2024-04-10 19:05
Protecting one’s data and devices on public Wi-Fi goes beyond protecting oneself on just the Wi-Fi aspect. Cyber security is holistic in its nature, meaning the devices hardware, softw… Read More
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Robert Siciliano Personal Security And Identity Theft Expert Blog
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#1 Best Selling Author ROBERT SICILIANO is fun, funny, but serious about teaching you and your audience fraud prevention and personal security. Robert is a United States Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla Staff Officer of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security whose motto is Semper Paratus (Always Ready). His programs are cutting edge, easily digestible and provide best practices to keep you, your clients and employees safe and secure. Your audience will walk away as experts in identity theft prevention, online reputation management, online privacy and data security.
Robert is a 5 time Boston Marathoner, Private Investigator and is fiercely committed to informing, educating, and empowering people so they can be protected from violence and crime in the physical and virtual worlds. As a Certified Speaking Professional his “tell it like it is†style is sought after by major media outlets, leading corporations and meeting planners, to get the straight talk they need to stay safe in a world in which physical and virtual crime is commonplace. Siciliano is accessible, real, professional, and ready to weigh in and comment at a moment’s notice on breaking news. Robert lives in Boston with his wife and young daughters and he rides a 1987 purple Harley Davidson Low Rider.
2024-04-05 18:20
Lets agree on this: Most of what’s written below will NEVER happen to you. Why? Because you are a subscriber to this newsletter and your propensity to consume security related content… Read More
2024-03-06 19:23
Change Healthcare, a major U.S. healthcare company, reportedly paid $22 million to the BlackCat ransomware group after a cyberattack disrupted services nationwide. However, the cybercriminal… Read More
2024-02-22 18:13
1. Phishing Scams: Cybercriminals send fake emails or create fake websites pretending to be from the IRS or tax preparation companies. They often request personal information, such as Social… Read More
2024-02-14 19:57
The post YOU WILL Get Suckered By An AI-enabled Deep Fake appeared first on Safr.me Read More
2024-02-05 19:46
With the ubiquity of people owning smartphones and having a growing dependence on them for e-commerce, it has become an attractive avenue for cybercrime. Security researchers report&nbs&hell…Read More
2024-01-20 11:11
Though it might look like a fun thing to do, you better think twice before taking that quiz that pops up on your social media page. A hacker, otherwise known as a “social engineer&rdqu&hell…Read More
2024-01-13 19:18
In life as in business, we need to have contingency plans. That means backing up our back up and that means having a plan for when we expire. Nobody really wants to deal with that expire par… Read More
2024-01-09 11:02
Every single time I get on a stage and present a security awareness training program, someone desperately asks me how to stop all the scammy text messages. My response is the same for e… Read More
2023-12-23 16:30
Zelle is one of the most famous platforms to quickly send money to loved ones, friends, and family. However, now cybercriminals are taking advantage of it to get people’s account infor… Read More
2023-11-09 18:30
Cyber criminals hate a hard target. In the language of security, a “hard target” is someone difficult to hack, while a “soft target” is someone who is especially vuln… Read More
2023-10-31 20:13
Ransomware attacks are on the rise and small businesses are on the menu. The 2023 State of Ransomware report from Malwarebytes Labs finds that the United States saw 1,462 attacks betwe… Read More
2023-10-27 19:43
A recent credential stuffing attack on 23andme.com left most people bemused, if they noticed it at all. A similarly muted response followed the leak of millions of user records on known hack… Read More
2023-10-21 17:05
Do you have backup files for your critical business data and software? Where are they stored? How often are they updated? During Cyber Security Awareness Month, you should be asking these th… Read More
2023-10-10 19:46
Data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) point to boom times for real estate fraud. In 2022, real estate fraud cost victims $396.9 million, a 13.30% rise from 2021 and an 86.18% r… Read More
2023-10-05 19:10
October 2023 marks the 20th annual observation of Cybersecurity Awareness Month, an annual declaration from the U.S. Congress and the White House intended to remind individuals and business… Read More
2023-09-28 11:27
With Cyber Security Awareness month set to kick off on October 1, a new survey finds that the boards of U.S. companies should pay attention. The Wall Street Journal reports that an… Read More
2023-09-20 16:19
Social engineering may be behind two high-profile attacks on casino operators Ceasar’s and MGM. In an 8-K filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Ceasar’s Entertainme… Read More
2023-09-14 11:33
Should you report a cyber attack attempt? Even a small, seemingly insignificant one? The answer is almost always yes. There are two reasons to report a cyber attack. The first is to show cyb… Read More
2023-09-07 18:23
September 2023 marks the 20th anniversary of the National Association of Realtors’ (NAR) REALTOR® Safety Month. With more than 1,5 million members, the NAR is the largest trade ass… Read More
2023-08-31 16:52
The New Haven, Connecticut, school district lost more than $6 million to cyber thieves in a Business Email Compromise (BEC) attack that was discovered only after the real vendor asked why th… Read More
2023-08-17 11:33
The new Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC )disclosure rule for cyber incidents represents the most sweeping attempt to date to mandate cyber security by the United States government. I… Read More
2023-08-09 19:53
Real estate agents nationwide need to be on alert for the Vacant Land Scam. A California Department of Real Estate (DRE) advisory issued in July noted what the DRE called “a… Read More
2023-08-05 07:09
People are often anxious about the security of their personal information and online accounts. Cybercriminals are finding new ways to invade your privacy which is why you need comprehensive… Read More
2023-07-28 18:11
WormGPT, a new, AI-powered tool for pretexting attacks, is attracting subscribers among the cyber criminal community, according to reporting from ZD.net. The capabilities of this tool, which… Read More
2023-07-27 19:36
Online cyber security employee training courses from Protect Now have been certified by the International Distance Education Certification Center (IDECC). This certification represents… Read More
2023-07-20 18:18
The cyber security newsletter from Protect Now Partner and Head of Training Robert Siciliano hit a milestone of 10,000! subscribers on LinkedIn on July 17, 2023. Subscriptions for… Read More
2023-07-07 18:26
Stolen ChatGPT conversations have been found on the Dark Web, according to Singapore-based cybersecurity firm Group-IB. The theft and publication of ChatGPT conversations reveals a danger ab… Read More
2023-06-27 16:09
Dozens of global businesses may have been impacted by the MoveIt hack, a cyber attack on a third-party data-transfer provider that has potentially exposed the sensitive personal information… Read More
2023-06-20 18:09
The phone rings at the desk of a new employee. The boss is on the line. He says he’s having trouble reaching staff, and he needs several hundred dollars of gift cards to give to a clie… Read More
2023-06-12 19:21
Pretexting attacks, many launched through Business Email Compromise (BEC), have nearly doubled in 2023 according to the Verizon 2023 Data Breach Investigations Report. First, the costs: Base… Read More
2023-05-31 18:05
The new FTC Safeguards Rule goes into effect on June 9. Everyone in the real estate industry needs to take note of this and evaluate their need for compliance. Failure to comply can result i… Read More
2023-05-23 16:15
Google has announced a new Inactive Account Policy that every business owner needs to understand. From their update: Starting later this year, if a Google Account has not been used or signed… Read More
2023-05-10 18:27
SEO poisoning is a new tactic that scammers use to steal credentials. It can be difficult to detect, and it can harm the reputation of your business if scammers attempt to spoof your identit… Read More
2023-05-05 16:17
Lawsuits relating to cyber security incidents are on the rise, according to the 9th Annual Data Security Incident Response Report published by law firm BakerHostetler. For 2022, there were 4… Read More
2023-04-25 19:37
A new method is out for distributing BumbleBee malware: Google Ads. Researchers at Secureworks discovered Google Ads campaigns and downloads promoted through high-ranking sites in Google Org… Read More
2023-04-19 18:29
Would Your Employees Notice Millions in Fraud? The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) announced indictments against two individuals suspected of familiar fraud schemes that led to $8… Read More
2023-04-15 16:37
Like Big Papi said “This is our f–king city.” It’s the 10th anniversary of that beautiful – tragic day. The new Netflix documentary “Americ… Read More
2023-04-11 19:38
It took less than 5 months for a significant ChatGPT breach. This is not surprising, given the incredible pace of the software’s adoption. On February 1, Reuters reported that ChatGPT… Read More
2023-04-04 16:45
Comprehensive Program Includes Personal Security and Cyber Security Certification DENVER, CO – April 4, 2023 – Protect Now, a leading provider of cyber security training and solu… Read More
2023-03-24 19:55
Last week, AT&T reported the latest in a series of high-profile data breaches. The company announced that approximately 9 million customer records, including names, email addresses, phon… Read More
2023-03-11 19:27
The new National Cybersecurity Policy from the Biden Administration holds lofty ideas, but little that is actionable. As reported by The New York Times, the policy, unveiled on March 2, seek… Read More
2023-03-01 19:46
Sobering data from Gartner illustrates the shortcomings of cyber security employee training. The company predicts that more than half of cyber attacks by 2025 will result from :lac… Read More
2023-02-24 06:50
Valentine’s Day kicked off a big week for software patch fans, as Apple sent out a patch for its operating systems and Microsoft pushed a flurry of patches for Wind… Read More
2023-02-18 07:35
As tax season begins, cyber crime targeting W-2 forms is on the rise. Criminals want W-2 forms so they can file fraudulent tax returns and cash the refund checks. Victims find out about thes… Read More
2023-02-10 19:54
Cyber insurance may not offer the protection you expect. In a case that has far-reaching implications for all policyholders, leading cyber insurance providers challenged a New Jersey court r… Read More
2023-02-01 18:16
In a sign of its aggressive new posture against cyber criminals, the United States government infiltrated and compromised the Hive ransomware gang, blocking hundreds of millions in… Read More
2023-01-27 20:14
This is Data Privacy Week, when everyone who uses the Web is encouraged to think about, and limit, the amount of personal data they share online. We often think of data privacy and data brea… Read More
2023-01-19 19:46
Mandatory cybersecurity is coming, according to details published by Slate of the Biden Administration’s National Cybersecurity Strategy now circulating in Washington. The do… Read More
2023-01-17 19:39
A ransomware group known as Vice Society has taken credit for an attack on California’s Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) police that saw unredacted police reports published on the Dark We… Read More
2023-01-06 18:48
There is a disconnect between the reality of small- and mid-sized business (SMB) cybersecurity risks, the way SMBs think about them and the services that cyber security companies offer. This… Read More
2022-12-29 18:37
Hackers Had Access for Months Before Launching Ransomware Attack In another sign that accountability is rising in cyber security, the IT director of the Suffolk County Clerk’… Read More
2022-12-20 19:29
Business Email Compromise (BEC) scams netted $2.4 billion in losses during 2021, with 19,954 complaints reported to the United States government. A joint advisory from the Federal Burea… Read More
2022-12-14 19:35
The More You Make and Keep, the Stronger Your Cyber Security in 2023 Resolution season is upon us as we take our annual stock of who we would like to be. Fitter, kinder, more charitable, as… Read More
2022-12-09 19:56
Don’t Wind Up on a Cyber Criminal’s Nice List Amid the December maelstrom of planning, parties, shopping and activities lie more opportunities for cyber criminals than any other… Read More
2022-12-01 18:41
Dark Web monitoring fills an important security gap for individuals and businesses. It has applications in cyber security, reputation management and brand management. By monitoring Dark Web… Read More
2022-11-23 19:10
Phishing remains the top tool for criminals targeting businesses, while ransomware has become the most popular form of cyberattack, according to the IBM Security X-Force Threat Intellig… Read More
2022-11-17 18:46
A new Pay Later scam targets users with fake invoices that deliver funds directly to thieves. Those who have linked a Buy Now, Pay Later account to their PayPal may be at greater risk. What… Read More
2022-11-16 06:54
When you think about cyber warfare, you probably imagine an underground bunker full of people working computers to try and take down the Pentagon, or to shut down air traffic control. You pr… Read More
2022-11-03 18:17
Apple owners have noticed something very weird: they are becoming victims of a scam using Apple IDs. Once they give up the IDs, scammers can sometimes get access to their Apple account. Here… Read More
2022-10-14 19:23
Do you have a business? If “yes,” you have to read this. Do you have personal information? “Yes,” you do. In both scenarios, you will find that hackers have you on th… Read More
2022-09-26 19:22
We generally have no idea when a disaster is coming, and even if we do have a heads up, it’s very possible that things are going to go wrong. This is where a business continuity plan c… Read More
2022-09-19 19:29
It’s Realtor Safety Month. Real estate agents and their clients are targeted by violent criminals and cyber thieves. Statistically, tens of thousands of real estate agents are subjecte… Read More
2022-09-13 17:13
One of the most lucrative illegal business ventures out there is cybercrime, and there are no signs that it is slowing down anytime soon. Over the past 10 years, the “bad guys” h… Read More
2022-09-03 16:51
What is it that makes people fall for scams? Cybercrime is as hot as ever, with new and more creative scams popping up all the time. There is plenty of focus on spotting scams, but less so o… Read More
2022-08-30 17:04
According to experts in threat analysis, 2022 could be the year that cybercriminals start focusing more on the Average Joe instead of focusing on big corporations as they have in the past. T… Read More
2022-08-15 16:32
These days, if you want to date, there are hundreds of online dating sites and apps out there, but instead of finding love, you may fall for one of online dating scams and lose a lot of mone… Read More
2022-08-15 16:21
The internet is an awesome place where you can do things like shop or interact with family and friends you may not see all of the time. For as much fun as it is, though, it can also be quite… Read More
2022-07-15 18:16
Over the years, Apple has attracted all types of users thanks to its relatively safe and secure devices and software when compared to other products. However, with the release of AirTags, th… Read More
2022-07-09 19:41
No matter when you look at the news, there is probably a story about Russian hackers…and if there is not a story about hackers from Russia, there is likely a story about hackers from… Read More
2022-06-17 17:33
The Covid-19 pandemic has changed the world as we knew it. From millions of people who have died to inflation running out of control, we still haven’t returned to “normal.”… Read More
2022-06-03 12:57
Whether you are a gun enthusiast or hate guns, guns are here to stay. And while the Second Amendment pretty much guarantees guns will remain in America in perpetuity, it is unlikely the foun… Read More
2022-05-21 06:40
Retail, shipping, and tech companies are no longer the most common brands that hackers use to hide their attempts at phishing. These days, social media platforms are the main choice, and hac… Read More
2022-05-06 20:22
Whether you like it or not, companies like Facebook, Google, and Amazon all have a ton of data about you, including social connections, health information, and things you like or dislike. Th… Read More
2022-04-23 17:12
I love my phone. I HATE MY PHONE. No really, I love my phone. Actually, I HATE my phone. This post might be a bit off-topic from my usual security stuff, but dealing with one’s phone a… Read More
2022-04-18 11:24
Finally we are back to booking a ton of live-in-person security awareness training at conferences! It’s about time! Business is getting back to pre-Covid days here in the States and an… Read More
2022-04-16 11:08
Covid seems to be on the downswing (hopefully). Airlines are reporting record-breaking bookings. There are a number of travel security considerations to be made when traveling domestically a… Read More
2022-03-25 18:47
What’s happening in the Ukraine is an example of the worst that humanity has to offer. Millions of people being displaced, and thousands being killed. Our collective governments are wa… Read More
2022-03-16 16:14
Wi-Fi is inherently flawed. Wi-Fi was born convenient, not secure. It is likely that you have heard about how dangerous it is to use an unsecured public Wi-Fi connection, and one reason is b… Read More
2022-03-03 16:58
Do you think password managers are safe? You probably do, or at least hope they are if you are using them. Keep in mind, there is no such thing as 100% safe or 100% secure. Password managers… Read More
2022-02-19 09:24
If you have a Gmail account, you should be concerned. Why? Because there are millions of malicious emails that are sent to users of Gmail every day. Now while Google upsets many people for m… Read More
2022-02-11 19:07
A lot of people just want to follow the crowd. You might not be one of them, but you have surely heard of some calling others “sheep” or cattle,” because they want to be le… Read More
2022-02-03 16:28
It can be a real hassle to keep track of the passwords you use. So many people use the same combination of username and password for every account. However, this isn’t a good idea. In… Read More
2022-01-25 16:20
If you are like many, you are more technically inclined than your parents. So, they might want to rely on you when they have computer issues. But you can alleviate many of these issues by ke… Read More
2022-01-14 14:15
Do you think of yourself as a spy and wonder how you can monitor another person’s cell phone? Well, we aren’t going to tell you that here, but we will give you some information a… Read More
2022-01-06 16:25
There are many scammers out there, and one of the things they like to do is to create fake sites that are meant to trick people into giving them personal information, commit identity theft o… Read More
2021-12-17 18:41
If you are someone who gets spammy, scammy calls, you are not alone. You also know that they can be very annoying. Thankfully, there are a number of apps out there that can help. Here are a… Read More
2021-12-10 18:46
With the holidays here, many of us will be receiving new digital devices. And many of those devices may end up on Facebook marketplace or eBay in a secondhand market. And I will buy them so… Read More
2021-12-02 15:35
It’s the holidays once again, and each year, people flock to the internet to do online shopping. Hackers know this, and they set themselves up to steal your data. Every year there is a… Read More
2021-11-19 16:39
Though you might not realize it, your electronic devices are probably spying on you. These things, like your cell phone, know everything from what you are reading to where you are at any giv… Read More
2021-11-12 11:23
During the holiday season, people are constantly posting family photos online, especially photos that contain kids. Sure, you think your kids are the most adorable out there, but do you real… Read More
2021-11-04 19:13
You might not realize it, but there are scammers out there that are focused on conference attendees and exhibitors. What do they want? They want money wires, credit card numbers, and any per… Read More
2021-11-01 15:38
Awareness; knowledge or perception of a situation or fact. Appreciation; a full understanding of a situation. Cyber Security Appreciation “My business has been hacked. Now what?”… Read More
2021-10-13 11:49
It is easier than you might think to secure your email from hackers. The number one thing you can do is set up two step verification. Even if your username and password is compromised, bad g… Read More
2021-09-30 18:47
Kids used to be really happy with necklace kits, puzzles, and building blocks, but these days, they really prefer other things, including tech gifts, which can connect them to the rest of th… Read More
2021-09-23 15:58
Not too long ago, I heard from a friend, and he told me his mom was scammed. I was immediately intrigued. He goes on to tell me that since his dad died last year, his mom had signed up for o… Read More
2021-09-17 16:22
Many people wonder if it is safe in certain situations to give out their Social Security number. We sure are asked for it a lot, but do you have to give it? When is it necessary? Here is som… Read More
2021-09-10 16:17
If you have a small or medium sized business, it is likely that you have staff who are bringing their tablets, phones, iPads, and laptops to work every day. However, all of this puts your bu… Read More
2021-09-02 14:22
You might not think that you could ever be a victim of cybercrimes, but you would be incorrect. You are just as much of a possible victim than anyone else, and you have to know how to protec… Read More
2021-08-20 16:16
Do you have kids who have been asking you for a smart phone? You might even know people who have kids your kids’ ages, and they have smart phones. How old is old enough for a smart pho… Read More
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