Posts filed under: Safety & Security

Safety & Security

Safety & Security issues of the 21st Century

OPINION: Criminals prey in the COVID world

As much as we would like to think that mankind will 100 percent rally around each other in the face of COVID-19, a virus which cares little about your nationality or socio-economic status, it wants us all, thinking such would... Read More

My credit card and the Washington Secretary of State site used in credit card fraud

It was 0730 in the morning and my wife, Kathy, calls down from her office and asks what the $200 charge was on her credit card to the Washington Secretary of State. She had seen the charge come through on... Read More

Mystery Shopper scam nets millions

So you wanna be a mystery shopper? Meet, Timeiki Hedspeth, age 39, from Houston, Texas. She may have reached out to you, via email, to recruit you to be a part of her “Mystery Shopper” team. She recruited throughout the... Read More

Did you get your call from the Social Security Administration?

Did you get your call from the Social Security Administration (SSA)?  The one where they told you that your benefits would be turned off unless you bring your profile up-to-date by providing some personal information or paying a fine. If... Read More

WiFi Encryption – Does this vulnerability affect me?

Today, I wrote in Senior Online Safety about how the US Department of Homeland Security’s CERT issued a warning: WiFi encryption compromised! Update devices now! Is it fluff or is it real?  It’s real.  You should make sure to accept... Read More

Symbols used by pedophiles to indicate child preference

The Daily Mail recently shared symbols or codes used by pedophiles to communicate with each other within social networks. The Daily Mail, says it best, “The seemingly innocuous pastel-colored scrawls feature butterflies, love hearts, and spirals. These are the symbols... Read More

College students conned into pay for work scam 

On 18 January 2017, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) issued a public service announcement (PSA), in which they described a scam which is specifically targeting college students who are looking for work. While the mechanics of the scam are... Read More

Sextortion – Blackmail via the internet

This is Ashley. she was a victim of sextortion. Her predator was 26-year-old Lucas Michael Chansler, who last year pled guilty to multiple counts of child pornography production and was sent to prison for 105 years—but not before he used... Read More

WhatsApp and it’s backdoor peering into you

Updated 14 January 2017 ----------------------- Today the Guardian reported that the Facebook owned application, WhatsApp contains a backdoor into its cryptographic end-to-end protocol. What this means, if true, is that your private conversations, may be encrypted as they pass through... Read More

GOP link to North Korea – Hack Sony Pictures Entertainment?

The Chinese hacking group, Guardians of Peace (GOP) are believed to have links to North Korea according to press reports from the region describing a technology hack of Sony Pictures Entertainment. At first blush one must ask, ‘why North Korea.” ... Read More

Etiquette this Safer Internet Day 2014

    It is often times hard to absorb all of the avenues by which we interconnect online and how those connections create opportunity. Opportunity for good, and the not so good behaviors. Take for example, the many networks that have evolved... Read More

The angels look down upon us – Sandy Hook

Today marks the first anniversary of the horrific murder of the children and adults at Sandy Hook elementary and 26 new souls entered heaven via a highway of our tears. The families have had a year to process the loss... Read More

Safer Internet Day 2013 – 9 Safety Tips

Today is international Safer Internet Day 2013. Take a few moments and think about the online safety and security of you and your family. Nine tips to help you get started: Tip #1 - Know who: Tip #2 - Security Software: Tip... Read More

Tears in Heaven – 26 new souls

This morning, I, like so many others across the globe, sit with tears streaming down my face and into my lap as I think about the 26 souls who are now in Heaven on a direct path from the Sandy... Read More

Bringing the Social Media #Revolution to Health Care (Mayo Clinic)

On the 18th of October, the Mayo Clinic Center for Social Media announced the publication of “Bringing the Social Media #Revolution to Health Care” (Mayo Clinic) – for those involved in the health care vertical and with social media responsibilities... Read More

Amanda Todd – stalked & bullied – online safety

The stalker, may he burn in hell, a male predator on-line convinced a 12-yr-old Amanda whom he befriended in a chat room to flash her breasts over an internet connect and did a screen grab of the event. For... Read More

Safer Internet Day 2012

Safer Internet Day 2012 (SID2012) serves as great opportunity to remind ourselves of the need to exercise a bit of caution as we traverse the wired side of life. What impresses me the most is the multi-lingual, multi-topic approach... Read More

Unintended Consequences – Time for a paradigm shift

On 2 November, I gave a talk, "Unintended Consequences" at Gnomedex. I spoke to the need to recognize that "always-on" isn't necessarily always good. I went on to describe the train-wrecks which occur when technology which is... Read More

A discussion surrounding bullying

I had the pleasure of speaking with Chris Pirillo pre-Gnomedex about a variety of subjects, some light, some humorous and one very serious - the topic of bullying and the attendant suicides. During this discussion, I also shared my... Read More

Encrypt or not to encrypt, that is the question

17 October 2011 (#NCSAM – National Cyber Security Awareness Month) Encryption: To encrypt or not encrypt, that is the question (a hat tip to the Bard of Avon). In this day and age of digital data thefts, careless loss of... Read More