Software piracy has become a worldwide issue, with China, the United States and India being the top three offenders. In 2022, 6.2% of people worldwide visited software piracy websites. Software piracy doesn’t require a hacker or skilled coder. Any normal person with a computer can become a software pirate if they don’t know about the software laws. With such a widespread impact, it’s important to understand what software piracy is and the dangers it presents. What Is Software Piracy? Software piracy is the unauthorized use of legally protected software, which includes stealing, copying, dis ..read more

Online privacy is a growing concern among those surfing the internet. When surveyed in May of 2023, 81% of online users said they were very concerned about their online privacy and how companies use their collected data.  With these growing concerns, online users turn to different methods of software such as proxy sites, alternate browsers or private networks. Choosing can be tough, so we created a guide comparing the pros and cons of two of the most popular options: Tor and VPN.  Jump to: What Is Tor? How Tor Works What Is a VPN? How a VPN Works Tor vs. VPN: Which is Better? FAQ ..read more

The internet puts the world at your fingertips. From laughing at your favorite shows to shuddering at the news, anything you want to access is just a click away. But that may be worrisome if you’re a parent or teacher. Children often have access to multiple devices and platforms, like social media, online gaming and mobile apps, increasing their chances of exposure to mature content.  Setting up internet parental controls is a great way to reduce the risk of your child viewing inappropriate content on the web. Parental controls are available on most major internet-enabled devices. This g ..read more

One of the largest online travel agencies in the world, Booking.com, has complained of customers being attacked by hackers. Even though the systems and networks of the agency itself are not compromised, many customers have been scammed by online criminals targeting the website’s partner hotels. The bad actors have found a way to steal login credentials they use to approach customers pretending to be hotel staff. What have the online attacks on Booking.com been like? Fraudsters manage their way into the targeted hotel’s system by calling the front desk and pretending to be a guest who recently ..read more

With virtual learning, social media, artificial intelligence and smartphones now an integral part of daily life, it’s more important than ever for parents to understand what internet safety for kids looks like.  We can’t watch our children every second they’re browsing the internet, but educating them on cybersecurity threats, potential predators and the consequences of their actions can help guide them toward smarter decisions online. In this guide, we’ll discuss all you need to know to teach your kids safe cybersecurity practices. Internet Safety & Kids 70% of 8-to-17-year-olds ..read more

Tips to avoid Christmas scams During Black Friday and Cyber Monday you probably noticed that your email inbox was even busier than ever. Desperate to boost sales, retailers have been emailing all of their contacts with their latest offers. And if you looked closely, you may have noticed some of those messages were not what they seemed. Cybercriminals love Christmas Cybercriminals love this time of year. Faced with an endless stream of emails and messages, busy people may pay less attention to security than usual. Which makes them more likely to click a phishing link, download some malware or m ..read more

Have you ever received an unsolicited text message promising million-dollar cash prizes or a free cruise? Messages like these are scam texts sent by scammers in an attempt to steal your money or obtain confidential information like bank account numbers or passwords. While text message scams, also known as “smishing,” might seem harmless, they can wreak havoc on your personal life and finances — in fact, consumers lost $86 million to spam texts in 2020.  It’s important to familiarize yourself with a few spam text message examples so you’re never taken advantage of and don’t risk your pers ..read more

Rivers Casino Des Plaines hit by major data breach Cyber-attacks on gambling companies appear to be a trend among hackers, as last week, the owners of Rivers Casino Des Plaines reported a cyber incident.  The data breach reportedly stayed unnoticed for months – it happened in August but was discovered and patched in November. Rivers Casino has begun notifying employees and customers that fraudsters have stolen their personal information. The casino management also offers the affected individuals free credit monitoring tools.  Sensitive information stolen The details of online sportsb ..read more

Using public Wi-Fi networks can pose significant security risks, including exposure to evil twin attacks. An evil twin attack is dangerous because hackers can obtain sensitive information like your financial accounts, passwords, credit card transactions and more. A hacker can use this information to steal money, commit identity theft or open a fraudulent account in your name. Read on to learn how an evil twin attack works, tips for protecting yourself and what you can do if you fall victim to an attack. What Is an Evil Twin Attack? An evil twin attack is a spoofing cyberattack that tricks use ..read more

15% of Europeans have experienced some form of cyberbullying because of their gender or sexual identity, according to a study by Panda Security. According to Panda Security‘s 1st Internet Cybersecurity Observatory, around 15% of Europeans say they have suffered some form of online harassment because of their gender or sexual identity and in the month of the Day against Gender Violence it is important to highlight this data in order to seek a solution to this problem. Cyberbullying is a form of harassment that occurs through electronic media, such as the internet, social media or email. It can ..read more