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
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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.
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
2021-08-13 14:47
Have you heard the saying “familiar fraud?” If not, you should. This is a crime that is as old as they come; essentially, it’s a crime where someone is taken advantage of b… Read More
2021-08-05 15:15
It doesn’t matter what the occasion is, gift cards are a popular gift. However, if you are giving them, or getting them, you could be part of a scam. There are more gift card scams out… Read More
2021-07-30 12:53
If you buy anything, anywhere, you are at risk of a cyber threat. Though you probably know that cyber threats exist, if you are like most of us, you don’t’ know what to do when i… Read More
2021-07-24 06:54
Do you pay attention to how secure your mobile phone is? Most of us do not do this, which makes it very easy for a hacker to get in and target us. Here are some tips that you can use to prot… Read More
2021-07-08 19:17
Do you have Informed Delivery from the US Postal Service? If not, you should. Every day, it sends you an email that shows what is coming in your mail. However, there is also the possibility… Read More
2021-07-01 18:52
There are several tried and true ways that you can use to protect yourself from ID theft, and some of them you might have never even considered: Check Your Passwords – Every online acc… Read More
2021-06-24 16:24
These days, it seems like there is one data breach after another, and each time, they are being done by those who want to steal your identity. Thankfully, it is much easier than you probably… Read More
2021-06-10 18:33
It’s that time of the year again. And getting lost in the woods is NOT fun and sometimes deadly. But you have a chance if you are lucky and have a clue. A hiker from Hawaii, was found… Read More
2021-06-03 18:37
When we look at statistics,most of the people who are victims of ID theft are 50 years old or older. Unfortunately, cyber criminals have no issue taking advantage of older adults and seniors… Read More
2021-05-27 18:31
One of the common ways that hackers can trick their victims is through a phishing attack. They can do this by writing and sending an email that looks like it comes from a real source. This e… Read More
2021-05-20 18:39
When people started using biometric identifiers, many believed that it was all of the security that we needed. However, that was around 15 years ago, and we are still having security and pri… Read More
2021-05-13 18:02
Do you ever Uber? If you do, you probably feel relatively safe when getting into a stranger’s car. However, you might not be as safe as it seems. Most people believe that Uber does tho… Read More
2021-05-05 18:17
Back in the 1930s when Social Security numbers were first introduced, they were not meant to be used as we use them today. However, if you are like most people, you use your SS number consta… Read More
2021-04-28 15:37
There are many ways that you can protect yourself on the internet, and one of the things you can do is begin using two-factor authentication. You have likely seen two-factor authentication e… Read More
2021-04-21 15:22
You might know what identity theft is. It’s when someone takes someone else’s personal and private information so that they can get something out of it…namely, money. What… Read More
2021-04-16 09:11
When you start thinking about a cybercriminal, you probably imagine a sleezy looking person in a dark room wearing a black hoodie, right? They are likely browsing the dark web and maybe surr… Read More
2021-04-09 12:48
If you have a child who has a smartphone or a spouse who is acting suspicious, they might be hiding things on their mobile devices. How are they doing this? By using a vault application. Bas… Read More
2021-03-17 12:49
You would think with all of the attention on the news out there about hacking, data breaches, and identity theft, that people would be very focused on privacy and protecting their informatio… Read More
2021-03-04 12:59
Do you have a child, tween, or teen who uses the internet? If you want to be a Smart Parent, you should be aware of the following facts: Teens largely believe that the internet is, for the m… Read More
2021-02-26 06:05
Tax time comes around every year, and though you technically have until April 15th each year, if you can, file earlier. There is a good reason for this; you can avoid putting yourself in a p… Read More
2021-02-12 15:07
I was on the Dr Oz show discussing Covid-Vaccine Scams. There’s no “low” for scammers. Even in death, they wish to exploit their victims. People are working around the… Read More
2021-01-20 16:20
There used to be a time when hackers only targeted retailers, but these days, they can target almost any business in any industry, especially those that are not aware of the best cyber secur… Read More
2021-01-13 15:16
Did your kid ever get a pre-approved credit card offer? If so, this is a sign that their identity might have been taken by a scammer. Child identity theft is when someone uses the minor&rsqu&hell…Read More
2021-01-07 16:01
In any industry where money is transferred or large bills are paid,the door is open for hacks. In manufacturing they pay large vendors for all materials and sometimes overseas. In constructi… Read More
2021-01-02 18:48
Are you one of the millions of Americans who are now working from home? Or have you been working from home for awhile? Either way, it is likely that you are using some type of remote desktop… Read More
2020-12-23 16:04
I was recently talking to a friend. She called me because there was a big issue at work: a ransomware attack. Basically, a hacker installed software that locked down the entire network, and… Read More
2020-12-16 16:26
Do you know when something is “fake news?” If you have half a brain, you should. However, when someone in authority makes a claim, the masses who elected that person into that au… Read More
2020-12-09 19:11
These days, shopping online isn’t a risky, crazy or scary task, but with all of the cyber criminals out and about, you might want to think twice before clicking “submit payment… Read More
2020-12-02 10:54
The IRS has taken the step of urging taxpayers to be aware of emails and calls that can lead to people giving up their personal info to cybercriminals. The IRS has been telling taxpayers to… Read More
2020-11-25 10:36
You might think that freezing your credit is enough to keep you safe. In fact, freezing your credit was actually a smart thing to do in order to prevent fraud and stop yourself from becoming… Read More
2020-11-18 09:51
You might not realize it, but hackers are making a ton of money thanks to phishing attacks, and now they have started to focus on gift cards. Scarlet Widow, which is a notorious scam group o… Read More
2020-11-11 13:09
The winter holidays are a time for friends, family, and fun…and also fraud. Here are 10 ways that you can protect yourself from shopping scams this holiday season: Gift Card Scams Don… Read More
2020-11-02 09:23
We all know that the election could lead to turbulent times, and there are going to be risks out there. What can you do if you come across some type of violence or protesting? Let’s st… Read More
2020-10-28 18:33
“TechWorld” has some interesting information, such as a story on a report from the National Institute of Standards and Technology. And while you may not see this as being “… Read More
2020-10-21 15:50
Cyber criminals are always trying to keep one step ahead of the crowd, and now there is another scam that you should be aware of. It’s called “synthetic identity theft,” an… Read More
2020-10-14 16:32
Ryan is a stalker. Ryan was arrested on charges of cyberstalking in October 2017 after it was discovered that he was cyberstalking his former roommate, a 24-year old woman, along with her fr… Read More
2020-10-08 18:26
There are a number of ways that you or your small business could get caught up in a disaster on social media. Can you think of any? If not, that’s cool. Here are 14 that could be dange… Read More
2020-09-30 10:00
Do you know what a credit freeze is? It is an action that you can take to lock your credit report down. A lender will be unable to see your credit score, which means that your credit rating… Read More
2020-09-23 10:00
According to research, people who are older than 50 years old, usually in the 65 to 85-year old range, are common targets of ID thieves. These criminals have no issue taking advantage of the… Read More
2020-09-16 09:56
If you work for an IT security company, especially in the marketing department, listen up: the phrase “Identity theft protection” is definitely way overused and sometimes abused… Read More
2020-09-09 10:00
It might be surprising to know that when Social Security numbers were first given out in the 1930s, that they were not used as a form of identification. However, whether you know it or not… Read More
2020-09-02 10:00
I am constantly seeing articles and blogs that ID protection is not a necessity. These might be called “The Poor Man’s Guide to Identity Theft Protection,” or “Identi… Read More
2020-08-26 13:47
Closing on a new house is very exciting, but it’s also busy and expensive. It also could make you very vulnerable to hackers who know there is a lot of money on the line. Any industry… Read More
2020-08-19 11:47
Cryptocurrency is hot right now, and whenever something is hot, hackers pay attention. Research has recently showing that more than 10 percent of all the funds that were raised through the I… Read More
2020-08-13 13:29
If you are the owner of a small business owner, you might find that you occasionally have issues with your cash flow. One option you have is to open a business line of credit. There are adva… Read More
2020-08-05 10:40
Are you thinking about jumping onto the Bitcoin train? If so, you might be worried about security. The truth is, Bitcoin is definitely secure, but as with anything, there are bad guys out th… Read More
2020-07-29 10:00
Do you have a kid who has gotten a pre-approved credit card offer in the mail? If so, their identity might have been stolen. Child ID theft is when a person uses a minor’s Social Secur… Read More
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