PDF Version: Cybersecurity-Trends-For-2019
Tag: IT security Page 3 of 6
Internet has become an integral part of daily life because everything possible is seemingly available online. This is the reason, why there is a constant risk of your privacy being hacked by cyber criminals. Not only can they track your online presence but also snoop away on everything you do.
This constant tracking imposes the need of staying anonymous online. Following are some ways through which you can achieve the desired anonymity:
- Hide Your IP: The best way to stay unidentified online is to hide your IP with an anonymous VPN service. This way a virtual IP replaces your real IP address and prevents cyber criminals in gaining a sneak peek of your online activities.
- Keep Your Web Searches Private: Conducting searches on search engines like Google, Yahoo, Bing etc. collects a lot of information such as your IP address, searches made, device used to make the search, location, etc. This is the reason why users are now opting for alternate search engines which do not track the search history and retain their privacy.
- Block Third Party Cookies: Advertizers often use third party cookies to keep a track of your browsing habits. However, it is possible to hide them by blocking third party cookies within the browser settings. If you want to delete the cookies and other browsed information, you may use programs like CCleaner./li>
- Use HTTPS: In order to prevent sensitive information from being intercepted Transport Layer Security (TLS) is extremely important. However, every website does not support a TLS connection and in that case HTTPS can help. It helps in keeping the internet traffic secure & private by enforcing TLS connections on the websites you visit.
- Opt For Anonymous Email Communication: There are two ways to ensure email anonymity in a situation where you want to send somebody an email without letting them know your email address. You can use an alias which is essentially a forwarding address and allows the recipient to see your forwarding address only. The other way is to use a disposable email account which can be done by creating a new email account which you can use when you need. Another alternative to is to create a temporary forwarding address. This address gets deleted after a specific time, so it is best to use it while signing up on untrusted websites.
- Encrypt Your Emails: Encrypting your emails can help you prevent unauthorized access by a middleman. There will be a limiting control as only you will have a private key for it.
- Enable Privacy Settings: Your social media profile speaks volumes about you and hackers usually resort to a victim’s social media accounts to garner their private information. So make sure that you enable your privacy settings and hide personal information from public view.
For more information about IT Security, call Centex Technologies at (254) 213-4740.
A VPN router is a routing device that helps in enabling network communications within a VPN environment. It connects & communicates between multiple VPN end devices that are located at separate locations.
These routers are specifically designed to protect your system from a cyber-attack. This is made possible because all the devices connected with a VPN router are protected by a Virtual Private Network
.
Methods Of VPN Router Setup
- There are 3 main methods and one can go with any one of these:
- Buying a pre-configured VPN router
- Using a VPN enabled router that supports OpenVPN
- Flashing a non VPN compatible router with new firmware to support VPN.
Benefits Of Using VPN Routers
- Easy To Install – They are very similar to regular routers apart from the fact that in this case internet connection is routed through the servers of a private network. Setting up a VPN router completely negates the need of installing VPN on multiple devices separately. It can be done all at once because as soon as the VPN router is installed, you can easily connect your devices with it.
- Less Expensive – It is always beneficial to set up a VPN router due to the twin benefit it has. Firstly, buying a VPN router is a better deal than taking separate internet subscriptions for each device. So it can help you save costs and also ensures complete security at the same time.
- Device Friendly – You can connect multiple devices with the VPN router i.e. your smart TV, smartphone, laptop, etc. So configure the device which you have and connect it to the VPN router for added security. In other words, it requires a one-time effort in setting it all up and then you are ready to go.
- Ensures Security – Installing a VPN router secures all the devices on the network. It adds an additional layer of privacy and maintains anonymity of all your online activities. This way it is hard for cyber criminals to break through a network secured by a VPN router.
Things To Consider When Setting Up A VPN Router
- Cost – You’ll need to buy a decent router and VPN subscription. However, the cost of a VPN router may vary depending upon the option you choose.
- Speed – It is one very important factor that needs to be considered to ensure that there are no server overloads, network disruptions or snags etc.
- Features – The way you plan to use your VPN router determines which firmware & VPN service you need to go with. Although it is very important to make sure that it is up to date, fast, reliable, secure and enforces policy based routing.
For more information about VPN routers, call Centex Technologies at (254) 213-4740.
Information is often broken into smaller units when it is transmitted over the computer network. These small units known as data packets are fragmented at the sender’s node and are reassembled in their original format at the receiver’s node.
Every data packet has to cross a number of traffic control devices such as routers & switches. However, the data packet is susceptible to the risk of being captured each time it crosses these control devices. This act of collecting data packets illegally by hackers is known as packet sniffing. Hackers often use specialized devices
known as packet sniffers to do so.
How Does A Packet Sniffer Work?
A packet sniffer can exist in the form of software or hardware specifically designed to collect the data being transmitted over the network. They intercept & log network traffic with the help of wired or wireless network interface it has an access to. Hackers might use it to capture:
- User names
- Passwords
- Downloaded files
- Emails
- Audio & video activity
- Other sensitive information
An illegal packet sniffer is installed somewhere on the network without the knowledge of an IT administrator to gain unauthorized access to confidential information. Hackers also use sniffers to eavesdrop on unencrypted data to spy and checkout information being exchanged between the two parties and use it for their benefit.
Types Of Packet Sniffing
There are 3 types of packet sniffing, let us understand how they work:
- IP Sniffing – It uses the network card to sniff all information packets that correspond with the IP address filter. These information packets are all used for analysis and examination.
- MAC Sniffing – It also works through a network card and sniffs away the information packets that correspond to MAC address filter.
- ARP Sniffing – In this type of sniffing, information packets are sent to the administrator through the ARP cache of both network hosts. The traffic is forwarded to the administrator directly instead of sending it to the hosts.
How To Protect Yourself From Packet Sniffing?
- Use VPN – VPN (Virtual Private Network) connections provide complete privacy and secure your computer’s internet connection. It makes sure that all the data you are sending and receiving is encrypted & secured.
- Always Check the HTTPS – Make sure that the websites that you visit have an HTTPS in its URL. Having it in the URL ensures that the website is safe to use.
- Be Cautious – The risk of packet sniffing rises when a device is connected to a public Wi-Fi network. So be highly cautious of the websites you visit when you are on that network. Avoid doing financial transactions, entering sensitive information etc.
Other Ways
- Scan your network
- Use the Antisniff tool
- Log out when you are done
For more information about IT Security, call Centex Technologies at (254) 213-4740.
World has become a global village where technology has made communication process more effective & easy. It has brought along a revolution & transformed a lot of things around us. One such thing is M2M communication.
M2M communication refers to Machine-to-Machine communication. It involves a set of machines connected with each other that communicate or exchange information without any human interaction. Such communication between machines has become easier with the rise of wireless technology. As per Strategy Analytics, by 2020 the global M2M industry size will grow to around 200 billion U.S. dollars in revenue.
Examples Of M2M Communications
- Manufacturers can receive notifications & alerts from devices in operation whenever they need servicing due to M2M tools. The machine itself tells you when it needs repairing.
- Inventory information sent out by vending machine.
- ATM machines dispensing cash.
- The air conditioner automatically switch’s down when the room temperature reaches the set point.
- Wearable devices that track down the number of steps you take & also monitor your heart beat.
Benefits Of M2M communication
- Reduced Costs – M2M communication enables automation and allows businesses to reduce operational costs. It helps in saving time & effort resulting in better efficiency.
- Prompt Action– It is easier to gather data when machines are connected to each other. This enables a prompt action to the request made.
- Open New Avenues – M2M will open up numerous opportunities. With more machines being connected to each other it is possible to provide new service based offerings.
- Improved Customer Service
Applications Of M2M Communications
M2M communication is presently being used in the following sectors:
- Manufacturing
- Billing
- Telemedicine
- Security
- Robotics
- Industrial
- Traffic Control
- Banking
Security Risks
- Access Point Attack
- Denial Of Service Attack
- External Interface Attack
- Device Triggering Attack
Difference Between IoT & M2M?
Often used interchangeably, M2M communication & IoT are not the same.
- M2M communication uses point to point communication between machines, sensors & hardware. While on the other hand, IoT relies on IP based networks and sensors.
- M2M is deployed in a closed system whereas IoT connects to a larger network.
- M2M communication does not rely on an internet connection. However, Internet of Things (IoT) as the name suggests requires a strong & active internet connection.
- Where IoT uses IP protocols, M2M uses non-IP protocols.
- M2M refers to the communication between machines. IoT on the other hand involves communication of machines with humans as well as machines with machines.
- M2M communication has a long way to go. With the advancement in technology we will be able to use M2M communication systems in a better and more effective way. That day is not far when every sector of the industry will recognize its importance and leverage more benefit from it.
For more information related to M2M communications & IT security, call Centex Technologies at (254) 213-4740.