Monthly Archive: July 2012

Is Skype Spying On You?

For many years, Skype took user privacy very seriously.

Skype, which provides free online calls and cheap phone calls to hundreds of millions of people around the world, has always been known for using strong encryption and complex peer-to-peer network connections. As a result, Skype calls are notoriously hard to intercept.

The company was very proud of its strong user security record, and even publicly stated that it could not conduct wiretaps because of its secure encryption techniques.

But this apparently is no longer the case.

Why College Students’ Online Behavior Makes Them Prime Targets for Identity Theft

College students can’t get by without Wifi.  Six out of ten students won’t even consider attending a college unless it offers free on-campus Wifi, according to a recent study.  But most students don’t seem care about protecting their sensitive information when they’re using Wifi networks.  And that makes them prime targets for identity theft.  If you can’t imagine academic life without Wifi, find out how to make sure your identity doesn’t get stolen before you get your diploma.

 

security breach

2012: The Year of Massive Security Breaches

You might have noticed some disturbing security news last week: Yahoo reported that over 450,000 email usernames and passwords were stolen from the company’s databases by hackers and posted on the file-sharing account Pastebin.

Apparently Yahoo had stored these usernames and passwords without any encryption at all, making it very easy for hackers to steal them.

While having one’s email account hacked is bad enough, the news is actually worse than it sounds. Many of the hacked usernames and passwords were identical to those used in other website accounts, such as PayPal or online banking accounts.

Cyberattacks Against Law Firms Expose Clients’ Sensitive Information

The mobile workplace has made law firms prime targets for cybercriminals looking to steal clients’ sensitive information. Though few will admit to a data breach, it’s estimated that 80 major U. S. law firms were hacked in 2011.  It happens because law firms’ cybersecurity measures are often compromised by their own employees who use use easy-to-crack passwords, open up virus infected phishing emails and expose client information at Wifi hotspots.  Find out why strong cybersecurity is critical for maintaining client confidentiality and what you can do to make sure it works.

 

Mobile Emergency: 1.3 Million Cell Phone Spies

Less than two months ago, we published an article detailing how cell phone companies routinely sell your personal cell phone data to local and federal law enforcement without a warrant or any oversight at all.

Well, according to an article recently published in the New York Times by Eric Lichtblau, it looks like the problem is actually much worse than anyone knew. Not only did law enforcement routinely ask cell phone carriers for personal cell phone data, they made (at least) 1.3 million requests just last year alone.

social media

Findings from The ITRC’s Parenting and Social Media Study

The Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC) recently conducted a survey which attempted to measure the actions and level of concern parents have in relation to their children’s social media activity.  This study was conducted in order to better understand how aware parents are of the potential dangers social media pose to their children, and how adept they are in their attempts to keep their children safe.

PRIVATE WiFi Now Offers Website Security Badges

PRIVATE WiFi’s site seals add a badge of trust and security to websites that display it. Websites can choose from two seals: that the website promotes secure wifi, that the website encourages the use of a personal virtual private network (VPN). A personal VPN secures and privatizes data across a network, usually the Internet, by building an “encrypted tunnel.” Data passes through this tunnel which protects it from anyone who tries to intercept it.

 

Yes, Cybercrime is Actually a BFD

Recently, two Microsoft researchers published a white paper that called into question cybercrime statistics.

In particular, the white paper suggested that the amount of money stolen each year is wildly overinflated by security companies and security consultants by relying on small sample sizes. The researchers stated that security companies do this to exaggerate the problem and drum up business.

 

online banking

How Online Banking Raises Your Risk of Identity Theft

Are you hooked on the convenience of online banking? Do you think Zeus is the Greek king of the gods and Oddjob and SpyEye are the bad guys in James Bond movies?  In reality, they’re the names of cutting-edge malware used by organized cybercrime rings to take over your online bank account and steal identity and your cash.  Find out how your risk of identity theft rises every time you bank online.

 

internet criminal

Ask the Expert: Could TPP Make Me an Internet Criminal?

Q: “I’ve recently heard about something called TPP that apparently criminalizes content sharing on the web. This worries me, because I share things all the time! Could you tell me more about what TPP is and what it might do? Would it make me a criminal?”

A: TPP, which stands for the Trans-Pacific Partnership, is a trade agreement currently being discussed by 10 nations that would create highly restrictive intellectual property laws around the world.

This trade agreement raises serious concerns regarding due process, privacy laws, and freedom of expression. If it is ratified, it will completely rewrite intellectual property laws.

TPP would completely change how information is shared on the Internet. It would force ISPs to police our online activity, and give media companies the power to shut down websites and remove content at will.

Sounds pretty scary, huh? Read on to find out more.