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Month: May 2018

Risks Associated With IoT Devices

We have entered an era of smart devices where from washing machines, TV’s to refrigerators and AC’s everything is connected with the internet. As per reports by Cisco, the number of devices connected with the internet will exceed 50 billion by 2020. However, there are certain risks associated with IoT devices which every user must be aware of. Here we have listed some of them which demand user’s attention.

  • Security Risks

There are a number of loopholes associated with IoT security, which a hacker takes advantage of. Security attack can be categorized into network, physical, software and encryption attack, each of which has its own consequences.

  • Physical attacks target hardware of an IoT system and attackers physically harm the device to disrupt the services.
  • Network attack on the other hand aims at disrupting the network layer of the device. DDoS attack is an example of network attack.
  • Software attack is launched on the software with an intention to steal information & exploit the device.
  • Encryption attacks target the implementation of algorithm on which the device works.

So, the user must possess thorough knowledge of the types of security risks and attacks to take preventive measures well in advance.

  • Legal Risks

Legal issues related to product liability can arise. For example, if an autonomous car gets into an accident, who shall be held liable? Now this is a legal issue as it is difficult to figure out whether the owner, manufacturer, passenger or the person who coded the software is at fault.

  • Privacy Risks

Since a lot of factors influence data protection, there are a variety of privacy risks associated with IoT. The number of cyber-attacks is soaring high and this has become a serious issue as nowadays most devices are connected to internet making it easier for cyber criminals to steal the information. This information can be applied to infer certain results or to be sold in the dark market which might be used against the IoT device user.

  • Lack Of Authentication/ Authorization

A lot of vulnerabilities could lead to this issue. Lack of complex device password & two factor authentication, insecure credentials etc. are more like an open invitation to cyber criminals to hack the devices and disrupt the operations.

Other Risks

  • Insecure Cloud Interface
  • Complexity
  • Insecure Mobile Interface
  • Insecure Network Services

IoT devices now play a mainstream role in our lives, and have become a major part of our official & personal space. Thus, it is important to take a note of all the risks associated with IoT in order to understand the impact they can have on us. It is high time that we take necessary measures to mitigate the risks associated with IoT so that we can enjoy maximum benefits that technology offers us.

For more information about IT Security, call Centex Technologies at (254) 213-4740.

Ways To Ensure Social Media Security

Your private information is not private anymore. Social media portals which were initially launched as platforms to connect with family & friends are now facing security issues. This has made it important for everyone to take necessary measures to ensure safety of personal information shared on social networks.

Here are some ways to secure your private information over different social media portals.

  • Spend Some Time On Understanding Privacy Settings
    No matter how complicated it may seem to you, it is important to go through them once & understand the provisions thoroughly. By choosing appropriate settings, you can restrict information that is shared with different groups and applications.
  • Have Different Personal & Professional Social Media Accounts
    Your professional account is generally open to public round the clock. So, in order to restrict people accessing or viewing your personal updates, it is advised to create separate account for personal and professional use. Having separate accounts is also important because if there is some dispute at personal level then the person can negatively use the information available on your social media handle to his advantage & disrupt your professional image on the web. However, having separate social media accounts can help you in preventing this.
  • Set Different Passwords For Different Social Media Accounts
    Probably the biggest mistake that we do is to set same passwords for our different social media accounts. This is more like an open invitation to cyber criminals to hack multiple accounts that you have created on different platforms and get access to your personal & private information.
  • Do Not Provide Too Much Information
    Social media platforms encourage you to fill in a lot of information. However, be wary of the quantum of personal information that you provide as the more information you share, more would be the chances of someone landing their hands on it.
  • Disable Location Settings
    No matter which social media platform you are using, make sure that your location settings are disabled so that nobody is able to keep a track over your current location.
  • Not Everyone Is Your Friend!
    Make sure that you do not add random people in your account without checking out their profiles. It is necessary that you know people with whom you share your information, else you might just provide your private data to a cyber-criminal with an appealing profile by accepting their friend request.

To know more about IT Security, call Centex Technologies at (254) 213-4740.

Everything About Jigsaw Ransomware

PDF Version : Everything-About-Jigsaw-Ransomware

Internet Security Myths

In the wake of high rising cyber-attacks, everyone is equally susceptible to risks. Cyber security is a major threat but people often lack the knowledge of ways & methodologies to protect themselves from hackers. This has muddled up their idea about internet security & cyber-attacks. Let’s debunk certain myths regarding cyber security and the actual facts behind them.

  • Myth – Only Big Corporations Are Targeted, My Personal Computer Faces Absolutely No Risk.
    Fact – It is a complete myth that cyber criminals would not be interested in hacking your personal information. They usually keep an eye and watch out for people who seem to be an easy prey. Reason being, companies do take certain security measures and also have dedicated IT teams to keep a check over cyber security which makes it difficult for hackers to infiltrate into the network. However, cyber criminals do not have to make much efforts to break into the network and steal private as well as confidential information stored on an individual’s personal computer. So it is important to keep your files and data safe on your devices by using a variety of security measures. Set difficult passwords and keep changing them from time to time. Also make sure that you unplug your webcam as well as switch off the broadband connection when not in use.
  • Myth – If A Computer Is Not Connected To Internet Then There Are No Chances Of Getting Attacked By A Virus.
    Fact – This is far from truth. Virus can be injected into the PC while software update or through USB drives which might have been exposed to malware. This poses a serious cyber security threat.
  • Myth – I Have A Strong And Complex Password, So My Information Is Safe.
    Fact – Sometimes people set passwords which may seem difficult to them but in reality they aren’t as   complex and can be easily hacked by cyber criminals. So make sure that you set a password which has more than 15 characters and is formed by using a combination of alphabets (both upper & lower case), numbers as well as symbols to increase the difficulty level. Also nowadays, most devices allow use of biometrics i.e., fingerprints, face scan etc. to access confidential documents as they add a layer of security.
  • Myth – There Is No Risk As I Have Installed An Anti-Virus Software.
    Fact – An anti-virus software only protects you from virus. However, you may be exposed to a variety of other cyber security threats. So it is important to update the anti-virus software and also you will need firewalls to protect your personal information from being hacked.

Cyber criminals often resort to identity thefts or sell your personal information further in the dark market to be used against you. So it is better to stay safe than repenting it later. Therefore, gather complete information about internet security and take all necessary steps to protect yourself from a cyber-attack.

To know more about IT Security, call Centex Technologies at (254) 213-4740.

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