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How To Distinguish A Legitimate Login From A Fake

admin — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0000

It is important to know when you are logging in on the intended site and when the login might be a spoof page. Providing sensitive login details on a fake site can mean you have given access to someone who does not have your best interest in mind.

Many websites especially those with incredibly sensitive data such as credit cards and banks will create an icon that appears next to the web address. Verifying this icon before entering any sensitive information is important. If the icon has changed or is not present, contact the business another way.

Sitekey technology has become increasingly popular. This is a photo that you select, and give a custom name to. It will appear where you enter your username or password. Make sure this photo is the one you selected and that the name is the one you assigned to it.

Another key to ensuring you are entering your information into a legitimate site is take a moment and look at the page. Does it look like it always has or is something different? If you are unsure, try to gain the information you are looking for another way. It is always better safe than sorry.

Tips On How To Prevent Online Credit Card Fraud

admin — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Online credit card fraud is on the rise. More than 15 million people per year are victims of identity theft. Once your credit card info is stolen, it takes weeks or even months to get things back to normal. Here are some easy tips to avoid online credit card fraud.

Only shop and buy from online companies that have a mailing address listed on their site. It is easier to commit fraud by not listing an address. Be sure to verify the address if possible.

Do not enter credit card information on a site that is not secure. You can tell if the page is secure because it begins with an HTTPS instead of an HTTP. This means that the data will be secure as it passes over the internet, and the information can not be intercepted.

Do not sign up for work-at-home scams. This is where a good percentage of credit card fraud occurs; many people are looking to get rich quickly, but it is not possible. The owners of these sites use this as a ploy to steal your information.

The last and most important thing you can do is to sign up for an online identity theft protection service. There are many reliable ones available that can be found doing a simple search online. This will add protection that you can not provide alone.

The Dangers Of Sending Info Through Wi-Fi Internet Connections

admin — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0000

When traveling it is a good idea to be mindful of Internet security and privacy issues. For instance, when a person works on their computer in a corporate environment they are safe because most corporate Wi-Fi networks are secured using encryption. This means no one can easily access information originating from your computer. This is not the case on public Wi-Fi networks. They do not use encryption or authentication for the obvious reasons. It would be impossible to give each new user the credentials and a key. For this reason, public networks are highly insecure. Anyone with sensitive information on their computer should be aware that they are venerable on a public network.

Furthermore, as a precaution the user may want to avoid going to websites that require using passwords even though they may be using VPN to their office computer. Highly sophisticated pack sniffers are a dime a dozen on the Internet today with some of the older ones being free. This means an unscrupulous person can easily acquire the necessary software to read everything your computer is transmitting. They can acquire your username and password for any website that you visit. Therefore, do not perform any online banking or other critical business dealings while traveling under any circumstances. It is also advisable to setup a special restricted user account to use when traveling.

Staying informed is the best way to stay secure

www.itvshop.com — Sun, 06 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Online security and privacy issues are not a new issue in the technology field, but the discussions related to them have certainly been growing more heated in recent years. The popularity of social networking certainly contributed to this, and you can see how to “Stay safe while social networking” in the pages to the right. Even as Facebook tried to deal with privacy policy misfires (and a blockbuster film) in 2010, other areas for discussion have popped up. Internet tracking and the idea of a national Internet ID are just two of the issues that are already driving conversations in 2011.While the Internet is certainly a tool with the potential for both good and bad, there is an easy way to make yourself more secure on the Internet: simply stay informed. Reading this site is a great start, but it’s also important to keep up with the news to see what new policies are being outlined. If you were looking for the best deals on DIRECT TV, you’d certainly take the time to research, wouldn’t you? Your online security deserves at least an equal amount of your attention. Just as there are sites out there that will guide you to TV deals, there are also sites like ours which will inform you about the issues and their ramifications.If you haven’t already done so, add ITV Shop to your bookmarks, and we’ll do our best to bring you insightful information on the talk of the day. By improving your knowledge base, you’ll learn how you can eliminate fear and worry while browsing and interacting online.

Wireless Internet Security on the Go

admin — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 13:37:04 +0000

Using wireless Internet always poses a security risk, but that risk is amplified when you’re using a network with which you are unfamiliar. In today’s fast paced society, it’s not practical to avoid using public Wi-Fi hot spots as you travel, but there are certain things to keep in mind when doing so in order to ensure your security.If you are going to be doing work for your company while on the go, one of the best ways to increase your security is by using the company’s network. Many businesses use what is called a virtual private network (VPN), which allows you to access the company’s network and files from remote areas. If VPN is not an option or your are using the Internet for personal uses, be very selective in the networks you choose. Though it is easiest to log onto the first unsecured network you find, this network is just as unsecure to computer hackers as it is to you. Look for a network that requires a security password, which can usually be obtained for a small charge or from a hotspot provider for free.Anyone who spends a significant amount of time using unknown wireless networks should consider downloading encryption software. You should already be using a firewall to block your computer’s visibility on the Internet, but encrypting files provides added security. PGP offers a number of software products that can provide encryption services, email protection and cloud authentication. Because many people are beginning to use their smart phones to conduct both personal and work business, it’s equally important to encrypt sensitive files on a mobile device. Gold Lock offers encryption services for mobile phones. This software can encrypt voice and data files stored on your phone.

Why You Need a Router for Your Wireless Internet

admin — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 13:33:32 +0000

For all of its uses and benefits, using the internet exposes you to many potential security risks including theft and identity fraud. It’s important to take necessary measures to ensure your system is protected so you don’t become another victim of computer hacking. One of the best ways to protect your wireless system is with router hardware. Not only can routers saving you money by allowing you to connect to the Internet from multiple computers without having to pay for a wireless subscription for each computer, but they also increase the security of your system. Most routers today have a built in firewall, which basically makes your computer invisible on the Internet. Without this protection your IP address is exposed and you are extremely vulnerable to hackers.One mistake many people make in regards to their router security is the password. Many routers come with a generic password setting that you should immediately change as these are easily guessed. You should also make sure to choose a difficult password that doesn’t contain any of your personal information such as birth date or social security number. With your router you can also prohibit outside access to your wireless internet system. First, you should change the setting to Wi-Fi Protected Access, which will require you to create a password used to gain access to the network, and therefore outsiders can’t sneak onto the system. You can even prevent wireless thieves from picking up your network by turning off the Service Set Identifier (SSID), so that if someone searches for available wireless networks in your area, your system won’t even show up.A router also has the ability to block Internet viruses from attacking your computer. Unlike other anti-virus software, because the router is a separate device from the actual computer it doesn’t slow down your system.

The Growing Security Concerns of Smart Phone Users

admin — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 13:29:52 +0000

Spam emails have long been a problem on our PCs and laptops, but now we have another device to be wary of; the smart phone. The security on these devices is usually much lower than what can be found on a computer, thus making it a very vulnerable target of attackers. Phishing is a fraudulent method of acquiring personal information such as passwords or credit card numbers. This is usually done through emails that advertise what may appear to be a legitimate website that will request this sensitive information. One of the biggest threats lies in the ever-increasing number of applications available for smart phone users. With thousands of new apps hitting the market each year, there is no way to guarantee the security of each of these programs. However, it appears that apps may be both the problem and the solution when it comes to mobile phone phishing.The SMobile Security Shield for Android is an anti-virus app that is going a long way toward improving the security of this popular smart phone. Not only does it scan for viruses and malware, it can be used to erase all data from the phone in the event that it is lost or stolen. A built in GPS can also be used to help you locate a lost phone. However, there’s a price to pay for security, ringing in at 29.99 a year. But that’s a lot less that what you risk losing if you’re phone is hacked. Another comprehensive smart phone application is Mobile Active Defense (MD), which protects against malware, secures all email accounts and incorporates anti-virus software. MD currently provides defense systems for the iPhone with coming software for the Symbian and the Android.Most people spend as much time on their smart phone as they do using a computer, and it therefore requires as much, if not more, protection.

Protect Your Passwords Against Keystroke Hackers

admin — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 13:24:20 +0000

There are plenty of ways to add security to your passwords, and you should definitely practice smart password habits, but unfortunately, there are programs that allow hackers to see what keys you are typing and therefore determine what usernames and passwords you use. Therefore, in addition to choosing difficult, hard-to-guess passwords, you should consider investing in software to protect from this type of hacking.Keyscrambler Personal is a free download available for most Windows systems after Windows 2000. Anti-virus and anti-spyware systems can remove these keyloggers, but only if they are detected. Some of the best, and most dangerous, keystroke hackers will go undetected, rendering these software systems useless. However, with Keyscrambler, your keystrokes will be encrypted within the system but appear on the screen as you type them. Therefore, it doesn’t matter if a keylogger is detected or not, because your keystrokes are undecipherable.Anti-Keylogger is another reliable product used to protect against keystroke hackers. This system is easy to install and use and won’t cause any difficulty with your computer use. This product also comes with live tech support, where you can speak with a technician should you encounter any problems with the software. Codefender is another anti-keylogger system that allows you to protect thousands of applications, which you can choose.None of these systems should replace any of your other existing security programs. You should continue to use anti-spyware and anti-virus software, but with these security solutions you have the added comfort of knowing that keyloggers will not be able to steal your most sensitive information.

Easy Passwords All But Give Away Your Sensitive Information

admin — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 13:16:25 +0000

There are plenty of ways for hackers to crack into your private accounts using various software systems made specifically for that purpose, but it’s usually the more serious online criminals that are capable of this. However, there are thousands of amateur hackers that know how to guess simple passwords, so in addition to the expensive and comprehensive security software you should invest in, your first line of defense is choosing a difficult password. With so many online accounts and memberships it may be convenient to use one standard password, but this leaves all your information exposed. We also acknowledge that keeping up with dozens of complicated, random passwords can be impossible. For this reason we suggest storing all your passwords in an online password manager such as RoboForm or KeePass. These sites allow you to store all of your passwords in one location and access them with one master password. But in the meantime, when you’re creating your next online account, consider a few of these tips for a more secure password.

Never Include Personal Information: Most people make the mistake of including their birth date digits in a password or the last four digits of their phone number. No matter how you look at it, this poses a problem. Someone who knows you or has access to this information is likely to guess it very quickly. Conversely, a stranger who hacks into your account will likely assume these numbers are of some significance and now have access to other sensitive information.
Avoid Repeating Passwords: Even if you come up with what you think to be the most cryptic, un-guessable password, if you use it more than once, you increase your risk. If someone manages to obtain this password, they will likely try it on other accounts, because so many people repeat passwords.
Vary Cases: Against a professional hacker, this doesn’t offer much protection, but if you are in a public and an ill-intended stranger is watching you, there is added security if you use varied cases in a password. It is much more difficult for someone watching you to figure out your password if it is case sensitive, because this is much more difficult to see with the naked eye.
Use an Acronym: A favorite saying or phrase of yours is easy to remember, yet the first letter of each word within the phrase will create a random jumble of letters, which will be very difficult to guess.
Don’t Use Keyboard Patterns: Another common password mistake is to use a string of adjacent keys for your password such as qwerty or 12345. These are both easily guessed and easily observed with the naked eye. What may seem easy initially could cause a world of hardship in the event that your account is hacked.