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Identity Theft Articles
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- 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: 921 - 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: 920 - 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: 920 - 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: 918 - Should Life Insurance Policies Be Banned? - by Submitted on Aug 06, 2019 from Robert SicilianoIt’s fair to wonder how many people would still be alive today if there were never any such thing as a life insurance policy. Personally I can’t imagine NOT having a life insurance policy if you have children 17 and under. But the below info might ring true for some of you. An ...
Views: 918 - 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: 917 - 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: 917 - 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: 915 - 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: 913 - 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: 913 - 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: 913 - 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: 913 - 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: 912 - 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: 912 - 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: 912 - 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: 910 - 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: 908 - 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: 908 - Are You Safe From Cyber Threats? - by Submitted on Feb 13, 2020 from eWomenNetwork MarketingOur world has dramatically changed and we rely on technology for everything we do. According to recent studies, there is a new victim of identity theft every two seconds. Identity theft and cybercrime could happen to anyone. In this video, Sandra Estok shares her first-hand story of identity ...
Views: 907 - Parents legally can spy on their Kids - by Submitted on May 27, 2016 from Robert SicilianoJust because something is legal, does that mean you should do it? In the case of spying on your kids’ phone activities, some say yes. Though the very same mode of operation is illegal in most states when the eavesdropper is your boss or anyone else and you’re the ...
Views: 905 - 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: 903 - 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: 903 - 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: 903 - 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: 903 - 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: 902 - 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: 902 - Secret Self-Defense Weapons You Might Not Know About - by Submitted on May 02, 2018 from Robert SicilianoDo you have a secret self-defense weapon on hand that you don’t even know about? Here’s a few: Canes. Might seem obvious…but… Your first instinct would probably be to swing the cane like a baseball bat. However, this isn’t the best way. An attacker can easily ...
Views: 902 - 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, ...
Views: 902 - 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: 901 - 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: 901 - 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: 900 - 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: 900 - 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: 898 - Identity Theft on the rise affecting over 13 Million - by Submitted on Mar 14, 2016 from Robert Siciliano13.1 million people were stricken by identity theft last year in America, reports a study by Javelin Strategy & Research which reveals: Many people who don’t trust their banks are unwittingly doing things that make crime easier for crooks. This includes not using the bank’s ...
Views: 898 - 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: 898 - 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: 898 - Facebook Wants my Social Security Number! - by Submitted on Jun 06, 2019 from Robert SicilianoWTH Facebook? Generally, I don’t have a problem giving out my SSN. That might seem contrary to the advice I give, but frankly, our SSNs are everywhere and if my insurance company needs it, I’ll generally just question them on it, maybe resist a bit, and if they insist, and I need ...
Views: 896 - Self-Defense Options You Might Not Know About - by Submitted on Apr 10, 2018 from Robert SicilianoIf you are like most people, you probably haven’t done a lot of thinking about what you would do in a situation involving physical assault. Why would you? I mean, it’s unpleasant and scary. Further, depending on your physical makeup, you may think you’d probably lose anyway. ...
Views: 896 - You need Two-Factor Verification for your Amazon Account - by Submitted on Sep 06, 2016 from Robert SicilianoIf you have a strong password for your Amazon account, you may still want to consider beefing up the security with two-factor verification (or authentication), which will prevent a thief from accessing your account (which is possible if he gets ahold of your password and username ...
Views: 896 - Your Ransomware Response: Prepare for the Worst - by Submitted on Jul 22, 2016 from Robert SicilianoA ransomware attack is when your computer gets locked down or your files become inaccessible, and you are informed that in order to regain use of your computer or to receive a cyber key to unlock your files, you must pay a ransom. Typically, cybercriminals request you pay them in ...
Views: 896 - 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: 895 - Hacking Cars Getting Easier and More Dangerous - by Submitted on Jun 24, 2016 from Robert SicilianoIf your car is in any way connected to the Internet, it can get hacked into. You know it’s only a matter of time before hackers begin infiltrating motor vehicles in droves, being that vehicles are plagued with hundreds to thousands of security vulnerabilities. This hack is more serious ...
Views: 894 - How to Rock the Room as a Professional Speaker - by Submitted on Jan 19, 2016 from Robert SicilianoFor those of you who want to knock your presentations out of the park and be the speaker everyone raves about, Victoria LaBalme is leading an unbelievably unique workshop titled Rock the Room LIVE. If you create and deliver keynotes, trainings, breakouts, podcasts, videos, webinars or ...
Views: 894 - Beware of Conference Invitation Scams - by Submitted on May 30, 2019 from Robert SicilianoConference invitation scams are those that involve a scammer sending invitations out to events with the intention of scamming the invitees. These might be real events or fake events, and the scammers target people including business professionals, lecturers, CEOs, researchers, philanthropists, ...
Views: 893 - Popular Passwords make it easy to hack You - by Submitted on Mar 02, 2016 from Robert SicilianoYour account passwords should be as unique as your fingerprint—to make them less hackable by crooks using password-guessing software that can run through millions of possible combinations in just minutes. And if you have an easy password, there may be a hit within 10 seconds. Think ...
Views: 893 - Set up Family's Controls on Home Computers - by Submitted on Mar 19, 2016 from Robert SicilianoThe computers in your household should have controls on them for security—even if you don’t have children living with you. Chrome OS On the Chrome browser in the upper right are three horizontal lines; click this symbol. Click “Add supervised user.” Enter the name ...
Views: 893 - How To Protect Yourself Against Internet Phishing - by Submitted on Jul 16, 2020 from Misty JhonesWhen have you checked your email, how often have you received an alarming message from your bank or other company saying that your account is in danger of being closed? E-mails, text messages and payment requests, they may just contain bad links. These messages often seem reliable, but are ...
Views: 892 - 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: 892 - Remove your Home from Google maps - by Submitted on May 19, 2016 from Robert SicilianoIf it unsettles you to see your home displayed on Google Maps, there’s something you can do about this. Why might this be a concern? Information is “intelligence”. Information to some is power. The logistics of your home may empower certain people, like burglars. Example; if ...
Views: 891 - 32 Million Twitter Pass for sale Add two-factor NOW - by Submitted on Jul 21, 2016 from Robert SicilianoThe Dark Web, according to LeakedSource, got ahold of 33 million Twitter account details and put them up for sale. Twitter thus locked the accounts for millions of users. Twitter, however, doesn’t believe its servers were directly attacked. So what happened? The bad guys may have ...
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