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IT security has always been a concern, but as we move into bigger and better technology, what are the challenges that face us? Technology changes so fast that it isn’t possible to predict exactly how things will go down, but we can prepare for as many eventualities as possible, using current challenges as a stepping stone.
Criminals have always seen the Internet as a possibility for committing more crimes, and that’s not likely to change any time soon. So, we can reasonably expect that cyber crime of all types will increase alongside technology. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: challenges, it, it-security
Categories: General, IT Security Basics
Wi-Fi is by its nature risky, when the point of view of security is concerned. The person should always be alert when he uses his/her inter connection, and should take good security measure to protect his/her bandwidth from hackers. Wireless network represents a technology with the aid of which one can access all over the planet. Wi-Fi gives a lot of mobility to its user therefore a secured wireless connection is must, to keep your private data safe.
Wireless connection works on radio frequencies. The wireless computer has adaptor which converts its signals to radio waves. The computer router which actually receives signals sends these signals over a hard wired cable that is connected to one’s personal computer. In case a person is unaware his phone calls can be interrupted and may be listen by the unauthorized person.
Read the rest of this entry »
Categories: General
We have been repeatedly forewarned that we should avoid dealing with questionable and unverified sites for any of our online transactions. Much like in the real world where we are told to avoid suspicious-looking characters, we are constantly reminded that online transactions are much safer when done with sites that have proven track records of reliability and consistency.
When you wish to promote your blog, isn’t it a given that it is done in conjunction with respected sites as well. Reliability equates to better security and there is much sense in choosing to be associated with sites that promote quality online presence. In truth, we can practice security even by choosing the sites which our blogs will be associated with.Â
Blogsearchengine.com is backed up by SplashPress Media Network. It is a site that offers reviews and listings to blogs for the purpose of providing critical exposure and attention that would result to added traffic and relevant links. Its reviews are in depth and are meant to support a blog’s goal to maximize readership and earning potentials.
Membership packages start at the standard rate of $ 14.99 which can be upgraded to the Silver Package for $ 24.99, the Gold Package for $ 59.99, and the Platinum Package for $ 99.99. Those who wish to avail of this important service can simply sign up and pay the required fee which will only take about a minute to complete. Reliable sites complement each other as they work for their respective goals. The reliability of each is reinforced as they join forces to project security to consumers. A single quality link is worth more than a hundred trash links.
Tags: promote your blog, security by association
Categories: General, IT Security Basics
 
Many people are not aware that they are making it very easy for cyber criminals to invade their privacy. This typically happens when convenience is prioritized over the more critical matter of security. People relax their guard as they choose the easiest path to go about their online transactions. Let’s face it, the use of the Internet is a risk in itself but we multiply that risk when we fail to consider the factors that make us susceptible to fraud and theft.
Protecting our most basic online defenses is a primary concern. User names and passwords are our first line of defense but they tend to be compromised by the tendency to use the same names and passwords for all online transactions. The main problem here is that we make it easy for cyber criminals to penetrate our transactions in the same manner as we give easy access to ourselves. The practice can admittedly save time during the initial stage but the probable resulting loss requires more time and effort to correct. Identity theft can be a traumatic experience both in the physical and emotional aspects.
Cyber criminals are at their work without people realizing it. They are constantly trying to discover passwords by fishing for personal information such as names and dates related to family or work. They can also try to steal passwords saved from memory. They can even be looking into various word and number permutations that will provide them the key to the doors of your private world.
A little effort towards making yourself less predictable to cyber thieves goes a long way. It can be readily understood why some people persist on unsafe online practices especially if they don’t have prior bad experience in transacting online. Due to the sheer amount of information we are encouraged not to put in writing for our own protection,  we try to help our memory by choosing letters and numbers that we can easily recall. That is the very weakness which cyber criminals are looking out for.
Tags: cybercrime prevention, Online Safety
Categories: General, Real-World Issues, Tips
The types of jobs and career opportunities for IT professionals are as vast and different as the industry itself. There are many different avenues you can take in the IT world, include the types of job environments and positions. Only one thing is for certain: you’ll probably be working long hours occasionally and you’ll have to work with computers. The rest of your career is up to you. Read the rest of this entry »
Categories: General
Shopping online is becoming an area of major growth for the economy. As financial strains continue to hit the high streets, more and more shoppers are purchasing their products online in order to make savings. However, it is imperative that any transaction done online is kept safe and secure in order to prevent cyber criminals from accessing your passwords and private banking information. There are a few things you can do to keep your payments online safe.
Change Your Passwords
One way to keep your payments secure is by regularly changing the passwords you use to log into shopping sites. This will help you if your details somehow fall in the wrong hands as the next time someone tries to log into your account, you will have changed the password. Try to stay away from easily guessed or recognizable series of numbers and if you have to write your passwords down, make sure you don’t leave the piece of paper anywhere that strangers can read it. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: making payments, payments, secure payment
Categories: General
Checking accounts are very handy. With it you can pay your bills, pay for your purchases and keep track of your spending bills. Online checking account works the same way, except that they are more convenient to use. You can online fund transfer, unlimited ATM access and easy application procedures. Like with traditional banks, most of these are insured by the FDIC, which means that your money is safe and secured. Now here’s how to open online checking accounts.
Step 1 – Search online for online banks
When doing this, you need to consider the bank’s reputation, their accessibility, their security features, they accreditation and of how much fees they charge for the online application. Most of these banks do not charge you for anything but there are others that do.
Step 2 – Fill their online application
After deciding which online bank to enroll you into, it is now time to fill out the bank’s online application form. This may include your social security number, email address, physical address and name and birth date. After filling out the application form, they will give you some log in access including your password. They would usually ask you to change your password immediately and log back on to your account.
Step 3 – Read the terms and conditions
After signing up, it is important that you read the bank’s terms and conditions very carefully. Most of the times, the term contract are written in very small font so that customers will refuse to read them. But this is where you will find out about the hidden fees and other concerns that might cause complications in the future.
Tags: Banking, checking accounts
Categories: General, IT Security Basics, Physical Security
Research has shown that a survey conducted within a large company shows that although telecommuting is very much productive for many firms it tends to be on the downside for those employees who do stay within the physical office itself. This can be in the areas of personal assistants/secretaries and other office workers who are left to run the office in the absence of their counterparts/coworkers. This leads to dissatisfaction in the workplace hence lowering productivity and encouraging home-bodies to engage in dangerous liaisons from within and outside of the office.
The hatred felt is seen in the rising occurrences of these same people becoming the entry point for attacks on corporate networks when they visit social sites to pass on the otherwise boring day. This is also counterproductive for their attention to work and the other nuances such as physical security and IT security is so much a threat that it is under study on how to improve the working conditions for these people. They are distracted and left to do almost anything they please which is where the security gap seems to be, using the corporate network to access social sites to which they are members of. Even the installation of hardware and software security measures cannot guarantee security coverage at all angles for the main security risk is still the human behind the keyboard who does the typing and not on the structure of the system itself. It might be helpful to get them out more often to allow their facilities more practice letting the steam and pressures/boredom to dissipate. Role rotation may be a key but is not always feasible for there are certain knowledge associated issues that have to be addressed to be able to do that. Training and re-training people allows them to sharpen skills and add new knowledge to their already bored lives.
Tags: Mobile-Workforce, Telecommuting
Categories: General, Instant Messaging, IT Security Basics, Malware, Network Security, Physical Security, Privacy & Anonymity, Real-World Issues, Security Policies
This has been proven true by incidents broadcast around the world in minutes or hours after they have happened. Many have suffered the consequences of such incidents in the UK, US and mostly each and every place on earth where people have had their information taken and used for no good before there was even a sign that there was a problem.
Big business has been reminded again and again that complacency is it’s worst enemy and they have failed again and again at the area. Why? Well first, total protection is almost always imperfect and somebody out there with enough intent and resources can break-in however expensive the protection methods may be. Next is that the best systems for protection is always the ones that cost too much yet they still remain vulnerable and hackable. Contrary to most ad’s you see in print, the internet or your Television there is no one true solution to protection, for if the hardware and software measures succeed in protecting you, the human behind the computer/s are always the biggest risk. That is why even the most expensive solutions are used in conjunction with other solutions to provide the best of both worlds combining physical and software solutions hoping that combination will be enough protection from the continuous influx of attacks from the web and elsewhere. Encryption is nice but it takes a lot of computing power to implement making it too expensive for implementation on all levels of the company. All of these high-tech solutions and hardware would be nothing if the people using the various computer systems in the said organization fail to use them so the weakest link in every system is still the human. Strict adherence and compliance is the key with systems that process information somewhat autonomously already in use doing the searching and classification of information without the user’s input. This uses the latest in Artificial Intelligence with minimal intervention or input from the users.
Tags: IT Security Basics
Categories: Cryptography, General, IT Security Basics, Network Security, Physical Security, Privacy & Anonymity, Real-World Issues, Security Policies
Biometrics is seen as the next step in computer systems security and access control due to the failure of more primitive and fundamental security systems. Fingerprint scanners, passwords, security keys and even smartcards have failed miserably in providing the ultimate and most secure intrusion prevention method for just about anything. From your home, car, computer terminal at work to just about anything else that needs security, it has be come more and more of a must due to the increasing threat of identity theft and other computer related crimes in and out of the workplace.
Biometrics are security systems that are based on the differences the human body manifests in terms of eye structure, facial features and now vein geometry. We’ve all heard of DNA or the so-called blueprint for life and the way it makes each and every human different from everyone else on this earth (well, except for some genetic disorders and diseases that changes the DNA makeup). That is what biometrics takes advantage of as a source of a very unique key or method of identifying one from another person.
Your fingerprint is mapped when it is initially scanned into a computer system which convert’s your analog (actual) print into a digital map that is as unique as you are an individual. Iris scanners take into account the differences the iris has from each and every individual (through the use of a low powered light and scanner to obtain a picture of the eye’s iris which is also unique). Voice recognition takes into account, the differences our voices have from everybody else also converting it into a digital map or password of sorts. Vein geometry, uses a thermal imaging camera to take a picture of your hand or whole body which is sensitive to heat showing all the blood vessels which show as hotspots thus giving you a unique id of sorts as that is also mapped and converted into digital form. All of the above biometrics systems rely on our individual differences which are quite unique to us and add onto it, other more basic security measures such as a physical key (password, key or other devices) to give the ultimate security system preventing intrusion.
Tags: identity-theft, Secure workplace
Categories: General, IT Security Basics, Network Security, Operating Systems, Physical Security, Real-World Issues, Security Policies
