The world of technology is full of tools to help protect your online security. At times, the plethora of tools available may seem overwhelming. However, whether you’re protecting your professional or personal online presence, understanding the privacy options you have is paramount. One option at your disposal is SOCKS5 proxy. It sounds super technical and futuristic, but don’t let that scare you. Once you understand how proxies (and especially private proxies) work, and the numerous benefits of SOCKS5 proxy, utilizing this tool is relatively easy.    What is a proxy?  So, w ..read more

For those who don’t work in IT, coding terminology can feel a bit overwhelming. However, developing basic knowledge surrounding beneficial encoding and online security measures is easier than you might think.   One such term is Base64 coding. It may sound like a phrase used in science fiction films, but it’s actually an integral component in the privacy of transmitted data. Let’s take a look at what Base64 encoding is, and why it’s a vital part of secure email and data transmission processes.  Is computer encoding necessary? To understand Base64 and other data encoding, we need ..read more

Not all websites are created equal. Some may inspire you with their design and content and their high user traffic. You may feel compelled to build your own website and host it with the inspirational site’s provider. Others may include misinformation or plagiarism, and you want to see the website taken down. In both of these examples, you’ll need to locate the website’s host provider. There are several ways to take this step. However, one of the easiest ways to find a website’s host provider is by IP address. So, how do you locate a host via IP address? Let’s take a look. What is a host provi ..read more

Scammers target everyone. Young or old, rich or poor, tech-savvy or a fan of flip phones, scammers are happy to take money from anyone. But scammers especially love scamming the elderly. Older adults tend to be more vulnerable to certain types of scams – and not necessarily for the reasons you think. See Financial Vulnerability and Social Isolation with Marti DeLiema, PhD for a complete transcript of the Easy Prey podcast episode. Marti DeLiema is an Assistant Professor at the University of Minnesota School of Social Work. She is also a gerontologist, or a person who studies human aging. Her ..read more

You will be a victim of a cyber attack at some point. They happen so frequently these days, with new security gaps being discovered and exploited every day. No matter how safe you’re being online, you’re human. You can easily slip up — and cyber attackers these days are relentless. Where does this leave you? In addition to taking steps to beef up your online security, you should also have a plan in place in case a cyber attack does happen. Knowing how to prepare for a cyber attack, both at work and at home, can make dealing with the attack a lot easier. How to Prepare Your Company for a Cyber ..read more

The term cyber attack may cause your palms to sweat and your body to shake in fear. Cyber attacks sound as malevolent as terrorist attacks, and in some ways they can prove just as harmful.  Many of us assume we’ll never have to deal with this threat — we have Internet security and firewall protection on our personal computers, and our work computers are protected by an entire department of professionals. We equate cyber attacks with fictional plot points from Jack Ryan or The Bourne Identity. However, they’re very much a real threat for anyone with access to the Internet. The Dangers Pos ..read more

Digital forensics is a subcategory of forensic science that looks at evidence found on computers, digital devices, internet networks, and any other digital platform. If forensics is the science of investigating a crime scene, think of digital forensics as the science of investigating a digital crime scene.  When someone uses the internet or a digital device to victimize another person or group, law enforcement uses digital forensics to investigate, collect evidence, and eventually prosecute the crime.  Any device that stores data may be subject to a digital forensics investigation fo ..read more

In 2020, the whole world went online. In some ways, that has been very beneficial. But in other ways, it has put us at risk. There are still few ways to validate or authenticate an identity online, so it’s difficult to know if a person or company you’re communicating with is fake. Because of this, job scams are on the rise. See Employment Scams are On the Rise with Mike Kiser for a complete transcript of the Easy Prey podcast episode. Mike Kiser is the Director of Strategy and Standards at SailPoint, a regular speaker at identity and cybersecurity conferences, and a member of several standard ..read more

A new infographic illustrates how we can help others by making phones hack-proof for those we care about. One of the things cyberthieves count on and look for are potential victims who are unaware of what they can do to stay safe and be less vulnerable. Many scammers prey on those over 60 years of age for precisely that reason. Statistics show, sadly, that the older crowd loses more money annually to phone-based scams than other age groups. Is there any way to help change this fact? There is. What if that targeted group, with the help of people who cared, was 1) made aware of some common dange ..read more

Years ago, long before the term “parental controls even existed” there was an advertising campaign directed at parents that said, “It’s 10 p.m. Do you know where your kids are?”  Today, teachers, politicians, cybersecurity experts and journalists have updated that question for today’s parents.  Only it’s something like this: “Hey, parents. Your kids are on their phones continuously during the day. Do you know who their talking to and what they’re up to?” The response from most parents would be…”Not a clue!” That’s why so much important information on the subject is making the news. P ..read more