Slow Browser? It May Have Been Hijacked By Malware

Before calling your internet provider to complain about a slow browser think about this:  It’s no secret malware loves to hide in all kinds of things like adware, spyware, scareware, and fake browser updates. Finding your browser is not only slow, but also acting strangely is a sign something isn’t quite right. If after going through the internet provider's standard toolbox for troubleshooting doesn't help, it’s time to think about malware. READ FULL STORY

Keep Track Of Common UPS Scams

With the popularity of online shopping, we all are getting packages delivered to our doors. While perusing the UPS website for important tracking information on a package I was expecting, I noticed there is an entire web page devoted to combatting fraud with regard to the shipment of UPS packages. We're sharing them with you too, as these types of scams are happening more and more these days, and with the impending holiday shopping season nearly upon us, they will most definitely increase in volume. READ FULL STORY

How To Protect Yourself After A Data Breach

Data breaches seem to happen like clockwork. None of them are your fault, but the responsibility to protect yourself and your personal information rests square on your shoulders. It can seem like a daunting task, but there are some fundamental actions that can be taken right now that can make you a significantly safer from falling victim to a cyberattack. In this video, Jim Stickley will cover a wide range of types of data that can be exposed and how you can protect yourself. Credit Card, SSN, personal information, and other types of data are in the wild, so you need to be prepared. READ FULL STORY

Meerkats Shapeshift to Steal Logins

Morphing Meerkat is a recently identified phishing-as-a-service (PhaaS) platform that employs advanced techniques to deceive users and steal credentials. Discovered by cybersecurity firm Infoblox, this platform exploits Domain Name System (DNS) mail exchange (MX) records to dynamically generate fake login pages, impersonating over 100 brands, including Gmail, Outlook, AOL, Office 365, and Yahoo. The attack initiates when a victim clicks on a malicious link embedded in a phishing email. READ FULL STORY

It’s Healthcare Open Enrollment Season. Don’t Sign Up With a Scammer

It's the time of year when millions of people are comparing healthcare plans, checking prices, and trying to figure out what healthcare coverage makes the most sense for the coming year. Whether you’re reviewing Medicare options or browsing Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans, you’ve got until mid-December to lock in your choices. But while you’re doing your homework, cybercriminals are doing theirs — and they’re already flooding inboxes, texts, and phone lines with scams designed to steal your personal and financial information. READ FULL STORY

LockBit Threatening to Leak U.S. Bank Customer Data. U.S. Bank Claims They Don’t Have Any

U.S. Bank is caught in an unusual ransomware situation, and it is a good reminder that your bank doesn't necessarily have to be hacked for your information to be at risk. The ransomware group LockBit recently claimed it breached U.S. Bank and stole data, threatening to publish the information on September 3 unless the bank pays a ransom. U.S. Bank says its own systems, networks and data repositories were not compromised and that the incident appears to involve a "fourth party" outside the bank's environment. For customers, however, the distinction may not provide much comfort. READ FULL STORY

October Is Cybersecurity Awareness Month: 7 Simple Ways to Keep Hackers Out October is Cyberse

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and it's the perfect excuse to check whether your online habits are helping protect you or making a cybercriminal's job easier. From stronger passwords and two-factor authentication to spotting suspicious messages, updating devices, securing home Wi-Fi, and backing up important files, these simple steps can make a real difference. You don't need to be a tech expert to stay safer online. Think of these tips as a timely refresher to help keep your accounts, money, and personal information out of the wrong hands. READ FULL STORY

Who Needs the Key If You’re Just Going to Open the Door for Attackers

Cybercriminals are finding a clever way around one of our favorite security defenses: passwords and multi-factor authentication. The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center is warning about a rise in OAuth consent phishing attacks, where criminals trick victims into granting a malicious app access to their email, files or other account information. The frightening part? You may never give the attacker your password at all. We have been told for years to protect our passwords and turn on multi-factor authentication. Good advice that is still valid, but the FBI is warning about a phishing trick that can sometimes sidestep both. READ FULL STORY

Your Home Is Safe. Your Information Might Not Be

Brinks Home is supposed to help keep criminals out of your house. Unfortunately, the company itself recently became a target. Cybercriminal group ShinyHunters claims it stole millions of records from Brinks Home and, after the company refused to pay a ransom, published roughly 41 GB of stolen data. The good news is that the company's alarm monitoring systems were not compromised. The bad news? Personal information potentially exposed in the attack could give scammers another way to target customers with convincing phishing emails, texts and phone calls. READ FULL STORY

Watch Out for Passport Renewal Scams Before Your International Getaway

While summer travel season is in full swing, any time is a good time to travel internationally. That’s unless your passport has expired or is expiring soon. Many Americans are discovering their passports are indeed in that predicament. Unfortunately, scammers know travelers are often in a hurry and use that urgency to their advantage. Fake passport renewal websites, fraudulent expedited processing services, phishing emails, and identity theft schemes are all targeting people trying to prepare for international trips. Before entering personal information or paying renewal fees online, travelers should understand the warning signs of passport fraud and the steps they can take to protect their money, personal data, and travel plans. READ FULL STORY

Keeping Your Information More Private and Out of the Hands of Attackers

It’s no secret, especially after the recent revelation of the NPD breach, that our information is everywhere online. This is true whether we intentionally allowed it or not. There are numerous websites that collect information about us and post it online. Many are “people search” sites. If you’ve ever looked up an unfamiliar phone number, some of these likely showed up. Well-known lookup sites have all kinds of information on all of us. The challenge is to keep this information from making you a victim of a phishing attack or identity theft. READ FULL STORY

Microsoft’s Record-Breaking Patch Tuesday

Microsoft's September Patch Tuesday came with a number that is hard to ignore. Nearly 1,000 security vulnerabilities addressed in a single month. It was the company's largest Patch Tuesday release on record, and the news wasn't simply about quantity. More than 100 vulnerabilities were rated critical, while two of the flaws were already being actively exploited by attackers. For everyday Windows users, the story is another reminder that those seemingly annoying update notifications are doing an important job. Keeping Windows and other Microsoft software updated can close security holes before criminals get the chance to use them. READ FULL STORY