We are slightly better off than the States because of our more widespread use of "Chip and PIN" technology. Some of you may be aware of the data breaches in both the United States and Canada. Big names like Target and Home Depot breaches crossed from the states to our backyard. Home Depot for the most part is at least working on damage control by offering free credit monitoring for a year. As a side note, if you did use a credit card or bank card at Home Depot, I would highly recommend you check this out: Home Depot Statement. There is instructions on how to get the free credit monitoring for a year. Most people that I talk too want to know: How does this happen? The … [Read more...]
Warning for people with Android based tablets and phones.
Computer security will always be a cat and mouse game. The topic of today is around Android tablets and smart phones. It looks like the built in browser for Android versions earlier than 4.4 may have a rather nasty security bug. In a nut shell; a bad site that you visit can read your stored usernames and passwords from a legitimate site. This would be really bad if you saved your banking password and username in your browser. The further bad news is that the built in Android browser only gets updated when your update your tablet or phones Android version. That is bad because only the latest version is protected and a lot of old devices will never run the newer version. The good news … [Read more...]
How to prevent app purchases on mobile phones and tablets. (So you don’t get hit with massive bills)
Recently, I had a client give me a call in a panic. Her son had been using his phone and had managed to rack up over $300 dollars in purchases from the Google app store. What had happened was that her son had downloaded a “free” game that contained something called “In-App Purchases”. Game developers are a pretty smart bunch, they learned a long time ago that that if you give away something for free that’s good, people want more of it. Once they get a “taste” they want more, and are willing to pay for it. Its been jokingly referred to as the “drug dealer method”. Give away a sample for free, build up an addiction then sell it. Psychologists have determined that small value … [Read more...]
A new Paypal phishing scheme is going around
This recently came across my desk. There is a new scheme that is out there that looks more "sophisticated" than your normal spam. Clicking on the link in the email will not only put your Paypal account at risk, it will also likely attempt to unleash the scam on your unsuspecting friends, family and business associates. You can learn some easy methods on how to recognize scams like this in our course series. There are still spots available in our course: Basic Internet and Computer Security. For more information on the latest scam, here is the original article: If you are interested in signing up for our course, you can do so here: … [Read more...]
The old game of Extortion has found a home in the CyberWorld
Part of the work here is helping clients with computer and network security. In our basic security class we go over some basic tools that businesses and individuals can use to become less of a target when it comes to cyber security. In a nutshell there are two basic threats: 1) Wide open attacks: These are the most common and they target as many systems as possible hoping to find a week password or a backdoor to an unpatched system. These are the threats that can more easily be defended against with some simple tips. 2) Specific and directed attacks: These are the "professional" grade attack. Where you or your company is specifically targeted. Businesses can be flooded online so … [Read more...]
Why it is important to change default passwords
Ah yes, the default password. As some of you may know, almost every device from a printer, to a router to an ATM, has some form of default username and password. Sometimes people don't realize that they can change their passwords. Others don't realize that some devices (like routers) can be reset if someone has physical access to it. Its critical that when you get a device with a default username and password, that you change the password, at minimum. If you can, also change the username as well. What you don't want is someone coming along and downloading a manual, getting the default username and password, then simply logging in.. Funny thing, was that BMO recently … [Read more...]
Want a basic course on Security?
Just Ask That Guy Technical solutions has now launched the first in its series of training sessions at the Brain Diesel Training Center in Moncton New Brunswick. Although they will be geared to small business clients anyone can benefit. The first course in the series is on computer and internet security. Learn things like: Basic Principals in Computer Security Strong Passwords and the benefits of two factor authentication Viruses, Malware, Spyware: What they are, and how to avoid them! When "Free" Software is not free, how to avoid Conduit Phishing, Identity Theft and Common Scams (And if you don't know what these are, then its the perfect course for you!) Course time: 4 Hours - … [Read more...]
Bill C-28, The Anti-Spam law and small businesses
I am a big fan of fair and balanced anything.. Email Spam is a scourge on the internet.. Large "spam houses" are a blight on the internet. Large companies and enterprise SHOULD have proportional penalties applied to them.. Applying the same penalty to small hardworking businesses and individuals that have to potentially defend themselves in a court of law of face millions in fines is taking things from one extreme to another. On July 1st, Bill C-28 Takes effect.. Canada joins the world against spam.. Its this part that scares me.. "The penalties for each violation can be up to $1-million for an individual and up to $10-million for companies. The law will be enforced by three … [Read more...]
Google, love it or hate it, nothing is free in this world..
Google is something I have a love / hate relationship with.. They provide some of the best direct competition with Microsoft. Google Docs, Gmail, Google Business apps are fantastic applications. (I use them). They give away TONS of "Free" applications and resources to people.. However, they are a company, a company with staff, resources, and expenses.. They have to pay for "Free" to keep their doors open. They are an information broker, and your information has value. Advertisers pay for that information, companies buy adwords based on the accuracy of their data. That is how Google pays to keep the doors open.. They buy and sell information they are the worlds best databroker. I believe what … [Read more...]
The NSA and Prisim, “That Guy’s” take..
This is one of the topics with a lot of information and equal amount misinformation. What "anyone" really knows about what the NSA is doing is really well.. classified, and so it should be.. Information on this subject is based on opinions, conjecture, and if we are lucky some actual facts. Governments are wising up to the inherent flow of information on the internet and with any interconnected networks. Governments, corporations and others are spying on each other, constantly.. Some of it is directed and targeted, some of it is a wider "fishing net" of traffic. The current understanding of the NSA program is it does both.. General "wide" capture everything... then look later, and … [Read more...]
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