Self Improvement Site
On The Internet! Take the Self Improvement Tour
On The Internet! Take the Self Improvement Tour
Identity Theft Articles
We are currently looking for an Official SelfGrowth.com Guide to "Identity Theft". If you have expertise in Identity Theft and your own website and/or product for this topic, please review this form for complete details. The Official Guide Position is part of our Premium Placement Package
- UL to launch Cybersecurity Cert - by Submitted on Aug 20, 2015 from Robert SicilianoUL in this case stands for Underwriters Laboratories. An article on darkreading.com notes that a UL official, Maarten Bron, says that they are taking part in the U.S. government’s plan to promote security certification standards. The U.S. government is interested in developing a UL-type ...
Views: 963 - Understanding and Stopping Criminal Identity Theft - by Submitted on Feb 23, 2018 from Robert SicilianoThe definition of criminal identity theft is a crime where the criminal impersonates the victim in order to protect their innocence. This can lead to victims getting fines or even getting arrested and charged for crimes they did not commit. How Does This Happen? There are a number of ways ...
Views: 656 - Use a Password Manager Or You WILL Get Hacked - by Submitted on Mar 19, 2018 from Robert SicilianoDo you ever use the same password over and over again for different accounts? If so, you are not alone. However, this is quite dangerous. It’s best to use a different, unique password for each account, and to make it easier, you should use a password manager. According to surveys, ...
Views: 774 - Use an ePrivacy Filter to prevent Visual Hacking - by Submitted on Nov 12, 2014 from Robert SicilianoIn an average year I’ll tally 75,000 airline miles. In an average week while waiting for the plane to board or while in flight I’ll see multiple laptop screens flipped open with an over the shoulder view of emails being sent and received, PowerPoint presentations being tweaked, ...
Views: 979 - Using a knife for survival - by Submitted on Sep 24, 2015 from Robert SicilianoAn article at indefinitelywild.gizmodo.com informs on how to use a knife safely and efficiently for survival. Safety For outdoors, carry a fixed-blade knife, as this is less likely to break. The knife should always stay in its sheath. Otherwise, you could stumble and fall into it, slicing ...
Views: 854 - Vancouver Criminal Lawyer for Theft Cases - by Submitted on Sep 12, 2011 from John BuchnanTheft is one of the rising criminal offences these days. Accused in such cases requires a powerful representation in the court of law. This is only possible with the support of a criminal defence lawyer. As far as a theft case is concerned, it involves almost everything starting from a small ...
Views: 1537 - Very effective Social Engineering Scams - by Submitted on Mar 09, 2015 from Robert SicilianoIt’s amazing how ingenious cybercriminals are, but the victims also need to take some responsibility for falling for these ruses, especially when the victim is a business that has failed to train its employees in cybersecurity measures. Ransomware The stuff of science fiction is here: ...
Views: 1023 - Victim overcomes Identity Theft with Art - by Submitted on Mar 12, 2015 from Robert SicilianoDoes your wallet contain enough information about you for someone to steal your identity and commit crimes under your name? That’s what happened to Jessamyn Lovell when Erin Hart stole her wallet in 2011. Hart shoplifted, checked into hotels and rented cars in Lovell’s name. Of all the ...
Views: 832 - Viruses as Cyberweapons for sale - by Submitted on Jul 12, 2016 from Robert SicilianoIt’s all about code—the building blocks of the Internet. Software code is full of unintentional defects. Governments are paying heavy prices to skilled hackers who can unearth these vulnerabilities, says an article at nytimes.com. In fact, the FBI director, James B. Comey, ...
Views: 707 - Visual Hacking is High Tech Shoulder Surfing - by Submitted on Nov 26, 2014 from Robert SicilianoA visual hacker can infiltrate you—from the outside in. Quite literally, a person (ranging from a snoop to a cyber criminal) can peer over your shoulder while you’re using your computer or mobile (“shoulder surfing” or “visual hacking”), and collect your ...
Views: 1162 - Want Mobile Privacy? Read - by Submitted on Aug 27, 2015 from Robert SicilianoIf you don’t want your smartphone to know more about you than you do, here are top choices, as detailed on gizmodo.com: BlackPhone 2 The Blackphone 2 will black out the federal government from spying on you. Has a five inch handset with full HD screen (with Gorilla Glass 3 that ...
Views: 860 - Want to be a Cybercriminal? Try Facebook - by Submitted on May 03, 2019 from Robert SicilianoWhen you think of a cybercriminal, you probably picture someone in a black hoodie in a dark room on the dark web, but most cybercriminals are out there in plain sight, including on Facebook. Talos, a cybersecurity firm, found that people can easily join Facebook groups, and then participate ...
Views: 653 - WARNING: You or Your Members Could be Targets of List Scams - by Submitted on May 24, 2019 from Robert SicilianoThere are scammers out there targeting conference exhibitors and attendee. What are they looking for? Credit card numbers, money wires and personal information that they can use to steal identities. One of the ways that scammers get this information is by using invitation or list scams. ...
Views: 624 - Watch Out for Tax Scams! - by Submitted on Apr 02, 2015 from Robert SicilianoSpring is here (at least in some parts of the world in the northern hemisphere)! The bees are buzzing, the flowers are blooming, and the accountants are working late because for those in the U.S., it’s tax season! Scammers love tax season—there is a lot of money moving around as ...
Views: 975 - Ways The Id Theft Deterrence Act Can Help Victims Of Fraudulent Activity - by Submitted on Jul 25, 2012 from Daryl CampbellMajor research company Gartner Inc estimates that only 1 in 700 identity thieves ever gets apprehended. It appears that in Oregon they found that one. The Associated Press reported one one identity theft criminal that arrived at a local bank to cash a check. What makes this story so bizarre ...
Views: 1699 - Weak Passwords Mean Data Breaches - by Submitted on Oct 15, 2015 from Robert SicilianoStudies across the board indicate that weak usernames and passwords are one of the top causes of data breaches, and I find that information to be unfortunate, because it is preventable. According to a recently concluded survey conducted by uSamp and sponsored by Siber Systems, creators of ...
Views: 807 - What age is it OK to leave Kids home alone? - by Submitted on Nov 03, 2016 from Robert SicilianoSooner or later, you’ll need to leave your child home—unsupervised, alone—for an extended period. And even though you may have smart devices to keep a constant check on your child, this doesn’t mean you can instantly teleport home in the event your smart security system ...
Views: 734 - What are Bug Bounties? - by Submitted on Nov 20, 2015 from Robert SicilianoA bug bounty refers to the reward a bad-guy hacker gets upon discovering a vulnerability, weakness or flaw in a company’s system. This is akin to giving a reward to a burglar for pointing out weaknesses in your home’s security. But whom better to ask than a burglar, right? Same ...
Views: 898 - What are Consumer Reports? - by Submitted on Oct 13, 2015 from Robert SicilianoYou’ve heard the term “consumer report.” Many times, I’m sure. But do you really know what one is? If you’re nodding your head, would you be able to explain it to a Martian? If not, then you probably do not have a solid understanding of what one is. But lenders, ...
Views: 846 - What Are Smart Home Systems? - by Submitted on Mar 05, 2017 from Peter MainSmart home systems refer to a variety of different and overlapping electrical and wireless systems that will enable a smart home or a smart house to function as a combined whole unit. Central to understanding the nature of the systems is an understanding of the basis of what a smart home is ...
Views: 1130 - What Employment Background Checks Uncover During Background Screening Process? - by Submitted on Jun 04, 2012 from Muhammad Saad KhanJust as the personal reference checks provide the opportunity to obtain corroborating information on whether the applicant will potentially be a good addition to the company, employment background checks can uncover more information related to the ability of the organization to trust the ...
Views: 3643 - What happens when a Bank Account is hacked? - by Submitted on Feb 24, 2015 from Robert SicilianoWho’d ever think that 50 years ago, your money was safer in your bank account than it is today in this “modern” age: remote theft. If you bank with a large or small bank, your account may be at risk by hacking rings. However, most of the time, but not always, if your account ...
Views: 888 - What is a Cache? - by Submitted on Jun 15, 2015 from Robert SicilianoPerhaps someone has told you that you need to “clear your cache,” but what does this mean and why should you do it? A cache is a folder of recently visited webpages, which is stored on your computer’s hard drive, and maintained by your Internet browser. The purpose of a ...
Views: 999 - What is a Hacker? - by Submitted on Oct 01, 2015 from Robert SicilianoYou probably think you know what a “hacker” is, but the images portrayed in the media can be misleading. You may be thinking of a geeky-looking guy who causes peoples’ computers to get infected with viruses or cracks passwords to raid the accounts of big business. This is one ...
Views: 933 - What is a Password Manager? - by Submitted on Oct 07, 2015 from Robert SicilianoMany people, including myself, make mistakes with their passwords and use them on site after site. To remain safe, it’s important to use a unique, strong password on every site you visit. How do you do this the easy way? Use a password manager. According to a recently concluded survey ...
Views: 959 - What is a Potentially Unwanted Program (PUP)? - by Submitted on Apr 01, 2015 from Robert SicilianoWhether you’re an animal person or not, you have to admit that puppies are pretty darn cute. So cute that there are YouTube Channels, Facebook accounts, and Buzzfeed newsletters devoted to the subject. Unfortunately, there’s a not so cute PUP out in the world, and it wants access to ...
Views: 967 - What is a Remote Administration Tool (RAT)? - by Submitted on Feb 21, 2015 from Robert SicilianoEver felt like your computer was possessed? Or that you aren’t the only one using your tablet? I think I smell a rat. Literally, a RAT. A RAT or remote administration tool, is software that gives a person full control a tech device, remotely. The RAT gives the user access to your ...
Views: 1048 - What is a Rootkit? - by Submitted on Feb 07, 2015 from Robert SicilianoA rootkit is a kind of software that conceals malware from standard detection methods. A good analogy for a rootkit would be a burglar breaking into your house. The burglar is dressed all in black, so that his form blends into the darkness. He tiptoes around to hide his sounds so he’s more ...
Views: 986 - What is a Virus? - by Submitted on Apr 20, 2015 from Robert SicilianoHave you ever had the chicken pox? This common childhood illness has another name—the varicella zoster virus. Like all viruses, varicella replicates itself, spreading though the body, and eventually appearing as itchy red blisters all over the body. But the virus doesn’t stop there; ...
Views: 1061 - What is ATM Skimming? - by Submitted on Jan 25, 2015 from Robert SicilianoEver hear of a crime called skimming? It may not be as dramatic a crime as assault or Ponzi schemes, but it can cause significant problems to you as your savings account can be wiped out in a flash. Picture a scrawny nerd tampering with an automated teller machine (ATM)—the ...
Views: 1018 - What is Catphishing? - by Submitted on Mar 03, 2015 from Robert SicilianoWhat is catphishing? It certainly isn’t Garfield lazily sitting in a canoe holding a fishing rod. Catphishing is when a fraudster fabricates an identity and tricks someone via cyber communication into a phony emotional or romantic relationship—usually for financial gain to the ...
Views: 1044 - What is HIPAA Compliance? - by Submitted on Apr 09, 2017 from Michael PetersConfused about HIPAA and whether your business must comply with it? This article will explain HIPAA and the importance of complying with this complex federal law. What is HIPAA? HIPAA is the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, which was signed into law by President ...
Views: 924 - What is Malvertising? - by Submitted on Aug 19, 2016 from Robert SicilianoMalevolent advertising is called malvertising. The “ad” is placed on a website by cybercriminals who want control of your computer for financial gain. And the real scary thing about malvertising is that these trick-ads have appeared on trusted, popular websites like the Weather ...
Views: 796 - What is PCI DSS Compliance? - by Submitted on Apr 10, 2017 from Michael PetersConfused about PCI DSS compliance and what your business needs to do to comply with it? This article will explain PCI DSS and the importance of complying with this important information security standard. What is PCI DSS? PCI DSS stands for the Payment Card Industry (PCI) Data Security ...
Views: 889 - What is Pharming? - by Submitted on Dec 15, 2014 from Robert SicilianoI was surfing on YouTube the other day and found this hilarious video mash-up of Taylor Swift’s song “Shake It Off” and an 80s aerobics video. For a lot of kids today, mash-ups are all the rage—whether it’s combining two videos, two songs, or two ...
Views: 1398 - What is private Information and what is not? - by Submitted on Feb 22, 2015 from Robert SicilianoData Privacy Day was Wednesday, January 28, and these days the concept of “privacy” can be ambiguous, generic or confusing. What you might think of as private actually isn’t. The definition of personal identifying information, by the U.S. privacy law and information security, ...
Views: 958 - What is Sextortion? - by Submitted on Feb 14, 2017 from Robert SicilianoA Massachusetts man is on trial. His crime? Stalking. But, it’s probably not what you think. The 48-year-old was chatting and sharing photos with a 16-year-old girl, and these chats and photos were “sexual in nature.” The pair met on social media, and when the girl asked to ...
Views: 1381 - What is Shoulder Surfing? - by Submitted on May 15, 2015 from Robert SicilianoThe next time you’re in a public place and glued to your smartphone or tablet — whether it’s at the gym, a coffee house, the airport, or just a park bench— know that someone might be peering over your shoulder to see what you’re doing. The snooper could just be ...
Views: 981 - What is Spam? - by Submitted on May 01, 2015 from Robert SicilianoEveryone’s heard of spam as it pertains to emails. Spam isn’t necessarily a malicious message designed to trick you into revealing your credit card number or PayPal login information. But spam is an unsolicited message, sometimes referred to as junk mail. Spam can be ...
Views: 893 - What is the Cloud? - by Submitted on Jun 03, 2015 from Robert SicilianoYou’ve probably heard of people storing information in “the cloud,” but what does that really mean, and is it safe to put your data there? The cloud is best described as a network of servers offering different functions. Some servers allow you to store and access data, while others provide an ...
Views: 985 - What is the Signaling System No. 7 Network? - by Submitted on Sep 22, 2016 from Robert SicilianoThe iPhone has a vulnerability called the Signaling System 7 (SS7) that allows crooks to hack into the device. This was demonstrated on a recent “60 Minutes” episode in which a U.S. congressman (with his permission) had his iPhone hacked by German cybersecurity experts. The ...
Views: 803 - What is Two-Factor Authentication and How Does it Work? - by Submitted on Nov 22, 2019 from Robert SicilianoThere are a number of ways that you can protect yourself online, and one of the things you can do is to start using two-factor authentication. You probably have seen two-factor authentication even if you aren’t sure what it is. For instance, if you do online banking, your bank might ...
Views: 842 - What kind of Home Security System is right for Me - by Submitted on Apr 30, 2015 from Robert SicilianoBurglars don’t usually depend upon the light of the moon to break into homes; they depend on the daylight—because that’s when they know most homes are empty! The kids are in school, the adults are at jobs or shopping…duhhh, even a halfwit burglar knows this is an ...
Views: 879 - What to do and not do before a ransomware attack - by Submitted on Sep 15, 2019 from Hasan RootDo you remember the famous attacks of the Wannacry, Cerber or Cryptolocker ransomware? Are you thinking of generating an anti-ransomware policy to protect your company? Ransomware may seem like a tsunami that as soon as it arrives at our company sweeps it. However, there is Zonealarm anti ...
Views: 684 - What To Do When Your Company Network Is Hacked - by Submitted on Oct 07, 2011 from Dovell BonnettI have written many articles and blogs warning about the cost to a company from a security breach. Ben Worthen, a staff reporter in The Wall Street Journal’s San Francisco bureau, wrote a great article “What to Do if You’ve Been Hacked” on September 26, 2011, where he has highlighted some key ...
Views: 1425 - What Was Scary About Blackhat 2017? - by Submitted on Aug 02, 2017 from Robert SicilianoAs you might know, at the end of July, all types of hackers came to Las Vegas to attend Blackhat 2017. During the conference, some pretty scary hacks were exposed, and we can all take this as a lesson on what we are up against in this technology-heavy world. Here are some of the scariest hacks ...
Views: 875 - What your Locksmith might not tell You - by Submitted on May 02, 2016 from Robert SicilianoIf your deadbolt has begun to malfunction, and you haven’t been using it because you fear the key will get jammed in it—perhaps it’s time to call a locksmith and have him fix it. Well, not so fast. This is not the way to go if you want to upgrade your door’s ...
Views: 732 - What's the best Antivirus for You? - by Submitted on Apr 25, 2016 from Robert SicilianoThere are so many things to consider when it’s time to purchase antivirus software, but don’t let all the options overwhelm you. Take your time and don’t get too fixated on every little detail. Some systems will definitely conform more to your needs than others. But many people ...
Views: 597 - What's the difference between VPNs and Proxies and which is secure? - by Submitted on Aug 26, 2015 from Robert SicilianoIf you are overseas somewhere and want to access your Facebook page…don’t be surprised if you can’t do this. In fact, you won’t even be able to get onto the Facebook site (or YouTube, for that matter), depending on what country that you are visiting. This is because some ...
Views: 951 - Where to Buy Exclusive Valorant Hacks? - by Submitted on Oct 30, 2022 from Arwind SharmaThe makers of League of Legends, Riot Games, have a new game out called Valorant. The game has now been released from closed beta and is accessible to gamers everywhere. A strategic shooting game called Valorant has two teams of five players apiece. Valorant pits squads of five members against ...
Views: 462