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In support of January being Clean Up Your Computer Month and National Privacy Day on January 28th, here are some great tips to start 2016 off right.

Let’s face it, we are all guilty of letting our computers get out of hand from time to time. I, for one, realized this when cleaning up one of my hard drives and discovered that I had 363 games either installed or ready to install. Typically a person will download something they want or need for a given moment, use it and never get rid of it. This can clutter and bog down your hard drive or even worse, leave personal information openly available. Here are a few tips that will help keep your machine clean.

Keep your desktop tidy! For me this is the pet peeve that my fiancée is guilty of and it drives me crazy. If your desktop looks like someone dumped a bucket of icons all over it then you might want to think of condensing and organizing. This can make for faster boot times, and easier navigation. Don’t let your desktop look like this…

Try to keep everything organized!

The download folder can be your worst nightmare on a device. I find this to be the one area that I am horrible at keeping track of. I need a picture for a blog or a gif to send to a coworker… months later I find myself questioning why I have a random gif of a plane crash on my computer. This folder can build and build until it is out of hand. Minimize the amount of files you have in here, if it is old .dmg files then trash them. This will greatly reduce clutter on most people’s macs. The mail downloads folder is another location that people tend to ignore. You can get to it using spotlight and typing in mail downloads or In the Finder, select Go > Go to Folder. Type ~/Library/Containers/com.apple.mail/Data/Library/Mail Downloads in the text field (This is only for people that use the built-in Email app).

Just as most of us adapted to cleaning the cache on Windows, you should do the same for your Mac. This doesn’t just relate to web browser cache, OS X stores lots of information in cache to allow for a faster loading time. You can go to the caches location and do a clean-up yourself (which I only advise for those who know what they are doing) or you can simply go to utilities in Webroot SecureAnywhere and click “Optimize Now”. This will clean up certain caches and logs for you.

A key to having a clean computer is not just removing known junk but also removing unwanted Apps. Be sure to remove applications that you are no longer in need of. I like keeping a spreadsheet with my license keys, in case I need one of the apps in the future. Unused or unwanted apps can take up massive amounts of hard drive space and can post a threat to your internet security.

My final tip… Most macs come with a microfiber screen cloth… Use it.

A physically dirty computer is something that no one wants to look at. Apple has a page dedicated to recommendations and guidelines for cleaning their products. https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204172

It’s that magical time of year for all technically minded folks: sysadmins, IT pros, nerds and gamers.  It’s that time where you get to go home to family, gather around the fire, and fix their computers.

That’s right; it’s not about the turkey or the giving of presents, it’s about cleaning toolbars off grandma’s computer.

For those of you who go through this annual ritual, here’s a few things to make the process easier for everyone:

1. Facelift: SSD, memory, larger screen.  One of the cheapest ways to give aging hardware a boost is getting easier every day.  SSD prices are bombing like your boss’s jokes at the holiday party, RAM has been cheap for a while, and bigger screens are always cheap around the holidays.  Replacing an HDD with an SSD will make them think you gave them a whole new computer.  For moving the boot drive, I recommend Paragon Software’s Migrate OS to SSD software: https://www.paragon-software.com/technologies/components/migrate-OS-to-SSD/ That way you don’t have to do a fresh install, and you can just leave the migration running while you eat dessert.  Combine that with a USB to SATA cable: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HJZJI84 and you only have to open up the case once to swap the drive out after the migration is complete.  While the case is open, slap in some extra RAM so that when Chrome tabs gobble up all the memory their computer doesn’t grind to a halt.  And finally those aging eyes will benefit from the jump to a larger screen.  27 inches seems to be the pricing sweet spot lately.  And you can take home the replaced screens to use as second, third, fourth and fifth monitors for yourself while playing Fallout 4.
2. Auto-reset the internet.  How tired are you of asking people if they’ve tried turning it off and on again?  For one aspect you can now automate the process.  They make plugs that detect when the Internet connection goes down that automatically power cycle the cable modem and/or router: http://www.amazon.com/PI-Manufacturing-Internet-Controllable-Automatic/dp/B006PPISCG That will save you from having to explain to your parents which device they have to try turning off and on again when the Internet goes out.
3. Setup easier remote access – Have you ever had this conversation: “Go to the address bar.  That thing at the top.  Type in: H-T-T-P-colon-slash – the one that leans to the right, not the left, now another slash.  Yes the same direction as the last one.  Now L-O-G.  No, G as in Get a clue…”  You get the picture.  While you’re home, why not setup a shortcut on the desktop that goes directly to your preferred remote support website?  That way grandma knows what to click on when you have to remote in to uninstall the latest toolbar she installed.
4. Install antivirus that allows central management – obviously I’m going to recommend Webroot: https://www.webroot.com/us/en/home But no matter what you choose, it’s nice to have something that has a central online console. This allows you to see whether mom’s computer has run a scan in the last decade and how many viruses your younger brother managed to catch while visiting those sites he likes to go to.  With Webroot you can also kick off scans and reboots from anywhere you can get online.
5. Protect their credit – everyone’s had their information stolen at this point so you might as well put a freeze on your credit.  Mom and dad probably aren’t getting a lot of loans these days therefore this won’t be a big inconvenience for them.   Here’s how to go about it: http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0497-credit-freeze-faqs This just means they’ll need to call in and unfreeze with their password before they get any more lines of credit, and it will stop the bad guys from taking out loans in their name.  Because face it, they already have all of your personal information.  Protect your inheritance.
6. Install an ad blocker and privacy protection – ads are a huge vector for malware these days.  I like uBlock Origin to stop ads and Privacy Badger to stop companies following you around the web with tracking cookies.  Put those browser extensions in place and teach mom and dad how to turn them on or off for individual sites for when they break core functionality.
7. Get them on a better browser – if they’re still using Internet Explorer then you should be ashamed of yourself.  Protip: change the existing IE icon on the desktop to open up Chrome or Firefox instead, so they don’t have to learn to click on anything new.
8. Power protection – get some cheap UPS and surge protection so that any desktop devices & cable modems won’t go haywire if the power blips: http://www.amazon.com/Eaton-Electrical-3S350-External-UPS/dp/B00906CH8S
9. Setup online backup – I like Backblaze: https://www.backblaze.com/ $5 a month for unlimited storage on each computer.  Now your baby pictures aren’t in danger of going up in a puff of magic smoke.  Restores are easy and you get email reports letting you know that the backups are successful.
10. Get better wireless – Ubiquiti has awesome and affordable prosumer APs that will give you a signal from two streets over: http://www.amazon.com/Ubiquiti-Networks-Enterprise-Unifi-UAP/dp/B00HXT8R2O No longer will the neighbor’s Wifi interfere.  I use one to cover an entire three-story house from top to bottom.
11. Connect the house with powerline Ethernet – save the wireless for devices that move.  For anything static, from streaming devices on your TV to media servers, wired is the way to go.  Powerline Ethernet is now rock solid and you can turn your whole house into a hub by plugging these into any outlet: http://www.amazon.com/TP-LINK-TL-PA4010KIT-Powerline-Adapter-Starter/dp/B00AWRUICG No running cables throughout the house required.
12. Stop bundleware – next time dad installs an update, you don’t have to worry about uninstalling a toolbar with this one simple trick: http://unchecky.com/ This software automatically unchecks the bundleware checkboxes so that you don’t have to use a cattle prod to train family to uncheck anything.
13. Install a password manager – anything to get people to use good passwords without having to teach their aging brains to remember anything new.  If you use an online password manager, then you can automatically change their passwords and update the password manager for them whenever there’s a report of a breach on a site your family uses.
14. Follow Swift on Security on Twitter.  A parody account that is both funny and useful.  Taylor Swift’s Infosec alter ego will keep you up-to-date on the latest security news and breaches, all while serenading you with the latest hits: https://twitter.com/swiftonsecurity/

Hopefully this list will help you get through the holidays at home without having to resort to hiding in the basement.  Make a few of these changes and it should make the next year of family tech support that much easier.  May the force help you live long and prosper.

With the two most hectic shopping days of the year rapidly approaching, you may be preparing to nab a deal… but identity thieves are just as busy trying to nab your financial information. While you’re out looking for the best deals
online and in retail shops on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, keep these security tips in mind to protect your identity:

• Try to use a secure payment method whenever possible. This includes Paypal, prepaid limited use debit cards, and credit cards that are separate from your primary bank account. Using a debit card that is tied to your primary bank
  account is the least secure form of payment, as a security breach poses the greatest financial risk.
• When you purchase something from a small independent business online, make sure that the checkout process is a “Secure Site”. Look for a yellow padlock in the browser bar as well as “HTTPS” at the beginning of the website (as compared to “HTTP” with no “S” at the end, which stands for “Secure”).
• Make sure that your operating system and security software are up to date. If you use Webroot SecureAnywhere, your software should automatically update itself whenever new versions are released. If you’re interested in using Webroot SecureAnywhere to protect your devices, CLICK HERE for a 14-Day Free Trial.
• Don’t make online purchases while using public WiFi connections, such as restaurant or mall hotspots, because these networks are prime targets for identity thieves and hackers. Shop only from trusted wireless connections such as home and cellular networks.
• Never send sensitive information such as Social Security Numbers, passwords, bank account numbers, or credit card numbers through e-mail. This is not a secure way to send sensitive information and legitimate companies will ask you to use some form of secure site to transmit the necessary information.
• When using an ATM, inspect the card reader before swiping to ensure that it isn’t fake. Lately, identity thieves have been planting card skimmers over ATM card slots in order to trick people into providing their PIN and magnetic strip information, and this technique is on the rise.
• Watch cashiers for skimming, which is when your card is swiped once at the register and again through a hand-held scanner the size of a cigarette lighter. Most registers allow you to swipe your card yourself; if a cashier asks to swipe your card by hand and turns away or puts both hands out of your sight while holding your card, ask to see a manager.
• Review your credit card and bank statements to ensure that there are no unusual or fraudulent transactions. If you identify any suspicious activity, contact the appropriate financial institution immediately to address anny accounts that may have been compromised.

We hope that keeping these security tips in mind will allow you to shop with confidence and safety during the upcoming sales events.

Cyber-criminals love to hit consumers where it hurts, and I’d say the most vulnerable location would have to be our wallets.

I frequently receive inquiries asking how a consumer can better secure their credit card and financial accounts. This ultimately led to me authoring this blog as a point of reference. Fortunately the industry is beginning to implement better practice and new methods to prevent this, and as always, someone, somewhere, will eventually find a way around that.

I’ve included a few tips here that everyone should acknowledge, and a few that may not be relevant to your environment. Obviously there are a TON of steps you can take to better your security, but if I wrote them all down, we would have a novel as opposed to a blog post. For the sake of being concise, I’ve kept this short and sweet, so to speak.

• Physical security is important, keep your credit and debit cards in a secure location that only you can access.
• Never write down your PIN, and make sure it is not personally identifiable information such as birthdays, phone numbers, etc. Cover it up when entering it publicly.
• Make sure that you add your signature to your card, this is something that most neglect or have neglected to do in the past. I know I’ve certainly been guilty of it.
• Regularly review your statements for transactions you do not recognize. Cyber criminals will frequently make minuscule charges first to see if you are checking your statements, and if not, make larger transactions. Some of the most successful campaigns such as this have accrued countless amounts of money with charges as small as a penny at a time.
• Before using your card at a public ATM, ensure that the machine has not been tampered with. Skimmers are becoming smaller and more popular methods for scraping card data.
• Confirm that when making a withdrawal, the amount on the receipt matches the amount withdrawn. Shred the receipt before disposing of it.
• If you receive a new card, completely destroy the old one.
• When purchasing anything online, ensure that the website utilizes HTTPS. Never submit financial or personal data via unencrypted connection.
• As stated in my previous blog, always log out of a website, app, or platform when you are done using it. Most websites and banking apps now implement a time-out policy that requires re-authentication after a certain time frame.
• Never write down your entire card number on a physical medium and never mail it.
• Always keep your card within sight of you. If a teller needs to take it to a machine, request that you accompany them, or ask them to bring the machine to you.
• Avoid using public computers whenever possible and never make important transactions on an unsecured network.
• As we move into chipped base cards that offer more protection, cyber criminals now have the ability to scan these cards. While in its early stages and having limited range, this technology will continue to improve. If you utilize one of these cards, invest in an RFID sleeve to prevent your data from being swiped.

There is a lot more that could be added to this and as we see security measures improve, we will also see the technology to compromise them improve as well. What is secure today, may not be tomorrow.

It’s National Cybersecurity Awareness Month in the US and Stay Smart Online Week in Australia, so you might say that security is on the minds of more people around this time. So as we start taking the lessons in and changing some of our habits, there is another area that could use more attention; our personal data.

With a large variety of social networks available around the world, the opportunities to share are endless, but with that, so is the opportunity for information gathering by malicious parties as well as chances that private information could be revealed in a breach. One way to avoid this from occurring is by being careful with your information and be aware with what information you give out. An example of this can be seen from the recent Ashley Madison scandal where people not only posted their real names and personal details, but also linked their work email in some cases, embarrassing not just themselves but the organisations they work for. Also the less information you give out (like emails and phone numbers) the less likely you’re hit with spam.

And then there comes the personal data that you carry with you, be it from home to the office or on your next big vacation. This data could be stolen and compromised for malicious intent such as stolen identities, financial fraud, or even blackmail.

It’s always handy to encrypt your drive, whether you travel with your device or not. It is vital to encrypt a drive if it has sensitive data on it relating to you or the organisation you work for. There has been quite a few cases in this country where unencrypted devices from organisations go missing with customer data on it, then the Data Protection Commissioner will get involved and likely impose penalties on the organisation. An example of this: http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/three-eircom-laptops-containing-customers-data-including-bank-details-stolen-26820140.html. As well as encrypting your drive, don’t keep sensitive data (passwords, security questions, info you don’t want other people to see, etc.) in unencrypted text files lying around your system. If anyone gets access to the computer these files will be compromised.

In this day and age it can never be too much effort to keep personal data personal, and with a few steps, you can help minimize the risk to that information. While some might take time to get used to, a healthy habit of being aware will only help in the long run.

When it comes to protecting your personal information in our ever-expanding cyber world, there are many ways to defend yourself. Since the vast majority of attacks originate on the Internet, it is smart to use multiple layers of security to ensure your computer (and the information it contains), stays secure.

One of the most common forms of protection is a Firewall, which is designed to block unauthorized access to the system, while still allowing communication outbound. Microsoft provides a firewall within the Windows OS as a standard security setting.

Along with having a Firewall, it is strongly recommended to have an Antivirus software running as well. This layer provides a defense against known malware and can use behavioural data to determine if a program is acting suspiciously. Of course I recommend Webroot SecureAnywhere, but the general rule is no matter who you have protecting your machine, to keep it updated at all times.

In the case of a successful breach or even just a computer malfunction, having some form of backup (online or external), can be extremely valuable. With an external backup solution, it is important to update it regularly, to ensure any new data or changes are saved. Also ensuring that this backup solution is not constantly connected to your PC helps if any infection does get through, keeping that backup protected. Online backup services usually allow backups to be created at a pre-determined time/day, automatically.

Finally, having the latest version of your preferred Internet browser along with a good Ad-blocking program will aid in keeping your web-browsing experience safe and more enjoyable. With the latest version, it will have many updates to the current security risks, coupled with usability and feature changes.

Each of these solutions has their own strong and weak points, but combined together they cover most of the areas you will have access to while using a computer. With multiple layers of security, you can make your computing experience safer and have the reassurance that your personal information is much more difficult to compromise.

Cybercrime. Remember the days when cybercrime was a word only super nerds and fans of the hilariously bad 1995 film Hackers used to say? No longer. You can hardly go a week without reading about the latest data breach, exploit, or hacktivist plot.

Back in the day, cybercriminals used to primarily fall under the lone wolf category, writing scripts and hunting for exploits without sharing their techniques, because if they did, it might cut into their profits. But, in the last few years, cybercrime has shifted from strings of unrelated, uncoordinated attacks—the digital equivalent of a bank robbery or a mugging—to highly calculated, business-like maneuvers determined to maximize revenue and get the hackers’ branding out there.

It isn’t just businesses that are suffering from these well-planned attacks, either. Even people with no affiliation to the companies suffering from data breaches are having their identities and payment information stolen.

The FTC has seen growth in the last several years in reported cases of identity theft and payments fraud among consumers, with the costs also rising each year. With cybercriminals banding together to exploit the masses, it’s time consumers did the same.

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In Victorian London, the working-class had to band together to fight against exploitation and crimes perpetrated against the masses. In Assassin’s Creed Syndicate, you will play as twin Assassins Jacob and Evie Frye and fight for their cause. It’s time you did the same today and secured your gaming experiences with the lightest, fastest security in history!

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Not a week goes by where we are not hearing about, reporting on, or providing comment to another major breach. From big box chains to mom and pop shops, it seems to be a constant source of news. Beyond the commercial and financial industries though are the education sectors, with colleges and private schools under attack at the same rate as their commercial distant-cousins. And with school less than a month away for most students, we think it is time for some reminders on personal security. While you will not be able to impact the local educational institutes security layer, you can add layers to your personal protection.

• Use two-factor authentication whenever possible.

We talk about this a lot because it is one of the easiest aspects of security to implement. Two-factor authentication adds another layer of security when logging into a website, be it e-mail, banking, or other websites.  Some websites, such as Google, will text you a code when you login to verify your identity, while others have small devices that you can carry around to generate the code.  Authentication apps are also available on all major smartphone platforms. Other types of two-factor authentication do exist as well, so look in the settings of your banking, shopping, and e-mail hosts for the option.

• Signup for login notifications

This security layer is often used in place of two-factor authentication, including by websites such as Facebook.  If your account is accessed from an unfamiliar location, a notification is sent via e-mail, app, or text-message to the account holder.  This is a great layer of security that offers you on-the-go protection.  This feature, if offered, can usually be found in the security settings of the website, such as banking and social media, you are accessing.

• Change your passwords before school starts

There is a reason your office requires regular password changes for your e-mail.  Even if your password is compromised, by changing it regularly across all your accounts, you remove the chance of your account being accessed.  A pro-tip would be to set a reminder for every 90 days on your calendar with a link to all your accounts settings pages.  It makes it easiest to click through and make the changes regularly.

• Increase junk filtering and avoid clicking through on e-mails

You just received an e-mail from a teacher asking for you to login and verify your school credentials.  Many phishing schemes start with something looking very innocent and official, but lead unassuming users to websites designed to collect the information direct from you.  If you receive an e-mail from one of the account-holding websites, or even a known person, open a new tab and go direct to the website instead of clicking the links provided.  It adds only a few seconds to the access, but keeps you out of any legit-looking phishing websites. Most legitimate services will never ask you for your login credentials, so make sure to avoid giving out this information.

• Use an up-to-date security program

Whether you use Webroot SecureAnywhere or another product on the market today, ensure you have the most up-to-date version and have the correct security settings enabled.  Security programs are designed to keep the malicious files such as keyloggers and data-miners off your computer and the user protected.  This direct layer of security ensures your devices, from phones to tablets to computers, are all protected when you are downloading and accessing files.  Note that some programs, such as Webroot SecureAnywhere, are always up-to-date and require no further action from the user..

While schools will continue to be a target, you can work to minimize any breach impact on your personal data by following these steps. And if you were to receive news that your education institution has been breached, use these steps to go back and conduct a personal audit, while also taking advantage of credit alerts and other tools out there.