A weekly tip to keep you informed about information security http://www.westfieldinsurance.com/jsp/newsroom/infosec/InfoSec_Tip_index.jsp Now what?? http://www.westfieldinsurance.com/jsp/newsroom/infosec/InfoSec_Tip_detail.jsp?Article=Tip_20080825&Col=1025 All the kids are doing it. And it creates serious risks for them and for their parents' computers. But what is filesharing really? http://www.westfieldinsurance.com/jsp/newsroom/infosec/InfoSec_Tip_detail.jsp?Article=Tip_20080818&Col=900 Westfield recently received an email "alerting" us to the attempted registration of an internet domain name suspiciously close to ours. Luckily, we already had a domain management plan in place. http://www.westfieldinsurance.com/jsp/newsroom/infosec/InfoSec_Tip_detail.jsp?Article=Tip_20080804&Col=900 There's a new and vicious example of scareware out recently. It's carefully designed to trick you into infecting your own computer. http://www.westfieldinsurance.com/jsp/newsroom/infosec/InfoSec_Tip_detail.jsp?Article=Tip_20080728&Col=900 Metadata is getting a lot of press lately. What is it really? http://www.westfieldinsurance.com/jsp/newsroom/infosec/InfoSec_Tip_detail.jsp?Article=Tip_20080721&Col=900 Most people assume they have far more anonymity on the internet than they really do. Find out more about what they're tracking as you surf the web. http://www.westfieldinsurance.com/jsp/newsroom/infosec/InfoSec_Tip_detail.jsp?Article=Tip_20080714&Col=1100 That pop-up reminding you to update your software might not be real. http://www.westfieldinsurance.com/jsp/newsroom/infosec/InfoSec_Tip_detail.jsp?Article=Tip_20080707&Col=900 PC World magazine put together a short tutorial on recognizing eleven common email scams. It's worth a look. http://www.westfieldinsurance.com/jsp/newsroom/infosec/InfoSec_Tip_detail.jsp?Article=Tip_20080630&Col=900 If you use hosted email, you may need to take extra steps to make sure that you've properly protected your messages during that last leg of the transmission. http://www.westfieldinsurance.com/jsp/newsroom/infosec/InfoSec_Tip_detail.jsp?Article=Tip_20080623&Col=900 Deliberate use of bcc: instead of To: can protect your readers from themselves. http://www.westfieldinsurance.com/jsp/newsroom/infosec/InfoSec_Tip_detail.jsp?Article=Tip_16amp;Col=900 Most e-cards are loaded with viruses or phishes. This one from the Federal Trade Commission is safe and educational. Send it to a father-figure in your life who needs to know more about phishing and other electronic scams. http://www.westfieldinsurance.com/jsp/newsroom/infosec/InfoSec_Tip_detail.jsp?Article=Tip_20080609&Col=900 Have you ever seen a "free" offer to scan your computer for security vulnerabilities? Odds are that it's a scam. http://www.westfieldinsurance.com/jsp/newsroom/infosec/InfoSec_Tip_detail.jsp?Article=Tip_20080602&Col=1100 Before you leave on vacation, there are some steps that you should take to reduce your risk of fraud and identity theft. http://www.westfieldinsurance.com/jsp/newsroom/infosec/InfoSec_Tip_detail.jsp?Article=Tip_20080519&Col=1000 Most states have passed "credit freeze" laws, allowing individual consumers to lock their credit reports and, in theory, reducing their vulnerability to identity theft. http://www.westfieldinsurance.com/jsp/newsroom/infosec/InfoSec_Tip_detail.jsp?Article=Tip_20080512&Col=1000 Phishers and hackers continue to get more creative and more sophisticated in their attacks, spoofing trusted managers' email addresses. http://www.westfieldinsurance.com/jsp/newsroom/infosec/InfoSec_Tip_detail.jsp?Article=Tip_20080505&Col=900 Train your team to ask strangers "Hi. How can I help you?" The wording of that question is important. http://www.westfieldinsurance.com/jsp/newsroom/infosec/InfoSec_Tip_detail.jsp?Article=Tip_20080428&Col=900 My brother-in-law had his wallet stolen over the weekend. In the interest of learning from the misfortunes of others, here are some things to think about. http://www.westfieldinsurance.com/jsp/newsroom/infosec/InfoSec_Tip_detail.jsp?Article=Tip_20080421&Col=1200 Your web browser is your primary connection to the Internet, either by reading web pages directly or through applications that use your browser to function. How you set the security makes a great deal of difference for your computer's safety. http://www.westfieldinsurance.com/jsp/newsroom/infosec/InfoSec_Tip_detail.jsp?Article=Tip_20080414&Col=900 Just delete those "helpful" messages from your co-worker or college chum about the latest virus alert that no one else knows about. http://www.westfieldinsurance.com/jsp/newsroom/infosec/InfoSec_Tip_detail.jsp?Article=Tip_20080407&Col=900 Eighteen percent of American admit that they or a family member have fallen for a scam email, phonecall or mail. The National Consumers League has a new website to help teach consumers how to recognize and fight off these scams. http://www.westfieldinsurance.com/jsp/newsroom/infosec/InfoSec_Tip_detail.jsp?Article=Tip_20080331&Col=900 Spyware is advertising-supported software that often installs itself on your computer without your knowledge in order to collect your personal information. http://www.westfieldinsurance.com/jsp/newsroom/infosec/InfoSec_Tip_detail.jsp?Article=Tip_20080317&Col=900 The good news is that customers are getting better at identifying and deleting phishing messages. The bad news is that they are sometimes throwing away messages we wrote in good faith. http://www.westfieldinsurance.com/jsp/newsroom/infosec/InfoSec_Tip_detail.jsp?Article=Tip_20080310&Col=900 This tip was first run in March 2007. This is your annual reminder to review your credit report. http://www.westfieldinsurance.com/jsp/newsroom/infosec/InfoSec_Tip_detail.jsp?Article=Tip_20080303&Col=900 That polite young person who just asked about your printer model is running a scam. But it's not one you have to pay for if you know how to identify it. http://www.westfieldinsurance.com/jsp/newsroom/infosec/InfoSec_Tip_detail.jsp?Article=Tip_20080225&Col=900 Firewalls protect your computer by filtering legitimate from illegitimate traffic. If you don't have one, you need one. http://www.westfieldinsurance.com/jsp/newsroom/infosec/InfoSec_Tip_detail.jsp?Article=Tip_20080218&Col=900 Firewalls protect your computer by filtering legitimate from illegitimate traffic. If you don't have one, you need one. http://www.westfieldinsurance.com/jsp/newsroom/infosec/InfoSec_Tip_detail.jsp?Article=Tip_20080211&Col=900 Every so often, people ask me "why do they do it?" Why can't the hackers channel all that energy and innovation for good instead of cybercrimes and spam? http://www.westfieldinsurance.com/jsp/newsroom/infosec/InfoSec_Tip_detail.jsp?Article=Tip_20080204&Col=900 As a user, you should never share your password. As a manager, you have to make that rule possible. http://www.westfieldinsurance.com/jsp/newsroom/infosec/InfoSec_Tip_detail.jsp?Article=Tip_20080128&Col=700 Security geeks often talk about keeping your computer "patched". Here's what we mean and why it's so important. http://www.westfieldinsurance.com/jsp/newsroom/infosec/InfoSec_Tip_detail.jsp?Article=Tip_20080121&Col=900 According to a recent poll, 87% of Americans think they have anti-virus software. More actually do but only 52% have it updated and working properly. http://www.westfieldinsurance.com/jsp/newsroom/infosec/InfoSec_Tip_detail.jsp?Article=Tip_20080114&Col=900 If your password is your New Year's resolution, not only does the length of the phrase make for a very strong password but the repetition might help you keep it a little longer. http://www.westfieldinsurance.com/jsp/newsroom/infosec/InfoSec_Tip_detail.jsp?Article=Tip_20080107&Col=700 If you're getting an electronic gift this holiday season, know how set it up safely. http://www.westfieldinsurance.com/jsp/newsroom/infosec/InfoSec_Tip_detail.jsp?Article=Tip_20071210&Col=1300 How good are you at identifying a phishing con? Do you delete the message or do you take the bait? How often can you get hooked? http://www.westfieldinsurance.com/jsp/newsroom/infosec/InfoSec_Tip_detail.jsp?Article=Tip_20071203&Col=700 Tailgating is the art of acting like you belong and of using social pressure to convince people to ignore their own rules and policies. http://www.westfieldinsurance.com/jsp/newsroom/infosec/InfoSec_Tip_detail.jsp?Article=Tip_20071126&Col=720 Viruses, worms and Trojan horses don't get much attention anymore but they're still out there. Do you know what to do when your computer becomes infected? http://www.westfieldinsurance.com/jsp/newsroom/infosec/InfoSec_Tip_detail.jsp?Article=Tip_20071119&Col=900 Have you received the latest email "alert" about protecting your old hotel key-cards from identity thieves? http://www.westfieldinsurance.com/jsp/newsroom/infosec/InfoSec_Tip_detail.jsp?Article=Tip_20071112&Col=650 Do you have a shredder at home? You need one. http://www.westfieldinsurance.com/jsp/newsroom/infosec/InfoSec_Tip_detail.jsp?Article=Tip_20071105&Col=650 This "encore tip" from October 2006 is a reminder to be especiallly professional in email http://www.westfieldinsurance.com/jsp/newsroom/infosec/InfoSec_Tip_detail.jsp?Article=Tip_20071029&Col=900 Creating a little "readme" file is a start to better management of the ad-hoc documents in shared and personal folders. http://www.westfieldinsurance.com/jsp/newsroom/infosec/InfoSec_Tip_detail.jsp?Article=Tip_20071022&Col=900