GeekSugar

7 Ways You Can Avoid Internet Fraud and Phishing Scams

Kristy Korcz — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 09:53:32 PST

The holiday season is here and millions of Americans are heading out to tackle their last-minute shopping lists. Though doing the lions share of your shopping online can save you time, there are many dangers lurking out there on the Internet, especially where there are credit cards involved.

One recent Internet phishing scam involves Apple fans, and a so-called "Christmas Awards" program. This email-based scam sends you a message from a non-Apple email address (like rediffmail.com) asking you to download an attachment to learn more about the awards program. The attachment is a Word document, which is a red flag for downloading viruses and malware. While the download doesn't appear to host any viruses, it does say that you've won $250 million dollars and a commemorative iPhone 4S. All you need to do to claim the "prize" is hand over all of your personal and sensitive information. Don't! If you get this email, don't open it and be sure to report it to the FTC.

Stay safe while shopping this holiday - and beyond - by following these tips that will keep your personal info out of the hands of hackers.

Don't be fooled by fake log-in screens: If you're already signed into Twitter, Facebook, or your email, you won't be asked to sign in again unless you've logged out. Even if the screen looks like the normal log-in, it probably isn't.
Don't be fooled by emails: I've been asked to reply to my "banking institution" with my account log-in information before. The email is formatted to look legit, but if you check the sender's address, most likely it's from a third-party account like Gmail, Yahoo, or MSN. Be diligent and never reply to emails with your bank log-ins or passwords and always check where they are coming from first! When in doubt, call instead.
Reset your passwords often: Too often, people have some pretty lame passwords, which allow their accounts to get hacked even without a phishing scam. Make sure your passwords are tough to guess, and try to change them every few months.

See the rest of the tips after the break.

How-To: Keep Facebook From Tracking Your Data Across the Web

Kristy Korcz — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 13:52:05 PDT

Facebook has had some issues with privacy in the past, and this week a new privacy issue was discovered: Facebook can track you across the web, even if you're logged out of your account. At the basic level, your web browser contains cookies from Facebook that remember your log-in info, but there are more. The company has removed one cookie that reported your user ID until you shut down your browser (essentially tracking your movements across the web), but other cookies, which still allow Facebook to track data like failed log-in attempts, hackers, spammers, language, and log-in times and identify computers in Internet cafés, remain.

If you would rather Facebook not track your data across the web, there are a few things you can do:

For Chrome

Browse in an incognito window - Chrome offers the ability to open an "incognito window," which allows you to browse in private. Download and browsing histories are not saved, and new cookies are deleted as soon as you shut the window.
Install Facebook Disconnect - This Chrome extension blocks all traffic from third-party sites (the ones that are using the Like button and Facebook Connect) to Facebook servers but will still let you access the Facebook website itself.

For Other Browsers

Download Disconnect.me - This app disables third-party tracking and shows blocked requests for installing cookies. This app is available for Chrome, Firefox, and Safari.
Manually clear your Facebook cookies after every Facebook session.

Bear Grylls Dishes Up Cybersecurity Tips For the "Digital Wild"

Kristy Korcz — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 07:21:16 PDT

You may know Bear Grylls best as the ultimate adventurer on Man vs. Wild, but after his website was hacked recently, he turned his focus to the dangers of the "digital wild."

I got a chance to speak with Bear last week, where we chatted about his own cybersecurity experiences along with some advice, tips, and tricks you should keep in mind while navigating your own "digital wild." According to Norton, over a million people a day become victims of cybercrime each year, so here's how you can keep yourself from becoming a target.

Arm yourself - Change your passwords regularly and make sure they're not obvious - use a mix of numbers and capitals and characters. Also, make sure you've got good antivirus protection, and just be aware that, probably, things that look too good to be true on the Internet probably are.
Prevention is better than curing - It's easier to stay on top of cybersecurity (by following the tips above) than cleaning up identity theft or fraud afterward.
Men are more vulnerable - Men fall victim to cybercrime more than women annually, so watch out boys!
Stay safe on your mobile - Have the ability to wipe your phone remotely. Most people don't even have a pin code on their phone, let alone the ability to remote wipe.
Watch out on social media, too - People use their mobile phones for so much more than speaking, so they have access to more, like the Internet in their daily life. They're much more vulnerable to phishing links everywhere, even on their phones.

Top 10 Most Dangerous Celebrities in Cyberspace

Kristy Korcz — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 16:33:12 PDT

McAffee released its list of top ten most dangerous celebrities in cyberspace earlier today, knocking a few past "winners" down, while some up-and-coming celebs are making their way up through the ranks.

Being named one of the "most dangerous celebrities" on the Internet may not be a good thing though - Google results containing these celebrity names are more likely to be riddled with malware and viruses waiting to infect your PC. If you're looking up these stars on the Internet, whether it be for the latest fashion trends, red carpet looks, or movie premieres, be cautious on what you click!

Facebook's New Privacy and Sharing Controls Explained

Kristy Korcz — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 14:34:10 PDT

Facebook just rolled out new privacy controls for the things you share. Similar to Google+, Facebook is allowing users to share posts and photos with certain groups or lists of people and making it a whole lot easier to manage your photos and content. Find out more about each of the changes (which should be rolled out over the next few days) in this slideshow guide.

Cell Phone Safety Tips For Paris Hilton (and You)

Kristy Korcz — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 12:23:48 PDT

Reality star Paris Hilton reportedly lost two smartphones on a flight from Dubai to Manila over the weekend. Though both phones were located in her carry-on bag, she couldn't find them once it was time to deboard the plane. We've all experienced that sinking feeling when you can't find your cell; it's more than just a communication device these days. It's a device that holds a lot of personal information, especially if you have loaded up on banking, shopping, and instant purchase apps.

Before you make like Paris and lose your smartphone, follow some of these basic safety tips to keep from losing your phone, your personal info, and your mind.

Don't Let Your Cell Go Unprotected

Password-protect your home screen so hackers can't access your private info if lost or stolen. Here's how:

For iPhone: From the home screen, select Settings > General > Passcode Lock
For Android: From the home screen, choose Settings > Security > Screen lock and set an alphanumeric password for your home screen.
For BlackBerry: From the home screen, select Options > Security Options > General Settings > Password > Enabled

Locate and Wipe It Clean

It's a good idea to enlist a service or app that wipes your cell clean of any personal info if by chance it is lost or stolen. Norton Security and Apple's MobileMe app both let you remote lock and wipe your phone of sensitive info, while MobileMe can also locate your device on a map and track it down if you've left it behind.

How to Keep Your Kids Safe on the Internet

Kristy Korcz — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 11:31:10 PDT

I'm not a mom yet myself, but I've seen first hand how tricky it is for parents when their kids first start getting online. Your little ones are growing up in the age of tech, so it's no wonder they are surfing the Internet at a younger age, but are they doing it safely? According to a new study, 69 percent of parents are worried about online interactions like contact from strangers, displaying of geo-location data, and cyberbullying, yet only 32 percent of parents actually monitor their children's social media and Internet usage.

If you haven't set up any parental controls, rules, or safeguards for your kids' surfing sessions, I suggest you check out these high-level tips for keeping your kids safe online without the need for stressful and expensive software. Oh, and don't let them browse too long - they could get addicted.

Talk about Internet safety - When your children are old enough to take the wheel on the world wide web, it's time to have "the talk." Discussing what is appropriate Internet behavior for your household is paramount, case if you don't tell your kids what is OK to look at, they'll look at everything, right? Maybe even go so far as to post a list of Internet dos and don'ts at the family computer desk (which should be in view of a common area at all times to prevent sneak surfing) to remind the little ones of the rules.
Enable parental controls - Enabling parental controls on your Mac couldn't get any easier (System Preferences > Parental Controls), and a PC isn't difficult either (Control Panel > Internet Options > Content). But you do need to take the time to actually establish your parental control guidelines, which could take some time, but it's worth it to keep your kids safe and happy online.

See some other tips, and leave your own after the break.

Fraud Awareness Week: How to Protect Yourself Online

Kristy Korcz — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 07:12:18 PDT

This week may be National Fraud Awareness Week, but we think that protecting yourself online should be something you keep at the top of mind all year long. If you shop or browse online, you'll want to take heed to these tips that can keep you from being fooled by phishing scams and create airtight passwords. Read on!

Don't be fooled by fake log-in screens: If you're already signed into Twitter, Facebook, or your email, you won't be asked to sign in again unless you've logged out. Even if the screen looks like the normal log-in, it probably isn't.
Don't be fooled by emails: I've been asked to reply to my "banking institution" with my account log-in information before. The email is formatted to look legit, but if you check the sender's address, most likely it's from a third-party account like Gmail, Yahoo, or MSN. Be diligent. Never reply to emails with your bank log-ins or passwords, and always check where they are coming from first. When in doubt, call instead.
Reset your passwords often: Too often, people have some pretty lame passwords, which allow their accounts to get hacked even without a phishing scam. Make sure your passwords are tough to guess, and try to change them every few months.

See the rest of the tips after the break.

California's Social Networking Privacy Act - Way to Go or Going Too Far?

Kristy Korcz — Wed, 18 May 2011 12:11:44 PDT

There's a new law being shopped around California's senate called SB242, or the Social Networking Privacy Act, which requires social networks to allow parents full access to their kids' profiles and even lets them request removal of text or photos from a minor's (under 18) profile. For me, this calls into question the rights of the user. Facebook allows users age 13 and up to open an account, and since these kids are still underage, should their parents have total access to their Facebook accounts? And does the state have a right to step in and make that decision for them? I'm a big proponent of involved parenting when it comes to online activity, but I'm not sure a statewide bill is the answer to keep your kids' online activity clean.

While this bill may sound strict, there is a plus side - the bill would also force social networks to walk users through privacy settings upon signup, explaining what each setting means before the account goes live. I'm all for that action. What do you think about California's SB242?

Beware of Suspicious Osama bin Laden Links!

Kristy Korcz — Tue, 03 May 2011 12:54:27 PDT

The excitement and curiosity over the death of Osama bin Laden hasn't just sparked a flurry of activity on the Internet - it's also become a feeding ground for hackers looking to steal your information. Just because something shows up in a Google search or gets past your spam folder doesn't mean it's legit - hackers prey on unsuspecting victims during news events by hiding malicious links and viruses in common-looking web pages. They may even send out phishing emails, teasing leaked or exclusive photos in order to get you to hand over credit card info, download a virus, or even gain access to home networks. How can you protect yourself against a cyberattack? Check out my tips below!

Beware of unknown links: Just because something shows up in your inbox or on your Facebook wall doesn't mean it's not spam. If you don't know where the link came from (or it looks suspicious), don't click!
Don't give out usernames or passwords: If you've been asked to enter your username and password anywhere else than a legit online account you already frequent, back away slowly.

Check out the rest of my tips after the jump.