17. January 2009 by admin.

Computer forensics helped solve robberies involving Craigslist in Durham, NC.
Police were able to track an e-mal address used in a Craigslist listing to the suspect’s computer.

Click here to continue reading story.

Craigslist safety tips

Source: WRAL.com

Posted in Computer Forensics, Internet Safety | No Comments »

20. November 2008 by admin.

1.) Know Who You’re Dealing With - The first thing you need to be aware of is the merchant you are buying from. There are a lot of companies out there today that run completely off of their Web site, which means you probably won’t be as familiar with them as a store you could visit at the mall. In that case, you should take some time to learn about them and the reputation they hold. You can do that by searching them out on the Internet. Use a search engine to see if you can find any reviews about them from other consumers and try to find an information page on them. If previous shoppers really like or dislike a company, chances are, you’ll be able to find some comments about them somewhere on the Web. If you take the time to do this before you order from a new business, you’ll be much better off in the end.

2.) Protect Your Privacy - When you’re shopping online, you have to think about yourself first and that means doing whatever it takes to protect your privacy. Before you do any ordering, you should be aware of what information the merchant is asking of you, how it will be used and if they have any intention of sharing it with others. The best way to do all of that is to check out the company’s Web site. If they’re a legit site, they should have a Privacy Policy posted there. You should take the time to read through that and make sure you’re comfortable with everything they say. It’s a good idea to look for seals from privacy enforcement organizations, such as TRUSTe and BBBOnLine, as well. If you’re asked to enter in such things as your social security number or bank account information, do not do it! Those things are red flags and they are not needed to make an online purchase. If you pay close attention to what you’re doing, you will be just fine.

3.) Know All the Details - When you’re shopping online, you should always check out the complete details of your purchase. For example, make sure you know all about delivery dates, shipping and handling costs, warranties, return policies, etc. It’s also a good idea to get a company’s contact information before you finalize your order. They should have a telephone number or e-mail address on their Web site that you can keep on hand in case you have any questions or problems once you receive your items.

4.) Use a Credit Card - I know that may not sound like the safest thing to do, but it really is a good way to keep yourself safe. If you do business with a liable credit card company, they will protect you if anything happens while you’re making online purchases. Most credit card companies provide liability agreements, so if your card information is stolen, they will be able to put a hold on your card and issue you a brand new number. That way, whoever has your number is stopped from being able to use it. So, if you suspect any suspicious activity after you make an online purchase, call your credit card company right away and they’ll be able to handle everything for you. Also, when credit card companies see unusual activity on your card, they will inform you about it.

When you’re using your credit card online, make sure you look for the yellow padlock at the bottom of your Web browser or for the “https” in the URL. Those are two signs that a site is secure and that your credit card information will transmit safely. (You can read here for more on that). You should also always use strong passwords when you’re logging in to certain Web sites and make sure you don’t share them with anyone.

5.) Keep It On Record - The last thing you should always do is keep good records of your purchases. Make sure you either print out the receipt for your transactions or save it somewhere on your computer. Most companies send confirmation e-mails, so it’s a good idea to save that and print it out as well. In doing that, you will be able to keep better track of your total price, shipping and handling fees and shipping dates.

There you have it! Now, I know I mostly talked about online companies in this article, but these five tips go for every store you shop with online. It goes for all the “big box” stores, the department stores, grocery stores and so on. No matter where you’re doing your shopping, you need to be aware of your surroundings and make sure your number one priority is keeping yourself safe. Online shopping is even better when you’re smart about it. I now release you to start your Christmas shopping and I hope you find some great deals this weekend! : )

~ Erin

Author: Erin with WorldStart.com

Posted in Internet Safety | No Comments »

15. October 2008 by admin.

This post has some great information for parents as it relates to children using these “microblogging” sites.

…”These sites aren’t nearly as popular with teens as MySpace and Facebook. Twitter says it’s only for people 18 and up — but it doesn’t ask your age when you set up an account. Plurk is aimed at people 13 and up.”

Source: Safekids.com

Posted in Internet Safety, Kids | No Comments »

13. September 2008 by admin.

U.S. Presidential Election and Phishing Scams

added September 10, 2008 at 09:18 am

Throughout the United States presidential election campaigns, US-CERT has received reports of phishing
scams and email attacks related to the upcoming election. US-CERT reminds users to remain cautious when receiving unsolicited email messages that are related to the presidential election and presidential candidates because the messages may be part of a phishing scam.

US-CERT encourages users to do the following to help mitigate the risks:

• Use caution when opening unsolicited email messages.
• Do not follow unsolicited web links found in email messages.
• Use caution when entering sensitive information online.
• Refer to the Recognizing and Avoiding Email Scams (pdf) document for more information
  on avoiding email scams.
• Refer to the Avoiding Social Engineering and Phishing Attacks document for more
  information on social engineering attacks.

Source: US-CERT

Posted in Internet Safety, General | No Comments »

28. May 2008 by admin.

The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) announced today that it has partnered with Red Robin International, Inc. to promote internet safety through a new cookbook that encourages families to cook together. The cookbook is $5 and profits now through Aug 10, 2008 will go to NCMEC. The cookbook contains 50 kid invented gourmet burger recipes. Please support your local Red Robin restaurant. Visit www.redrobin.com

Here is a direct link to the cookbook: https://www.etoolsengine.com/rrcookbook/default2.aspx

Posted in Internet Safety | No Comments »

25. April 2008 by admin.

Working with law enforcement, analysts at the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) in Alexandria, Va., spend their days doing something no one should have to do. They look at what is called “child pornography,” but the photos and videos are actually evidence of children - in some cases infants - being sexually abused.

Source: http://www.ncmec.org/missingkids/servlet/NewsEventServlet?LanguageCountry=en_US&PageId=3644

Posted in Internet Safety, General | No Comments »

8. February 2008 by admin.

What’s Your Password?

Steve came across a very interesting article the other day and lucky for all of you, he shared it with me! How does that make you lucky, you ask? Well, the article is titled “10 Most Common Passwords” and it included some mind blowing information that, in my opinion, all of you should know about too. Below is a list of the 10 most commonly used passwords by computer users today. Check it out!

1.) password
2.) 123456
3.) qwerty
4.) abc123
5.) letmein
6.) monkey
7.) myspace1
8.) password1
9.) link182
10.) your first name

Now, let me ask you this: Is your current password on that list? If so, I bet you already know what’s coming next. Yep, you are putting yourself at great risk by using a password like that. Passwords like those can be guessed by hackers in a matter of seconds, which means you’re only making things easier for them. All in all, if you’re using one of the above passwords, I urge you to change it right away. If you need help coming up with a more secure password, read this tip.
http://www.worldstart.com/tips/tips.php/4551
It’s very easy to create a password that will keep you better protected, so please do it today. For goodness sake, please keep yourself safe!

~ Erin

Author: Erin with WorldStart.com

Posted in Internet Safety | No Comments »

20. December 2007 by admin.

If you’re traveling for the holidays, be careful when you use wi-fi hotspots in public places. “Few things expose your [computer] to greater security risks than latching onto a public Wi-Fi service,” USATODAY reports. “Computer criminals can ’sniff’ the traffic in a cafe, or set up a fake hot spot that you might innocently log into. When that happens, watch out: Everything you type goes directly to the host computer, known as an ‘evil twin’.” The “twin is ready to grab passwords, financial info, etc. Some retailers with wireless service are now advertising secure connectivity, which really helps. If you log on and see “https” instead of “http,” your connecting is also probably secure. USATODAY has a sidebar with other tips.

Posted in Internet Safety, General | No Comments »

19. November 2007 by admin.

Unlike other extreme cyberbullying cases I’ve written about, this one occurred in the US and ended in a teenager’s suicide. In this case, covered this week in a suburban newspaper in the St. Louis area, Megan Meier, 13, committed suicide allegedly because a 16-year-old boy had changed his mind and no longer wanted to be her friend. It was a cyberbullying case because the “relationship,” from beginning to end, was conducted entirely online. Adding to the tragedy, the “boy” never existed. As in the New Zealand cases, the “owner” of the social-networking profile around which the “relationship” developed was a fictional character.

What’s different about this case - and what makes it even more perplexing - is that the cyberbully, the creator of the fictional profile and relationship, was an adult. The mother of a teenage girl who had parted ways with Megan allegedly created a MySpace profile for “Josh.” The story she made up - because, she told the paper, she wanted to see what Megan would say about her daughter online - was that “Josh” was new in town, being home-schooled, came from a “broken home,” and had no phone number. Helped by her daughter and another teenage girl, the mother reportedly had this fictitious boy contact Megan through her MySpace profile and ask her to “friend” him. The girl, who had been diagnosed with attention deficit disorder and struggled with being overweight, reportedly was thrilled - for the six weeks last fall that the Josh profile’s creators led her on. She committed suicide on Oct. 16, 2006.

No criminal charges have been filed, the Suburban Journals reports, and the parents “do not plan to file a civil lawsuit.” A police report has been filed, but local law enforcement told the paper there was no charge that fit the case. There was a brief FBI investigation, the Journals reports. It spoke of problems the FBI had accessing content on the family’s hard drive, but it didn’t mention whether the FBI contacted MySpace with a subpoena for evidence on its servers. The town’s working on making online harassment a crime, a “Class B misdemeanor,” the Journals reported separately, “punishable by 90 days in jail and/or a $500 fine.” At the state level, that would be a Class A misdemeanor, possibly leading to a year’s imprisonment and/or a $1,000 fine, the Journals added. Missouri State Rep. Cynthia Davis, R-19th District, of O’Fallon (Mo.) said she would explore proposing state legislation but acknowledged that cyberbullying is a problem that goes well beyond town, state, and even national jurisdictions.

The case could eventually have national implications, starting at least with raising public awareness. The hundreds of individual responses posted below the article fill about 90% of the Web page, and the story apparently has caught national media attention - CNN was to interview Megan’s parents this week, the Journals said. SuburbanJournals.com added that local officials said they would call on the federal government to address cyberbullying.

-NetFamilyNews.org

Posted in Internet Safety, Kids, General | No Comments »

10. November 2007 by admin.

Q:
As we all know, Christmas is right around the corner and I’m one who likes to start my shopping early. I’m planning on doing quite a bit of it online this year though and I was wondering if you could give me some safety tips. I haven’t done a lot of online shopping in the past, so I want to make sure I do it right. Thanks for any help you can give me! A:
You’re absolutely right, Christmas is only 45 days away! That hardly seems like any time at all and just like every other year, I’m sure it will be here before we know it. So, when I saw this question in my e-mail the other day, I thought today would be the perfect time to answer it. I mean, it is the weekend and I’m guessing a lot of you will be doing some shopping over the next couple of days. I know I am. My goal is to beat the rush this year!

And if you’re anything like the person who asked today’s question, you’ll be doing it from the comfort of your computer chair. Yes, online shopping is a quick and easy way to get what you need for the holidays, but in doing that, you’re also taking a security risk. Don’t get me wrong, most companies have top notch security for their Web sites, but there are still some things you need to look out for. Don’t stress though! I’m here to help. Below, you will find the top five tips for safe online shopping. Read through them and then put them to practice. Here we go!

1.) Know Who You’re Dealing With - The first thing you need to be aware of is the merchant you are buying from. There are a lot of companies out there today that run completely off of their Web site, which means you probably won’t be as familiar with them as a store you could visit at the mall. In that case, you should take some time to learn about them and the reputation they hold. You can do that by searching them out on the Internet. Use a search engine to see if you can find any reviews about them from other consumers and try to find an information page on them. If previous shoppers really like or dislike a company, chances are, you’ll be able to find some comments about them somewhere on the Web. If you take the time to do this before you order from a new business, you’ll be much better off in the end.

2.) Protect Your Privacy - When you’re shopping online, you have to think about yourself first and that means doing whatever it takes to protect your privacy. Before you do any ordering, you should be aware of what information the merchant is asking of you, how it will be used and if they have any intention of sharing it with others. The best way to do all of that is to check out the company’s Web site. If they’re a legit site, they should have a Privacy Policy posted there. You should take the time to read through that and make sure you’re comfortable with everything they say. It’s a good idea to look for seals from privacy enforcement organizations, such as TRUSTe and BBBOnLine, as well. If you’re asked to enter in such things as your social security number or bank account information, do not do it! Those things are red flags and they are not needed to make an online purchase. If you pay close attention to what you’re doing, you will be just fine.

3.) Know All the Details - When you’re shopping online, you should always check out the complete details of your purchase. For example, make sure you know all about delivery dates, shipping and handling costs, warranties, return policies, etc. It’s also a good idea to get a company’s contact information before you finalize your order. They should have a telephone number or e-mail address on their Web site that you can keep on hand in case you have any questions or problems once you receive your items.

4.) Use a Credit Card - I know that may not sound like the safest thing to do, but it really is a good way to keep yourself safe. If you do business with a liable credit card company, they will protect you if anything happens while you’re making online purchases. Most credit card companies provide liability agreements, so if your card information is stolen, they will be able to put a hold on your card and issue you a brand new number. That way, whoever has your number is stopped from being able to use it. So, if you suspect any suspicious activity after you make an online purchase, call your credit card company right away and they’ll be able to handle everything for you. Also, when credit card companies see unusual activity on your card, they will inform you about it.

When you’re using your credit card online, make sure you look for the yellow padlock at the bottom of your Web browser or for the “https” in the URL. Those are two signs that a site is secure and that your credit card information will transmit safely. (You can read here for more on that). You should also always use strong passwords when you’re logging in to certain Web sites and make sure you don’t share them with anyone.

5.) Keep It On Record - The last thing you should always do is keep good records of your purchases. Make sure you either print out the receipt for your transactions or save it somewhere on your computer. Most companies send confirmation e-mails, so it’s a good idea to save that and print it out as well. In doing that, you will be able to keep better track of your total price, shipping and handling fees and shipping dates.

There you have it! Now, I know I mostly talked about online companies in this article, but these five tips go for every store you shop with online. It goes for all the “big box” stores, the department stores, grocery stores and so on. No matter where you’re doing your shopping, you need to be aware of your surroundings and make sure your number one priority is keeping yourself safe. Online shopping is even better when you’re smart about it. I now release you to start your Christmas shopping and I hope you find some great deals this weekend! : )

~ Erin

Author: Erin with WorldStart.com

Posted in Internet Safety | No Comments »