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Identity Theft Articles
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- How to Monitor a Cell Phone - by Submitted on Feb 15, 2019 from Robert SicilianoDo you fancy yourself a spy and wondering how you can monitor someone else’s cell phone? You won’t get that information here, but there is some good info on cell phone monitoring if you keep reading: The Legalities of Tracking Cell Phones Generally, it is not legal to monitor a ...
Views: 87 - The Top Cyber Security Threats to Real Estate Companies - by Submitted on Feb 13, 2019 from Robert SicilianoGone are the days when hackers would only target retailers. These days, the bad guys an target businesses in any industry, especially those that aren’t quite up on cyber security. The real estate industry is one such group, and according to a recent survey, about half of businesses in ...
Views: 27 - How to Block Spammy Scammy Telemarketing Calls - by Submitted on Jan 24, 2019 from Robert SicilianoAre you getting a lot of scammy, spammy telemarketing calls? If you are, you know how annoying they can here. Fortunately, there are some apps out there that can help. Here are a few worth looking into: CallApp You can use CallApp to lookup numbers, and then decide if you want to answer it ...
Views: 51 - How To Determine a Fake Website - by Submitted on Jan 22, 2019 from Robert SicilianoThere are a lot of scammers out there, and one of the things they do is create fake websites to try to trick you into giving them personal information. Here are some ways that you can determine if a website is fake or not: How Did I Get Here? Ask yourself how you got to the site. Did you ...
Views: 31 - Your Kids Digital Lives Are in Shambles - by Submitted on Jan 17, 2019 from Robert SicilianoIf you have a teenager, you probably have a battle in play: do you or do you not manage your teens mobile devices. Though some parents see this as an invasion of their child’s privacy,(which, frankly, is stupid) there are many reasons why you should start managing what they are doing ...
Views: 27 - Your Real Estate Agent May Have a Gun - by Submitted on Jan 15, 2019 from Robert SicilianoIf you are thinking of buying a house, and you start going to open houses, you might be surprised to learn an interesting fact: the real estate agent might be carrying a gun. Some of you reading this might have jumped to this article looking for a fight, because in M’erka guns are a ...
Views: 54 - Serial Killer Claims 90 Lives - by Submitted on Jan 11, 2019 from Robert SicilianoThis story is entirely messed up. A man was recently convicted of three murders in California, and he is suspected of being involved in several more. He claims that he has been involved in killing 90 people across the county over almost 40 years. This man, Samuel Little, is now 78-years old, ...
Views: 998 - Should You Worry About Contactless Credit Card NFC Skimming - by Submitted on Jan 09, 2019 from Robert SicilianoIf you have a contactless card, you might have worries about skimming. A contactless card or “frictionless” or “tap and go” is a card that has technology in it that allows payment over secure wireless like Apple Pay, Android Pay etc. Basically, this is where a criminal ...
Views: 43 - 6 tips for selecting a Private Security Company - by Submitted on Dec 20, 2018 from Hasan RootSelecting a company of private security guards should not be an annoying or superficial task, keep in mind that the time spent choosing a security provider can save you a lot of money and headaches. Consider the following. Keep the focus It may be the case that you think you need to improve ...
Views: 71 - Protect your USPS Mail from Getting Stolen - by Submitted on Dec 20, 2018 from Robert SicilianoUSPSID stands for U.S. Postal Service Informed Delivery. It is a good thing to sign up for because it informs you of your expected deliveries. But there’s a problem: Someone ELSE could pose as you and sign up for this service, getting your mail before you have a chance to. In fact, it ...
Views: 64 - How to Create Bulletproof Passwords - by Submitted on Dec 18, 2018 from Robert SicilianoIt is a hassle to keep track of all of your passwords. So, many people use the same username and password combination for all of their accounts. This, however, is a big mistake. All it takes is one hacker getting ahold of one of your accounts, and the rest of your accounts are now compromised. ...
Views: 62 - Marriott Starwood Breach Spotlights Multiple Cyber Security Issues - by Submitted on Dec 12, 2018 from Michael PetersThe Marriott Starwood breach, which exposed the personal data of 500 million guests, was not the largest data breach in terms of size; Yahoo still holds that dubious honor. However, because of the nature of the data stolen, it has the potential for a very long reach and highlights multiple cyber ...
Views: 133 - Beware of Rogue Cell Phone Charging Stations - by Submitted on Dec 06, 2018 from Robert SicilianoHumans have evolved a new body part: the cell phone. One day it will be part of anatomical illustrations of the body in health and medical books probably an appendage on your head. I’m not a Dr. so don’t quote me. For now, we have to figure out a way to keep this appendage juiced ...
Views: 81 - Protect Yourself From Gift Card Scams - by Submitted on Dec 06, 2018 from Robert SicilianoSo maybe Christmas now means the very predictable gift card swap, but hey, who can’t use a gift card? But beware, there are a ton of scams. This includes physical, not just digital, gift cards. Regardless of who gave you the card, you should always practice security measures. Below are ...
Views: 87 - Here's What Crazy Mass Shooters Look Like - by Submitted on Nov 29, 2018 from Robert SicilianoMass shootings. They happen so often these days, they are hardly making headlines, and when they do, they are soon pushed out of the news cycle thanks to what’s going on in the White House or in Russia. There are many red flags that show what crazy mass shooters look like. Look at ...
Views: 117 - How to Protect You Frequent Flier Miles NOW - by Submitted on Nov 29, 2018 from Robert SicilianoSocial Security numbers and credit card numbers are not the only types of data that hackers are after. Now, they are looking at frequent flyer accounts, and they are stealing reward miles, and then selling them online. How do Hackers Steal Frequent Flyer Miles? As with other types of ID ...
Views: 100 - Best Practices for Complying with Data Privacy Laws - by Submitted on Nov 23, 2018 from Michael PetersAs California goes, so does the rest of the country. While the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), which was passed this summer and goes into effect in 2020, falls short of being an “American GDPR,” it clearly tore many pages from the far-reaching European data privacy law. Similar to the ...
Views: 168 - How Your Username Can Be used to Track You - by Submitted on Nov 21, 2018 from Robert SicilianoYou probably have a few usernames, or you might have just one that you use for every site. Either way, your user names can be used not just to identify you online, but it can also be used to track you and find out information about you. How do people track you based on your user name? They do ...
Views: 78 - Beautiful Buxom Brunette Lures Boxer to His Death - by Submitted on Nov 09, 2018 from Robert SicilianoEddie Leal, 23, was an up-and-coming professional boxer who gave free boxing lessons in his garage to down-and-out neighborhood teens. He was a good guy. And like most young men, was looking for a girlfriend. One day he saw that a young woman, Rebecca Santhiago, was asking for a friend ...
Views: 119 - 5 Practical Applications of Blockchain to Cyber Security and Compliance - by Submitted on Nov 07, 2018 from Michael PetersWhile digital currencies, particularly bitcoin, are the most common and well-known application of blockchain technology, they are far from being the sole or even the most important use. Blockchain is one of the most important technological advancements of the digital age, and its full potential ...
Views: 262 - Financial Preparedness in a Disaster - by Submitted on Nov 06, 2018 from Robert SicilianoYou have probably heard that it’s important to be prepared for a disaster. You might have a first aid kit set aside, food and water, or a battery-operated radio. But, are you financially prepared? Creating an Emergency Fund It might be tough but try to set aside some money a little at ...
Views: 102 - It Should Be Illegal for Teen Girls to Give Rides to Strangers - by Submitted on Nov 01, 2018 from Robert SicilianoIf only. But that’ll never be. Brandi Hicks, 17, and her high school friend, Liz Reiser, exited a video store at 9:30 pm, where they were approached by Matthew Vaca, a creepy acting stranger. He asked them for a ride to his house. At first they refused, but then he offered $20 for gas. ...
Views: 155 - 10 Cyber Security Travel Tips to Protect Your Devices & Data - by Submitted on Oct 31, 2018 from Michael PetersThe holiday season is fast approaching, but hackers don’t take vacations. Whether you’re planning to go home for the holidays or travel for business on a regular basis, make sure to protect yourself from cyber crime with these cyber security travel tips. Update Your OS & Software Before ...
Views: 208 - Woman Voluntarily Sits in Truck of Man Who Creeped Her Out - by Submitted on Oct 31, 2018 from Robert SicilianoWho does this? Morna Brennen did this when she was 22. She and a few friends went to a bar and stayed there late. At some point while they were there, a man took an interest in Morna. But she was creeped out by him and pretty much ignored him. Later when it was time to leave, Morna and one ...
Views: 173 - How to be a Grandma Identity Thief Murderer - by Submitted on Oct 31, 2018 from Robert SicilianoLois Riess is a woman from Minnesota who police say shot her husband, went on the run, and then killed a woman in order to take on her identity. Here are some shocking facts about her: Riess Looked Like her Victim The woman Lois Riess killed, Pamela Hutchinson, looked like her. This is why ...
Views: 93 - Should You Use Facebook to Login to Websites? - by Submitted on Oct 23, 2018 from Robert SicilianoHave you ever used Facebook to sign onto another site? Many of us do this pretty blindly simply because it is very convenient. But, this convenience could come at a cost. You know the drill. You go to a website and it says “Log In With Facebook.” or Google. Usually, it just takes ...
Views: 77 - Does Your Mobile Have Spyware on It? - by Submitted on Oct 19, 2018 from Robert SicilianoYou have a mobile phone, you might think it’s pretty safe, but what you might not realize is that these devices can have spyware on them. Keep in mind, many of the “signs” listed below are everyday normal phone behaviors. But combined, might mean spyware. Here are some of the ...
Views: 121 - Do Not take that Stupid Facebook Quiz - by Submitted on Oct 11, 2018 from Robert SicilianoWhere should you live in the world? What Game of Thrones family are you in? What is the food that best describes your personality? All of these answers are given and found by doing quizzes on Facebook. You have surely seen them if you use Facebook, and have may have taken these quizzes, but you ...
Views: 96 - DNA Tech is Catching Bad Guys and its Great and Scary - by Submitted on Oct 10, 2018 from Robert SicilianoIn 1996, a 12-year-old Washington state girl was raped and murdered. However, it wasn’t until June 2018, that an arrest was made in the case. How did this happen? DNA technology. The man arrested is Gary Hartman, and he is accused of killing and raping 12-year old Michella Welch. Donald ...
Views: 143 - NIST Privacy Framework Under Development to Complement NIST CSF - by Submitted on Oct 05, 2018 from Michael PetersCiting the success of its cybersecurity framework and the advent of IoT devices, artificial intelligence, and other technologies that are making it more challenging than ever for enterprises to protect their customers’ privacy, NIST has launched a collaborative project to develop a voluntary ...
Views: 171 - Check Your Free Credit Report Now - by Submitted on Oct 04, 2018 from Robert SicilianoWhen is the last time you checked your credit report? If it has been more than a year, you can get a free one. The issue is, however, is how to really understand it. Here’s some information about obtaining and reading your credit report. Obtaining Your Free Credit Report Based on US ...
Views: 103 - 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: 122 - Beware of the Social Security Administration Employee Scam - by Submitted on Sep 27, 2018 from Robert SicilianoThere is a new Social Security scam in the news, and you should definitely know about it. The Acting Inspector General of Social Security, released a statement that warns people of this new scheme. Basically, scammers are impersonating Social Security Administration employees. The scam ...
Views: 125 - 2017 Was the Worst Year for Identity Theft EVER! - by Submitted on Sep 27, 2018 from Robert SicilianoJavelin Strategy & Research recently released its Identity Fraud Study, and it revealed that the number of identity theft victims rose by 8% in 2017 when compared to 2016. That’s almost 17 million people, which is a record high. Despite more information and industry efforts to make ...
Views: 95 - Background Checks Don't Tell the Whole Story - by Submitted on Sep 14, 2018 from Robert SicilianoWhen it comes to background checks, the National Crime Information Center is the gold standard. It is only available to law enforcement agencies and is the most accurate and complete database tracking convictions and arrests in the US. That sounds pretty great, right? Unfortunately, it’s ...
Views: 116 - A "Credit Profile Number" is a fake SSN, and it Works - by Submitted on Sep 12, 2018 from Robert SicilianoCyber criminals are constantly trying to stay one step ahead of the good guys, and there is now another scam out there that you should know about: synthetic identity theft. Basically, the criminals take information from someone, and then make up the rest. They also often use fake Social Security ...
Views: 124 - How To Protect Your Entire Company From Phishing, Malware, Spam and Spoofing - by Submitted on Sep 09, 2018 from Misty JhonesThe competition among the numerous companies that make up the notch of every business endeavor calls for a mechanism that will protect the interests of the company from predators that are out to steal valuable information from their rivals. There should be as a matter of fact the availability of ...
Views: 272 - 2017 Was the Worst year for Data Breaches EVER! - by Submitted on Sep 07, 2018 from Robert SicilianoIt seems like 2017 broke records for all the wrong reasons…one of them being the worst year for data breaches in history. According to reports, hacking was the most common way to collect this data, but almost 70% of exposures occurred due to accidental leaks or human error. This came ...
Views: 112 - NIST Issues Guidance for Medical IoT Device Security - by Submitted on Sep 05, 2018 from Michael PetersThere are more connected devices than there are humans on Earth. Organizations have been as quick to embrace the Internet of Things as consumers have, and the healthcare industry is no exception. Medical IoT devices have exploded in popularity and grown in complexity. Smart medical devices allow ...
Views: 196 - 15 Year Old's Naked Photos Spread Like Wild Fire - by Submitted on Sep 05, 2018 from Robert SicilianoYou have probably heard the story before. Teenage girl takes some scantily clad photos and sends them to her latest boyfriend. “What could go wrong?,” she thinks. Well, a lot could go wrong, and an article on Vice.com really lays that out. You might think that the boyfriend is ...
Views: 206 - 10 Tips on Discussing a Screwed Up World with Kids - by Submitted on Aug 22, 2018 from Robert SicilianoDo you have children? How do you talk to them when something like a mass shooting happens? What about a robbery in your neighborhood? Do you talk about nuclear weapons? If you are like most parents, you don’t know where to start. Here’s 10 tips that you can use to talk to your kids ...
Views: 126 - The WPA3 WiFi Security Standard: What Your Enterprise Needs to Know - by Submitted on Aug 21, 2018 from Michael PetersAccording to the Wi-Fi Alliance, there are now more IoT devices than there are humans on Earth, and over 50% of internet traffic travels through wireless networks. As people’s dependence on connected devices has grown, free public WiFi has become insanely popular, but it’s also insanely ...
Views: 191 - Cyber Security Best Practices When Using Public WiFi Networks - by Submitted on Aug 17, 2018 from Michael PetersOnce a luxury item, free public WiFi has morphed into a standard service that consumers expect when patronizing everything from restaurants and retail stores to airports and hotels. Free WiFi users aren’t just checking Facebook or posting vacation photos to Instagram, either; all of us have sat ...
Views: 219 - Be aware of all these Confidence Crimes - by Submitted on Jul 27, 2018 from Robert SicilianoCriminals have a reliance on tricking victims to get access to account information, like passwords. This is known as social engineering, and is also called a “confidence crime.” These come in many forms: Do Not Take the Bait of These Phishermen A phishing email that targets a ...
Views: 125 - Top Cyber Threats Organizations Are Facing Right Now - by Submitted on Jul 26, 2018 from Michael PetersCyber security is a continuous game of Spy vs. Spy. Every time a new technology is introduced, the potential attack surface expands. The moment one vulnerability is patched, hackers find another way in. Keeping up can feel overwhelming, even for security professionals. In no particular order, ...
Views: 259 - 10 Huge Home Security Mistakes - by Submitted on Jul 25, 2018 from Robert SicilianoThough it would be nice to think that you can fix something if you make a mistake, there are some where there is just no going back. And in some cases, these mistakes can be tragic. Here are some of the biggest mistakes that people make with their home security: Leaving Doors Unlocked ...
Views: 164 - 5 Digital Security Tips That You Should Always Beware Of - by Submitted on Jul 25, 2018 from Robert SicilianoHackers are out there, and they have their eyes on YOU! So, you are the first line of defense against them. Do you know how to make your smart phone or computer more difficult for hackers to access? Here’s five tips to help: Password Information You would think that these days, ...
Views: 143 - Business Email Compromise Losses Top $12 Billion Globally, Says FBI - by Submitted on Jul 20, 2018 from Michael PetersGlobal losses from business email compromise scams, a highly sophisticated form of phishing, grew by 136% between December 2016 and May 2018 and now exceed $12 billion, according to a public service announcement released by the FBI. What Is a Business Email Compromise Scam? A business ...
Views: 298 - Are You Taking Responsibility for Your Personal Safety? - by Submitted on Jul 18, 2018 from Robert SicilianoFor the most part, the local police department does not prevent most assaults or burglaries. That would require a cop to be everywhere all at once. Not happening. However, they do their best to capture and arrest those who commit these crimes. And, preventing crimes goes way beyond getting a ...
Views: 178 - Is the California Consumer Privacy Act the “American GDPR”? - by Submitted on Jul 12, 2018 from Michael PetersThe recent Exactis data leak, which could surpass Equifax in the sheer number and scope of records exposed, has data privacy advocates calling for an “American GDPR.” While it is unlikely that a federal data privacy law will come to pass anytime soon, some states have already taken matters into ...
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