Cyber-security Highlights – November 20th

 

Every Monday we bring you a review of the previous week’s hottest cyber-security and online privacy news articles.

Here at IronSocket, we work to continually call attention to the risks and threats to our online privacy and security that we as individuals face in our connected lives. We are 100% committed to helping our customers stay safe and secure while online, both through our VPN and proxy services as well as through education.

Here are the top articles we have fished out of last week’s news tsunami.

A Living Guide for Online Life

The Motherboard guide to digital security is a web page that gets regular updates.  This is a good page to bookmark for future reference.  The important points are:

  • Keep your apps current with the latest patches
  • Use a password manager to create strong passwords and store them securely for easy access
  • Use two-factor authentication
  • Use anti-malware software
  • Use a VPN
  • Backup your important files
  • Don’t overshare on social media

https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/d3devm/motherboard-guide-to-not-getting-hacked-online-safety-guide

 

Macs Are No Longer Safe

It was really just a matter of time before cyber-crooks turned their attention to the boutique computers.  This is a thorough review of the things one should do to secure macOS.  It goes beyond protecting yourself from hackers and covers privacy topics as well.

https://www.computerworld.com/article/3237187/apple-mac/lock-it-down-the-macos-security-guide.html

 

Do I Really Need a VPN?

Well, we think you do.  Here are ten good reasons to get one that include the usual securing public Wi-Fi and avoiding government censorship.  It also describes other lesser-known reasons like getting better prices on things by changing your location and online gaming.

http://www.techradar.com/news/10-reasons-why-you-need-a-vpn

 

Creating a Privacy Strategy

Here’s how one person approaches the challenge of maintaining privacy online.  Simple and straight-forward, he sets a good example for the rest of us.

https://blog.samihonkonen.com/my-strategy-for-increased-privacy-40967ed72903

 

You Are Not the Customer – You Are the Product

Here is a solid run-down of what kinds of businesses/services/devices track you and the types of information they track.  A good rule of thumb is to be very suspicious of anything that is free.  It’s a sure bet that they’re collecting your information and selling it to someone else.

https://www.entrepreneur.com/slideshow/304848

 

That’s all for this week. As always, if you have any questions or comments, don’t hesitate to write to us. Our cyber-security experts are here to help you stay safe, secure, and protected while online.

About IronSocket

Our staff has been involved with computers since the early days of dial up modems. We have combined experiences spanning decades working on a multitude of internet based projects. One of our goals is to make a conscience effort to inform others about staying safe on the internet. If you ever need to reach us, leave a comment, put in a ticket, or contact us using our website's contact us form.