Northeast Wisconsin Technical College held a Cyber Security Conference where Terra learned many useful tips. FBI Agent, Byron Franz started the day by scarring the audience showing how important cyber security is. There is an attack or attempted attack every second.
Protected Health Information is one of the most valuable data. On the web your credit card number might be sold for $1. Your medical record goes for $50-80. You can change your credit card, but not who you are. Agent Franz explained that if businesses do not take reasonable measures to protect themselves there is little they can do to go after the bad guy.
A common misconception is that people or businesses have nothing to steal. Wrong! If you have a social security number you have something to steal. Agent Franz recommended having and Intrusion Response Plan.
It’s not so much a matter of if you’ll get hacked, but when. About 80% of American companies have already been hacked. (I’ve had my business credit card stolen!)
When penetration testers are used to check for weaknesses in online security, they find them. They get in 100% of the time.
Is it serious? Do you remember when Associated Press had their Twitter feed hacked?
What can you do? Agent Franz told us we didn’t have to worry about outrunning the bear; we just have to be a little bit faster than the guy next to us. That is, make it slightly more difficult for the thieves to get in, and chances are they’ll go after the easier target.
Tips You Can Use
- Switch up your passwords (don’t use the same one over and over)
- Make your password longer (try a phrase, haiku, lyric to your favorite song)
- Be wary of games, they’re often made by hackers to cover up malware
- Don’t log on to anything private on public Wi-Fi
- Disable geo-tagging
- Use a throw away phone while traveling internationally (don’t even bring your electronic devices!)
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