Internet Safety and Security Week in Review

Internet Safety and Security Week in Review

This week had a lot of internet safety and security issues. Microsoft has release several new security patches this week. The majority of them were critical. The patches ranged from security flaws in windows, office, and the server environment. Important safety tips is to verify that all patches have been downloaded and installed. For the maximum computer and internet safety following this one simple will save your hundreds of dollars in computer repair.

Apple has also released a massive updates to fix several security issues in the Mac OS. Again, safety tip for anybody using a Mac verify you visit Apple and get the latest updates. We know that Apple isn’t being attacked by hackers and spyware a lot but they can be infected.

Google has reported that they are starting to see major botnet and spam activity. A botnet is a virus or malware that infects computers. It will they take over the computer and use to send out spam. The spam messages will look them came from you and not the spammer. A good malware and anti-virus is critical for anybody on the internet. With activity increasing all over the internet get ready for a new round of attacks and security updates. Verify that your anti-virus software is current and run a a full computer scan.

Oracle has also announced a new security in Java. A new version has been released with a security fix. If you are using Java please update the software to verify the internet security vulnerability. Internet safety starts with staying current with the latest updates.

Internet Safety for Children

I hope that all parents have been paying attention to the cyber bullying death in Massachusetts. A high school committed suicide after being harassed so badly online. The parents have been blaming the administration for this death but it isn’t really their fault. Parents must take an active role in their child’s internet activity. If you are a parent have you talked to your kids about internet safety lately? If not please make some time and verify that nobody is harassing your child online. Make sure you Google your child’s name to see if you can find something. Please take an active role in internet safety for children and kids.

Internet Security | Safety | Kids | Facebook

Internet Security

This was an interesting week overall for internet security and safety. Microsoft issues a new study indicating that people don’t take internet security seriously because they don’t see the danger. The majority of people on the internet today haven’t been a victim of identity theft, fraud, or had a virus attack. This is the main reason why the same password is used over and over on several websites.

When an account has been compromised or identity stolen everything changes. The victim starts to take internet safety seriously. They also look for safety tips about malware, spyware, and viruses. A understand of why anti-virus software is so important to computer security.

Facebook Safety for Kids

This week Facebook suffered another attack. This latest phishing attack was designed to obtain user names and password. Kids and adults on the site received a fake email indicating that the password had to be reset and a new one was necessary. The fraudulent link would take the user to a fake website and get the user name and password. Since the majority of users use the same password for banking website the criminals were taking this information and trying all major financial websites. If they were able to get access the money was removed.

All parents who have children using Facebook advice them not to respond to the email until you can review it with them. Verify the link is for Facebook before entering any information. The best way to protect kids on the internet is to educate them. Parents should provide kids with safety tips to assure they stay safe online.

FBI and Facebook

Another reason for why parents need to talk to children about Facebook is the legal issues with social networking. In the past several years law enforcement agencies have used social networking sites to track down criminals. Well, now the FBI is watching Facebook full times. Read more at Internet Safety Center

Internet Safety for Kids

Antivirus Software Reviews

Internet Safety and Kids

Internet Safety, Kids, and Social Networking

It didn’t take to long but today Facebook and security experts announced security problem. Facebook users are getting an email indicating that Facebook has had to reset the password for an account. The email contain link to click on and reset the password. The link in the email will take the user to a malicious site. The site is designed to obtain the Facebook login information.

The reason why this is such an internet safety concern for both parents and kids is due to the password being stolen. The majority of internet users don’t use different passwords or user names for banking sites. The criminals are then going around to banking sites entering this information in access accounts.

This is exactly why we are safety advocated for all internet users to use a different user name and password for financial sites. All online banking safety starts with using complex passwords that contain a letter, number, and symbol. The password should also be at a minimum of six characters in length.

Inside Hacking at it’s finest

As many of you know hacking is 80% internal employees stealing information. A former car company employee has be going around and disabling cars. The majority of all cars today have a computer that can be shut down remotely. Onstar is an example of company that can do this. This security and safety feature is designed to stolen car thieves who steal cars. A common person who previously worked for one of these companies can take this technology home with them. A ex-employee from one of these companies has been going around disabling cars.

The FBI reported that cybercrime is growing at alarming rates. It is increasing all over the internet and now costing the American consumer over $500 million a year. The FBI has also announced that they are now monitoring social networking sites. The are watching over Facebook closely looking for terrorism, internet fraud, or other criminal activity. The reason why they are looking at Facebook is due the amount of people on the sites. With over 350 million people on the site now it is now the number one site for criminals to attack. Internet safety and security starts with education you and your kids about how to spot internet dangers.

Parents need to talk to kids

All parents need to talk to their kids about internet safety. Make sure parents review all pictures, postings, and information on the page. Verify that online criminals can’t track or stalk your kids from the information posted online. The most important thing is to verify that they understand that all information posted online is public domain. Anything posted online can be used against them in a criminal case.

Scareware Threat Spreading Across The Internet

Computer security researchers have discover a blackhat search engine optimization that is spreading scareware. The malware has infected over 200,000 computers already and spreading to vulnerable machines. The scareware tells you that your computer is infected with viruses, spyware, malware and trojans.  It then stats that you need to purchase antivirus software for computer security. If you receive a message stating that a computer infection has occurred don’t believe it. Close IE and run your anti-malware or anti-spyware programs to remove the infection. This is all just a scam to get money and credit card numbers.

Patch Tuesday Windows Update

Microsoft has releases several new patches for Windows Update.  The patches are designed to fix 15 vulnerabilities in Windows and Office products.  One of the patches involve a critical flaw found in the Windows Kernel.  The kernel controls everything in Windows from booting up to running applications. Several of the other patches involve security holes in Windows that could allow a hacker to take remote control of you computer. They also have added two viruses into the Malicious software removal update. If you are using Windows for your operating system you need to visit Windows Update and download all critical patches.  All Windows user should also run the Microsoft Software Removal Tool to verify that your computer is free of viruses.

Mac has also released several new patches for the Snow Leopard OS.  These patches are designed to fix over 40 vulnerabilities in the OS.  I know that most MAC users think they are safe from internet threats but I can assure you that your are not.  MAC has been gain more and more market share and as they gain market share so will the amount of viruses, spyware and rootkits designed specifically for the MAC.

Major Flaw Found in SSL Encryption for Online Shopping

The Internet Engineering Task Force has warned about a zero day flow in the SSL protocol that encrypts the communication between computers.  The SSL layer is what encrypts your private information such as credit card number, address and other private data about you.  The reason why this is such a major issue is that it is a zero day flaw.  A zero day flaw means that flaw is currently being exploited in the wild and that is why it is critical it gets fixed ASAP.  The risk to people who make purchases online is slim because to take advantage of this flaw you must have a highly advanced understand of how computers and programing.  Over the next couple of week you will start to see patches for Internet Explorer, Firefox and all servers that have internet connections.  When the patches are released all internet users will need to download them immediately to assure a high level of computer security.

Article on SSL Error

Internet Safety Center

Identity Theft 4 times more likely from Corporate Breaches

We have talked about Identity several times in our blog and on the site and how to protect yourself.  The one thing you can’t protect yourself from is corporate America having a security breach and your private information being exposed.  The study was interesting in that people didn’t really understand the direct relationship between a security breach and identity theft.  Everybody needs to understand that when a corporation has a security breach that means your private information (Social Security Number, address, credit card number) is at risk.  The question you have to ask is what information did they have and how can it hurt you?  This information is generally send outside the United States and sold on the black market.  Criminals then take this information and open credit cards in your name in other countries.  The internet has allowed criminals to conduct identity theft all over the word.  If you get a notice that your information has been compromised you need to take is seriously.  You should place a security watch on your credit report.

Article

Microsoft Reports Internet Worms Rising but New Vulnerabilities down.

Microsoft issues a report that overall internet worms have increased by over 98% over the previous quarter.  Internet worms have gone from the 5th greatest threat all the way up to number 2nd on the list.  Worms are getting into personal computer and telling them that their computer is infected or redirecting them to other sites trying to get them purchase items.  On the bright side overall computer vulnerabilities have decreased over the same time.  Microsoft found that overall computer security vulnerabilities have decreased by over 30% in the last 6 months.  We believe this will actually start to increase with the release of Windows 7.  Computer security holes and vulnerabilities will be found in Windows 7 and it is only a matter of time before hackers start to go after Windows 7.  The more we educate user about computer security the safer the internet becomes.

Microsoft Story

5 – Vulnerability that lead to Identity Theft

I found this interesting article about identity theft and what are the 5 major ways Identity Theft occurs.  The first one is that people don’t change-up their daily routine.  If people are watching you and your routine doesn’t change they have any easy way into your world.  The next two are ones we have talked about several times in social networking and computer scams.  Part of our guide to social networking is that you should never post sensitive data on you page and make sure your profile is set to private.  Computer and internet scam are running wild all over the internet.  Several computer security experts say that scareware and spyware has grown by over 600% in the last year.  The fourth way is through hackers (internal and external) stealing sensitive information of customers.  We hear stories all the time about credit card companies or financial companies losing customer data.  I wish I could say that is going to slow down in the future but I expect it to actually grow over the next several years.  I also expect that Identity Theft will grow by over 15% in the next and 20% the year after that.  The last method is through Healthcare moving to electronic records.  I agree that in the move to electronic records that we will see more identity or fraud from this activity.  I just wanted to share what the article said are the five vulnerabilities for identity theft and that we have to agree with all of them.  The biggest threats rights now come from the internet and internet scams.  The internet is full of spyware and scareware that is waiting to steal your identity or to harm your computer.

Article Link

Time Warner High Speed Internet Users at Risk

If you have a SMC8014 cable modem/Wi-Fi router from Time Warner Cable you may be leaving your computer network open to risk.  It was discovered last week that over 67,000 Time Warner customer were at risk of having their network hacked, web browser hijack or snoop sensitive data that use that particular modem/Wi-Fi rotuer.  The flaw hasn’t been released to the public but it does involve how your network gets encrypted .  Time Warner has released a press release that they have temporary patched the hole but Bloggers are reporting that the security issue hasn’t been fixed for everybody.  A final patch should be released later this week according to Time Warner.  We recommend that if you the SMC8014 cable modem/Wi-Fi router you should ask for a replacement with a new model.

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