Today's Tips - 5/31/2016

Stolen password alerts!!!!!!!

Two sites have now been found to have been breached - MySpace and Tumblr. If you have now, or ever have had, an account on either of these sites your should change the password immediately! In addition, if you've used this password on any other site you should change it there as well. Consider adding Two Factor Authentication (2FA) to these sites. For more information:

65 million Tumblr passwords stolen and up for sale

MySpace breach could be the biggest ever – half a BILLION passwords!

And some info on protecting your favorite web sites from hackers via Graham Cluley's excellent blog:

What's the difference between 2FA and 2SV? And which is better?

That's all I have for now. Thanks for reading.

Today's Tip - 5/6/2016

Two Step Verification - Why should you use it?

Everyone is concerned about the security of their online accounts. It seems as if we're seeing a news report informing us that another online retailer or site has been compromised and all of our account information has been leaked to the world. Two Step Verification (2SV) is a a security tool that you can use to help keep your accounts secure. The short description of 2SV is that, in addition to requiring a username and password, web sites will send a verification code to your mobile phone in the form of a text message (or even in an app you install) that you must enter to gain access to your account. Although not perfect, 2SV seems to offer the best balance between security and convenience for online accounts. More information about how to activate and use 2SV can be found here:

https://www.grahamcluley.com/2016/05/protect-paypal-account-step-verification-2sv/

https://www.grahamcluley.com/2016/03/better-protect-google-account-step-verification-2sv/

https://www.grahamcluley.com/2016/04/protect-apple-account/

https://www.grahamcluley.com/2016/03/twitter-login-verification/

https://www.grahamcluley.com/2016/04/protect-facebook-account-2-step-verification-2sv/

Enjoy!

Today's Tip - 4/11/2006

Sorry for the long absence dear readers. Had to take care of some pressing network issues.

How To: Entering a <Tab> in a Gmail message:

It is very frustrating to try and to insert a simple Tab character into a "Rich Text" editor, especially when they are part of a web page. As I'm sure many have noticed, this is especially irritating in GMail. Pressing the Tab key moves you to the "Send" button. Argh! Never fear, for I have found a way to do this!

This only works on a keyboard with a numeric keypad like those found on most PCs. If you have a laptop you can use the embedded numeric keypad if your laptop has one.

To enter a Tab place the cursor where you want the Tab to appear then depress and hold down the left "ALT' key. Next, type the number "009" on the numeric keypad. Last, release the left "ALT" key and Tada! - Your Tab appears!

This method can be used to produce many other characters too. This is because the TAB character is only one entry in something known as the Extended ASCII Table. For a look at what you can do with these secret codes here is a link to a chart you can keep for reference (I'd suggest creating a bookmark to it so you'll always have it available. I'm going toi cover creating bookmarks in a future blog post):

ASCII Code - The extended ASCII table

That's all I have for today.

Any suggestions for future blog posts? Email me here!

Today's Tips - 2/25/16

Today's Blog features links to some articles from one of the industry's foremost srcurity bloggers, Mr Graham Cluley. Mr. Cluley's newsletter, website, and blog are an invaluable resource for end users and IT Pros alike.We also feature some articles from our antivirus vendor's newsletter "Naked Security by Sophos". 

Here a some links to a few items that I feel that anyone connected to the internet should be reading:

Be careful who you trust with your children's information!

uKnowKids.com, a website that provides tools for parents to use to manage their children's privacy and safety online and on their mobile devices (and my personal recommendation) was hacked.

Breach of millions of kids’ images and messages sparks disclosure spat at uKnowKids

So You  Think That New Wireless Mouse and Keyboard Are Nice? Better Think Twice!

Some wireless mice and keyboards are prone to being hijacked. Another thing to think about, especially since we let students walk around with what are essentially hacker tools in their pockets!

Hackers could hijack your computer via its vulnerable wireless mouse or keyboard

Drive a Nissan Leaf? Don't Connect It To Your Phone!

I really don't know what to say other than this - who thought connecting your car to the world is a good idea?

Nissan LEAF cloud security fail leaves drivers exposed

Should Apple Unlock A Terrorists iPhone? What Do You Think?

I'm undecided about this. Of course we all want to help the FBI catch terrorists. But at the expense of our personal privacy? Who is to say that the government won't misuse this new power? Check out this video by Graham Cluley and let me know what you think in the comments section:

Thanks for reading.

Today's Tips - 2/16/2016

Is Someone Stealing Your Netflix?

Are you an avid Netflix viewer like me? Has your account been hacked and is someone taking up a connection that you could let one of your family member use? Have your kids shared your Netflix account with their friends? Here's how to find out:

Strangers Stealing Your Netflix? Here's How to Tell

Anyone wearing an Apple Watch? How about a Fitbit?

These may seem like only useful toys right now, but expect there use to explode in the work world soon, As with so many emerging technologies, it's only a matter of time before the  "killer app" takes the market by storm. Read on for more:

Wearables: A matter of when, not if

Enterprise wearables suffer from a lack of apps

Do you wonder if wearables can find a place in education? I do. I'm not sure where that place is, but I'm sure when someone comes up with an idea it will be amazing.

That's all I have for now. Thanks for reading.

Today's Tips - 2/2/16

Hip Hip Hooray! Java in the browser will finally be gone!

One of the web's biggest security threat is finally being eliminated! Java running in the web browser will finally be gone! You'll still be able to run Java Apps, but they'll run outside of your browser. This will make everyone's computer much safer! For more info:

Goodbye and good riddance: Oracle finally ditches Java browser plug-in

That's all for today. Thanks for reading.

Today's Tips - 2/1/16:

Happy February Everyone!

Sometimes I like to read information about one of the businesses we most love to hate - cell phone carriers. Very few things illicit such a passionate response from folks like the choices of cell phone carriers, their phones, and their plans. Here is a brief comparison of carriers and plans from our friends over at Tom's Guide:

The Best and Worst Phone Carriers

Best Cellphone Plans 2016

Who's a "Cord Cutter"? I am!

I'm happy to say that I have been without a cable TV subscription since May 2015! I've saved a ton of money and you can too! I'll be passing along information about how you can ditch your cable subscriber and still have all of the TV and entertainment you want when YOU want it! And for substantially lower cost. Here is some excellent information to get you started:

Your Guide to Cable TV Cord-Cutting

One question that people always ask is "How can I watch live TV like sporting events and specials?" Until recently that has been a problem with cutting the cord. Things are rapidly improving, though. Here is a brief guide to the current state of live streaming:

How to Watch Live TV Online

That's all I have for today. Thanks for reading.

Today's Tips - 1/28/2016

Today is Data Privacy Day! Let's Celebrate!

This article describes one of my favorite Tips EVER! "DON'T DO DEFAULTS!"

Why? Because everyone knows them and they are easily found on the web for those who don't.

1 tip to make your home safer on Data Privacy Day

Here we go again - Facebook is becoming more dangerous by the day....

I wish I knew why these people always have to ruin our fun!

Fake Facebook 'Security System Page' scams want your payment card details

Webcam Users Take Note!

This one is so creepy I can't stand it! Please try to secure the internet connected devices at your home. If you can't be sure, don't use it!

Has your sleeping baby been indexed by this search engine?

And Last, But Not Least:

IoT doorbell gave up Wi-Fi passwords to anybody with a screwdriver

Scary, no? Another good reason to "DON'T DO DEFAULTS" and don't leave unconfigured devices connected to your home network. Always configure them and update them to the latest software firmware.

Bonus Reading:

Hey Students! No more snow days?

LMS + Cyber Days: The New Snow Day

That's all I have for today. Thanks for reading.

Today's Tips - 1/20/2016

These are the 25 worst passwords of 2015 – did yours make the list?

Need I say more?

Hello World Travelers:

Been to one of these 250 Hyatt Hotels? Your credit card details may have been stolen

Any Windows 10 Users Out There?

In today's threat filled online world it is necessary to be able to safeguard not only our computers but our privacy too. There are millions of computers out there that are properly patched, firewalled, and running the latest anti-malware software that are still vulnerable to privacy attacks. Read on to learn how to properly configure Windows 10 to protect your privacy:

Configure Windows 10 like a privacy pro

What Do You Know About Ransomware?

What is Ransomware? Simply put,"Ransomware is a type of malware that infects and locks a system until the user pays a fee to regain access to the data." - Alexandra Gheorghe, BitDefender. This is one of the most frightening things that can happen to a computer user. I'm presenting the first 3 parts of a series of articles on Ransomware so you may learn what it's about and how to protect yourself.

Money or Data? The Ultimate Guide to Understanding Ransomware – Part I

How Does Ransomware Work? The Ultimate Guide to Understanding Ransomware – Part II

How to Avoid Becoming a Victim of Ransomware – Part III

That's all I have for now. Thanks for Reading!

Todays Tips - 1/15/2016

More about "The Internet of Things":

I'm going to be passing along more information to you about "The Internet of Things" (IoT). I believe that the IoT is the future. I've already dipped my toe in to the water by installing a "Sensi" internet-enabled thermostat at my mom's house so I can monitor and adjust her HVAC system from anywhere. As the IoT market and its' devices evolve, there will inevitably security and privacy concerns that arise. I will try to post timely, sensible information to help you make better informed decisions about what, if any of these devices are appropriate for you.

Your internet-enabled doorbell couId help crooks steal your Wi-Fi password

If you have the very popular "Ring" internet-enabled doorbell you could very well be increasing your home's physical security but making your home's wireless network and possibly your data open to attack.

It's easy to convert a cheap webcam into a network backdoor

Although it requires physical access to the device, this article points out that the current state of IoT devices is lacking in security mostly due to market-driven design constraints.

Flawed EZCast media streamer can let hackers run malware on your home network

Cord-cutters beware! A $25 device that can give hackers unlimited access into your home network? Hardly a bargain. Please try to stick to more proven devices like Google's Chromecast, Amazon's Firestick, or Roku's Streaming Stick. And for goodness sake, turn off guest access on these devices and your router, too.

Philips Smart TVs riddled with security and privacy flaws, researcher reveals

And don't forget to update the software on your Smart TV, too!

That's all I have for today. Thanks for reading.

Today's Tips - 1/14/2016

What’s worse than stale coffee? Stale Java.

How to enable Click-to-Play in Adobe Flash.

There's no bigger preventable security and privacy threat today than the continued use of Java and Flash. For most users, Java is not even needed anymore as the Internet is moving from technologies like Java and Flash to HTML5. If you must use these, please keep them up to date by allowing the "Auto-Update" features to be enabled. In the case of Java, until recently, installing a new version of Java did not remove the old version. You may need to do this manually. If you need Java, I recommend removing ALL versions of Java currently installed on your computer, then visiting http://www.java.com and installing the latest version. The current and future versions of Java will remove older versions that are found.

Whatever browser you decide to use - Keep it up to date!

This goes hand-in-hand with keeping your device's operating system (Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, iOS, ChromeOS) updated. Luckily pretty much any modern operating system and browser can automatically apply updates. The instructions to turn on automatic updates for  Windows and OS X are in the "Read This First" section above. Here are some resources to help you make sure that automatic updates are turned on for your browsers:

Internet Explorer and Safari - These are updated as part of the operating system as long as you have automatic updates turned on.

Google Chrome

Mozilla Firefox

Help me help you.

Please feel free to make suggestions about any topic you'd like to see me cover here. I'll do my best to include your requests as quickly as possible.

That's all I have for today. Thanks for reading.

Today's Tip - 1/12/2016

Could your smartwatch be giving away your ATM pin?

The linked article above is kind of complicated but all it really means is that it is possible to figure out your ATM PIN by using your smartwatch to record the motions you make while entering it. The easy fix - wear your smartwatch on the hand that you DON'T USE to enter your pin!

That's all I have for today. Thanks for reading.

Todays Tips - 1/11/2016

In the News - Fitbit Users Take Note:

Fitbit users fall victim to account takeovers. Don’t reuse passwords!

And that brings to today's tip:

This point can never be stressed enough: Don't Use The Same Password Across Sites!

One tip that appears all over the internet is Don't Use The Same Passwords Across Sites! The simple fact is that once an attacker gets one of your passwords they know have access to Everything. Everywhere. Ouch. I know that this is a real pain. Who can remember multiple passwords? 

Use Complex Passwords!

This seems to be problem for most users. I always recommend that a password contains a mix of upper-and-lowercase letters, numbers, and non-alphanumeric characters. In addition, try to make your password at least 8 characters long. This seems to be a good balance of security and convenience for most folks.

How can I make this work for me?

I've scoured the internet and I believe I've found one method that may work for everyone. I can't take credit for it, Instead, I'll send you over to the original article so you can read it for yourself:

Create a Different, Secure, Easy-to-Remember Password for Every Site

That's all I have for now. Thanks for reading.

Today's Tips - 1/8/2016

Stop using Internet Explorer after next Tuesday! (Sort of) - Only kidding! You can keep using Internet Explorer if you like. But no matter what you should make sure you are using Internet Explorer version 11! Beginning next week, that's going to be the only officially supported version.

Many new cars – and their components – are already members of the Internet of Things (IoT) as are numerous fridges, kettles, TVs, baby monitors and more. Today, devices as critical as Heart Monitors and Pacemakers have wireless interfaces! The IoT promises huge improvements to the convenience and utility of all of the devices in our life. Refrigerators that send you an email to let you know that you're runninng low on milk, or that there's a problem before all of your food spoils is just one example. I currently have an IoT thermostat at my Mom's house so I can check and adjust the HVAC for her when I can't visit right away. If only there was an IoT TV remote I'd be all set! Are you concerned about the the security of all these devices? You should be. What if someone hacks your Pacemaker? Before rushing out to connect all of your devices you should become more familiar with the technology and how to protect your devices. Start by reading the links embedded in the text above and the links below:

The Internet of Things: Stop the things, I want to get off!

Smart hearts and the Internet of Things

Today's Tips - 1/6/2016:

If you have an Android Smart Phone - (Usually anything that's not an iPhone or Windows Phone) there are some updates that are needed to close some serious security holes. The gist of this is that you should do two things to protect your Android phones and tablets:

#1) Check for and apply any updates offered by your device carrier and - #2) Disable the automatic retrieval of MMS (AKA picture) messages. For more information read these links:

https://nakedsecurity.sophos.com/2016/01/05/google-fixes-another-stagefright-type-bug-in-android-mediaserver/

https://nakedsecurity.sophos.com/2015/07/28/the-stagefright-hole-in-android-what-you-need-to-know/

No matter what phone you have - You really shouldn't worry about security and privacy. You should do something about it! Here is a guide to help:

https://nakedsecurity.sophos.com/2015/06/02/why-you-shouldnt-worry-about-privacy-and-security-on-your-phone/

Got kids? Got a tablet? Don't let this happen to you!

https://nakedsecurity.sophos.com/2016/01/05/kid-spends-5900-playing-jurassic-world-on-dads-ipad-heres-how-to-prevent-that-happening-to-you/