Robert Siciliano » Blog

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

What is Mobile Banking? Is it Safe?

Mobile banking (mBanking) or text (SMS) banking refers to online banking that occurs via mobile phone rather than via a PC (online banking). The earliest mobile banking services were offered over SMS, but with the introduction of smartphones and the Apple iOS and Google Android operating systems, mobile banking is now primarily offered through applications as opposed to through text messages or even a mobile browser.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-siciliano/what-is-mobile-banking-is_b_3652771.html

Most toxic superhero? The guy with the gills: Plain Dealing

Always one of the lamer comics good guys, Aquaman has been named “most toxic superhero” by the security firm McAfee.

http://www.cleveland.com/consumeraffairs/index.ssf/2013/07/most_toxic_superhero_the_guy_w.html

Beware of Aquaman

As legions of fans get ready to descend for Comic Con this week, the premier comic book and popular arts style convention in the world – and the Singapore Toy, Game & Comic Convention STGCC hitting our shores next month, McAfee releases its first ever Most Toxic Superheroes list, with Aquaman coming in at number 1 – surprisingly as a villain in this context.

http://my.news.yahoo.com/blogs/pc-com/beware-aquaman-093211477.html

Sunday, July 28, 2013

Burglar Uses GPS on Woman’s Car

Burglars do their things, mostly when you are not home. They case your home, waiting for you to leave, then they’ll jiggle a doorknob or use a crowbar or their foot to open a front or back door

http://besthomesecuritycompanys.com/2013/burglar-uses-gps-on-womans-car

Drug-addicted Teen Burglar Sentenced to Prison

Burglars aren’t the people you see in the movies driving expensive cars, living lavish lifestyles and vacationing in the Caribbean.

http://besthomesecuritycompanys.com/2013/drug-addicted-teen-burglar-sentenced-to-prison

Home Invaders Caught on Resident’s Surveillance Video

Video rules! I have 15 cameras in and around my house designed to keep me informed of who, what, when and where, 24/7/365. I see my cams on my iPhone, iPad, laptop and PC. My cams work both day and night and record video anytime they sense motion.

http://besthomesecuritycompanys.com/2013/home-invaders-caught-on-residents-surveillance-video

Saturday, July 27, 2013

Aquaman, King of the Seven Seas May Also be King of Threats

Wonder Twin powers activate! Shape of a Pterodactyl! Form of an icicle! Watching the Super Friends on Saturday mornings in my pjs while eating sugared cereal for breakfast and reading comic books was the extent of my relationship with super heroes. Ahh… those were much simpler times.

http://blogs.mcafee.com/consumer/toxicsuperhero

Secure and protect your home and family from a home invasion

A home is broken into every 15 seconds according to the FBI. Police might catch 10 out of 100 burglars. U.S. homes are targeted with 16 million property crimes annually according to the U.S. Bureau of Justice.

http://expertbeacon.com/secure-and-protect-your-home-and-family-home-invasion/#.UfOx740m3KC

Friday, July 26, 2013

Summertime is Burglary Time: Lock up!

According to U.S. Department of Justice statistics, an American home is broken into about every 15 seconds. Summer marks a busy time of year when Americans need to be extra aware of heightened home security breaches.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-siciliano/summertime-is-burglary-ti_b_3617741.html

Police Officer’s Home Burglarized; Learn How Not to Become a Victim Too

Nobody is immune to burglaries. I’ve seen celebrities, priests, politicians and even police officers become victims of burglary.

http://besthomesecuritycompanys.com/2013/police-officers-home-burglarized-learn-how-not-to-become-a-victim-too

How the Proliferation of Mobile Devices is Impacting Consumer Security

Even without getting their hands on your device, hackers can get into and remotely control almost any mobile device, and it is frighteningly easy.

http://blogs.mcafee.com/consumer/proliferation-of-mobile-devices

Thursday, July 25, 2013

Before You Share, Ask Yourself “Is This TMI?”

Social networks and new online services make it easy to share the details of our lives, perhaps too easily. With just a few clicks, posts and messages, you can give away enough personal information to compromise your privacy and even open yourself up to identity theft.

http://blogs.mcafee.com/consumer/is-this-tmi

Hackers Bite Apple

Security expert Robert Siciliano on reports of a cyber attack against Apple’s developer site.

http://video.foxbusiness.com/v/2560399281001/hackers-bite-apple/

10 Tips to Prevent ‘Deception Burglaries’

A deception burglary is when a person posing as an government official, police officer, firefighter, company employee, delivery person, utility worker, construction worker or a distressed individual uses a ruse based on his or her “character” to get inside a person’s home due to an ostensible inspection, safety issue, package drop-off or other lie.

http://besthomesecuritycompanys.com/2013/10-tips-to-prevent-deception-burglaries

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

The Fine Print Isn’t Fine With Me

Credit card companies and merchants alike are perfectly happy with the fine print because they make a lot of money by charging you fees that you never realized you’d be charged and for purchases you never knew you made.

https://www.billguard.com/blog/2013/07/the-fine-print-isnt-fine-with-me/

Apples Developers Website Hacked, Protect Yourself

Apples Developers Website Hacked, Protect Yourself

http://youtu.be/luOzXZvDgms

Aquaman is the most toxic online superhero

The DC Comics character has been named the most dangerous superhero to search online, beating off competition from The Hulk, Wonder Woman, Thor and Batman

http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2013-07-16/aquaman-is-the-most-toxic-online-superhero

Sunday, July 21, 2013

High-end, High-tech Home Security

There’s really no limit to how much money can be spent on home security if you want to ensure the very best home security for your family and money isn’t a huge concern. Note that while some of these options are affordable, others are very expensive.

http://besthomesecuritycompanys.com/2013/high-end-high-tech-home-security

Auto-Renewal Scams Take a Chunk Out of Your Wallet

Ah, auto-renewals! When signing up for a service that bills you monthly, quarterly or annually, a forthright retailer will let you know when your renewal date is coming and will inform you of upcoming charges. But shady companies don’t say a word and charge you again you without notification, sticking you with the bill even after you complain—all because you were “too late.”

https://www.billguard.com/blog/2013/06/auto-renewal-scams-take-a-chunk-out-of-your-wallet/

8 Tips to Prevent Unauthorized Credit Card Charges

#1: Watch your card. Watch to see where your card is going when it’s swiped through a point-of-sale terminal or keyboard card reader. If you happen to see your card get swiped through an additional reader that doesn’t coincide with the transaction, that’s a red flag.

https://www.billguard.com/blog/2013/07/8-tips-to-prevent-unauthorized-credit-card-charges/

What is Typosquatting?

Typosquatting, also known as URL hijacking, is a form of cybersquatting (sitting on sites under someone else’s brand or copyright) that targets Internet users who incorrectly type a website address into their web browser (e.g., “Gooogle.com” instead of “Google.com”).

https://blogs.mcafee.com/consumer/what-is-typosquatting

Friday, July 19, 2013

Aquaman: superhéroe más efectivo que Batman y Superman... atrapando virus

"Con el resurgir de los superhéroes en las películas, los piratas informáticos están aprovechando su popularidad para dañar a los usuarios", comenta Robert Siciliano, especialista en seguridad informática de McAfee.

http://noticias.softonic.com/aquaman-el-superheroe-mas-efectivo-atrapando-virus

Aquaman crowned king of ‘toxic’ superheroes

It turns out, as McAfee’s Robert Siciliano writes, that Aquaman is not only King of the Seas but king of the online superhero threats.

http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/2013/07/aquaman-crowned-king-of-toxic-superheroes/

Credit Card Skimming Mysteries

"Really, you cannot protect your credit card," said fraud expert Robert Siciliano. Most of us, of course, tolerate the risks and that probably is justified.

http://www.mainstreet.com/print/28630

Thursday, July 18, 2013

MCAFEE IDENTIFIES THE INTERNET’S “MOST TOXIC SUPERHERO,” AND IT’S… AQUAMAN

With the resurgence of the superheroes into mainstream movies (think Iron Man, Hulk, Captain America to name a few), hackers are leveraging their popularity to target consumers.

http://www.themarysue.com/mcafee-aquaman-toxic-superhero/

Aquaman is the 'most toxic' superhero online

Aquaman, the superhero most of us either mock or just plain forget about, is actually pretty darn important ... to Internet supervillains.

http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/aquaman-most-toxic-superhero-online-6C10638498

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's a virus

As superhero fans prepare to gather in San Diego for this year's Comic-Con, McAfee has revealed its first ever Most Toxic Superheroes list.

http://betanews.com/2013/07/15/is-it-a-bird-is-it-a-plane-no-its-a-virus/

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Home Invaders Caught on Resident's Surveillance Video

Video rules! I have 15 cameras in and around my house designed to keep me informed of who, what, when and where, 24/7/365. I see my cams on my iPhone, iPad, laptop and PC. My cams work both day and night and record video anytime they sense motion.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-siciliano/home-invaders-caught-on-r_b_3579746.html

Aquaman is the Internet's 'Most Toxic' Superhero, Says Survey

Robert Siciliano, self-described "online security and safety evangelist to McAfee," is the man behind the report, which he explained was the result of hackers using the current popularity of superheroes to lure unsuspecting visitors to what used to be called the World Wide Web into downloading suspicious files and software.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/aquaman-is-internets-toxic-superhero-585586#comments

Keep your online data safe from spying eyes

In his professional life, Robert Siciliano is a cybersecurity expert. But in his private life, Siciliano is a runner, and at the Boston Marathon on April 15, he was 100 yards away from crossing the finish line when the second bomb went off in a domestic terrorist attack that killed three and wounded at least 264.

http://money.msn.com/debt-management/keep-your-online-data-safe-from-spying-eyes

Monday, July 15, 2013

Drug-addicted Teen Burglar Sentenced to Prison

Burglars aren’t the people you see in the movies driving expensive cars, living lavish lifestyles and vacationing in the Caribbean. Burglars are usually addicted to drugs, unemployed because of their habit, and have sucked the lives and savings out of their families and so must turn to crime to get their fix.

http://robertsiciliano.com/blog/2013/07/11/drug-addicted-teen-burglar-sentenced-to-prison/

Secure Your Identity When Traveling

As summer travel starts to pick up, consumers need to be aware when they’re preparing for, or going on, summer vacations.

http://robertsiciliano.com/blog/2013/07/11/secure-your-identity-when-traveling/

A Brief History of Home Security Locks

Have you ever actually read the name stamped on your door locks or key? I always have – and I’ve equipped every home I’ve ever bought with Schlage. You can check out my favorite locks at Schlage.com.

http://robertsiciliano.com/blog/2013/07/10/a-brief-history-of-home-security-locks/

10 Million Mobile VPN Users Can’t Be Wrong

A virtual private network (VPN) is a network set up to communicate privately over a public network. For example: You occasionally want to or need to work from home and your employer knows that if you do, the data that travels between your PC and an office PC needs to be protected.

http://robertsiciliano.com/blog/2013/07/10/10-million-mobile-vpn-users-cant-be-wrong/

Why it’s Critical to Protect Data on Digital Devices

When devices are lost or hacked and your data is exposed, not only is this a pain to deal with, but you could become a victim of identity theft. Not only do victims of identity theft suffer loss of time but they also lose money that may not be able to be recovered .

http://robertsiciliano.com/blog/2013/07/09/why-its-critical-to-protect-data-on-digital-devices-2/

Home Invaders Caught on Resident’s Surveillance Video

Video rules! I have 15 cameras in and around my house designed to keep me informed of who, what, when and where, 24/7/365. I see my cams on my iPhone, iPad, laptop and PC. My cams work both day and night and record video anytime they sense motion.

http://robertsiciliano.com/blog/2013/07/09/home-invaders-caught-on-residents-surveillance-video/

Friday, July 12, 2013

New mobile payment systems pose regulatory, security challenges

According to a draft of the new rules, the EU executive earmarked as a key source of concern “the legal vacuum for certain newly emerged internet service providers, such as third-party service providers offering online banking-based payment initiation”.

http://www.euractiv.com/special-report-payments-services/innovative-mobile-payments-pose-news-529224?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=EurActivRSS

‘Nonharmful’ caller ID spoofs not considered illegal

Stealing someone’s phone number, or misrepresenting yourself with a fake number, is not an act of fraud under the law. The FCC and AT&T advise consumers not to give out personal information to callers.

http://seattletimes.com/html/businesstechnology/2021291286_pfspoofingxml.html

The Bling Ring: what happened next?

Siciliano, for one, is flummoxed by this phenomenon. “Why would I let the world know that my house is vacant?” he asked. “You just shouldn’t do those things. I don’t recommend anybody ever telling their location specifically.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/10143334/The-Bling-Ring-what-happened-next.html?placement=mid1

Tuesday, July 09, 2013

Connecting the Dots–How Your Digital Life Affects Identity Theft and Financial Loss

You’re on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. You use Gmail, Yahoo! and bank online. You might buy stuff on sites like Amazon and occasionally make purchases from eBay.

https://blogs.mcafee.com/consumer/connecting-the-dots

You're an Internet Celebrity: Deal With It

You can blame the Internet, or social media sites, or e-tailers who offer discounts for your public profile -- or you can simply blame yourself.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-siciliano/youre-an-internet-celebri_b_3546466.html

How to Delete Your Data for Good

IDTheftSecurity.com CEO Robert Siciliano on how to ensure the data deleted from your tech devices are gone for good.

http://video.foxbusiness.com/v/2520773573001/how-to-delete-your-data-for-good/

Monday, July 08, 2013

Social Media A Big Risk To Banks

For more than a decade criminals have been attacking online banking successfully by one upping security professionals their and clients by creating viruses to bypass existing security measures.

http://robertsiciliano.com/blog/2013/07/08/social-media-a-big-risk-to-banks/

6 Tips for the Family PC Fixer

Are you your family CFE? (In other words, Chief Fix Everything?)If it needs repair, do they come to you? That’s me. If it’s wood, metal or plastic, I can cut it, glue it, screw it or weld it. If it’s electrical or electronic, I’ve already broken it and now I know how to fix it.

http://robertsiciliano.com/blog/2013/07/08/6-tips-for-the-family-pc-fixer/

Banks Big And Small Targets of Cyber Gangs

Brilliance historically is often expressed in the simplest of technologies, the wheel or the light bulb are perfect examples. Today brilliance is often attributed to advances in technologies that cure illness, solve problems and make life easier.

http://robertsiciliano.com/blog/2013/07/05/banks-big-and-small-targets-of-cyber-gangs/

Sunday, July 07, 2013

Should I Get a Dog for Protection?

Dogs are much like video surveillance. They can both listen and see all day and all night. They are an extra pair of eyes and ears. They are on watch 24/7/365. They are like a bodyguard in that they are both defensive and offensive.

http://robertsiciliano.com/blog/2013/07/04/should-i-get-a-dog-for-protection/

You’re an Internet Celebrity: Deal with It

The quote “15minutes of fame” is about the short-lived media publicity or the celebrity of an individual or phenomenon. The expression was coined by Andy Warhol, who said in 1968 that: “In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes.” Unfortunately, that has evolved into daily fame for many people that, frankly, is bad for public consumption.

http://robertsiciliano.com/blog/2013/07/04/youre-an-internet-celebrity-deal-with-it/

How Mobiles Have Become a Big Target for Corporate Networks

Mobile was born with the consumer market in mind. As mobile has developed for consumer use over the past 20-something years, security hasn’t been much of a priority. Now, with a variety of different operating systems and millions of applications, security on mobiles has become a significant problem—especially in a corporate setting.

http://robertsiciliano.com/blog/2013/07/03/how-mobiles-have-become-a-big-target-for-corporate-networks/

Tuesday, July 02, 2013

Selling Second Hand Devices Can Lead To Identity Theft

Over the past 15 years, the increasingly rapid evolution of technology has resulted in new computers or mobile phones becoming outdated in a matter of one or two years.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nxsbVEAKZw