Should I, Could I Freeze My Credit Report?

Having your private information or identity stolen is no picnic. It takes quite a long time to make it right, so one of the best ways to help ensure that neither happens in the first place is to protect it as much as you can. In light of the recent Capital One data breach, many may be considering putting a freeze on their credit reports and that is a great idea. However, it's a good idea to be sure to know what that means before taking that action. READ FULL STORY

What's Behind Man-In-The-Middle Attacks and How to Avoid Them

It’s not the game many of us played as kids, but it is a distorted take on the same idea. Man-in-the-middle (MitM) cyberattacks do put someone in the middle of two sides, but that someone is a cybercriminal. And those on either side are clueless victims. In reality, MitM attacks are anything but a game. A typical MitM attack can disrupt operations, intercept usernames and passwords, emails, banking, and other financial details. Read on about how MitM attacks play out, including ways to avoid being caught up in these crimes. READ FULL STORY

Simple Habits That Make You a Tougher Target for Cybercrooks

It’s already well into the new year and a fresh year usually brings fresh goals—exercise more, spend less, maybe try a new hobby. But one resolution that deserves a permanent spot on everyone’s list is tightening up your personal cybersecurity. Cyberthreats don’t take holidays, and scammers aren’t slowing down. In fact, they’re getting bolder, trickier, and faster at finding new ways to get into your accounts and steal your money or data. READ FULL STORY

Storing Passwords In Your Browser…It’s Convenient, BUT Very Risky Too

Most of us know that password fatigue can lead to security mishaps and that creating a safe and secure entrance into our personal or work accounts can be a real challenge. Fortunately, security experts also know that safe password use has long been a problem, one that can lead to epic malware infections like ransomware, banking trojans, and more. Popular browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Opera offer the option to store passwords for you, but hackers using the malware “RedLine Stealer” can hijack those stored passwords in a heartbeat. READ FULL STORY

Your Digital Life May Not Be Your Own

Imagine opening your inbox and reading a message that claims a hacker already has everything on you. Your passwords. Your private files. Even your credit card details. The message warns that unless you quickly pay up, all of it will be sold on the dark web or shared publicly. It’s a frightening claim designed to make anyone panic. But cybersecurity experts say this increasingly common extortion scam is mostly smoke and mirrors. Knowing how it works can help you spot the bluff before fear pushes you into sending money. READ FULL STORY

Are You Playing a Scammer’s Favorite Tune

Just when you thought you’d heard it all, there’s always another song to be played. This one is big, very big. It’s called a “Piano Scam”, and countless victims around the globe are getting played. Even those doing everything right to avoid this scam don’t escape it. A Piano Scam casts a wide net, targeting music schools and music stores, healthcare, and other industries. It also includes individuals searching online for a used piano. A scammer makes an offer that’s hard to refuse—a free piano and a story about why they can’t take it with them to wherever they are going. READ FULL STORY

SCAM Act May Be A New Line of Defense Against Fraud Flooding Our Social Media Feeds

Every day, social platforms such as Facebook and Instagram serve up billions of scam ads and lawmakers may actually try to do something about it. Meta’s own estimates put daily scam ad exposures at 15 billion, or roughly 11 scam ads per user, exposing millions to fraud. In response, U.S. lawmakers have unveiled the Safeguarding Consumers from Advertising Misconduct (SCAM) Act, a bipartisan effort to force tech companies to police scam ads or face consequences. READ FULL STORY

AI Aided Phishing Scams Target Business Execs

AI-powered bots are now capable of analyzing vast amounts of data from online profiles. This enables them to craft emails that closely mimic the tone and style of a company or individual. This level of personalization makes the scams more convincing and harder to detect. So, it’s no surprise that there's been a notable surge in highly personalized phishing scams aimed at corporate executives. These scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated and succeeding, largely due to the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) by cybercriminals. READ FULL STORY

Did Your Browser Crash? A Helpful Hacker Will Help You Fix It

Your computer suddenly freezes. The browser crashes, and a warning message pops up saying your system has been compromised. Before you can even figure out what’s happening, the phone rings and someone claiming to be from tech support offers to help fix the problem. It sounds convenient, even reassuring. Unfortunately, that helpful voice on the line could be part of a growing scam where hackers intentionally crash a user’s browser and then swoop in pretending to save the day. Knowing how the trick works can help you avoid handing over your company’s information to a criminal. READ FULL STORY

Protect Yourself From Phishing Scams: 8 Steps To Better Security

Since the mid 1990’s, email phishing scams have been on the rise. Like most cybercrimes, hackers have improved and refined their phishing methods over time. Now, there’s been a massive increase in targets due to the continuing coronavirus epidemic. Email phishing continues to be the method of choice for many cybercriminals to enter your device, steal your data, identity, finances, and more. A study by Tessian finds that 96% of phishing attacks arrive via email, showing the threat is very real. 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

Don’t Give Email Permissions To Bogus Upgrade App

Email phishing campaigns involve a variety of hacker goals, most of which want you to install some type of malware on your device. Now there’s a new phishing campaign making the rounds that involves Microsoft Office 365 users and a bad actor with a fake app called “Upgrade.” The app asks for control over your email account and the authorizations and permissions that go with it. Recently, Microsoft’s Security Intelligence team sent a tweet warning this campaign is now targeting hundreds of organizations. READ FULL STORY