Author: centexitguy Page 58 of 140

Ways To Ensure Social Media Security

On May 24, 2018

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

By centexitguy

On May 23, 2018

In Security

PDF Version : Everything-About-Jigsaw-Ransomware

Internet Security Myths

By centexitguy

On May 11, 2018

In Security

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.

How To Secure Your Webcam

By centexitguy

On April 29, 2018

In Security

Everyday millions of people use webcams for their personal or business meetings. Webcams allow people to do face to face interactions even when they are miles apart. With such great functionality, webcams have become an essential part of the standard equipment in offices and home these day.

However, “camfecting” i.e. the practice of hacking webcams is quite prevalent nowadays. It is extremely important to take proper steps to secure your webcam so that your privacy is not breached. Following are some ways which can prevent hackers to peek in through that lens.

Turn On Webcam Notification Lights
Nowadays, most webcams have an inbuilt feature to assist the users. An LED notification light turns on whenever the camera is in use. This makes it easier to detect a webcam hack. Users can get to know if the camera is being used without their knowledge and take necessary steps to overcome this issue.
Update Your Webcam Software
If you wish to make your webcam secure, then it is important to make sure that it runs on the latest webcam software. The manufacturer fixes any security issues with each update. So download those updates every now & then.
Use Firewalls
A firewall protects your system by monitoring the incoming & outgoing network traffic. It acts as an additional layer of protection and helps in bypassing most attacks.
Don’t Click On Malicious Attachments
RAT (Remote Access Trojan) is a form of webcam hacking which gives hacker an access to user’s PC as well as its built- in webcam. The trojan is generally installed in computer when the user clicks on a malicious attachment containing malware sent by an unknown source. So be wary of any attachments sent by an unknown sender before clicking on them.
Unplug
A hacker may hack your webcam & spy on you. The best way to avoid this situation is to disconnect your webcam from the computer when it is not in use. By doing this you chop off the problem right at the root as no hacker can spy on you when your webcam is unplugged.
Keep A Regular Check
You might have installed a traditional antivirus software but such software’s are not really helpful in protecting you from a webcam malware. So it is vital to keep a check and regularly scan your computer for a webcam malware.
Cover It
It is always better to take preventive measures right in the beginning rather than regretting about it later. The smartest move is to cover your webcam with a black colored electrical tape. This will help you safeguard your privacy and prevent the hacker to gain a sneak peek into your life.

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

Cyber Dating Scams

By centexitguy

On April 27, 2018

In Security

In this era, where everything is just a click away, more and more people are in search of companionship and are trying to find it online. However, this has significantly increased the number of cyber dating scams. They seem more like a bait that victimizes people looking for friendship on the web. Cyber criminals often lure innocent people who not only suffer a heartbreak but also lose thousands of dollars in this process.

How Does The Scam Work

Also known as ‘catfishing’ the fraudsters create fake online profiles to trick people into a relationship. Generally, the scammers reach out their potential victims through online dating websites, email, dating apps, phone, social media etc. They often fabricate their identity and invest a lot of time to show genuine interest and make things look real so that the victim falls into the trap. Once they have gained your trust they take advantage of your emotions only to exploit you financially.

Warning Signs To Look Out For

They claim that they feel strongly for you, just after you have had few conversations with them.
They ask for some money or your bank account details.
Are not ready to meet you in person and often break promises that they make.

How To Avoid Such Scams

Stay Alert – It’s okay to be paranoid and a bit skeptical when you are dating someone online. This will help you avoid a cyber dating scam as you will think practically and not let yourself from being misled.
Search Around – Check out the profile as well as images of the person you meet online. Try to run them through a reverse image search engine. If you find that the images are stolen then it’s best to avoid them. Go through their social media profiles, LinkedIn profile and gather as much information available about them online. If there is a difference in information available on various platforms then there are high chances that the person is a scammer. Also, checkout certain websites such as Romance Scams, Scamalytics etc. that have a huge database containing the list of such scammers along with the email address that they commonly use to con people.
Do Not Handover Your Credentials To Anyone – No matter how close you are to the person you have met online, never share your login credentials and passwords with them. Also prefer not to share your photographs and videos, if you have never met them in person and your relationship is at early stages as they can be used by the fraudster to blackmail you in future.

It is important to be aware of such scams at the first place in order to avoid falling into the trap. For more information on various cyber scams and ways to avoid them, call Centex Technologies at (254) 213-4740.