Author: dschmidthawk
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Is Public WI-FI Safe?
The following information was sent via email from AARP and answers quite a few questions that my clients have had. Many people don’t realize that connecting to a free wi-fi spot at Starbucks or McDonalds carries quite a bit of risk for the uninformed. Is Public Wi-Fi Safe? Free public Wi-Fi, available at places like…
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ECSM: Five simple steps to staying safe online now and in the long run
This is a very informative article from welivesecurity.com. Know the risks It all starts with the awareness of the risks along with the realization that everybody is a potential target. Much of what we do every day involves the internet positively in one way or another. On the other hand, the digital world is also inhabited by…
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100+ VPNs & Their Logging Policy (What Logs Are Kept by Who?)
Everyone should be using a vpn because there seem to be no boundaries on what information can be gleaned from your search and browsing habits. This is not an admission of guilt on the part of anyone who uses a vpn. On the contrary, your personal information belongs to you and is no one else’s…
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An Introduction to the Domain Name System (DNS) And How it Works | Elegant Themes Blog
Have you ever wondered what the heck the DNS is and why it’s important? Well, here’s a really good intro for your edification! Every website has an IP address that identifies it among all others. Theoretically, you could navigate the web using only IP addresses instead of domain names, but this wouldn’t be practical. To…
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Backdoor in Captcha Plugin Affects 300K WordPress Sites
Check your WordPress sites for this plugin and remove it The WordPress repository recently removed the plugin Captcha over what initially appeared to be a trademark issue with the current author using “WordPress” [Editors note: the original page has been removed, we’re now linking to a screen shot.] in their brand name. <…> A backdoor file…
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December 12: Break the Internet, Save Net Neutrality
The FCC is days away from voting to end net neutrality. Congress can still stop the vote, but only if we make them. On December 12th — protest by“breaking” your site, app, or social media profile. Use our tools, or do something creative and wild. Show your audience how terrible the future of the web could be,…
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#BlackFriday Announcement from Privacy Lab
Privacy Lab has published details from its research[1] into 25 trackers hidden inside popular Google Play apps such as Uber, Tinder, Skype, Twitter, Spotify, and Snapchat. Publication of this information is in the public interest, as it reveals clandestine surveillance software that is unknown to Android users at the time of app installation. These trackers vary…
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10 tips for safe online shopping on Cyber Monday
Shoppers familiar with the Cyber Monday circus know they’re stepping into the lion’s den. The Internet has always been a lawless place, but it becomes particularly rough during the holiday shopping season. In preparation for the frenzy, cyber villains have crafted a virtual onslaught of social engineering scams, malspam, and malicious, spoofed websites in order…
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You’re Browsing a Website. These Companies May Be Recording Your Every Move.
Your every move on the internet is being sold to third parties… Behind many consumer websites, software companies track users’ moves, potentially exposing personal information such as medical conditions or prescription-drug use. …. “I don’t think most users realize that when they interact with a website that their information about that visit is being shared…
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Microsoft Will End Final Free Windows 10 Upgrade Program On December 31 – ExtremeTech
If you’ve been procrastinating taking the plunge to windows 10, now’s the time to do it… Should you need a Windows 10 upgrade after the December 31st cutoff, you’ll probably have to pay for it. A license for the Home edition starts at about $75 for a system builder OEM copy that is tied to…