Just imagine the scene.
You’re diligently fulfilling your duties at work, not paying attention to much else when the following email lands in your inbox:
To:(insert your own name here)
Subject: Mid-2016 salary increases
Attach: 2016-SI.doc
The body of the email reads:
“Look what I got ahold of! By the way, for your eyes, ONLY.”
You rub your eyes and stare for a second. Did someone really just send you a list of employees who will be getting mid-year increases??
You’re thinking “I gotta read this!” and your fingers are getting ready to click that link but as you move your mouse closer to the attachment, a tiny voice inside you screams “Wait!” (bah, humbug.)
Is this attachment what is seems or is it possibly something really, really dangerous?
Is there anything more annoying than internet ads?
True, being attacked very slowly by hundreds of fuzzy kittens might take first place – Touché. But internet ads come in at a close second.
Chances are that you have heard at least a little bit about the debate between internet advertisers and publishers versus the makers and proponents of ad blocking software. It’s a debate that neither side wants to lose, nor do they want to make any concessions. And the ramifications might very well be huge.
Do you use social media to keep up with family and friends? How about to read and share mind blowing articles (like the ones here on the ZoneAlarm blog)? Either way, if you hang around social media at all, chances are you have encountered and clicked on shortened URLs even if you weren’t aware of it. But as useful as shortened URLs are, they can easily be corrupted by hackers and scammers.
Valentine’s Day is the quintessential time to show the one you love your appreciation. And what says “You mean so much to me” more than a box of chocolates? Or a bottle of wine? Boring, overdone, and if you think about it, these typical gifts aren’t a very personal way to show you care. If you’re looking for a creative, yet practical way to show your appreciation, why not get your special somebody something that could actually make their lives better and more secure?
No, we aren’t suggesting to buy your significant other a small underground bunker or a body guard to keep away from any potential danger – that would be, well, extreme. But think about this – in 2014, identity fraud and breaches cost some 12.7 million Americans $16 billion. And countless people lost time, money and information to hacks and viruses that could have been prevented. Wouldn’t you like to make sure your true love is in the clear? To that end, we present to you some security-minded Valentine’s Day gift ideas that will let your sweetheart know you really care.
Do you have a favorite household gadget? Do you reach for your drill or take out your handy roll of duct tape whenever there’s a problem? Most of us have tools that we are partial to, our tried and true saviors that have gotten us out of a bind time and time again.
When it comes to cybercrime, hackers also tend to stick with certain tools, ones that are proven to be more effective and more forceful than the rest. Sure, sometimes hackers may go out on a limb and experiment with a new technique, but by and large, the threats we face all stem from the same tactics, with some tweaks to the code here and there. In 2015, there were some things that proved essential in so many hackers’ tool kits – Why bother with originality when the old tried and true tools work so well?
It’s these standbys that we have to be the most vigilant about, and there’s a lot we can learn from these tools about how we arm ourselves better for 2016 and beyond.
