for a month initially ($6.95). You can always pay the yearly subscription after your 30 day test drive.

View Details

Computer Settings Once PIA is Installed

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Smartphone App Settings

Below left picture shows the settings that I use, naturally you can choose whatever settings fit your needs. Picture on the right shows what it looks like in the notification bar when connected through the VPN app.

Watching Netflix With PIA App Loaded via 4GLTE

I load the Private Internet Access app on my smartphone even when I watch programs on Netflix via 4gLTE (while sitting in our vehicle and my wife is shopping).

It protects my privacy in 2 ways:

Stops nearby prying eyes who may be using spy software to intercept login information.

Prevents Netflix from tracking my actual location through their app.

Click on a picture above to enlarge and read the captions (hover your mouse over the enlarged picture to view the arrow to advance).

Yes, I'd Like To View PIA's Pricing Choices >

How Do You Know If The VPN You Chose Is Trustworthy?

5/22/2013

I've read about why I really should use a VPN and I've been looking into different providers, but there's one thing I'm worried about. Can't a VPN provider just look at my traffic all they want and see what I'm doing? Don't I just have to trust them not to spy on me? If that's true, how do I pick one I can trust, when they can all see what I'm doing? -Alan Henry

Read Alan's Full Article on Lifehacker >

View My VPN Choice >

Posting Too Much Info on Facebook Could Get You Robbed

11/28/2012

At minimum, you should keep your Facebook profile private to the public. Only allow your friends to view it, not friends of friends.

This is just one example of why posting too much information on Facebook is a bad idea.

Some users have posted their phone numbers, leaving them vulnerable to SMS scams.

Always keep privacy settings to 'friends only' if you don't want to broadcast what you post to the world.

Wasil Dhingra doesn't set his Facebook settings to 'private' or 'friends only.' So, it's not hard to find his phone number.

Read Full Article on Discovery News >

Other Facebook Posts >

More Reasons to Root Your Android Smartphone

9/24/2012

I'll let Max explain his reasons for rooting your android smartphone.

Visit Max's High On Android YouTube Channel >

Reasons You Should Start Using a VPN

9/7/2012

You may know what a VPN, or Virtual Private Network, is; you probably don't use one. You really should be using a VPN, and even if you don't think so now, at some point in the future you may consider it as important as your internet connection. -Alan Henry

Read Alan's Full Article on Lifehacker >

View My VPN Choice >

It's About Time That Facebook Actually Deletes Your Photos

8/18/2012

Facebook has announced that it will now permanently delete photos that users have deleted on the social networking giant. This is a huge improvement over the previous situation.

Read Full Article on MakeUseOf >

View Other Facebook Posts >

11 Hotel Safety Tips

7/21/2012

It seems like nearly everyone is on the road for a short trip or extended vacation this summer. If staying in a hotel will be part of your summer travel plans, it might be a good time to brush on some security basics. -Kentin Waits

Read Kentin's Full Article on WiseBread >

Which VPN Providers Are The Best At Protecting Your Anonymity?

10/8/2011

There are dozens of VPN providers, many of which carry marketing on their web pages which suggests that the anonymity of their subscribers is a top priority. But is it really? Do their privacy policies stand up to scrutiny? We decided to find out. -Enigmax

Read Full Article on TorrentFreak >

View My VPN Choice >

Facebook Isn't Really Your Friend

9/28/2011

They're watching you're every move.

Are you under the impression that Facebook is your friend?

Guess what... it's not.

It may be convenient to catch up with all of your family and friend's activities, but Facebook doesn't really care about your privacy. In fact, they're getting better at concealing their agenda to delve deeper into your personal data.

Before you shrug your shoulders and dismiss how they track everything you do on the web, you should take a few minutes to educate yourself (you'll learn how to stop it as well).

Essentially, by using these apps, just reading an article, listening to a song, or watching a video, you're sending information to Facebook which can then be automatically shared with your friends or added to your profile, and Facebook doesn't ask for your permission to do it. -Alan Henry

Read Alan's Article on LifeHacker >

More Facebook Posts >

More Tracking Posts >