Additional menu

Terry Ambrose

Home of Mysteries with Character

security issues

You are here: Home / Archives for security issues

The rise of ransomware — a scary direction

By

If you’re a cybercrook, the “next big thing” is the rise of ransomware. Ransomware is a type of malware that locks computer files and deletes them if a ransom is not paid. Typically, the criminal will require payment in bitcoins, which is an untraceable digital currency. For you and me, the rise of ransomware is scary. The […]

Tell a Friend

If you liked this post, please be sure to share it with a friend! Send an email or share with Facebook, X, or LinkedIn.

Bugged by computer security popup ads?

By

Have you ever needed help fixing a computer problem? Maybe you thought your machine had contracted a virus or malware. Or, it had become sluggish. What if you just need someone who knows what they’re doing to walk you through how to resolve  an issue. Computer security popup ads have been making these claims for years. […]

Tell a Friend

If you liked this post, please be sure to share it with a friend! Send an email or share with Facebook, X, or LinkedIn.

When we are vulnerable — an email scam tip

By

We’re most vulnerable when we’re not paying attention or when coincidence catches us off guard. This would have been an easy scam to fall for had I not been paying attention. First off, we’re doing business with Hawai‘i Life, so it wasn’t unusual to receive an email from them. Second, everything in the email was […]

Tell a Friend

If you liked this post, please be sure to share it with a friend! Send an email or share with Facebook, X, or LinkedIn.

Will medical identity theft be the next big thing?

By

A hacker wants to steal your personal information. Oh, and your health insurance company wants to reduce their costs. These two pieces of information are far more closely tied together than you might realize. First, identity theft is a massive business. Also, if your insurance company can get you to visit a doctor online, you […]

Tell a Friend

If you liked this post, please be sure to share it with a friend! Send an email or share with Facebook, X, or LinkedIn.

Is it time to return to checks to avoid ATM theft?

By

Just when you thought life couldn’t get any worse for the poor ATM, the bad guys have come up with a nifty new tool—the “deep-insert skimmer.” Similar to the black boxes used by thieves for ATM theft, the deep-insert skimmer cannot be seen by the naked eye. Is it time to say, “Bye, bye, ATM?” […]

Tell a Friend

If you liked this post, please be sure to share it with a friend! Send an email or share with Facebook, X, or LinkedIn.

IRS email scam going strong during 2016 tax season

By

.“Complete your tax return information” or “confirm your personal information” are just two of the many subject lines being used in the IRS email scam. If you’ve just received one of these emails and are wondering whether to do as the “IRS” is asking, take a moment to breathe. The good news is, it’s probably […]

Tell a Friend

If you liked this post, please be sure to share it with a friend! Send an email or share with Facebook, X, or LinkedIn.

Repeat Burglary: Why Burglars Will Hit Your Home Twice

By

Common sense might make you think burglars don’t return to crime scenes. However, statistically, many do. If your home is burglarized, you may think you’re safe from another attack, but that is far from the truth. In fact, your home may be more likely burglarized now that you’ve been targeted. Don’t be a victim more […]

Tell a Friend

If you liked this post, please be sure to share it with a friend! Send an email or share with Facebook, X, or LinkedIn.

Beyond two-step authentication — is the password dead?

By

On February 9, 2016, President Barack Obama issued a statement supporting the STOP. THINK. CONNECT. initiative and asked “Americans to move beyond just the password to leverage multiple factors of authentication when logging-in to online accounts.” In other words, he’s asking for two things. First, people should use two-step authentication when it’s available. Second, more […]

Tell a Friend

If you liked this post, please be sure to share it with a friend! Send an email or share with Facebook, X, or LinkedIn.

Protecting yourself against synthetic identity theft

By

More than 12 million Americans became victims of identity theft in 2014, representing a new victim every two seconds and costing consumers $16 billion, according to Javelin’s 2015 Identity Fraud Study. The most prevalent form of identity theft is synthetic identity theft, which rose at a rate of 125.9 percent between 2010 and 2013 and […]

Tell a Friend

If you liked this post, please be sure to share it with a friend! Send an email or share with Facebook, X, or LinkedIn.

Data Privacy Day — a day to stop, think, connect

By

Data Privacy Day occurs each year on January 28. The theme of this year’s Data Privacy Day is Respecting Privacy, Safeguarding Data and Enabling Trust. This is an international effort to create awareness about the importance of privacy and protecting personal information for the consumer as well as the business community. Last year on Data […]

Tell a Friend

If you liked this post, please be sure to share it with a friend! Send an email or share with Facebook, X, or LinkedIn.