Do Password Strength Meters Actually Work?

Password strength meters are helpful in some cases, but are not always used effectively.

Consumers who frequently access websites are sometimes prompted by strength meters to improve their password security. A new study conducted by the University of California at Berkeley, Microsoft and the University of British Columbia indicated that these systems can be effective if they are established properly.

Serge Egelman, a research scientist at UC Berkeley, told ArsTechnica that people are more likely to enter passwords they have previously used when asked by strength meters to change their credentials. This is often the case for new accounts or ones that are not of great importance to consumers.

"Whereas we show that in a different context - when changing passwords for high-value accounts - then the meters actually do have an observable effect on behavior in that people do choose stronger passwords," Egelman told the news source. "And ironically that's the context where we're least likely to see real meters in real life."

Password strength meters are a good reminder that online security is necessary for anyone accessing important accounts through the Internet. Consumers who neglect such protection may experience major problems such as identity theft if hackers obtain this valuable information.

Rather than only generating strong passwords when reminded, people can use effective tools like a password manager to keep all of their accounts protected with complex and hard-to-crack passwords. These solutions constantly generate new credentials so users always have the latest safeguards for their websites.

Another great aspect of password managers is that they remove the burden from consumers who are constantly tasked with remembering a dozen or more unique credentials. Sometimes people decide to use the same passwords for all of their accounts because it is easy to do so, but this approach invites trouble if hackers know this particular phrase.

Password strength meters are helpful in some cases, but are not always used effectively.

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Protecting Your Data Before It’s Too Late

Some data is particularly sensitive and if it gets into the wrong hands, the consequences can be dire. However, even if data doesn’t fall under prying eyes, the results can be troubling nonetheless if you need to keep hold of the data for any reason. Fortunately, there are many things that you can do to ensure that your data doesn’t get lost forever and to prevent it being accessed by the wrong people.

Back Up Repeatedly:

One of the best ways to ensure that you don’t lose your data forever is to Back It up. Backing up your data is now arguably easier than ever, and today’s external hard drives can enable you to send vast swathes of content from your computer to another device in no time at all. Backing up your data regularly is a must – especially if you are constantly creating new content.

It’s also wise to store your backed-up data on another site if possible, should an event such as a fire or a break-in occur at your property. Today, the easiest way to do this is through Cloud Computing. There are many services offering you the chance to save your data to the cloud – though it’s a good idea to ensure that you choose a well-known service that you feel you can trust.

If your backed-up data is kept on the same site as your main computer, that could disappear too. Cloud computing services are now allowing you to store more in the cloud for less money, meaning that you can protect vast amounts of data for a modest fee.

Fight Off Viruses:

Data security can be compromised by viruses, which makes it extremely important to be vigilant when opening e-mail attachments. You should therefore ensure that all e-mail attachments are scanned by anti-virus services before you open them.

Meanwhile, if you do decide to back up your data to an external physical hard drive for document storage, whetheras well as or instead of using cloud computing, you should always look for a much bigger capacity than you currently need. For instance, if you have 500GB of data to back up, it’s a wise move to invest in a 1TB drive – or an even bigger external option – to cater for any more data that you may need to store in the future. If your computer supports USB 3.0 transfers, you should be able to send a huge amount of data to a USB 3.0 hard drive in no time.

A Tougher Document Management Service:

As many security breaches can occur when security levels are not tight enough, it’s essential that you take advantage of any anti-virus software updates that may be available. If possible, you should ensure that these are downloaded automatically as soon as they are offered to you. Meanwhile, you should also change your passwords regularly and partake in document shredding from your local document management service in order to stay one step ahead of the data thieves.

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Hacking And Cracking: What's The Difference?

In the field of cyber security, there are two distinct groups of individuals, hackers and crackers. A person will ultimately be classified as either one or the other depending on their particular intentions; however there are different skill sets and subgroups typically associated with each title. To help differentiate, below is a breakdown of hackers, crackers and everything in between so you can gain a better idea of who is responsible when a cyber security breach occurs.

Hackers:

The term “hacker” typically refers to individuals who seek to fully understand how computers and network systems function in order to gain in-depth knowledge and perform a precise exploit of vulnerabilities.

These experts in computer security tend to have non-malicious intentions and thus have become colloquially known as “white hat” hackers. White hat hackers engage in ethical hacking, which consists of lawfully breaking into systems for the purpose of exposing security flaws. They either seek to improve the protection of their own security systems or they are hired by organizations to perform this service. In order to do this, the hackers will initiate assessments of the company’s security system by attempting to penetrate it. If the hacker is successful during penetration tests, they are generally responsible for reporting the issue and developing a solution to prevent the same kind of security breach from occurring maliciously in the future. Companies often hire individuals to test for these vulnerabilities instead of leaving possible holes in their security systems open to attack by malicious hackers, commonly referred to as “crackers.”

Crackers:

The title of a “cracker” has gained much controversy over the past few years in regards to its malicious connotation and the reputation these individuals have gained throughout the cyber security community.

Hackers often make the argument that crackers are less knowledgeable of computer systems and lack originality in their work, which is true to an extent. Crackers are motivated solely by personal gain and are not concerned with learning the ins and outs of computer systems as much as their counterparts. Additionally, the fact of the matter is that crackers do not need to follow ethical guidelines; they simply need to exploit the system. The primary goal of a cracker is either to obtain valuable information that will lead to personal gain or to cause mischief for organizations simply because they are capable of it. Regardless of their motives, the malicious intention of these crackers has led to them being labeled as computer criminals, or “black hat” hackers. They may choose their victims randomly or target specific organizations based on profitability and other interests, but the end goal is always for their personal gain never as an ethical profession. These crackers are often caught for their malicious acts because they are not cautious or mindful of the protections that have been put in place by a business’ white hat hackers. Businesses with secure networks will hire ethical hackers to establish a honeypot, which is essentially a trap used to detect and counteract unauthorized breaches by the black hat community.

Grey Hat Hacking:

The term “grey hat” is used as a combination of white hat and black hat because it refers to hackers that engage in both hacking and cracking. While they may break into computer systems for the purpose of making a profit, their intentions are not entirely malicious. The grey hat hacker may have to perform illegal actions in order to test a system for vulnerabilities and make the necessary improvements. A possible scenario for a grey hat hacker could be breaching the security system of a company and then notifying them of the vulnerability in hopes of receiving a payment to improve the system. These tactics are seen as questionable in the hacking community, but in the end they result in a positive outcome for the hacker and improved security measures for the involved organization.

Author Bio:

Andrew works for a cyber security training company named Phoenix TS based in Columbia, MD.

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Review On Bitdefender Internet Security 2013

According to AV-Test in Germany Bitdefender was declared as the Best Antivirus engine in terms of protection, repair and usability. Bitdefender also received "Best Product Of The Year 2013" award and is ranking on the top in Top Ten Reviews in terms of it's Performance, Features & Help and Support. There are to many if we have to talk about it's achievements, So let's get into the review of this World's Best Antivirus "Bitdefender Internet Security 2013".

Features:

Bitdefender Internet Security Offers a variety of security features to protect us from variety of online threats and to safeguard our privacy online. It is empowered with lot of tools for parents to monitor their child's activity online, and allowing you to block Suspicious sites, messages and email that contain flagged words or Phrases. Also You can limit time of internet access for each child. When you search for something on a search engine like Google, Bitdefender gives each url in the search results a security rank based on the no. of votes it receives.

Bitdefender Makes Online banking more secure through it Safepay(Sandboxed Web Browser) feature. This feature prevents any type of keylogger, spyware, etc.. from stealing info. on your bank or other transitions you make online. It is really a must needed tool for safe online transitions.

Bitdefender automatically check for updates periodically to protect you from the new kind of threads emerging day to day. This feature can be disabled if you plan to check it manually. But it is necessary to get the most out of it's Security.

Speed and Performance:

Like other Antivirus programs Bitdefender also slightly appears to slow the system when a scan is in progress, But fortunately it is empowered with some additional features to utilize best time to scan without slowing your system. Bitdefender Internet Security can run full system scan quickly with less utilization of Internal memory. You can even schedule scans. But Don't worry! These scans runs on background without affecting your work in progress and allowing you to do multitask at one time. Usually bitdefender Scans only if your system is idle. The Scan Dispatcher tool will make a scan only if the PC usage falls below a certain level.

Bitdefender's "AutoPilot" which is present at the top right corner of the window can be turned on/off. Autopilot is really a great option if you are busy and don't want to get interrupted in the middle of your work in applying decisions to the actions to be taken against the threats.

Help & Support:

When it comes to Help & Support Bitdefender is 24/7 and ready to help you at any time. You can search for your answers online, ask questions to the professionals, chat with them or even call them. Their Blog has interesting post on Security topics and Emerging Threats.

System Requirements:

If you ask for minimum system requirements. Then here it is,

• Operating system: Microsoft Windows XP SP3 (32 bit) , Vista (SP2), Microsoft Windows 7 (SP1), Microsoft Windows 8
• CPU: 800MHz processor
• Memory (RAM): 1 GB
• Available free hard disk space: 1.8 GB free space (at least 800 MB on the system drive)
• Additional Softwares: .NET Framework 3.5 (automatically installed by Bitdefender if necessary)

Price/Shopping:

Bitdefender is comparatively low when compared to other Antivirus softwares who have less features when compared to Bitdefender.

1PC                         -               $24.97 (1 Year)  $44.98(2 Year)   $64.98(3 Year)

Upto 3PC's             -               $34.97(1 Year)   $54.97(2 Year)   $79.97(3 Year)

Upto 5PC's             -               $54.97(1 Year)   $89.98(2 Year)   $124.97(3 Year)

Upto 10PC's           -               $89.98(1 Year)   $159.97(2 Year) $214.97(3 Year)

You can visit Bitdefender Antivirus to download a trial version/buy this product, or check out other antivirus solutions.

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5 Strategies To Fight Anonymous DDoS Attacks

Img.Credit:chanpipat

There are lots of ways to protect your site against spammers and other folks who generally do not do nice things online. You are not safe online, and you should remember it all the time. However, if you can protect yourself against spammers, often you’re helpless when your site is under DDoS attack. By the way, do not feel guilty for not being able to protect it. Such companies as eBay or the US government sites used to be victims of hackers and they were also helpless for some time, although they had enough money and resources to hire the best engineers to deal with the attacks.

Of course, you have to bear in mind that DDoS attacks can be so big and intense that you will need much resources to stop them. If 200k computers are trying to connect to your site all at once, there is no hardware and software that can handle it. Yet, there are a few little secrets that will help you fight anonymous DDoS attacks.

1.) There are no invulnerable sites:

In fact, if you think that only government sites are hit by Anonymous group, you are mistaken. Sure, they target mostly government sites of countries they don’t like. However, recently sites of New Zealand government were hit. Can you say anything controversial about New Zealand? So, your site might well be a target for such attacks. Be prepared for the worst.

2.) DDoS attacks are better to stop at the initial stages:

As a rule, site owners do not do much at first. They just wait for the site to go down and then start complaining. What you should do is to implement the best practices in the industry to protect your site, network, any additional services, such as DNS. Don’t wait until hackers destroy your site.

3.) Identify the bottleneck of the attack:

There should be a part of your network which is most vulnerable. Hackers use it to assault your site. These weak areas may include a firewall, a server, an Internet pipeline, a security system, a load balancer or a SQL server. Any of these elements of your network can be vulnerable to attacks. So, identification of where the attack comes from will certainly help you ‘stand and fight’. Some experts recommend slowhttptest tool to stop DDoS attacks. You can also configure your server to allow only 1k requests at once.

4.) Monitor your network:

Yes, you have to see what’s happening in your network, especially if your site is a part of a large corporate network. Sometimes, you may just block your network to be access from the Internet and analyze the attack. Sure, this is not the best solution, but this will give you a few extra hours to handle the attack.

5.) Cooperate with your ISP and a hosting company:

Yes, this is the best decision to make. Call your ISP, and make sure they are aware of the problem. Reliable ISPs and hosting providers have enough resources to deal with DDoS attacks, of course, if they are not too big. It is fair to say that if your site has become a target for Anonymous you will have problems.

Author Bio:

Aleksey is an independent consultant in matters of the Internet security and data protection. He personally oversees a dozen of sites for small and mid sized companies, as well as cooperates with such services as http://www.vistnet.com.

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A Password Manager Ensures Safe Browsing Anywhere

A password manager keeps people safe from hackers.

Consumers who regularly sign up for some type of online service are likely required to include a password to access their account. The process of filling out complex phrases that include punctuation marks, numbers and other symbols can be tiresome for anyone, but using complex passwords is one way to make it more difficult for hackers to obtain sensitive information.

A password manager,such as Sticky Password, is another and more effective option for consumers looking for ways to improve their password security. Such tools create complex passwords for accounts so people don't have to. These phrases are backed by advanced algorithms, making them a challenge for any hackers to break.

In addition to staying safe on a home computer, people must also practice safe browsing habits while on the move. Smartphones have become a staple for consumers and employees alike. These powerful gadgets are not just for making phone calls or sending text messages. The devices come equipped with mobile browsers, making it possible for people to access their most important accounts. Apple's iPhone remains the king of the smartphone arena, but its popularity means that cybercriminals are likely trying to take advantage of iPhone owners. Luckily, password managers keep users of iOS devices safe anywhere they travel.

Passwords are sometimes overlooked for various reasons. Although it may seem impossible that a hacker can guess a person's unique phrase, cybercriminals prove this is possible on a daily basis. Instead of trying to create a uncrackable password, consumers can use a password manager to do the heavy lifting for them and protect their most critical information from being breached. The only safeguard a person must remember is a master password and the rest is handled by the manager.

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5 Data Backup & Disaster Recovery Tips

Backup your files on discs and be sure to store them in a secure location off-site.

Whether you own a large corporation or run a small business from home, it is essential that you are aware of the Importance of data backup and disaster recovery. Unfortunately you can never predict when disaster is going to strike in the work place. A disaster can be anything from system failure, to damage caused by a flood, fire or earthquake. Many businesses that experience a disaster never fully recover. Follow our simple tips below to ensure that your business does not become one of them.

1.) Primary back-up solutions:

Your customer database is one of your most valuable assets. Without it your business may not be able to function. This is why it is essential to make back-up copies of your database as well as other important files and information. Back-up copies can be made on disks, USB sticks and external hard drives. Understandably many business owners are wary of copies being made, especially of confidential data, so it is important that these copies are stored in a secure location off-site.

2.) Secondary back-up solutions:

Larger businesses will be able to store back-up copies of their files in an off-site data centre, but this is not an affordable option for many small to medium sized businesses. Instead why not Store your files on the cloud? This virtual form of storage, known as cloud computing, enables businesses to upload their files to a safe place on the internet. These files can be accessed remotely using a username and password.

Cloud computing is an affordable solution for small to medium sized businesses. Shop around to find the host offering the best price and be sure to check their terms and conditions. Using cloud storage will give you the peace of mind knowing that your files are safe, even if your physical IT infrastructure has been damaged.

3.) Use a virtual server:

A virtual server is capable of hosting a replica of your physical environment. It can be accessed remotely and often works out much cheaper than having a physical back-up server. If something unfortunate has happened to your workplace, you can simply access the virtual server within minutes from an off-site location.

4.) Create a data retention policy:

All businesses should have a data retention policy in place. This policy should inform your employees of the importance of backing up their data. It should tell them what data they need to back up, when they should do it and how it needs to be done. Business owners should schedule regular back-up sessions and appoint a member of their team to oversee it. If you fail to teach your staff the importance of backing up data, you may find that you are left with out of date copies of your files, which will not be of any worth to your business in the event of a disaster.

External hard drives are great for backing-up data but it is essential that they are kept in a secure location, especially if they contain confidential data.

5.) Test your plan:

It is important to create a disaster and recovery plan that is clear, concise and easy for your staff to follow. A step-by-step guide is always useful. Appoint a leader to oversee the whole procedure as you may be busy doing other things like contacting your insurance company.

We cannot stress enough how important it is to regularly test your plan. It would be no good to find out that your back-up copies do not work, or that you cannot gain access to your virtual server in the middle of a disaster. The more you test your plan, the less likely you are to face problems recovering your data, should disaster strike your workplace.

The key to successful data back-up and disaster recovery planning is to always plan for the worst. It is much better to spend time and money preparing for a disaster than to find that you are left with no resources to run your business if something unfortunate happens.

Author Bio:

Written by SAS London, digital agency based in the United Kingdom.

Image credits: bobbigmac&miss karen

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Secure File Sharing Without Content Sharing

Img.Credit: freedigitalphotos

How often do you send emails, Word files or spreadsheets containing information that whilst not “top secret” it would be better that they were only accessed by your intended recipient? In the case of large file exchange or sharing this is normally achieved by uploading the file to a file sharing server and then letting the recipient know that it is there for them to download. Should we do more to protect these “shared files” from unauthorised access? Well in fact if these “file shares” are part and parcel to your companies business and contain any personal information you have a legal duty of care to ensure that their content is not revealed to the wider world.

Sending emails and files in “clear text” format is like sending your business letters on a post card. They can be intercepted and read by anyone who has the will to do so. Routinely our electronic ramblings are monitored by the various national security services at the very least.

So what can we do about it? We can obscure the content by means of encryption. By encrypting the content of an email or file we have effectively sealed it in an envelope. But surely this is going to be complicated and require the installation of software not only for me but also for my intended recipient, I hear you say. Well not necessarily. The new and emerging software solutions to this aged problem of providing robust encryption that everyone can use, simply without the need to understand all of the requisite complexities of random number generators, entropy and key pairs is proving that it is possible to bury these hitherto barriers within the program allowing a straightforward user interface to guide the user effortlessly through the maze in a couple of simple clicks.

If you will allow the pun, the “key” to this has been utilising a unique identifier for both sender and receiver. In this electronic age we all have such a thing, our email address! Imagine a system where a user’s email address is used in this way, the system can then generate key pairs associated with this address. These key pairs will be used to encrypt and decrypt any code the user may require protecting; emails, files, disks, thumb drives, CD-ROMs the list goes on. These encrypted portions of code can then be safely transported over any public or private network including the internet. They can even be stored on public servers awaiting collection by the recipient with the correct key/email address.

But how does the intended recipient’s email address work to decrypt the message? Easy because the data author or owner will know who they want to share that data with,so all that needs to happenis for the sender to supply the system with the email address of the intended recipient and it creates the necessary key pairs to enable encryption and decryption of the target code. These matching key pairs can be one-time pairs that will only apply to each data exchange further improving the security. Since each key pairing is only good for one exchange, if they were to be compromised it does not result in any future or past exchange being put at risk, clever!

This type of system can be used to encrypt emails, their attachments, files copied to disks, thumb drives, CD-ROMs in fact any media. Making use of a cloud based repository you instantly have the ability to transfer large encrypted files with users anywhere on the planet. Or if you prefer by hand via whatever storage medium you wish to use.

One such system Egress’s Switch even allows you to make these secure file transfers with user’s who are not subscribers to the system. This allows you to make secure exchanges with your trading partners or friends without the need for them to make any installation of software on their systems. Superb!

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Cell Phone Tracking: Do You Need it?

With the smartphone bazaar full to brim with innovations and top-notch hardware, the development which has blazed the trail for many others is Cell phone tracking. While the term conjures an image of a spy clad in black hiding his face with a mask, the idea has not been exactly ruled out by many. The significant increase in the number of cell phone monitoring apps on the internet have not turned stale as many employers and parents click the download button and that too for a good reason.

Spying like a boss

As BYOD (Bring your own device) sides up with employees and their privacy, we are also faced with the fact that employers are, for the welfare of the organization, is supposed to know what, when, where and how their employees are spending time at their workplace.

Assigning a smartphone for your employee and getting them a data plan might get a ‘World’s Best Boss’ mug for Christmas but that is not where you are supposed to stop at that. The smartphone might be used for Facebooking all day long while the organization has to pay for the data plan which might be spent on making personal calls. Sneaking in corners or hiding in a washroom cubicle while your employees try to wage a civil war in the organization doesn’t seem to the thing for the boss. It takes up a lot of time and effort. Monitoring your employees cell phone, it’s use and abuse helps you keep an eye on how they are utilizing their time and resources. It can also prove to be a helpful tool for measuring your employees’ productivity. If the employer is going for a top-notch spyware on the internet to monitor the cell phones of their employees, they can easily listen to calls made and received, have a look at the text messages, the contact list and the web browsing history. The spying doesn’t stop there; by issuing a simple command you can access the audio settings and the microphone of the device and get an audio recording of the surroundings of the cell phone. The employer can also get snapshots of the screen of the monitored device.

However, monitoring your employees might not be as easy in practice as on paper. Imagine asking the company’s executive’s for their smartphones so you could have them monitored. Moreover, BYOD is giving employees some legal backing too and that might restrict your way through monitoring employees.

Bringing up a teenager

For working parents who have little time and energy left after returning from their workplaces to discuss their teens problems and ups and downs in their kid’s life. Even if you believe your child to super teen who has brains and confidence to solve their own problems, they might be indulging in activities that you wouldn’t want them to be a part of. Rearing a teen while keeping in mind your principles is not easy when you are not physically present for your child is very difficult.

Cell phone tracking is one solution to that. While most teens consider their smartphone to be a vital part of their lives, it is impossible that cell phones hold a record of what they have been up to. By monitoring their cell phones, you can locate your teens even when the GPS is not working. While viewing data in the cell phone is a basic service, some software also allow you to wipe any unwanted data like videos, pictures or contacts and block certain type of communication.

Leaving all the employer and parenting woes, monitoring software can also be used as a security tool for your own smartphone. To keep out intruders, installing a cell phone monitoring app can help you keep a check on who has been doing what with your phone. In case the device gets stolen, there is nothing better than this app if you want to locate the thief.

Author Bio:

Jessica writes articles and blogs about the happenings in the tech world. Her readers rely on her write-ups for product reviews and critical analysis on new developments in the tracking world. She can be reached at jcarol429.

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Windows Security Threats Now Hit Android Devices

As if malicious users still don't have enough to do, they have decided to target more Android devices with their viruses. The more popular Android becomes, the worse it seems to get hit with all kinds of problems that users just do not want.

Major Android Security Threats

Typical threats targeting Android phones are similar to the kinds of security threats that attack Windows computers. The Trojan Horse hidden in what seems to be a useful, legitimate app is the hugest one that is being passed along.

The Trojan apps usually are installed with the following purposes in mind:

• To be able to send spammed e-mails from a hacked account.
• To automatically text from a personal number to someone else's.
• To otherwise tamper with data that could make the hacker money.

One of the major Android security threats right now is the “Zeus” one that steals banking information. It targets banks in Italy, Thailand, and Australia. However, many other major threats are being announced daily. Two examples include the "SmSilence" which steals info from Korean phones, and the multitude of fake Android anti-virus apps on the rise.

Don't Miss: Protecting Your Mobile Phone from Being Hacked!

The Number One Motive of Malicious Security Threats

A small but significant amount (23.5 %) of viruses are planted on phones are put there out of revenge, or just to play a cruel joke on someone. This rather reckless category of offenses may not hurt as much financially. However, it still does damage and may be done to help cover up legal information or to frame someone of a crime.

The rest of the hacking instances that involve viral infections on Androids totals about 76.5 %. You guessed it, too. It is this majority of cases that is done with motivation that is one purely of wanting to make a profit from the virus attack.

These majority of situations are ones in which identities and cash is stolen and the user is somehow fooled into giving users access to personal files. This could take place on their Android-powered phones as well as their tablets. Every single piece of information stolen is so that the attacker can somehow steal money or resources to make money.

So What is Being Done About Android Security Threats?

Public forums are being held to take new plans of action against viruses and malware. More legitimate services are also being provided to help people safely protect their Android phones as well as Windows tablets. As more effective protective shields are placed on phones, safety will be increased for everyone.

The goal is to ensure the security of everyone on their mobile devices as would when using a PC. Prevention will be a major priority. However, finding ways to clean up the messes already created on infected devices is one action taken.

In the meantime, Android mobile users as well as anyone who has a Windows Tablet PC needs to beware. It is highly advised that all files come from a legitimate source. Otherwise, correcting the problem later on could take more work.

Author Bio:

Erin Walsh is the Director of Public Relations for Boost Software. She is an avid blogger that enjoys sharing her knowledge with the everyday computer user, by helping them with common errors especially error 1722, error 1719, error 0x80070424, and error 0x80004004. She also specializes in helping pc users update drivers, especially the most problematic ones such as toshiba drivers, no sound, motherboard drivers, chipset drivers, lenovo drivers, nvidia drivers and hp drivers.

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Social Media: 5 Things You Didn't Know Your Employer Could See

With the Internet and social media, things are starting to change. Today, employers can see a lot more than you want them to. Some of what employers can see depends on your privacy settings, but other things can easily be inferred. Do you know what your boss can see on your social media profiles?

Religious and Political Views

Image via Flickr by pbyrne

Unless you specifically tell your settings to only allow friends to see your religious and political views, potential employers can see this information. There is controversy around this, due to the legal ramifications it can cause for businesses. If someone is turned down for a job after Facebook is consulted, it could be argued that religious or political views were used as a discriminating factor.

What Groups You are In

Take a look at the groups you are a part of in your social media pages. Your employer may not appreciate if you are a part of a group called "I hate my job… screw this place!" Whether you are looking for a new job or trying to keep the one you currently have, make sure you are only in workplace-friendly groups if you are concerned about your employer checking on your social media profiles.

Who Your Friends Are

Image via Flickr by dan taylor

Are you friends with someone with a 'reputation'? Whether they are famous or simply are known for something they have done, someone with a well-known name on your friends list may not be a big deal to you, but it may be to an employer. If so, keep in mind that the boss can pull up this information. They can see who your friends are, and that can be good or bad for you. This doesn't mean you have to change your friends, just be aware of any potential problems that may arise.

Pictures You Post Publicly

Most people forget to make their pictures or albums private. Because of this, most images online are available for anyone to see. This includes social media accounts. When you post pictures of doing dangerous or illegal things, drinking and partying, or any other pictures you simply wouldn't want your boss to see, remember that they can see these pictures unless you specifically set them up to be private.

Are You a Family Person?

Image via Flickr by kippster

Look at your profile picture. This is public to everyone, no matter how private the rest of your profile is. If you have a picture of your kids, an employer is going to know that you have a family. If you have been working for the company for ten years, they probably know this. However, if you are job hunting, potential employers may not. And realistically, you may not want them to. Consider your profile picture, and make sure it is something you are comfortable with employers seeing and making judgments about.

Make sure that your online presence is what you want it to be. With Reputation.com YouTube videos, you can understand the steps you can take to clean up your profile and show the world what you want them to see.

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Social Media Places Greater Emphasis On Password Security

Social media websites like Facebook are often populated by hackers and scammers. 

Social media websites like Facebook and Twitter are accessed by millions of people each day, making them a prime target for scammers and hackers alike. Some consumers have already experienced the unsettling feeling of having their accounts breached, while others may undergo similar events in the future.

The key for anyone who accesses social media websites and other online accounts is to have proper security in place. Business2Community's Andrea Eldridge recently indicated that people should have effective passwords to protect their various interests. These credentials should be between seven and 10 characters and include different punctuation, numbers and symbols to make them more complex.

Consumers should avoid using identical phrases for all of their respective accounts, because if a malicious party gains access to someone's Facebook password, they may try to access banking and shopping data with this information, Eldridge explained.

Eldridge also noted that a password manager is another way to keep sensitive credentials safe from hackers. These solutions make it possible for people to stop worrying about remembering potentially dozens of different phrases for their accounts. Instead, these tools use advanced algorithms to generate complex passwords for a person's email, banking information and other sensitive material, ensuring safe browsing anywhere.

Facebook in particular can be a breeding ground for scammers. Eldridge explained that criminals often entice users to click malicious links with the promise of prizes like iPads if they install a certain application. Such false promises can result in exposed account information if people are not careful. Social media is a platform that can connect people with their family, friends and colleagues. However, with so many people participating in such activity, hackers and scammers will continue to use the same services, but with malicious intent.

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Types Of Cybercrime At Work In The World Today

You can hardly read the news or turn on the television today without hearing something about cybercrime, identity theft, or online bullying. The criminals and thugs of the real flesh and blood world are still around. It’s just that an equal or greater amount of them are now online and using that medium to steal, abuse, and torment. You will find a number of different types of computer crimes that happen all of the time today. In fact, you may know someone who has been a victim of one of the following crimes. Let’s look at some of these crimes that those with computer forensics training are trying to help stop.

Spam and Phishing

Some people might not even realize that spam can be a crime in many areas, but it can. These unsolicited mails can be a pain to deal with, but they also have an even darker side. While some companies are simply using them as a form of undesired marketing, others are using them to try to elicit a response from you, such as a password This type of spam is phishing, as they are trying to lure you into giving out sensitive info.

Sometimes, the emails that they send can actually look quite official. For example, they might look like an email from PayPal or Amazon, and they may try to tell you there is an issue with the account, or to “thank” you for a recent purchase that you know you did not make. Of course, they will have handy link that you can click to contact them for help. This link is not legitimate though, and if you provide information, it could come back to bite you later. It is always better to go to the actual site and then contact the company through their actual contact methods to see if they are a good option for you or not.

Fraud and Theft

Fraud is unfortunately common on the web as well, and it can take a number of different forms. Sometimes, a criminal might be getting into personal accounts to take money, use credit, and more. Theft of social security numbers happens as well, and that is going to lead to identity theft. This problem is plaguing a large number of people in the country today, and it can happen to anyone.

Computer Hijacking

With malware and other types of bad software and files, it can even be possible for a computer criminal to gain access to your computer. They could store info on the computer, load viruses onto it, go through your files, and more. It would be akin to having a nearly invisible thief in your home with you and stealing your food!

Don't Miss: How To Prevent Unauthorized Access To Data On Your Computer!

Stalking and Bullying

Another type of crime that shows no signs of slowing despite a growing awareness of it is bullying. This, along with stalking, is a serious problem. Most prominently, it affects the youth of the country in the case of bullying, but adults are to blame as well. In some cases, these issues can become so severe that they actually result in death. The issue of bullying is a serious problem that society needs to address more seriously.

Stalkers are a large problem on the web too. Because of how freely people give out information without thinking about it, stalkers have easy access to find out nearly everything about that they want to know. For example, using the check in features on social networks is about as good as calling up a stalker and telling him where you are going to be and when you will be there.

Author Bio:

Anita Schepers provides advice and information on computer forensics recruiter programs at Computer-Forensics-Recruiter.com.

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Protecting Your Mobile Phone

Image Credit: Karpati Gabor

Having a mobile phone is a lifeline for most of us, especially when it comes to work, so if it gets lost, stolen or damaged then you’ll not only have lost your phone, but important numbers and data. You can back up your information, but if you are not insured then you’ll also be liable for continuing to pay contract fees even though you no longer own the phone. Worse still, the growing use of smartphones opens you up to other, and more dangerous risks too. So read on to find out how to protect yourself from the costs of your mobile phone being lost, stolen, or hacked.

Mobile Phone Risks:

Despite the increased value of our phones, 63% of people have no mobile phone insurance* yet mobile phone theft has risen by 25% in recent years.* This is annoying and inconvenient, but the costs of having your phone stolen don’t stop there. Not only can a thief rack up hundreds of pounds of call costs, but because smartphones now hold virtually all of our personal data, a phone thief can also use your phone to find your personal information. This can enable them to get hold of your passwords, banking details, emails and photos, which can then be used to access your money or even to steal your identity.

To minimise the risks of having your phone stolen, you should always:

• Use your phone in a well-lit area at night.
• Never walk and text.
• Stay aware of who is around you when you’re talking on the phone.
• Take your phone everywhere with you, even when out with friends.
• Keep your phone and headphones hidden unless in actual use.

Smartphone Risks:

Smartphones are transforming the way we access information and communicate, but it’s important to remember they are mini-computers and so are vulnerable to cybercrime. Cybercrime through mobile devices is growing at a rapid rate, so you need to be on your guard. Malicious software can be used to harvest your data, so you should always be certain that any downloads or emails you open come from a legitimate source, as well as being vigilant about the websites you access on your mobile device. Dependent on your mobile insurance provider you may be covered for unauthorised call costs should your phone be stolen, but you won’t be protected against cybercrime unless your bank reimburses you.

So to minimise the danger of becoming a victim of cybercrime on your phone, you should always:

• Protect both your phone and sim with a password and pin.
• Use reputable apps and websites.
• Keep Bluetooth switched off unless you need it so that hackers cannot access it.
• Don’t open emails unless you’re certain they’re legitimate, and never reply with bank details.
• Always run updates for the latest security protection.
• Never click on links unless you’re sure of their source.
• Install Mobile Tracking and information wiping apps.
• Use a password encrypted network when accessing the internet through wi-fi.
• Delete all of your personal information if you decide to recycle your phone.

Citations:

• http://blog.cpp.co.uk/files/uploads/cpp-research/UK_Consumer_Attitudes_to_Mobile_Phone_Theft_2010.pdf
• http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/21634863

Author Bio:

Rob Rudd is a writer and journalist. He enjoys writing for a variety of blogs from technology and gadgetry to finance and savings.

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Tips To Keep Your iPhone Safe

Very many people look forward to the release of iPhones every time Apple announces an upcoming debut of a new model. Eager consumers are not the only ones enthusiastic about the releases of iPhones. Thieves too. You can easily lose your iPhone to theft cases or damage of some kind. iPhone theft in New York alone went up by 40% following the release of iPhone 5. Other than theft, another danger is getting the device damaged. So, how can one protect his or her iPhone from these?

Install Safety Apps:

There is an app for almost anything, making the iPhone one of the phones with the highest number of target apps. Among the apps, one should never miss to install some safety apps to keep his or her iPhone safe. Install Find My iPhone app. This app can quickly locate a missing device using the GPS system on the phone. That way, you will be able to lock your iPhone remotely and even wipe all your personal data.

Another app, Gadget Trak can snap photos of the person with the phone using its cameras. In October 2012, police in Brooklyn arrested an iPhone thief within an hour using Find My iPhone app.

License: Creative Commons image source

Apply for Apple Care:

Since 2007, Americans have spent $5.9 billion to repair damaged iPhone devices. That means that your own clumsiness can lead to the damage of your iPhone. Sometimes it is the nature of your job that puts your phone in danger of damage. As soon as you purchase your iPhone device, you have 30 days to apply for Apple Care, which covers up to two incidents of iPhone device damages including shattered screens, spills and any other unforeseen forms of damage.

Shield the Screen:

The screen is one of those iPhone device parts that can be very difficult to protect. It is prone to scratches and other forms of damage that can occur on the screen. An iPhone case is not enough to protect the screen of the device, but there are screen shields out in the market that are invisible, so you will be able to use your iPhone without having to worry about it getting scratches. "Crystal Clear Screen Protector" is a screen protection product that will keep your device safe from physical damage on the screen.

Purchase an iPhone Case:

There is a wide array of iPhone cases on the market today. Low quality cases may not protect your device from damage, but there are quite a lot of other cases that can protect your iPhone from various kinds of physical damage. Choose tough, sealed and water-light iPhone cases that will provide protection to your iPhone from accidental drops and water damage. Try to explore iphone5 cases with some vendors such as Greatshield.com and others have quite a lot of these cases so you can choose one that is suitable for the exact kind of protection you want to give your iPhone.

License: Creative Commons image source

Author Bio:

Simpson, the author, was one of the first consumers to stand in the long queues to buy his iPhone 5. Since standing on the lengthy and tiring queues, he keeps learning intuitive ways of protecting his precious iPhone device from damage and theft, which he shares with other enthusiasts.

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Why To Password-Protect Your USB Flash Drive?

Regardless of what type of data you save on portable drives, it’s essential that you password-protect your portable data storage devices. Furthermore, it's a fact that security software developed by third parties is more reliable than software developed by manufacturers.

Portable drives such as USB flash drives have allowed people to enjoy a wide array of flexibility in terms of transporting data from one medium to another. These devices are capable of storing several gigabytes of data within a small device. With the introduction of portable hard-drives and flash drives, organizations also enjoyed a greater boost in workplace productivity.

Before these devices were introduced, users had to make use of CDs and DVDs by burning data on them, which not only had space limitations, but was also time consuming. Before that, floppy disks were the standard means of transferring data between mediums. Consequently, it’s not hard to see how the growing demand for data has given birth to portable storage devices. In the near future, it’s predicted that our data needs will be in the range of terabytes; consequently, a few manufacturers have already developed a flash drive which can store one terabyte of data.

However, as with all things in the world, there are pros and cons behind every entity. Thus, a flash drive’s portability is its biggest advantage as well as its disadvantage. That’s because data stored on such devices can be easily accessed by anyone if one ends losing their device.

Dejectedly, people almost always tend to disregard the safety of their identities by saving sensitive data on their devices. Documents such as resumes, tax-returns and e-statements are the perfect means for an identity thief to quickly utilize such information in order to effortlessly steal your identity. There’s no doubt that in today’s world, data is good as gold. Therefore, it’s no wonder why e-crime has risen to levels which have prompted several federal and state law enactments -- in order to curb and enforce this type of crime.  Sadly, people are still ignorant of their personal data’s actual worth. Once stolen, e-crooks can virtually rob you of your financial assets as well as steal your identity.

Don't Miss: Tips To Prevent Online Identity Theft!

Nonetheless, manufacturers of portable drives have realized that data theft through portable drives is a real problem facing millions of users worldwide. As a result, newer portable drives are already integrating their devices with encryption software, in order to deter unauthorized access of personal data. However, these devices can be three to four times more costly to purchase than a traditional flash drive, and most people don’t have the budget to purchase a device with such capability.

Thankfully, third-party data protection software has already been developed to password protect USB drives for devices that do not have built in data security features. What’s more, such software is considered more reliable and impossible to crack compared to data security software integrated by the manufacturers of a particular device. Third-party data fortification software usually downloads off the internet and can be installed directed onto any flash drive or portable hard-drive. Such software usually has a small footprint and requires only a few kilobytes of space, yet provides unbreakable password-protection on virtually all portable mediums, including Sony memory sticks, compact flash cards, and other similar devices.

You can use the following 4 Freeware softwares to password protect your USB Flash drive:

• Rohos Mini Drive.
• USB Safeguard.
• DiskCryptor.
• True Crypt.

Author Bio:
Cara W Morris is Marketing Manager at New Softwares.net, An Information Security company that specializes in developing award winning data security software which can password protect USB.

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Ways to Prevent Computer Viruses

Computer viruses affect systems in different ways. Some wipe out or corrupt data in the system while others steal sensitive user information. While many people take insurance policies to protect their homes and property, many more seldom do the same in protecting their digital information. The initial steps of data protection may take a while but the results would be worth the effort. Securing a computer from viruses involves various strategies.

A special procedure is given below (At the end of this article),  to check if your Antivirus software is working in the right way or not!

Antivirus:

Those who do not have an antivirus application, can Download or buy one on the internet. Ensure the program is compatible with the operating system. The antivirus application should be updated frequently so that it protects against the latest virus definitions. Choose antivirus software that can update and scan automatically. Do not install applications from untrusted sites. Run full system scans at least once or twice a week. Heavy internet users should do this more often.

Dont miss: Beaware Of Viruses On Social Networking Sites!

Firewall:

Turn on the Firewall. This is normally the base of the operating system. Users just have to turn it on. Firewall refers to software that monitors what comes in and goes out of the machine. It acts as a gatekeeper. Learn more about firewall and it's function here.

Updates:

Activate security updates to keep the system up to date. Make sure third party applications such as web browsers are also updated. Most programs have a feature that notifies users when a new program version has been released. Be sure to update all active programs. Keep the operating system updated. Many manufacturers create security patches, which they send out as needed. Setting automatic updates allows the operating system to download and install the security patches eliminating security risks including viruses.

Back up:

Back up data. This provides an extra layer of protection against Data loss. There are so many factors that can compromise data security including undiscovered bugs, downloading infected files, hardware failure and clicking on the wrong link. This is why backup is an essential part of smart computer usage. Find more about data loss and how to prevent it here.

Date Encryption:

Encrypt data using encryption software. Many operating systems have encryption capabilities. Users can encrypt their entire hard drives to protect data from virus attacks. Some encryption programs can create virtual hard drives to secure all files and prevent corruption by viruses. Choose an encryption program that allows synchronization with data protection services that store data offsite.

E-Mails:

One of the most common means of getting a virus infection is through e-mail links containing viruses. Do not open e-mail attachments and links from strangers. If necessary, visit the sites directly.

There are many strategies used to protect computer systems from getting a virus infection. However, the most basic protection against viruses involves using the right antivirus application and updating the computer system on a regular basis.

Here is A simple Way to check if your antivirus Works Or Not?

Follow the below steps:

• Open notepad.
• Copy the below text and paste it on the notepad.

X5O!P%@AP[4\PZX54(P^)7CC)7}$EICAR-STANDARD-ANTIVIRUS-TEST-FILE!$H+H*

• Then save it as eicar.com

On opening the saved file you should get a message from your Antivirus as Malware detected or Virus, And that file has to be automatically deleted by your antivirus.

But Don't worry eicar.com is not a virus, It is a standard test file. :)

This is what the message i got by doing so, and the file got deleted automatically.

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Beaware Of Viruses On Social Networking Sites!

Facebook and other social networking sites can be great tools to help you stay connected with friends and family but beware! Just because the url says Facebook does not necessarily make it safe to do all it has to offer. Increasingly people are getting infected from viruses and malware installing games, quizzes, and other rogue apps from social networking sites. The viruses or malware spread by posting to your friends wall and soliciting them to install it as well.

The best plan of action is to use these social networking sites without installing any 3rd party games, apps, or quizzes. This ensures that you will be protected from most threats. However if you have a computer that is used by everyone in the family and you have teenagers that might not follow these simple rules then it is important to have security software to block these threats from entering your computer.

More and more people are using Facebook and other social networking sites at the workplace which increases the risk of spreading viruses at the workplace. Many businesses have had to block Social networking sites altogether to stop the infections and lost productivity to these services.

Security programs such as Microsoft Security Essentials can help stop the viruses and malware before you get infected instead of having to remove them after the damage has already been done. Malicious Software Removal costs are higher after you have been infected.

Behavioral steps you can take to avoid getting a Virus or Malware. Avoid Facebook quizzes and games that can give you a Virus or Malware. Stay away from sites that look shady or want you to install something to run if you are not sure of how legitimate they are.

Do not open attachments even from friends unless you are expecting a particular file from them. Many times the virus will attach itself to your contact list and send emails out to everyone appearing as if they came from you. The best rule of thumb is to never open emails that look like they are from unfamiliar people.

Stop using and downloading anything from peer to peer networks these services are loaded with viruses and malware. Use the latest Firefox or Google Chrome browsers they help to keep viruses and malware out of your computer much better than Internet Explorer.

If the virus or malware you have does not let you install or download anything then boot up your computer in safe mode to allow you to download and install the proper virus removal and malware software. Instructions for booting your computer into safe mode are listed below.

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Keeping Personal Data Safe: Mistakes You Should Avoid

Theft of personal data is a rising phenomenon and seems to be growing as technology further progresses. What’s more, businesses and organizations are equally affected by this menace. Despite having in place data security measures, individuals and organizations can still fall victim to data thieves. So why is your data so important to these e-criminals? The answer is simple; your data can be used clear-out your bank account, or worse, steal your identity to commit fraud and other criminal activities.

There are many mistakes organizations and individuals can make which can lead to theft of their data. Taking simple measures can certainly safeguard your data from potential theft. The following is a list of things you need to be aware of in-order to protect yourself.

Shred your paper work:

            If you decide to discard any documents, such as credit statements, bank statements, utility bills and other related information, then you need to make it a habit to shred such documents every time you decide to throw them out.  More than often, Dumpster-divers will often go through your pile of garbage seeking out un-shredded statements containing bits of your personal information. Once these so called “Dumpster-divers” get a hold of your information, it’s only a matter of time before they use your information to max out your credit card, or perhaps transfer your life savings from your savings account, to an offshore account.

To effectively shred such documents, make sure you make use a cross-shredder instead of a traditional shredder. Cross-shredders can shred such documents much more effectively than traditional shredders.

Smash your old hard-drive into pieces:

           This step may seem a bit on the extreme side, but that’s what you have to do in order to keep your personal data safe. Even if you had previously stored personal data on your hard-drive and then happened to delete that data -- thinking it was permanently wiped-out of your hard-drive; chances are your deleted data could still be retrieved. Data recovery software can easily recover most permanently deleted data.

           When you empty your recycle bin, it may appear that the data stored in your recycle bin is gone forever. However, bits of data are always present on your hard-drive, and basic data recovery software can easily retrieve such deleted data. Thus, when you send in your old desktop or laptop for recycling, chances are that someone may try to retrieve your personal data on your laptop or desktop.  Therefore, this is the reason why you need to smash your hard-drive, before you recycle your machine.

Use anti-data theft software and antivirus software:

           If you, for some reason, need to store confidential data on your personal computer, you can do so securely with the help software that can lock folders. Moreover, investing in good anti-virus software will help you keep your identity safe on the internet.

Stay away from Phishing email:

           Phishing is the practice of recording your personal user-names and passwords so that some kind of fraud can be conducted using your log-in credentials. The scam works something like this: you receive an email from Facebook, or perhaps your bank, prompting you to log-in, so that your identity can be confirmed. Most people don’t think twice about such emails, and will log-in to confirm their accounts and to prove their identities. Little do you know, in the background, your credentials are being recorded by key-logging software!

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