New Year, New Internet Rules

By Carl Weiss

Courtesy of AF-Mil

Another year has come and gone and WWW still means The Wild, West West for many of you.  I hope you got your end-of-the-year celebrating out of the way because I’ve some news for you.  Since the world didn’t come to an end on December 21st, we are all going to have to keep pace with the changes that are in the works for 2013.  When it comes to the World Wide Web, don’t expect business as usual in the coming year.  So if you are in the “Forewarned is forearmed” camp, here are the five online areas you need to stay focused on in 2013.

Working the Web - Is There a Cyber Attack in Your Future?

by Carl Weiss

computer security (Photo credit: justonlysteve)

When your head hits the pillow at night, do you fall asleep feeling secure that your online data, your identity and your financials are safe?  Do you feel bulletproof behind your Windows Firewall and Norton Antivirus?  Are you in the habit of downloading freeware on your PC and free apps on your Smartphone?  Do you use public wifi hotspots such as coffee shops, restaurants, hotels and airports? 

If your answer to any of the above was “Yes” then I have news for you.   It isn’t a matter of if you are going to be hacked, cracked or cyber attacked.  It’s just a matter of when.  Because the habits exposed above are an invitation for hackers and cyber criminals to gain access to your most sensitive information, hijack your computer and Smartphone and in short turn your life into a living hell where your identity, your financial data and intellectual property can be bought and sold like a commodity.

Cyber Security Shuffle

Courtesy of www.pbs.org

By Carl Weiss

If you’re like most people, you probably only react to cyber security matters when your computer is so infected with malware that it refuses to function. This is what IT professionals refer to as locking the barn door after the horse has bolted. In today's wired world, what you have to consider is that everything from your PC to your smartphone is subject to attack by hackers who are out to sell your personal information, steal your financial data and do much more than mischief. What many people don't realize is that this problem is so serious that even governments are having problems dealing with it.