0204326935It’s no surprise that all information we store on our phones make them a great target for third parties. Find tips on how to increase the security of your cell phone.securitycybersecurityprivacyphonecellcellphonehackerhackedengA person looking at their mobile phone with a computer bug icon./mnit/assets/phone-virus-001_tcm38-353289.jpg<custom:Link urlOnly="true" type="Component" destination="tcm:38-327810" templateURI="tcm:0-0-0" origin="tcm:0-0-0" />2018-05-01T05:00:00ZIt’s no surprise that all information we store on our phones make them a great target for third parties. Find tips on how to increase the security of your cell phone.A privacy and security audit for your phone.38<p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Biggest understatement of the year: we use our phones for just about everything. Whether we’re catching up with that long-lost friend who’s out to stay a little lost, snagging last minute gifts we forgot about on our way to a baby shower, finally beating that last level of Candy Crush, using Google Maps to get from point A to point B, comparing our selfies to famous artwork, or even just calling people – we share and promote a lot of personal information via our favorite handheld electronic devices.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Given all of that, it’s no surprise that all of this information in one place makes your phone a great target for third parties to 1) learn more about you and your habits, and 2) look for security weaknesses to exploit. Take a few steps to ensure the privacy and security you expect to have on your phone!</p> <ul xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> <li><strong>Start with securing the physical device.</strong> Use strong passcodes (not “1, 2, 3, 4”) and if your phone has this capability, use touch ID to lock it. If your phone is lost or stolen, taking these measures will help keep people from easily accessing your information. <br /> <br /></li> <li><strong>Watch your Wifi.</strong> Pay close attention to Wifi or Bluetooth devices that your phone may tap into. Third parties can use Wifi and Bluetooth to track your location. Also, remember that public wireless networks are not secure (which means that anyone else using the same network could see what you’re doing on your phone while you’re connected). If you can, try not to log in to financial services accounts or email when connected to public Wifi. <br /> <br /></li> <li><strong>Think twice before downloading that app!</strong> The apps that you download collect information about you. Sometimes a disclaimer will pop up and alert you to the kind of information the app will collect, but sometimes it won’t. Think about how the app you’re interested in might access and use your contacts list, location, and spending habits before downloading it. <br /> <br /></li> <li><strong>Know who sees your location.</strong> Look at your location sharing settings and who else gets it. Apps like Twitter use the built-in GPS to advertise your location. Photos taken on your phone add your GPS location to a picture’s file information. Posting pictures that include that information can also reveal your whereabouts to the social media site and sometimes its users. <ul> <li>How you do this varies by version of Android or iOS (Apple) product you’re using. Here is a guide on <a href="https://www.consumerreports.org/privacy/how-to-turn-off-location-services-on-your-smartphone/" target="_blank" title="guide on how to turn off location services">how to turn off location services</a>.</li> </ul> </li> </ul> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">It’s also worth revisiting these settings periodically because updates to applications or changes in features have been known to reopen sharing you thought you’d closed.</p>3278102019-12-16T22:34:29Z326935Creating an keeping track of strong passwords can be annoying, but not as annoying as getting hacked. Find tips on how to make your passwords more manageable.cybersecuritycyber securitypasswordengClose up of a computer screen with someone entering their password./mnit/assets/password-001_tcm38-353293.jpg<custom:Link urlOnly="true" type="Component" destination="tcm:38-327811" templateURI="tcm:0-0-0" origin="tcm:0-0-0" />2018-02-26T17:28:14ZCreating an keeping track of strong passwords can be annoying, but not as annoying as getting hacked. Find tips on how to make your passwords more manageable.Making Them not the Worst Thing Ever38<p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Uh oh. You forgot your password for yet another account that you only use every once-in-a-while. You mentally prepare yourself for the obstacle course you’re about to enter and click the “Forgot your password” link. You follow the instruction in the email and you create your brand new password.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Uh oh AGAIN. The password you attempted to use is “too similar” to your previous password. You sit in frustration and fume at the screen. How do you come up with a brand new password that you’ll remember? Why should you have to? Why does everything you want to do online require you to “create an account” and come up with a password anyway? Why can’t you just use the same password for everything?!</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Let me stop you right there. Obviously, using the same password for everything puts ALL of your various accounts at risk. Bad idea.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Passwords can be annoying, but you know what’s even more annoying? Calling your friends and telling them not to open any messages from you because your email account was hacked. Calling your bank and saying you didn’t make those charges on your debit card. Calling Social Security and begging for help because your identity was stolen. That’s more annoying.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Passwords don’t have to be the worst thing ever. Consider:</p> <ul xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> <li><strong>Turning your password into passphrase</strong>. Sometimes a long, goofy sentence is easier to remember than a shorter string of random letters. If you insist on a shorter password, try taking a long phrase and shortening it – using letters and symbols to stand in for longer words. The longer the password and the more random, the better.</li> <li><strong>Use password management tools</strong>. You should use a different password or passphrase for each online account you manage. And not just changing a single letter or number. Hackers know people do this so when they hack a website, they immediately try the email address and password combinations (or simple variations) on other popular websites. Unique passwords can be a lot to remember, but there are secure tools out there to help you keep things straight. Password managers also build in other useful features like alerting you to breaches or safely sharing access with others.</li> <li><strong>Don’t forget about security questions</strong>. If you can reset a password you forgot by answering some basic questions, hackers may reset your password by doing a little online research. Change your security questions and treat them like passwords. Make sure only YOU know the right answers and remember they don’t have to be true.</li> <li><strong>Enable two-factor authentication</strong>. A second factor creates an additional layer of security on an account. A code texted to your phone or presented by an app can make it harder for hackers to use a stolen password.</li> </ul>3278112019-12-16T22:34:29Z326935With one click, what was supposed to be a great new gift became heartache and a lot of calls to your financial institution and the credit bureaus. Find tips safe online shopping.cybersecuritycyber securityidentity theftonline shoppingengA credit card on a fishing hook./mnit/assets/phishing-001_tcm38-353288.jpg<custom:Link urlOnly="true" type="Component" destination="tcm:38-326938" templateURI="tcm:0-0-0" origin="tcm:0-0-0" />2018-02-15T15:57:15ZWith one click, what was supposed to be a great new gift became heartache and a lot of calls to your financial institution and the credit bureaus. Find tips safe online shopping.Preventing Identity Theft38<p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">You’d be hard-pressed to find someone who’s never been disappointed by an online shopping experience. Sometimes the dress you ordered shows up black and blue when it was clearly white and gold in the picture, the lenticular poster of the Borg ship is an odd shape for framing, or worse – the item you ordered never showed up at all – and your credit card amassed fifteen new charges from random stores in Tokyo. With one click, what was supposed to be a great new gift for your beloved’s birthday became heartache, sorrow, gnashed teeth, and a lot of calls to your financial institution and the credit bureaus.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Not every online shopping experience has to lead to disappointment. After all, there are plenty of times online shopping is the best option to get what you need. You can still shop online, just make sure to shop smartly!</p> <ul xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> <li><strong>Use familiar websites and look for the lock!</strong> Shop on trusted websites, directly with companies that you’ve heard of before and had good experiences with. And, make sure it’s secure by looking for a lock icon right next to the URL in the address bar. That means the site uses TLS (transport layer security) encryption, adding a layer of protection to you and your purchase.</li> <li><strong>Research. Research. Research.</strong> I know it’s extra work, but don’t buy something without thoroughly researching the product (and the website or company that’s selling it). If you’re buying something from a third party on Amazon or eBay – read reviews on the seller and product before putting up the money. Also, read the return policy. Know what you can do if you need to make a change.</li> <li><strong>Use safe payment methods.</strong> If you pay using a credit card, you’re also better protected if the site gets hacked and your card information gets out. You can dispute the charge if an item is not delivered or the item you received is not what you ordered. Sadly, it doesn’t protect you from poor taste in wall art.</li> </ul>3269382019-12-16T22:34:29Z326935Scammers and cyber-attackers have found a cost-effective, time-saving way get their hands on your personal information – through email. Find tips on email safety.cybersecuritycyber securityphishingemailengAn illustration of many email icons./mnit/assets/email-001_tcm38-353290.jpg<custom:Link urlOnly="true" type="Component" destination="tcm:38-326939" templateURI="tcm:0-0-0" origin="tcm:0-0-0" />2018-02-15T15:55:45ZScammers and cyber-attackers have found a cost-effective, time-saving way get their hands on your personal information – through email. Find tips on email safety.How to Detect and Defeat38<p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Scammers and cyber-attackers have found a cost-effective, time-saving way get their hands on your personal information – through email. One of the most common things to be on the lookout for is phishing. Phishing can occur over email when a scammer uses fraudulent messages to get you to share personal information (Social Security numbers, banking information, account passwords, etc.). Email can be dangerous for another reason – attachments or random links in emails can contain malware, and opening or clicking on them lets the attackers past any defenses you might have.</p> <p xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Luckily for you (and not so luckily for fraudsters), there are a few simple things you can do to keep your information safe and your computer system secure. Stop these attacks before they get to your machine!</p> <ul xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> <li><strong>Think password security.</strong> Use strong and unique passwords for every site, and change the important ones regularly. Help maintain your sanity by keeping your complex (random!) passwords in a safe place like a password manager, and don’t share your password with anyone. This will help keep cybercriminals from accessing your account and using it for their evil purposes.</li> <li><strong>Remain skeptical.</strong> Don’t open attachments from anyone you don’t know, and watch out for suspicious links inside an email regardless who sent it. If you receive an email that appears to come from someone you know (or from an institution you’re familiar with, like a bank) and asks for money or information – stay skeptical. Call that person or institution at a trusted phone number (not one provided in the email!) before opening attachments or sending even benign information.</li> <li><strong>Keep private information private!</strong> It’s easy for someone to read an email – even if they weren’t the original recipient of the message. Emails can be forwarded and passed along to others without you knowing about it, and if a scammer was able to access your account, they could search through your “sent” box for something to use against you or your friends and coworkers.</li> </ul>3269392019-12-16T22:34:29Z