The Federal Trade Commission offers five tips to consumers to help protect their personal information online. Following these tips can help you keep your personal information private when you are online. Watch Out for Impersonators Don’t give out personal information over the phone, through the mail or online unless you know who you are dealing with. If you get an email from an organization that claims to have an account with you asking for personal information, don’t click through the … [Read more...]
Cyber-Security and Cars
Concerns about cyber-security are everywhere – even in our cars. Who ever thought that someday we would be driving cars like Kit from the show Knight Rider? Well, move over David Hasselhoff, because that day is here! But along with all the fancy communication features that come with our new cars, there are also concerns about cyber-security. According to an article on the gasbuddy.com blog, U.S. Senator Edward Markey, from Massachusetts is expressing those concerns and looking for a … [Read more...]
5 Tips for Data Protection
In an article to its community, MIT offered 5 tips for data protection that are valuable for small to medium business owners as well. Data Security is Fundamental MIT is smart in pointing out that data protection and security is crucial to their operations and all parties within the college and businesses that provide services to the college should include a review of data security processes. Small to medium businesses would be wise to follow this same advice. As a business leader, if … [Read more...]
Cyber Threat Intelligence Integration Center
Due to the increase in cyber threats over the past several years, the Obama administration has decided to form a new agency dedicated to bringing different government agencies together to share information in the hopes of addressing cyber threats more quickly. The new agency will be called the Cyber Threat Intelligence Integration Center and the center will be modeled after National Terrorism Center. Lisa Monaco, the assistant to the president for homeland security and counter-terrorism, told … [Read more...]
Anthem Data Breach
Anthem is the latest company to fall victim to a data breach. The data breach affected over 80 million of Anthem customers, and is considered a massive data breach for the second largest health insurer in America. One of the biggest concerns for the Anthem customers affected is one not immediately obvious – tax fraud. The Department of Revenue Commissioner for the state of Connecticut is urging residents there to file their tax returns as soon as possible to avoid being victims of tax return … [Read more...]
NAID – Nat’l Assoc for Information Destruction
The National Association for Information Destruction (NAID) is the international trade association for companies providing information destruction services. As more businesses realize their liability for the data security on their data containing devices, there will be a growing demand for companies who treat information destruction as a profession and not just a by-product of an electronic recycling business. Voluntary membership in NAID is one way to separate organizations who want to make … [Read more...]
United Nations and E-Waste
According to a study conducted by a United Nations partner, Solving the e-waste Problem (StEP), the amount of e-waste generated worldwide is expected to increase from 48.9 million metric tons in 2012 to 65.4 million metric tons by 2017. Unfortunately, solutions to the e-waste disposal issue are not keeping up with the waste being generated. E-waste, or old, unwanted electronics, includes: Cellphones Laptops Computers Plugs, cables, cords Monitors Tablets Televisions It is … [Read more...]
Information Security Market Predictions
According to an article on www.Information-Management.com , expenditures on information security are expected to reach $76.9 billion in 2015. The information was taken from a report prepared by the Gartner Group entitled “Forecast Information Security, Worldwide, 2012-2018, 2Q14 Update”. An 8% increase was projected in the information security market for 2014 and another 8% increase is predicted for 2015. Mobile platforms, cloud based applications and data storage, in addition to an increase … [Read more...]
To Cloud or Not To Cloud
We had the opportunity to attend part of the SMB Techfest last Friday and sat in on a very interesting discussion about the view on cloud storage for small to medium business owners. It seemed apparent that utilizing cloud storage in some format will increase in the future. The panel even included two early adopters and one of them was operating exclusively on the cloud. Some of the positive points discussed about using the cloud included: Reduced in house IT employees , lowering labor … [Read more...]
Smart Phone Data Security Tips
In an earlier blog post I shared a dirty little secret about the time I forgot my smart phone at the gym. Not only did I leave it on the treadmill, but at that time, it wasn’t passcode protected. Thankfully, I got it back before anyone else got a hold of it. But it scared me enough to immediately put a passcode on it. Not to mention the shame associated with losing it, unprotected, when you own a company whose purpose it is to keep people’s data secure! Now there are applications that can … [Read more...]