Robert Siciliano » Blog

Monday, April 29, 2013

Do I Need to be Concerned About Cybercrime?

The short answer is yes! You should be concerned. And even if you’re not concerned for yourself, with the Internet all of us are interconnected so cybercrime does not just affect one person or one group, but all of us.

http://blogs.mcafee.com/consumer/concerned-about-cybercrime

5 Signs You Are About to be Scammed

Smart people are scammed every day because they think it can’t happen to them or they just aren’t aware of the scams. And the scammers have gotten very good at disguising their scams, so it’s often hard to recognize them.

http://blogs.mcafee.com/consumer/5-signs-of-scams

What Should I Know about Mobile Cybercrime?

The Internet has dissolved the geographical boundaries and technological limitations that have constrained organized cybercrime in the past. We now live with cybercrime syndicates based in the US, Russia, Asia and all over the globe.

http://blogs.mcafee.com/consumer/mobile-cybercrime

Sunday, April 28, 2013

How Protected is My Tablet on WiFi?

To understand how protected you are, you need to understand how unprotected free public wireless is. This has nothing to do with how secure Apple devices are compared to Android

http://robertsiciliano.com/blog/2013/04/23/how-protected-is-my-tablet-on-wifi/

Church Burglar Busted, Held on $50K Bond

It doesn’t matter where, when or to whom—a burglar will go where there is easy access and easy money, or goods to be resold. One favorite target of criminals is houses of worship, which often have audio equipment and cash-filled collection boxes on hand.

http://robertsiciliano.com/blog/2013/04/23/church-burglar-busted-held-on-50k-bond/

5 Ways to Browse the Web Privately

You’ve probably never even thought that “browsing the web privately” was something that you needed to take extra steps to do. Most people think all web surfing is relatively private and nobody is really paying any attention. Unfortunately, there are many people, particularly in the form of marketers and advertisers, who watch almost every website you visit and record almost every click.

http://robertsiciliano.com/blog/2013/04/19/5-ways-to-browse-the-web-privately/

Twitter to Implement Two Step Authorization

Twitter needs to improve its security tools. The Associated Press was hacked and a false tweet caused the White House to explain, and the stock market to drop 150 points.

http://socialbarrel.com/twitter-to-implement-two-step-authorization-for-better-security-amidst-false-tweets-leading-to-national-security-threats/50762/

Warning: Your small business may have already been hacked

For months, its customers' credit card data was quietly being harvested by cyber criminals in Eastern Europe. It wasn't until the store's payment processing company linked a series of fraudulent charges back to the family-owned business that Rorschach realized it had been hacked.

http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/advisor/warning--your-small-business-may-have-already-been-hacked-183345805.html

Friday, April 26, 2013

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Robert Siciliano Becomes Official Spokesperson of BestHomeSecurityCompanys.com

BestHomeSecurityCompanys.com (BHSC) recently reached an agreement with leading personal and home security expert Robert Siciliano in a deal that would grant BHSC exclusive articles, videos, media queries and other exclusive work from Robert Siciliano.

http://robertsiciliano.com/blog/2013/04/23/robert-siciliano-becomes-official-spokesperson-of-besthomesecuritycompanys-com/

Twitter 2-Factor Authentication: What It Is and Why It Would Help National Security

It can be said in the length of a single tweet: When a 140-character message can lead to national security issues, Twitter itself needs better security tools.

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/ap-twitter-hack-cited-proof-factor-authentication-desperately/story?id=19031526#.UXk2OLUm2So

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

4 car insurance scams that should be on your radar screen

“Auto insurance scams are some of the most prevalent in the insurance industry, allowing fraudsters to easily obtain policies and take advantage of the ‘he said, she said’ blaming nature of auto accidents,” says Robert Siciliano, CEO of www.IDTheftSecurity.com, a fraud prevention and security company in Boston

http://www.insureme.com/auto-insurance/car_insurance-scams

the cybercrime Why move to mobile devices

With the popularity of mobile phones, fixed phones as if disappearing in people's lives. In fact, the number of U.S. households rely entirely on mobile phones continue to grow.

http://security.zdnet.com.cn/security_zone/2013/0417/2155005.shtml

What you have to reveal at an accident scene

You've just been involved in a fender bender. Police are on the way. Meanwhile, what information do you have to exchange with the other driver?

http://www.insure.com/car-insurance/accident-scene-information.html

Sunday, April 21, 2013

Katie Couric 911 Calls Were Not Prank, But Caused by Bad Wiring

The series of early morning bogus 911 calls that sent police rushing to Katie Couric’s New York City apartment were the result of faulty wiring, not a prankster as was originally thought.

http://www.newsmax.com/TheWire/katie-couric-911-calls-prank-bad-wiring/2013/0%204/09/id/498553

"Smishing"... A New ID Theft Scam

Identity theft expert and consultant Robert Siciliano says to be on the alert for text messages with links — they could be an ID theft scam known as smishing.

http://gigharbor.patch.com/blog_posts/smishing-a-new-id-theft-scam

12 Rules You Should Ignore

Don't count on it. "There are tons of dead zones — even in big cities — where there is no reception at all," says personal security expert Robert Siciliano. If you do manage to call the cops, it'll still take 10 to 30 minutes for police to find you because you're not at a specific address.

http://www.cosmopolitan.com/print-this/12-Rules-You-Should-Completely-Ignore?page=all

Saturday, April 20, 2013

4 tips to get the best mobile banking experience

Last year, 10 million more people signed up for mobile banking, according to Javelin Strategy and Research in Pleasanton, Calif., driven by soaring smartphone and tablet use. And, one-third of the U.S. population is now tapping into mobile banking, versus one-fifth in 2010.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/4-tips-best-mobile-banking-070046381.html;_ylt=A2KJ2Ui0oG1RJz0AdPzQtDMD

5 ways to get banned from Facebook

For users who struggle to spend more than a few hours away from Facebook, a lifetime ban from the social network might seem like a harsh measure

http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/story/18941691/five-ways-to-get-banned-from-facebook

Between me and my family was a bomb

“My family and I were within three to 500 yards of each of the blasts when they occurred, so between me and my family was a bomb,” Siciliano says.

http://current.com/shows/viewpoint/videos/between-me-and-my-family-was-a-bomb-boston-marathon-runner-robert-siciliano/

Friday, April 19, 2013

Robert Siciliano Becomes Official Spokesperson of BestHomeSecurityCompanys.com

BestHomeSecurityCompanys.com (BHSC) recently reached an agreement with leading personal and home security expert Robert Siciliano in a deal that would grant BHSC exclusive articles, videos, media queries and other exclusive work from Robert Siciliano.

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2013/4/prweb10648243.htm

2013 Boston Marathon: My Best Worst Day Ever

There were two loud bangs, and as I rounded the corner I saw the finish line through dissipating smoke.

http://www.onlywire.com/r/122356106

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

What is a “Drive-By” Download?

Gone are the days when you had to click to “accept” a download or install a software update in order to become infected. Now, just opening a compromised web page could allow dangerous code to install on your device.

http://robertsiciliano.com/blog/2013/04/11/what-is-a-drive-by-download/

10 Tips to Secure Online Banking

Online banking or mobile banking reduces expenses by allowing customers to review transactions, transfer funds, pay bills and check balances without having to walk into a bank branch or make phone calls to a bank’s customer service call center.

http://robertsiciliano.com/blog/2013/04/10/10-tips-to-secure-online-banking/

Why are Cybercriminals Moving from PCs to Mobile Devices?

The number of households in the United States that rely solely on mobile phones continues to increase. As of July 2011, 31% of households had mobile phones and no landlines. Additionally, almost one in six households used mobile phones exclusively or almost exclusively, despite still having a landline.

http://robertsiciliano.com/blog/2013/04/09/why-are-cybercriminals-moving-from-pcs-to-mobile-devices/

Saturday, April 13, 2013

Self-checking Your Online Identity

Googling yourself (or “egosurfing”) is formally known as vanity searching—the practice of searching for one’s own name, pseudonym or screen name on a popular search engine in order to review the results.

http://robertsiciliano.com/blog/2013/04/07/self-checking-your-online-identity/

2013 SXSWi Security Trends in Technology

South by Southwest Interactive (SXSWi) is an incubator of cutting-edge technologies. The event, which takes place every March, features five days of compelling presentations from the brightest minds in emerging technology, scores of exciting networking events hosted by industry leaders, and an unbeatable lineup of special programs showcasing the best new websites, video games and startup ideas the community has to offer.

http://robertsiciliano.com/blog/2013/04/04/2013-sxswi-security-trends-in-technology/

Unknown Credit Card Charges: Fraud or Legit?

Recently, my mother-in-law discovered that a pretty significant piece of jewelry had gone missing. There had been a number of construction workers in the house for a few weeks and when she went to get her jewelry, it was gone.

http://robertsiciliano.com/blog/2013/04/04/unknown-credit-card-charges-fraud-or-legit/

Friday, April 12, 2013

Self-checking Your Online Identity

The term egosurfing bugs me a bit because it insinuates people do it because they are narcissistic by nature.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-siciliano/selfchecking-your-online-_b_3037615.html

How to Lead a Double Life Online

The key to a successful secret identity is a good foundation. Robert Siciliano, a security analyst at McAfee, says there will always be a digital trail—the only question is where it starts.

http://www.menshealth.com/techlust/how-lead-double-life-online

Tuesday, April 09, 2013

How Hackers Use Our Information Against Us

We hear an awful lot about hackers breaking into systems and taking down networks or stealing millions of data records. The general understanding we have for hacking is bad guys want to disrupt things to make a point or to make money. But how do they really use our personal information against us?

http://blogs.mcafee.com/consumer/how-hackers-use-our-info

What is a “Drive-By” Download?

Gone are the days when you had to click to “accept” a download or install a software update in order to become infected. Now, just opening a compromised web page could allow dangerous code to install on your device.

http://blogs.mcafee.com/consumer/drive-by-download

Why are Cybercriminals Moving from PCs to Mobile Devices?

The number of households in the United States that rely solely on mobile phones continues to increase. As of July 2011, 31% of households had mobile phones and no landlines. Additionally, almost one in six households used mobile phones exclusively or almost exclusively, despite still having a landline.

http://blogs.mcafee.com/consumer/cybercriminals-moving-to-mobile

Saturday, April 06, 2013

College Students Need to Protect Wireless on iPads

A recent study estimated that nine out of ten undergraduate students will own a smartphone by the time this year’s crop of freshmen is slated to graduate.

http://robertsiciliano.com/blog/2013/04/02/college-students-need-to-protect-wireless-on-ipads/

What You Should be Aware of When Using Your Android Device0

As we all migrate towards using smartphones and tablets, we need to be aware of the risks associated with them. Most of us know that we need to protect our computers with security software, but we don’t always take that precaution with our mobile devices.

http://robertsiciliano.com/blog/2013/04/02/what-you-should-be-aware-of-when-using-your-android-device/

Anonymous Taunts North Korea

Anonymous has lashed out against Kim Jong-un, and there's no telling what the fallout might be.

http://www.technewsworld.com/story/77709.html

Wednesday, April 03, 2013

Protect Yourself from Tax Time Scams

Tax season is now upon us, and more than ever, we are opting for the convenience of filing taxes online (81% of us did in 2012). While filing online may be faster and more convenient, there is also some risk that you need to be aware of. During 2012, the IRS discovered $20 billion of fraudulent refunds, including those related to identity theft, compared with $14 billion in 2011.*

http://robertsiciliano.com/blog/2013/03/29/protect-yourself-from-tax-time-scams/

Fake Friends Fool Facebook Users

The word friend is defined as “one who entertains for another such sentiments of esteem, respect and affection; an intimate associate.” But that definition seems to have gone out the window with the advent of social networks.

https://blogs.mcafee.com/consumer/fake-friends

Protect Yourself from Tax Time Scams

Tax season is now upon us, and more than ever, we are opting for the convenience of filing taxes online (81% of us did in 2012). While filing online may be faster and more convenient, there is also some risk that you need to be aware of.

https://blogs.mcafee.com/consumer/tax-scams

Tuesday, April 02, 2013

Personal Finance: Be on guard against scams at tax time

Doing your taxes is taxing enough, without having to worry about getting scammed in the process. Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2013/03/31/5303309/personal-finance-be-on-guard-against.html#storylink=cpy#storylink=cpy

http://www.sacbee.com/2013/03/31/5303309/personal-finance-be-on-guard-against.html#storylink=cpy

Electronic Filing of Tax Returns Sees Increase in Theft

With the number of federal income tax returns filed electronically increasing each year, criminals are becoming more organized as they look for ways to steal the identity of taxpayers and then use those identifies to take the tax refunds the individuals are owed.

http://www.taxlawhome.com/tax-blog/2013/03/electronic-filing-of-tax-returns-sees-increase-in-theft/

5 Social Media Stories You Shouldn't Believe

Have you seen the commercial in which the woman says, "I saw it on the Internet, so it must be true"?

http://www.technewsdaily.com/17356-5-social-media-hoaxes.html

Monday, April 01, 2013

Iran Blocking VPNs on its Already Strangled Internet

Free societies really have no idea what it’s like to live in a censored and controlled nation that locks down the internet and filters what citizens are allowed to consume.

http://robertsiciliano.com/blog/2013/03/28/iran-blocking-vpns-on-its-already-strangled-internet/

The Top 6 Sources of Grey Charges

Those out-of-the-blue credit card charges that sneak up on us and require our time, attention, persistence and aggravation to squelch are called grey charges. Thanks to these insidious leaks, millions of people lose billions of dollars.

http://robertsiciliano.com/blog/2013/03/28/the-top-6-sources-of-grey-charges/

Fake Friends Fool Facebook Users

The word friend is defined as “one who entertains for another such sentiments of esteem, respect and affection; an intimate associate.” But that definition seems to have gone out the window with the advent of social networks.

http://robertsiciliano.com/blog/2013/03/28/fake-friends-fool-facebook-users/