Figured I’d continue with my song lyrics. I’m sure no-one knows where that lyrics is from, but you can hear a snippet here. Today’s news chum post has to do with computers, and in particular, cybersecurity and its impacts. Well, with one exception.
- Avast Security. This first link is more for my reference. Amongst the free antivirus products out there, I’ve been using Avast for years, supplemented when needed by Malwarebytes and Spybot Search and Destroy. Here’s a nice writeup of the current Avast suite.
- Amazon Security. Here are two good articles on how to enable two-factor authentication for Amazon: The Verge, PC World. In general, you should enable two-factor authentication whereever you can. P.S.: The Google Authenticator app (Android, iTunes) or Authy is another great way to support two-factor. If you use Google Authenticator, here’s how to move it to a new phone. Here’s a list of who supports Two Factor Authentication.
- Securing Lastpass. I’ve also grown to really like password managers, although they do have a few risks (what doesn’t). Here’s a new blog article on how to enable some additional protections if you use Lastpass. Hint: Use two-factor authentication.
- The Risk of Ransomware. Here’s a good summary of ransomware out there, and what you can do to protect yourself. The best answer: Get a good backup program (I recommend Acronis), and backup to a USB drive that you connect only during the backup. Backing up to the cloud is second best, because if you sync to the cloud, you might just sync encrypted versions over the good files.
- Mainframe Security. When I got started in computers, I was working on mainframes. I remember the IBM 360/91 well. Now it is the Z/Series, and other friends work on them. Here’s a good article on mainframe security.
- Freeze Right There. Here’s a good article from Brian Krebs where he recommends always enabling a security freeze. As he notes: “credit monitoring services do little if anything to stop thieves from stealing your identity. The best you can hope for from these services is that they will alert you when a thief opens or tries to open a new line of credit in your name. But with a “security freeze” on your credit file at the four major credit bureaus, creditors won’t even be able to look at your file in order to grant that phony new line of credit to ID thieves.”
- Wasting Time. Here’s a non-security article, unless you’re talking an availability attack: The History of Windows Solitaire.
- Seeing The Light. Here’s an article about why staring at a screen before bed is bad for you — i.e., the problems with blue light. I’ve seen many articles in addition to this recommending f.lux, so I tried it. I’m sorry. I just couldn’t stand the color change and the impact on scrolling. YMMV.
But online I don’t drive in a shy way, in my big rig on the Information Superhighway….
