Check Yourself
At this time of year, we all risk resembling Charlie Brown waiting on his Valentine in the mailbox. Has my check arrived? Is it in the mailbox? Perhaps you’re waiting on stimulus checks or tax refunds. But along with the hint of spring flowers, there is mailbox optimism in the air for many of us. And when there is an opportunity at large like this, what do we know also increases? The likelihood of a scam.
Human Aspect of Security
It can be so frustrating to try to convince people that we “know better” than they do. Especially when it comes to health or safety right? You want them to know so that you can protect them! It’s like parenting, they need to make mistakes to learn, but nothing too catastrophic.
The Hacker Got Hacked
WeLeakInfo was a data breach site that offered paid subscriptions to users who could then access their searchable database which contained stolen records. This now defunct site contained 12.5 BILLION records of data that was illegally obtained through various means. This included names, phone numbers, addresses, passwords, and email addresses.
A Sigh of Cyber Relief
The passing of the recent COVID-19 relief Bill last week includes funding that will be set aside to address cybersecurity concerns and a rise in the issues that have increased as a result of the pandemic. As we often say when the topic can become divisive or political, regardless of which side you stand on, this is a good thing for everyone. A focus on cybersecurity and guarding individual privacy and rights is necessary, but when it comes to doing the same for government data, it is imperative to the collective good of our country.
Hoop Hack Attack
There’s a March Madness of a different kind that happens each year during this time of tournaments: the onslaught of phishing emails that users fall for over and over again.
With pools that take place in our offices, among friends, or to the individual who wants to join a group online, hackers are handed a very easy way to get us to click as we look to participate and enter our bracket choices.
Ring a Ding Ding
Your phone rings once. The number looks familiar, same area code, same exchange as your local area, so you pick it up. Hello? No one responds on the other end of the line. You repeat “hello?” and it feels like a bad connection or that they can’t hear you on the other end, so you hang up. Apparently, you missed the call or hung up by mistake because it only rang once. Just to be safe, you will return the call to make sure it wasn’t important.
To the Moon!
Are you familiar with the United States Space Force (USSF)? This branch of the US Air Force military was established in recent years to protect and secure space, just as it does for air, land, and sea with other branches.
This past week in the news, it was announced that Space Force was hiring or transferring from existing departments, a large number of people to focus on cybersecurity within the organization. Of the existing 6400 active-duty cyber personnel, 2400 members have been brought on to the Space Force branch and are now identified as Cyber Guardians.
Unemployment Scams
We tend to not ask too many questions and let things slide when we aren’t certain about the situation.
Is that normal?
Should that happen like that?
I guess so. I don’t really know. I mean, it seems ok??
And as with all things related to COVID-19, there’s an air of uncertainty that hasn’t left the planet in nearly a year. So, we’re all a little uncertain. We’re all a little confused about what is actually ok or normal. It’s all new.
Heartbreak of a Different Kind
Dating or cultivating relationships is hard enough, let alone trying to do it successfully during a pandemic. You’re putting your heart in the hands of the internet gods and trusting that they will guide you safely along the corridors of the unknown and unseen.
Degree of Awareness
This week a friend shared a story about her college-aged daughter Jane and her recent experience in finding a job. She is in graphic design and has a portfolio, so when she came across a well-known company that creates sports-branded gear that was hiring, it was something she wanted to pursue.