Monthly Archives: September 2014

What are some best practices for avoiding current and new security threats?

Business, Security, Technology 0 Comments
Nobody wants to acknowledge it, but it’s true… Hackers are getting smarter and far more creative with the methods they use to try to acquire your trust, sensitive information, and money. The methods they now employ go far beyond their attempts to install malware on your computer or device. There is a growing trend toward mimicking legitimate companies and their websites to gain your confidence and entice you to reveal information you would never should to even a perceived “trusted” source. Many recognize the Nigerian 419 e-mail scam as the beginning of the modern confidence game, playing on trust and promises of untold riches, even skeptical people fell victim to it in greater numbers than anyone could believe. Recently, a particularly nasty piece of malware called “CryptoLocker” encrypted infected users files and demanded a $300 to $1,000 payment to provide … READ MORE »

What are some ways to get more relevant and accurate internet search results?

Business, Technology 0 Comments
Let’s face it; searching the internet can be a frustrating endeavor. In some ways it’s almost a struggle between you, searching for the exact information you need, and the millions of advertisers trying to entice you into looking at what they want you to see, namely their products or services. This may seem like a losing battle, but there are some ways to effectively narrow down your results to sites that are far more likely to take you to the information you seek. You just need to know how search engines like Google “think”. Although most search engines are trying to employ a more human element in the way they structure and display results, the fact remains that they are still very logical in their approach to providing results to queries, and you can use that to your advantage. Here … READ MORE »

Why did I get malware even though I have AntiVirus?

Security, Technology 0 Comments
There are actually a number of reasons this can happen. First, although the lines are blurring, it helps to have a better understanding of the different objectives that viruses and malware typically have. Malware is traditionally designed to gather and extract personal information or to cripple a system and demand money to “fix” the problem. Most malware is contracted through either clicking on a link / attachment in an e-mail, or inadvertently allowing its installation when attempting to download what is thought to be a trusted update or application. A virus is generally designed to wreak havoc and cause destruction of data. Most AntiVirus applications do provide at least some protection against malware, but the people who develop malware rely on it for revenue, so they’re always looking for new ways to exploit systems. This immediately prompts the security companies … READ MORE »