It used to be confined to desktops and laptops. But now, more than ever, mobile gadgets are being targeted with viruses, trojans, malware, spyware, ransomware, and adware. Just about any type of "ware" cybercrooks can think of.
Android gadgets, in particular, are more vulnerable to these kinds of attacks because users can set them up to install third-party apps directly from the internet and not vetted by the Google Play Store.
Apple vs. Google - Is one safer than the other?
This one's kind of a
Good information from Kim Komando:
Robocalls are a scourge. They waste everyone's time, come when you least expect them, and multiply in number if you make the mistake of picking up. Americans alone received over 26 billion robocalls in 2018, and there seems to be no sign of them slowing down.
Technically, some robocalls are illegal in the U.S. under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act. However, methods used to dial calls make them difficult to screen or regulate.
Combine this with the fact that
I talk about this often, but not often enough. When is the last time you inspected your children’s credit report for identity fraud? A must read from brproud:
BATON ROUGE, La (NBC LOCAL 33) (FOX 44) - Several signs can tip you off to the fact that someone is misusing your child’s personal information and committing fraud. Someone could be using your child’s identity right now and you may not even know it.
Identity theft can happen to anyone and as adults, it’s easy to spot it. There are banks and theft
Do you believe all the ads about protection services? Every day there's a new ad.
There are a variety of ads on TV warning about the dangers of the “dark web” and urging you to sign up for identity theft services. Several show shadowy figures at computers in darkened rooms, presumably harvesting your personal information for their criminal use.
Those ads are so effective that 36 percent of consumers who’ve seen them think that identity theft services can remove their info from the dark web—a part of
Did you know that with medical fraud and identity theft there is no protection or ceiling limit from financial responsibility?
A must read from “mySA”
Medical identity theft is an increasing concern for Americans. According to the Identity Theft Resource Center, 27.9% of 2018 data breaches as of mid-June are in the Medical/Healthcare category, exposing almost 3 million records – second only to business data breaches.
Why is medical identity theft so desirable to thieves? Not only does it allow access From Techlicious, an article emphasizing basic computer maintenance. Not quite Spring yet, but better safe than sorry. You may even want to print out for reference.
If you haven't been organizing and discarding files as you go, it's likely your hard drive is stuffed with downloads, unwanted photos, file copies and other digital dust bunnies. This can reveal itself in slower performance, that unsettling humming noise, and the Mac's dreaded spinning wheel or Windows' spinning circle.
Deep cleaning your That time of year, Protect you and if needed, your business from identity theft. Good information:
If scammers end up reaching out to you this tax season, it will likely be through one of these two avenues – phone calls or emails. Although this is quite broad, it’s important to know the following about each potential attack.Fake Phone Calls
First, scammers will mask their caller ID so it reflects an IRS number. Next, they will falsify their names and titles, in an attempt to create some sort of legitimacy
This upcoming week is Tax Identity Theft Awareness Week. A long title but so important. Have you protected yourself from identity theft?
From KHON2:
HONOLULU (KHON2) - Tax Day might still be a three-months away, but that doesn’t mean we’re not already in the thick of tax season.
And even more, it’s never too early to take a look at how well protected you and your information is against fraud.
In fact, January 28th – February 1st is Tax Identify Theft Awareness week.
To go over a bit more about that,
ADA, Okla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--IDShield, a leading North American provider of identity monitoring, theft protection and restoration technology and services for individuals and families, was recognized as a “Leader” in Javelin Strategy & Research’s 2018 Identity Protection Service Provider Scorecard in its Detection category. IDShield currently protects one million consumers.
“Over the past year, we’ve seen a record number of data breaches that have the potential to devastate businesses and consumers alike.
Happy New Year's and welcome to our first ransomware attack.From TechTalk: Ransomware Takes Down Connecticut School in 2019’s First Attack…
On January 4, 2019, ransomware hit Bridgeport Public Schools in Connecticut, making it the first publicly known ransomware attack of the new year. The exact ransomware variant is unknown, as is the ransom demand. It’s also unclear if the school decided to pay the hacker’s demands, or if they are restoring their systems through alternative means. Regardless of how
Let's make this a great year. Be aware for identity theft. Have all those documents reviewed. When's the last time you updated your Will?
From the Aiken Standard:
The start of a new year is the perfect time to resolve to protect your personal and financial information. BBB presents the following 10 New Year’s resolutions to fight scammers, prevent identity theft and save money in 2019.
1. Check your credit report
You are entitled to a free credit report each year from each of the three main Credit
RICHMOND, Va. -- IRS and state officials say this time of year, they see a spike in calls about identity theft.
“Sometimes, they’re crying and I have to calm them down. They don’t know where to go,” Mary Sharpe said.
Scam victims call Sharpe at the Attorney General’s Office to report their cases. She provides them with resources. Most of the time, they’re frantic and have had trouble getting someone on the phone to talk to them about what happened.
“It’s nice to be that person and to talk to them,” Android Hit with 40% More Malware in 2018 Than 2017
According to a recent analysis, mobile malware has increased approximately 40% in 2018. The analysis showed over 3 million malware variants had been identified by the end of the third quarter of 2018. The spike in samples is only supposed to continue, with projections putting the year-end total of malware variants near 4 million, about one million more than what was seen in 2017.
With Android owning a vast majority of the mobile market share, it comes From Techlicious:
Technology has made it easier than ever to give to charities in times of need. Fundraisers pop up in your Facebook News Feed, you see options to text in your donation and, of course, you receive emails and calls. All of these donation methods are legitimate and used by reputable charities to receive funds. Unfortunately, these methods are also used by scammers. So go through this quick checklist before sending in your next donation.
1. Check out the organization online and perform a From The Virginian-Pilot:
The holiday season can provide the greatest opportunity for sales growth but can also be a great opportunity for fraudsters to steal your consumers’ information or that of your business.
Identity theft is the fraudulent acquisition and use of a person's private identifying information, usually for financial gain. These stolen identities are frequently used for fraudulently obtaining loans, accounts, credit cards or other expensive purchases.
Businesses routinely gather Personal From Kentwired.com
Would you know if a hacker stole your personal information?
While most people would like to believe so, it’s usually not the case, said Kambiz Ghazinour, an assistant professor in the Department of Computer Science.
“Mostly, we think that if our personal information is stolen, it’s going to be used as identity theft immediately against us,” Ghazinour said. “Unfortunately, most of the people’s information is stolen from have no clue.”
Identity theft has been on the rise in recent
ADA, Okla., Oct. 8, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Released today, the LegalShield Law Index, a suite of leading indicators of the economic and financial status of U.S. households and small businesses, points to strong consumer financial health due to a combination of rising incomes, manageable debt levels, and an increasingly tight labor market. The LegalShield Consumer Financial Stress Index, one component of the broader LegalShield Law Index, remains historically healthy, while the Bankruptcy Index improved 3.9
From ConsumerAffairs:
We've all done it. We're not sure of our password, so we make multiple attempts to log into an account, and after too many tries we get locked out.
So when you get an email from your bank saying they've locked you out of your account for that very reason and you need to "verify your account" or lose permanent access, maybe you take it seriously.
But watch out. There's an email phishing scam making the rounds using that ruse. If you click on the link you could download malware or,
One of the top five paid apps in the Apple App Store, was accumulating data on its users and sending it overseas. Adware Doctor, previously known as Adware Medic, was the fourth top app in the App store. It portrayed itself as a security product, gaining the trust of its users. It is because of its deceitful name and promises for security, users felt safe granting the app additional permissions, typically not allowed within the App store. Adware Doctor capitalized on this, gaining access to the user’s
Equal access to justice is a pillar of our justice system and a core American value. In fact, it has been fundamental to our self-understanding since even before we were a nation. It informs the principle of righteousness in the Iroquois Confederacy’s Great Law of Peace: “Each individual must have a strong sense of justice, must treat people as equals and must enjoy equal protection under the Great Law.”
It is embodied in one of the chief principles of the Mayflower Compact drawn up in 1620 by the LegalShield Announces Launch of Largest Spanish-Speaking Attorney Network in the United States
Legal Services Company Expands to Offer Spanish Language Legal Plans, Leveraging Technology to Bring Affordable Legal Services to Latino Market
NEWS PROVIDED BY
LegalShield
Aug 27, 2018, 07:00 ET
ADA, Okla., Aug. 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- LegalShield, one of North America's leading providers of affordable legal plans for individuals, families and small businesses, announced today that it will now offer
5-year-old falls victim to identity theft
From CBS in Hawaii:
HOUMA – Identity theft can affect anyone, even a 5-year-old boy.
“I am completely shocked,” Heather Karpinsky said.
Karpinsky knew something was off when her 5-year-old son Gavin started to get letters in the mail.
“I didn't think much of it until I got a letter that said, 'collection notice' also to Gavin. I opened it up and it was a bill for a little over $180," she said. "The following day I got another letter in the mail that said his From GovernmentExecutive:
At a time when curbing identity theft is high on the Internal Revenue Service’s agenda, an Atlanta-based IRS employee has pleaded guilty to a stolen identity fraud scheme.
The Justice Department announced on Thursday that IRS contact representative Stephanie Parker, based in Atlanta, admitted to at least five instances between September 2012 and March 2013 in which, after taking calls from taxpayers seeking help, she “used the taxpayers’ personal information to electronically
They're hereeeeer!!!
Google is preparing to plug a potential privacy leak with its Google Home smart speakers and Chromecast television devices that could reveal your location.
The vulnerability was discovered by the Tripwire security firm. Researcher Craig Young blogged that the problem stems from fundamental design choices that he says are prevalent among Internet of Things devices.
One such issue, Young writes, is that such “devices rarely require authentication for connections received on a local
Your key fob is in your home. Your car is parked and locked on the driveway. You had installed the latest, greatest alarm system. At a hefty cost. What about daytime at the local mall. Is your car still safe? You guessed it . . .
From USAToday:
DETROIT – Given that the best way to store your car keys at night is by putting them in a coffee can, what's an ex-FBI agent's advice to protect cars from theft during the day?
Wrap car fobs in aluminum foil.
“Although it's not ideal, it is the most
Do you know your legal rights? Instead of Knotweed, what about that tree next door? Are City Municipalities liable for drain clogging? - use Family legal plan photo
From the law firm of Hodge, Jones & Allen:
There has been a court ruling from the Court of Appeal dealing with whether an adjoining owner could be sued for nuisance and damage arising from the encroachment of Japanese knotweed (Network Rail Infrastructure Limited v Williams and Waistell (2018)).What is Japanese Knotweed?
Japanese Knotweed
From the Des Moines Register:
Two people have been arrested after police found a skimmer, a device installed in ATMs to steal credit card information, at a QuikTrip in West Des Moines.
Evaldo Cardozo Da Silva, 40, and Jamily Silva Sousa, 26, were charged with identity theft, forgery and credit card fraud, among other offenses,
Fraud investigators found the skimmer device May 25 at an ATM in the gas station at 1451 22nd St. after a customer reported having issues with a card. West Des Moines police
Read Item 3. We're all guilty of this. Keep this as a manual.From the Motley Fool:
Identity thieves swindled Americans out of $16.8 billion in 2017 and according to Javelin Strategy & Research, that number climbs higher every year. Despite the various precautions financial institutions have taken, including the widespread use of microchipped cards, they haven't been able to overcome the biggest risk factor for identity theft -- human error.
Victims of identity theft often don't realize it, but they put
Are you thinking about investing into Cryptocurrency? Definite reading material for you.
On Wednesday, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) launched a website advertising a fake initial coin offering (ICO), intending to show consumers the dangers of a cryptocurrency scam.
The agency says that most ICOs tend to be fraudulent, as the digital tokens sold to buyers can often turn out to be worthless. In an effort to save consumers the turmoil of getting caught up in one of these scams, the SEC
Wouldn't you love to see these new cards succeed in thwarting identity thieves? Me too.
From the Fresno-Bee
New Medicare cards that don't bear Social Security numbers will be arriving in mailboxes soon in the central San Joaquin Valley.
The new cards will display a random set of 11 characters of numbers and letters, and should help deter identity theft and Medicare fraud. Social Security numbers have been removed from the cards at the mandate of Congress, said Lorelei Piantedosi, associate regional
Visited a hotel recently? Feeling secure after 'locking' your door? Think again.
From ConsumerAffairs:
Researchers at F-Secure, a Finnish cybersecurity company, discovered that a hotel lock system known as Vision by Vingcard can be hacked by combining a card reader that can be purchased online with custom software.
Security consultants Tomi Tuominen and Timo Hirvonen said they used old cards from hotels and generated a master key that gave them access to all the rooms using the lock.
“We found out
Does Medicare need to update your files before issuing your new Medicare card? Does Medicare need to update your bank information? These are a couple of questions Medicare recipients are being asked. Should you answer these and other questions?
From ConsumerAffairs and AARP:
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is issuing new Medicare cards to seniors, with random letters instead of Social Security numbers.
The Social Security numbers are being removed from the cards as a security precaution
"Ransomware has become a major problem and is one of the scourges of the modern Internet, allowing cyber criminals to reap huge profits by locking up users’ files and systems. The gold-rush mentality has not only pushed more and more cyber criminals to distribute ransomware, but also contributed to the rise of Ransomware-As-A-Service and other specializations in the cyber criminal underworld. These specialists are now looking to expand their attack reach by exploiting the massive increase in expensive
An article from the Delaware Gazette. Scammers are getting more ingenious in ways to separate your personal information from you.
If you’ve ever received an email from someone claiming to be the Prince of Nigeria telling you that you’ve been lucky enough to come into a large sum of money, chances are you’ve been targeted as part of something called a phishing scam.
These types of scams have come about as the internet has grown. Their primary intent is to send a false email that appears real with the aim
So, will these new cards protect you more than the previous cards containing your SS number? Yes, and maybe no. From the Motley Fool:
Medicare provides essential support for millions of older Americans in protecting their health. Those who choose to join Medicare receive a card that identifies them as Medicare participants, and for decades, the design of the Medicare card stayed the same. Recently, concerns about the potential for fraud and identity theft led the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Do you regularly “cross-shred” your documents? Which documents should you shred? Take advantage of paper shredding events in your area. Dumpster diving is still alive and well. Read on from WWLP.com:
“CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) – It’s important to properly dispose of personal information so it doesn’t end up in the wrong hands.
National Consumer Protection Week is designed to help people protect themselves against having their personal information jeopardized.
The Federal Trade Commission says that sales
Look at the documents this guy had in his possession!! Is he a Russian identity thief? I don't think so. A common criminal? I think so. But once he sells this stuff on black market – watch out!! This is local folks – Yucca Valley. From the San Bernardino Sun:
“Sheriff’s deputies recovered documents with personal identifying information belonging to numerous victims after serving a search warrant Thursday morning at a Yucca Valley home as part of an identity theft investigation.
The home, in the 7000
It's becoming routine for companies experiencing data breaches to downplay certain aspects of the breach. I reported earlier, that in my opinion, this breach was going to get larger. Bottom line – we can't do anything about that, but we can protect ourselves from identity theft. Be protected. It's a bit more secure knowing a reputable monitoring company has your back. From Wired magazine:
“IT WAS A wild west week in security, as GitHub succeeded in surviving the biggest DDoS attack ever (1.35 terabits 2017 Was a Record Year for ID Theft in the U.S. At least 16.7 million Americans had their identities compromised.
It's not the numbers so much as the fact that it's getting worse, with no end in site. As a matter of fact, every aspect of your personal information is at risk for identity theft. From IEEE Spectrum:
“This will not come as a big shock: an estimated 16.7 million Americans were victims of identity theft last year, according to a survey published by the research and advisory firm Javelin
Once you're a member, your LegalShield team is constantly providing useful information. From the latest IDShield’s informational pieces:
"The number of cyber-attacks against small businesses has more than doubled in the past 5 years. Small businesses are often targeted because many lack critical IT security policies and procedures, which larger organizations have in place. You have a duty to your business and your clients to understand the threats and find ways to reduce and manage risk.
Examining your
How to know if your phone or tablet has a virus or malware
Here's why there's no quick fix for robocalls
Protecting children from identity theft
What identity theft services can do . . . and cannot do
Protect Yourself From Medical Identity Theft
How to Clean Out & Organize Your Computer
The Two Biggest Tax Scams You Must be Aware Of
Tax Season Is Upon Us
IDShield Recognized as a “Leader” in Javelin’s 2018 Identity Protection Service Provider Scorecard. IDShield Applauded for Robust Monitoring Services
First Ransomware Attack of 2019 Hit Connecticut Schools
BBB CONSUMER TIPS: 10 resolutions for a safe, scam-free year
Tis' the season for tax scams: How you can protect yourself from identity theft
Do you download from third party sites? Is your cell protected from identity theft? Do you read the legal documentation before “Accepting”?
7 Steps to Spotting a Charity Scam Before Your Donate
Holidays are high season for identity theft for consumers and small businesses
Hackers use email scams, social media to steal personal information
LegalShield Law Index Points To A Strong Economy, But Challenges In Housing Market Will Likely Persist
Phishing email claims you're locked out of your Wells Fargo account
Popular Paid-App, Adware Doctor, Spied on Apple Users
There is no justice as long as millions lack meaningful access to it
News Release from LegalShield
How much credit can a 5-year-old get?
IRS Employee Admits to Criminal Identity Theft
Could your Google Home leak your location to hackers?
Why you might want to wrap your car key fob in foil
CAN YOU SUE YOUR NEIGHBOUR FOR DAMAGE CAUSED BY THEIR JAPANESE KNOTWEED ON YOUR PROPERTY?
Another use for Bluetooth, but you may not be happy about it
Are Identity Thieves Targeting You? Check out item 3.
SEC creates fake cryptocurrency to warn consumers of potential scams
New Medicare cards are in the mail and identity thieves are going to hate them
Researchers find a way to create a master key to hotel rooms. Even defunct hotel key cards can be used to help hackers break into rooms
Scammers are targeting seniors receiving new Medicare cards. Crooks pretending to be from Medicare are trying to steal personal data.
Do you own home smart devices? Better question, how many?
Watch out for ever-increasing phishing scams
New Medicare Cards Are Coming. Here's Everything You Should Know About Them
What documents should you shred to prevent identity theft?
Identity theft investigation uncovers stash of personal documents at Yucca Valley home
SECURITY NEWS THIS WEEK: EQUIFAX FOUND 2.4 MILLION MORE PEOPLE AFFECTED BY ITS 2017 BREACH
2017 Was a Record Year for ID Theft in the U.S. At least 16.7 million Americans had their identities compromised.
You Can’t Afford to Ignore Cyber Security
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