Cybersecurity & Privacy
AppRemover uninstalls security & filesharing applications
I previously wrote about my favorite app uninstaller called Revo, it is worth the 5 minutes to read that article. As mentioned in the above linked article about Revo, it will do a fantastic job for 99% of the applications on your windows 7/8/Vista/Server 2003 computer. Then we get to the 1% which is the wonderful world of security apps. These little gems are a must but need to deeply embed themselves into your operating system in order to perform their work.
How to protect yourself on social networks
Social networks are interesting things, they allow people to connect and share data. Casinos spend billions of dollars to carefully design every aspect of their location, games and services to maximize your spend. Social networks spend a great deal of time figuring out how to "encourage" you to over-share. The advantage social networks have is that they are impersonal and thus users seem to be willing to share far more information online than they would during a face to face encounter.
Is Microsoft going through your cloud stored files?
As the CISO of a large multinational organization, I understand the fine balance between flexibility/usability and security. Absolute usability means no security and vise versa. So when I look at cloud storage solutions like Dropbox, Skydrive, Google Drive, SugarSync , Cubby, iCloud & al, I understand the attraction. You pay a reasonable monthly fee and all of your important data is backed up to the cloud and available everywhere on all your devices. They provide ultimate flexibility. Unfortunately the average consumer isn’t thinking about the security of their in-cloud files, because this would add a layer of complexity and would reduce the ease and flexibility of the solution.
Canadians can request their credit files
There are two primary credit collection and reporting agencies in Canada: Equifax Canada TransUnion Canada These agencies collect, store, process and report on the credit histories of millions of Canadian. Your credit file will determine credit eligibility, interest rates you pay and in extreme cases, security clearance for certain jobs. So it is a good idea to know what is in your credit file with each of these agencies and to ensure all the collected data is accurate. You have the right As a Canadian, you have a government given right to obtain a copy of your credit file (from each agency), once every 6 months (via mail).
The best way to protect your data - images, music, documents
We are living in the era of everything digital which makes it wonderfully easy to store and retrieve our data. This convenience also introduces a new risk of loss. Not only do you have to worry about fire, flood or theft (like you do for traditional paper based information), but also about your info getting stollen, hijacked or deleted because of drive failure, virus' or hijacking trojans. Remember the 3-2-1 rule This is a simple way to remember the right way to backup and protect your data.
Skype disables password reset function
The interwebs are buzzing about a Skype vulnerability that anyone can use to access your account using only your email address. In response, skype has disabled with password reset page (to protect against the exploit). The vulnerability is simple and doesnt require any special skills or tools. You can follow their updates on the Skype heartbeat page.
Stop hackers - Automatically keeps your PC software updated
As the Chief Information Security Officer of a large multinational company, I am willing to look under any stone to provide a safer more secure computing environment for my company. Like a large company, there is one characteristic that is likely increasing your risk profile and making you more susceptible to hackers, malware and virus. Old not updated software. Old software has many more bugs that can be exploited to commandeer your computer. Secunia PSI is your solution The fine folks at Secunia offer their Personal Software Inspector for FREE!
Google's Transparency Report
Country data of Google Usage In 2009, China blocked access to Youtube because it claimed an anti-China video was being hosted which purported to show China police beating Tibetan protesters.Using Google's Transparency Report website, we can see this policy change graphically. The A marks the spot the media believes this blocking was initiated, which jives with the data. On November 9 2012, Bloomberg wrote an article claiming that China had blocked access to all Google Services. IF we look at the Google Transparency report website, we see that once again their claim seems be to founded.
Is your account hacked? Find out now thanks to PwnedList
It seems like every day, we hear about another web service that was hacked and whose account information was stolen. Most internet users aren’t connected to the hacker underground and have no way of finding out if their account may have been leaked. Enter PWNEDLIST, a free service that can tell you if your account information was disclosed as part of a hack. The site started in July 2011 and was the idea of Alen Puzic, a white-hat security researcher.
Best free antivirus for Windows 7
Most people have a love/hate relationship with Antivirus product. The most common products most people use are typically slow, loaded with useless features and generally provide a bad overall experience. In some cases, simply replacing this "known" products with the never products may actually noticeably speed up your computer. Since inception, I have been using a FREE antivirus from Microsoft called Microsoft Security Essentials. If you are one of the couragous souls that upgraded to Windows 8 Pro (like me) then it is alreasy built into the OS with its original name Windows Defender.