Computer users have something new to worry about in the cat-and-mouse game with hackers. You probably use “password patterns” to create easy-to-remember-but-hard-to-guess passwords. Well, the criminals are on to you. Their ability to detect such patterns may have figured prominently in the high-profile attack on a security professional earlier this [Keep reading]
It was easy to impersonate White House officials like Jared Kuschner and Reince Preibus or even Eric Trump. It fooled plenty of people who should have known better, like Anthony Scaramucci, former Utah governor and presidential candidate Jon Hunstman, Homeland Security Adviser Tom Bossert — and Trump, too. This [Keep reading]
The next time you speak to a debt collector, you might find yourself negotiating with a computer. And you might actually prefer that. Consumers buy toothpaste and bread without talking to a person. They get boarding passes for flights with a few swipes of a credit card or mobile phone. [Keep reading]
The recent “ransomware” computer virus outbreak is over, but the speculation is just beginning. And it begins with those quotes around the term ransomware. On Tuesday, organizations in 64 countries around the globe, according to Microsoft, found themselves beating back a virus that’s been variously named Petya, GoldenEye, or even [Keep reading]
A new ransomware attack created computer chaos worldwide on Tuesday, infecting massive banks, law firms, shipping companies, and even nuclear facility Chernobyl. The outbreak — dubbed both GoldenEye and Petya by researchers — is being compared to WannaCry. While antivirus firms and IT departments struggle to get the outbreak under [Keep reading]
No matter how many criminal complaints you read, the expression “JV” always sends chills downs your spine. But this line, from a complaint filed April 27 in a California federal court, stands out. “Petersen stated that he recently received via email from JV#1 a video of JV#1’s younger brother…masturbating in [Keep reading]
Now that fake news is everywhere, it can be hard for any of us to work out what’s the truth! This is where rumour start and some of them can get out of control. For some people, they believe what they read, which shouldn’t always be the case. Fake news [Keep reading]
Often, the most vulnerable are the least likely to realize their vulnerability. And that puts them at even more risk. Insedia.com recently asked me to examine this issue a little deeper. You can read this story, and several other essays I’ve written for Insedia, by clicking here. In security, we [Keep reading]
Vladimir Putin has been far more visible lately with statements on the Russian-U.S. election story. Well-schooled in the art of Russian linguistic vaguery, he has alternately said that Russian free-lance hackers may have been involved, or that a 3-year-old may have been involved, all with a taunting snicker. Journalists — and [Keep reading]
I looked into the problem of robocalling recently for MagnifyMoney.com. Here’s the latest: Help is coming, but it’s still going to be a while. I’d say more, but my phone is ringing. Here’s a taste of the story. Click to read the rest at MagnifyMoney.com If you’re afraid to answer [Keep reading]
Bob Sullivan