Self Improvement Site
On The Internet! Take the Self Improvement Tour
On The Internet! Take the Self Improvement Tour
Identity Theft Articles
We are currently looking for an Official SelfGrowth.com Guide to "Identity Theft". If you have expertise in Identity Theft and your own website and/or product for this topic, please review this form for complete details. The Official Guide Position is part of our Premium Placement Package
- Two Common Government Employee Impersonation Scams: What to Watch For - by Submitted on Aug 27, 2019 from Robert SicilianoOne of the biggest threats that taxpayers are facing these days is an aggressive scam where criminals call victims and pretend to be IRS agents. The goal? To steal money. All year but especially during tax filing season, the IRS will see a big surge in the number of scam calls, which tell ...
Views: 832 - How to deal with difficult people - by Submitted on Aug 08, 2015 from Robert SicilianoIt’s been said that nobody can make you feel bad about yourself without your permission. Well bah! Some people don’t wait for your permission to denigrate you. They are toxic. Lifehacker.com offers some ways to deal with such people. Love Yourself If someone’s words have ...
Views: 830 - Sales Staff Targeted by Cyber Criminals - by Submitted on Oct 27, 2015 from Robert SicilianoCompanies that cut corners by giving cybersecurity training only to their technical staff and the “big wigs” are throwing out the welcome mat to hackers. Cyber criminals know that the ripe fruit to pick is a company’s sales staff. Often, the sales personnel are clueless about ...
Views: 830(1 vote) - Why Are Cyber Hucksters so successful? - by Submitted on Feb 18, 2016 from Robert SicilianoOften, hucksters prey on the consumer’s desperation, which is why it’s no surprise that the No. 1 rip-off (at least between 2011 and 2012)) was bogus products promising weight loss. VICE (vice.com) interviewed psychologist Maria Konnikova about how cyber cons are so ...
Views: 830 - 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: 829 - Fake Emails are Becoming a Major Issue for Businesses - by Submitted on Dec 04, 2019 from Robert SicilianoYou might be surprised to know that more than 3.4 billion fake emails are sent around the globe each day. What does this mean? It means that almost every company out there is vulnerable to cybercrimes in the form of “spoofing” and “phishing.” On top of this, most ...
Views: 828 - 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: 828 - How to figure out Crime Statistics in a Town - by Submitted on Feb 19, 2016 from Robert SicilianoIf you want to get an idea of how safe or crime-ridden a town may be, do some casual observing including at night: Are women walking or jogging alone at night? Are people hanging out in the evening having a good time? Are children mysteriously absent on a sunny weekend afternoon? Are ...
Views: 828 - Set Privacy on these Social Media Apps - by Submitted on Aug 04, 2016 from Robert SicilianoJust like older generations never thought that the dial phone in the kitchen could be dangerous (think phone scams), today’s kids don’t have a clue how hazardous smartphone apps can really be. They are a godsend to pedophiles, scammers and hackers. And let’s not forget other ...
Views: 827 - Should Stalking or Spying Apps be banned? - by Submitted on Dec 20, 2015 from Robert SicilianoThe words “spying” and “stalking” have negative connotations, but there’s a flipside to the coin: parents monitoring their kids’ online activities and physical locations. And how about middle-aged adults keeping track of the whereabouts of their aged parents ...
Views: 827 - Step by step how to reinforce Door Locks - by Submitted on Oct 01, 2016 from Robert SicilianoDon’t let the idea of reinforcing your house’s doors intimidate you. Here is step by step instruction on installing new stronger locks. Your House’s Door Parts Inventory Any door without a deadbolt gets a deadbolt, which should be a grade 1 or 2. Are the screws of any ...
Views: 827 - Can Two-Factor Authentication actually fail? - by Submitted on Jul 06, 2016 from Robert SicilianoYou’ve probably read many times that two-factor authentication is a superb extra layer of protection against a thief hacking into your accounts, because gaining access requires entering a One Time Passcode (OTP)—sent via text or voice—into a login field. In other words, no ...
Views: 826 - How to Secure Your Home or Business On the Cheap - by Submitted on Feb 17, 2017 from Robert SicilianoIt doesn’t matter who you are or where you live, your home is at risk of being burglarized. According to numerous studies, in the US alone, a burglary occurs about once every 18 seconds, which equates to about 5,000 a day. Fortunately, you can secure your home or business against ...
Views: 826 - I want a Cell Phone Jammer - by Submitted on Apr 14, 2016 from Robert SicilianoWell, we certainly can’t blame Dennis Nicholl for breaking the law. Frankly, had I been nearby him when he did it, I would have kept silent and let him continue breaking the law—unless, of course, I was engaged in some loud, planet-moving discussion with a world leader. Nicholl, ...
Views: 826 - FINRA: Cyber Security Still a Major Threat to Broker-Dealers - by Submitted on Jan 26, 2018 from Michael PetersLatest FINRA Examination Findings Reveal That Firms Have Made Progress with Cyber Security, but Problems Remain Cyber security remains “one of the principal operational risks facing broker-dealers,” according to FINRA’s 2017 Examination Findings Report, and while progress has been made, many ...
Views: 825 - Weak Passwords Mean Data Breaches - by Submitted on Oct 15, 2015 from Robert SicilianoStudies across the board indicate that weak usernames and passwords are one of the top causes of data breaches, and I find that information to be unfortunate, because it is preventable. According to a recently concluded survey conducted by uSamp and sponsored by Siber Systems, creators of ...
Views: 825 - Technology and Home Security wed - by Submitted on Jun 23, 2016 from Robert SicilianoGone is the day when, while out on a romantic evening with your special someone, you suddenly realize you forgot to turn on your house alarm. You spend the rest of the long evening fretting about this. Nowadays, all you need do is whip out your smartphone and activate the alarm. You can even ...
Views: 824 - The TSA confiscated 2,653 Guns in 2015 - by Submitted on May 26, 2016 from Robert SicilianoHow dumb can air travelers be, trying to get guns past the TSA? Duhh, don’t they know that the X-ray equipment or pat-downs will detect them? Just last year, over 2,600 guns were detected. More than 80 percent of these guns were loaded. Talk about the world’s dumbest criminals. It ...
Views: 824 - Do You Know How to Use a Knife for Survival? - by Submitted on Apr 04, 2018 from Robert SicilianoUsing a knife in a survival situation is a skill that can mean the difference between life and death. But, you have to know how to use the knife. Here is some information: Knife Safety: Carry a fixed-blade knife if you are going outdoors. It is less likely to get broken Always keep a ...
Views: 823 - GPS Locator for a Person or Vehicle - by Submitted on Apr 29, 2016 from Robert SicilianoWe live in a time where you can track a car, a driver and even speed by using GPS tracking. This is a technology that is in huge demand, and it is not just because of higher rates of theft; but also due to technological advances and frankly, people “just want to know”. FBI reports ...
Views: 823 - Inside the Business E-mail Compromise Scam - by Submitted on Dec 01, 2016 from Robert SicilianoTrick e-mail = fraudulent wire transfer = hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars stolen. That’s what’s happening with business executives in select industries (e.g., chemical operations, manufacturing), says a report at threatpost.com, citing a finding from Dell ...
Views: 822 - Tips for backing up and protecting your data while traveling - by Submitted on Dec 21, 2015 from Robert SicilianoThe season of giving is now upon us — but don’t forget, it’s also the season of stealing — and no, I don’t mean your wallet or the gift package at your doorstep, but your Social Security number, credit card information, medical records and any other highly ...
Views: 822 - How to erase Yourself from your Job - by Submitted on Dec 20, 2016 from Robert SicilianoYou shouldn’t leave any digital trace of yourself after you leave a job. Hopefully, you’ll be leaving voluntarily and thus have the time to first make backups before you delete anything. This may seem easy, but you need to take inventory to make sure you get EVERYTHING. Note: make ...
Views: 821 - Preplan for a Safe Vacation - by Submitted on Apr 15, 2016 from Robert SicilianoTraveling is fun, exciting, tiring and depending on your destination, generally safe. But bad things can happen. The best thing you can do before you go, is prepare. Safety Tips Blend in on your vacation. Before you leave for your trip, plan out your arrival. Dress like the locals. ...
Views: 821 - The Top 7 Things You Need in Your Survival Kit - by Submitted on Jan 09, 2018 from Robert SicilianoImagine that you are in the middle of nowhere for a few days, or that you are stuck in your home after a disaster, like a hurricane. What do you need to survive? Here are several things that you should have available. Remember, this is only a basic list; things that you might pack in a “go ...
Views: 821 - Getting Rid of an Electronic Device? Do This First… - by Submitted on May 06, 2017 from Robert SicilianoA shocking study by the National Associated for Information Destruction has revealed some terrifying information: 40% of electronic devices found on the second-hand market contains personal information. This information includes usernames and passwords, personal information, credit card numbers, ...
Views: 820 - Hacking the CEO with Social Media - by Submitted on Dec 06, 2016 from Robert SicilianoIf the super big wigs could get their social media accounts hacked, you can too. If you can believe it, the Twitter accounts of the following were recently hacked: Google CEO Sundar Pichai Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer Oculus CEO Brendan Iribe Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey Shouldn’t ...
Views: 820 - Mobile SIMs Hacks Cause Concern - by Submitted on Sep 20, 2016 from Robert SicilianoA crook can steal your identity by taking control of your wireless phone account—by pretending to be you in person at the mobile store. The villain can then buy pricey mobiles and sell them—and guess who gets the bill but not the profit. Symptoms of Hijacked Account Suddenly ...
Views: 820 - Stop being a Social Media Idiot - by Submitted on Dec 27, 2016 from Robert SicilianoLeave personal details off your Facebook page. Does the whole world—or even your private circle, many of whom you haven’t seen in person for years, or even at all—have to know you’re laid up from hernia surgery (i.e., vulnerable, defenseless)? Try this experiment for ...
Views: 820 - Child Predator screws up, gets caught - by Submitted on Jun 07, 2016 from Robert SicilianoIf you’re a pedophile, you’d be wise not to keep any prescription containers in view of a webcam with your lewd pictures. The information on such a bottle is what helped pedophile Stephen Keating get 110 years in the slammer says a CNN article. But the amazing thing is that the ...
Views: 819 - Facebook CEO Password dadada hacked - by Submitted on Jul 19, 2016 from Robert SicilianoIf you’ve heard this once, you need to hear it again—and again: Never use the same password and username for more than one account! If this got Mark Zuckerberg’s (Facebook’s chief executive). Twitter account hacked, it can get just about anybody hacked. A report at ...
Views: 819 - 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: 819 - Hire an Ethical Hacker NOW! - by Submitted on May 30, 2017 from Robert SicilianoYou might think it’s crazy to actually hire a hacker, but if you don’t have an ethical hacker on your security team, you could be playing a dangerous game. Ethical hackers are called “white hat hackers” and are legal hackers, that help businesses find security problems ...
Views: 818 - 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: 818 - 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: 817 - 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: 817 - 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: 815 - 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: 815 - 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: 814 - 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: 814 - 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: 814 - 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: 812 - 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: 812 - 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: 812 - 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: 811 - 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: 811 - 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: 811 - 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: 810 - 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: 810 - 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: 809