Cybersecurity at Home

Home computer users have been victims of unprecedented cyber-crime over the past decade. Recent exploits of home computer users include Ransomware, Identity Theft, Harassment and Extortion. The primary means of delivering cyber attacks against home used ins the Internet and statistically, no age group is immune either. Click here to review the FBI 20127 Internet Crime Report.

There are many things you can do to prevent cyber-crime. Check out there useful links for making you computer and Online data more secure:

Click here to learn 10 ways to secure a new computer.

Click here to learn about virus basics.

Click here to learn best practices when choosing and protecting your passwords.

Click here to learn about home network security.

Mobile Device Security

Mobile Devices such as smart phones and tablets have become the new computers-of-choice for millions of Americans and introduce entirely new threats to one’s identity and information. As a rule of thumb in the cybersecurity community, all mobile devices are considered “untrusted devices” by their very nature. The number of apps available for Android and iOS operating systems, which constitute the largest share of mobile devices, have exploded offering users everything from real-time traffic information to Online banking. However, cybersecurity professionals have struggled to keep up with the ability to secure these devices and the apps that use them. The primary threats to mobile users are:

Malicious Apps (Mobile Malware): there are a significant number of apps that are specifically designed to infect the user’s mobile device such as Trojan software (a type of computer worm). These malicious apps intentionally steal data from other apps on the phone (such as contacts), steal data form files on the device such as photo’s and videos, allow cyber-criminals to intercept calls and text messages and allow malicious actors to turn on cameras and record sounds.

Insecure Apps: It is estimated that over 80% of all mobile apps have significant vulnerabilities that could lead to exploitation by cyber-criminals leading to data loss and device compromise.

Insecure WiFi Exploitation: There are many applications designed to trick users to log into them posing as WiFi hot-spots. Once connected, these applications, called Remote Access Tools (RATs), can hijack the entire mobile device and compromise all of its data.

Click here to learn best practices when is comes to securing your mobile device.

Click here to learn the 10 best ways to secure your android phone.

Click here to learn iPhone security tips.

Social Media Security Concerns

Social Media sites have grown in popularity over the past decade and have offered an avenue for people to connect in ways that were unimaginable in previous generations. The ability to allow users to share photo’s, videos and intimate personal information does not come without risk. Modern Social Media sites have introduced new considerations for cybersecurity from cyber-bullying to privacy concerns where anyone from cyber-criminals to large corporations can have access to your personal information.

Click here to get more information on how to stay safe on social media.

Online Shopping Security

Online Commerce has exploded in growth over the past 15 years providing more choices and convenience for customers than ever before. From monolithic Online retail sites such as Amazon to small businesses providing niche products and services there is no doubt that Online shopping is here to stay. As such, cyber-criminals have concentrated significant efforts in compromising Online shopping sites and your shopping data through various means. StaySafeOnline (powered by the National Cybersecurity Alliance) has published valuable information for consumers to stay safe when shopping Online.

Click here for more information on how to safely shop online.

Banking and Finance Online

It is almost impossible to find any bank or major financial institution that does not offer Online portals for customers to do just about everything from checking their balance, paying bills and investing in the stock market. As with Online shopping, or any type of action that could compromise financial data for that matter, cyber-criminals have historically targeted banks and Online financial applications.

Although consumers cannot control how financial institutions secure their data, there are steps you can do to help protect your financial information when banking Online.

Click here to learn 13 essential online banking tips.

Across the mortgage lending space, wire fraud attempts are on the rise as hackers become increasingly sophisticated in their methods of deception.

In 2016, the American Land Title Association revealed that title companies reported an alarming 480% increase in wire fraud scams.

Allegiant Reverse Services, a California-based reverse mortgage title company, said it has spotted multiple incidents where a scammer poses as a HECM borrower requesting a wire transfer.

Allegiant Reverse Vice President Megan Awalt said that while all mortgage loan transactions are susceptible to scammers, it makes sense that this could be especially prevalent in HECM transactions.

“The reverse world does seem to have a high number of originators who use non-company email addresses, and those do leave more room for problems,” Hafenstein said.

Click here to read the full article on HousingWire.com.