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Articles from Robert Siciliano | Selfgrowth.com
- What is the Signaling System No. 7 Network? - by Submitted on Sep 22, 2016 from Robert SicilianoThe iPhone has a vulnerability called the Signaling System 7 (SS7) that allows crooks to hack into the device. This was demonstrated on a recent “60 Minutes” episode in which a U.S. congressman (with his permission) had his iPhone hacked by German cybersecurity experts. The ...
Views: 815 - 40 Practical Tips to Keep You Home Safe and Secure - by Submitted on Jan 24, 2018 from Robert SicilianoYou have undoubtedly seen tips for protecting your home, but you might not have seen them all. In no particular order, here are 40 tips that you can use today to keep professional burglars from targeting your home and keep safe from hazards: Install a peephole. Keep your doors locked ...
Views: 814 - Three ways to beef up security when backing up to the cloud - by Submitted on Mar 21, 2016 from Robert SicilianoDisasters happen every day. Crashing hard drives, failing storage devices and even burglaries could have a significant negative impact on your business, especially if that data is lost forever. You can avoid these problems by backing up your data. Backing up means keeping copies of your ...
Views: 814 - Faulty Tire Repair could break your Neck - by Submitted on Oct 04, 2016 from Robert SicilianoRoy Chattelle was on a road trip in 2008 and suffered what seemed like a minor tire leak. So he got the tire repaired. Many people think nothing of pulling into the nearest tire shop and getting that little puncture or tear repaired or “plugged.” A few months after this routine ...
Views: 813 - How to safely travel in a Car - by Submitted on Apr 18, 2016 from Robert SicilianoBefore embarking on a road trip with a car full of kids, make sure everything about the vehicle is in top working condition, including the windshield wipers, A/C, heat, fluid levels, seatbelts and lights (exterior and interior). Hopefully you’ll have a GPS; make sure that works, too; ...
Views: 813 - Surveillance Video captures Home Invasion - by Submitted on Oct 31, 2015 from Robert SicilianoA man was assaulted by three or four men when he arrived home, through his garage door at 5:40 a.m. It’s very apparent that the attackers knew he’d be arriving home at around this time and decided to wait for him, says a report at ksla.com. This recent home invasion occurred in ...
Views: 812 - How Motion Detectors Work - by Submitted on Feb 15, 2016 from Robert SicilianoEver wonder how a motion detector works? How can some inanimate object “know” you’re creeping nearby, even if you’re as quiet as a mouse? This amazing technology can be broken down into several types. Active Ultrasonic When an object moves, it can bounce back ...
Views: 811 - What is Malvertising? - by Submitted on Aug 19, 2016 from Robert SicilianoMalevolent advertising is called malvertising. The “ad” is placed on a website by cybercriminals who want control of your computer for financial gain. And the real scary thing about malvertising is that these trick-ads have appeared on trusted, popular websites like the Weather ...
Views: 811 - Take the Extra Step: 12 Ways to Protect Your Home from Burglars - by Submitted on Jan 16, 2018 from Robert SicilianoThough you cannot totally protect your home from getting burgled, you would probably be surprised to know that there are no burglars that are as sophisticated as someone like Ethan Hunt from the Mission Impossible movies. However, when you have the right plan in place, you can almost make your ...
Views: 810 - Thieves steal 30 Cars using Software - by Submitted on Dec 13, 2016 from Robert SicilianoWho needs a hanger to steal a car when you can use a laptop? Despite today’s vehicles having far more sophisticated security protection, thieves can still break in—like the two crooks who stole at least 30 Dodge and Jeep vehicles…with just a laptop computer. In Houston, ...
Views: 810 - First American Financial Exposes 885 Million Mortgage Documents - by Submitted on Aug 30, 2019 from Robert SicilianoApproximately 885 million digital documents have been exposed from mortgage deals that date back to 2003. First American Financial Corp is a provider of title insurance, as well as other services for the mortgage and real estate industries, and it allowed millions of records to be exposed ...
Views: 809 - Hacking Humans is Painfully Easy - by Submitted on Jun 28, 2016 from Robert SicilianoHackers can take over someone’s life in a matter of hours. Just ask Patsy Walsh. Though she is not a tech savvy person, the grandmother of six did have a Facebook account, and that was all the hackers needed to take over her life. By using methods such as click baiting, the act of ...
Views: 809 - How to Set Up a Password Manager - by Submitted on Oct 24, 2015 from Robert SicilianoIf you have made the decision to use a password manager for your personal cybersecurity, which I highly recommend, you will quickly find that you online world is safer, easier and more secure than ever before. According to a recently concluded survey conducted by uSamp and sponsored by Siber ...
Views: 809 - You need a Home Security Safe - by Submitted on May 05, 2016 from Robert SicilianoYou don’t have to be wealthy or live in a big house to need a home security safe. If you don’t think you need one, ask yourself why. Ask yourself if you don’t have any valuables—not necessarily something that would be valuable to a burglar, but something very dear and ...
Views: 809 - Why You should file your Tax Return Yesterday - by Submitted on Apr 26, 2016 from Robert SicilianoSomeone else might file your taxes if you don’t get to it. And they won’t be doing it as a favor; they’ll be doing it to steal your identity. Here’s how it works: Cyber thieves send fraudulent e-mails to a business’s employees. The e-mails are designed to ...
Views: 808 - Are you Scam Aware or a Sitting Duck? - by Submitted on Jul 05, 2017 from Robert SicilianoYou might have heard about all of the scams out there, and think that you are pretty scam savvy. But, the truth is, most of us aren’t, and even a simple phone call could get you caught up in a big scam. One such scam occurs when criminals call random phone numbers and ask questions, ...
Views: 807 - Malware Hack Attacking the Grid…BIGLY - by Submitted on May 16, 2017 from Robert SicilianoFor more than four years, malware has been posing as legitimate software and infecting industrial equipment across the globe. The malware, which looks just like the Siemens control gear software, has affected at least seven plants in the US. According to security experts, the malware was ...
Views: 807 - Parents: Do You know your Teen's Social Media Platforms? - by Submitted on Apr 28, 2016 from Robert SicilianoWith all the apps out there that individualize communication preferences among teens, such as limiting “sharing,” parents should still hold their breath. Face it, parents: times have changed. It’s your duty to discuss these applications with your kids. And parents should also ...
Views: 807 - Protect Yourself from Holiday Shopping Scams - by Submitted on Dec 19, 2015 from Robert SicilianoEven though the highly publicized retail data breaches have involved off-line brick and mortar stores, this doesn’t mean that security is high with online shopping. Scammers and hackers are waiting for you in more ways than you know, such as: Fake product reviews Non-existent ...
Views: 807 - Home Security begins at the Entrance - by Submitted on Dec 01, 2016 from Robert SicilianoIf you were to design the ultimate security system for a house, what would you focus on? These days, many people would immediately think in terms of the most technologically advanced alarm system—one that’s voice activated, detects motion anywhere, can be remotely controlled and ...
Views: 805 - Prevent Child Identity Theft - by Submitted on Mar 17, 2016 from Robert SicilianoHere’s one for the know-it-alls: Kids are 35 percent more likely to become victims of identity theft than are adults. Betcha didn’t know that! This startling news comes from a 2015 Javelin Strategy & Release study. Needless to say, the bulk of parents aren’t on top ...
Views: 804 - Mass Shootings: Driven by Evil or a Desire for Celebrity Status? - by Submitted on Aug 22, 2019 from Robert SicilianoIf all a gunman, who opened fire and randomly killed nine people, wanted was 15 minutes of fame, he could have achieved this running naked into the field at a major league baseball game. At least one criminologist believes that the driving force behind mass shootings is a desire for celebrity ...
Views: 803 - 7 Ways to Prevent Getting Locked Out of Your Home - by Submitted on Jul 12, 2017 from Robert SicilianoBe honest. Do you have a key to your house under your doormat or a flowerpot? If you do, you might as well put a sign out that says “Come rob me.” This isn’t to say you shouldn’t have a key somewhere, though. After all, you might need it one of these days. However, there ...
Views: 802 - My EMV for a Week Challenge is DONE! - by Submitted on Feb 20, 2016 from Robert SicilianoThis week I worked with Gemalto, as part of Gemalto’s #ChipAwayAtFraud campaign. I was tasked with using my “chip” card when making a bunch of every day purchases like getting coffee and shopping. Gemalto, one of the world’s leaders in digital security, wanted a ...
Views: 802 - YouTube's Spoon Feeding Pedophiles Kids Home Videos - by Submitted on Nov 07, 2019 from Robert SicilianoYouTube uses a recommendation algorithm to help people view things they’d like to see. Recently, the algorithm seemingly encouraged pedophiles (YouTube would have no way of knowing this) to watch videos of children playing at home, videos that the family members uploaded. A report from ...
Views: 802 - Identity Theft getting even worse - by Submitted on Jul 01, 2016 from Robert SicilianoIn 2015, depending on the kind and type of identity theft we are talking about, identity thieves impacted 1.5 million people or more, says the Javelin Strategy & Research report. That’s more than double than for 2014. The move from stripe cards to chip cards has motivated crooks to ...
Views: 801(1 vote) - Question: Should You worry about Kids on Social Media? - by Submitted on Jun 12, 2015 from Robert SicilianoWith all the increased news coverage of kids running off with adults they met online, and kids dying by suicide supposedly due to online bullying, many parents are wondering if their worries about their kids being online are justified. We hardly hear about how social media has benefited kids. ...
Views: 801 - How to Make $5 Million a Day in Cybercrime - by Submitted on Feb 08, 2017 from Robert SicilianoThis post isn’t exactly a “how to” but if your current employment isn’t bringing in the bacon, I’m sure your criminal mind can figure it out. In the biggest digital advertising fraud in the history of the U.S., it was recently found that a group of hackers is ...
Views: 800 - Humans are Natural Predators - by Submitted on Feb 28, 2017 from Robert SicilianoAccording to a new study, genetics and evolution have made an impact on the murderous behavior of the human species. However, becoming civilized has tamed some of these instincts. Scientists have looked at the homicide rate of more than 1,000 species that kill their own, and noticed that ...
Views: 800 - How to Digitally Secure The Remote Teleworker - by Submitted on Mar 23, 2017 from Robert SicilianoIf you employ remote workers, your IT staff has a unique challenge keeping your organization safe. Fortunately, using a combination of best practices for cybersecurity, user awareness campaigns, and a strong policy will help to keep data safe. New advances in mobile technology and networking ...
Views: 797 - How to protect your network from malicious insiders - by Submitted on Mar 07, 2016 from Robert SicilianoYou may be putting your company at risk simply by hiring a new employee. Why? Because that person could have a hidden, malicious agenda. This is known as an inside threat, and it means that someone within your organization is planning or conducting activities meant to harm the company. There ...
Views: 797 - Protect from Personal Loan Scam - by Submitted on Feb 03, 2016 from Robert SicilianoAre you thinking of getting a personal loan? Hopefully you have a high credit score, as this will give you a better chance of getting the loan through a legitimate company. But even if your credit is excellent, you need to be aware of the personal loan scams out there. Not Respecting Your ...
Views: 797 - Your ransomware profile: passwords, profiles and protection - by Submitted on Aug 08, 2016 from Robert SicilianoIf your computer password contains the name of your dog, your favorite vacation spot, and an easy-to-remember numerical sequence, then you are breaking some basic rules of password safety. Even though “BusterBermuda789” might seem impenetrable to you, this is a password security ...
Views: 797 - Bitcoin Scams Up the Ying Yang - by Submitted on Oct 03, 2018 from Robert SicilianoIf you are thinking of jumping onto the Bitcoin bandwagon, or any type of cryptocurrency, you have to make sure that you are watching out for scams. There are a ton of them out there, including the following: Fake Bitcoin Exchanges You have to use a Bitcoin exchange if you want to buy or ...
Views: 796 - Woman slams Staple Gun into Intruder's Head - by Submitted on Oct 11, 2016 from Robert SicilianoIf you’re ever confronted by an assailant in your garage, you may have any number of highly effective weapons within your reach. A woman in Indianapolis identified as Carol found that out soon enough when she arrived home in February of 2016. A man was waiting in her garage. The ...
Views: 796 - Protect your Home when Traveling - by Submitted on Feb 11, 2016 from Robert SicilianoWhen you go traveling, I’m sure you make a point to protect the various things you bring with you—including your laptop, children, even spouse. But what about something you left behind? Your home? Is that being protected too? Before Leaving Don’t wait till the ...
Views: 795 - Be aware of all these Confidence Crimes - by Submitted on Aug 09, 2016 from Robert SicilianoCriminals often rely on tricking their victims to gain access to their passwords and other account information. This act of tricking is called social engineering, also known as a confidence crime, and it comes in many forms. A type of phishing e-mail where the criminal targets someone ...
Views: 793 - Home Security Cameras 101: the Audio Element - by Submitted on Jun 15, 2016 from Robert SicilianoBefore buying a security camera, ask yourself: Where do you intend on placing it? How well-hidden can/will the unit be? Are you familiar with laws pertaining to surveillance of people without them knowing about it and the associated audio recordings? Laws vary from state to state ...
Views: 792 - How to Use your Mobile as a Child Locator - by Submitted on Aug 11, 2016 from Robert SicilianoHow many times have you read, or at least caught a headline, of the latest high profile missing child case? How many stories have we heard about the kid who got lost on a hike? His body was found several miles from where he’d been last seen, concluding a several-day search. What if he ...
Views: 791 - Quick and Dirty Disaster Prep Guide - by Submitted on Jan 10, 2020 from Robert SicilianoHow prepared are you for a disaster? Most of us are not prepared, at all, yet two-thirds of us live in an area where we are at a moderate to very high risk of experiencing a natural disaster. Here are a few things you should do, today, to start preparing for a “just in case” ...
Views: 791(1 vote) - The Best Gmail Phishing Scam Ever! - by Submitted on May 24, 2017 from Robert SicilianoIf you use Gmail, pay attention! Security experts have announced that there is a very effective phishing scam out there, and you are a target. This scam, which has only been growing over the past couple of months, is also hitting other email providers, too. However, it’s quite difficult to ...
Views: 791 - Carders cashing out on Magstrip Cards - by Submitted on Jun 30, 2016 from Robert SicilianoTwo thousand credit card payment terminals stand to become infected with malware called Trinity point of sales. Ten million credit cards were stolen by hackers, called Fin6, who may end up scoring $400 million. The cards were stolen from retail and hospitality businesses. If each card sells ...
Views: 790 - Don't mess with this Pint Sized Woman - by Submitted on Jun 29, 2016 from Robert SicilianoApril Marchessault got attacked just after midnight inside her bathroom. At 5-1, she wasn’t intimidated by the 5-7, 200 pound man. Edgardo Montes, 47, got his clock thoroughly cleaned. He was charged with breaking and entering and intent to rape, plus other charges. It all began when ...
Views: 790 - It's Time for You to Use a Password Manager - by Submitted on Oct 19, 2015 from Robert SicilianoIf you are like me, you have several online accounts, each with a user name and password. Though it is tempting to use one password for every account, this can be troublesome as it is a huge security risk. So, what is your only option? To use a password manager. According to a recently ...
Views: 790 - Look out for Shipping E-mail Phishing Scams - by Submitted on Apr 13, 2016 from Robert SicilianoStop clicking on e-mails about your package delivery! Scam, scam, scam! Look, it’s simple: Scammers are also pretending to be from the DHL and FedEx shipping companies, not just UPS. Crooks know that at any given time, thousands and thousands of U.S. people are waiting for a package ...
Views: 790 - Never put these Docs in your Wallet - by Submitted on May 17, 2016 from Robert SicilianoYes, believe it or not, you CAN get by in life with a wallet that just has a little cash, a store card or two, one to two credit cards and your ID. Unless you absolutely need your insurance card or Social Security card, leave those items at home. For years now, wallets have been on the market ...
Views: 790 - Sorry, stop posing Kids' Photos online - by Submitted on Feb 04, 2016 from Robert SicilianoFrankly, naked babies shouldn’t be a big deal. If you don’t have naked baby pictures of your kids in the kitchen sink then you aren’t human. BUT….the world has changed. If you compare posting your children’s photos online with whipping out a wallet photo of your ...
Views: 788 - Protect your Privacy on your iPhone - by Submitted on Aug 19, 2016 from Robert SicilianoIf you have an iOS device, you may be leaking personal information about yourself—without even knowing it—because you’re not familiar with the privacy settings. Apps have “permissions,” meaning, they can access private information such as your social calendar ...
Views: 787 - Smart and Easy Ways to Protect Your Digital Life - by Submitted on Jun 06, 2017 from Robert SicilianoEven if you don’t realize it, your identity is all over the internet. Whether you posted to an internet forum in 1996 or you ever had a MySpace page, this information is still out there, and you have to protect it. Here are some simple and easy ways that you can protect your digital ...
Views: 787 - Use a Password Manager Or You WILL Get Hacked - by Submitted on Mar 19, 2018 from Robert SicilianoDo you ever use the same password over and over again for different accounts? If so, you are not alone. However, this is quite dangerous. It’s best to use a different, unique password for each account, and to make it easier, you should use a password manager. According to surveys, ...
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