On Security

The Problem With Passwords Is Us

Posted on February 2, 2017 by Michael Lasky in Best Practices, On Security, Top Story

My old password just got a promotion. The password I used, since deleted, was ‘passw0rd’. Yeah, I thought I was being so clever making the letter o into number 0. No hacker could figure that out, right? It ends up that passw0rd was the 24th most used bad password according to SplashID.com”s worst passwords of 2015, and in 2016 it moved up six slots to number 18 on the top 25. Obviously I am one in a crowd of people creating easily guessed/hacked passwords SplashID [site]offers a free and premium password manager for major browsers so it can easily calculate the easily hacked passwords that its customers are using. Each year it releases is Worst Passwords list and the 2016 list (see below) shows that the problem with hackable passwords is us. But there are quick and easy (okay, easy is open to debate) ways to wrangle the ocean of passwords we all need to log on to the various sites we visit regularly. SplashId and a host of other password managers offer tips to wreck the hacks. So do a bevy of security experts. And so do a host of companies with free and paid security workarounds. Too Many … Read More »

Ransomware attacks get more personal

Posted on December 1, 2016 by Susan Bradley in On Security, Top Story

With ransomware becoming so common these days, it feels like we’re getting a bit numb to this especially malicious — and potentially expensive — form of digital attack. But a recent ransomware event in San Francisco is a reminder that we must stay ever vigilant to threats targeting our digital devices.

Summarizing Microsoft’s new update schedules

Posted on November 8, 2016 by Tracey Capen in On Security, Top Story

Microsoft’s push toward monthly roll-up or cumulative updates that contain both security and nonsecurity (aka “quality”) fixes should make updating Windows faster and easier. But there’s also a dark side to this new methodology.

Pump up your computer-security awareness

Posted on October 20, 2016 by Tracey Capen in On Security, Top Story

This is National Cyber Security Awareness Month. Time to take a comprehensive measure of your computing vulnerabilities. Here’s an update on anti-malware tools, the state of phishing, and privacy when social networking.

How to fully test your malware defenses

Posted on October 13, 2016 by Fred Langa in On Security, Top Story

Here are some safe and easy ways to find out if your PC’s anti-malware tools are actually protecting you. Do-it-yourself anti-malware testing consists of two parts: proactively probing your PC’s defenses using simulated malware attacks, and performing routine verification tests to ensure that your PC remains free of real malware.

Keeping Win10 updated gets more complicated

Posted on October 6, 2016 by Susan Bradley in On Security, Top Story

The current branch of Windows 10 Anniversary Update has more than a few lumps. With Version 1607 installation failures, nearly weekly cumulative fixes, and problems with the Sept. 29 cumulative update, keeping AU up to date requires some careful steps.

The ultimate security-tools list: Fall edition

Posted on September 22, 2016 by Tracey Capen in On Security, Top Story

Keeping hackers at bay is arguably the most important task on any PC. If there’s a silver lining to the recent spate of ransomware attacks and corporate-data thefts, it might be that Windows users are thinking more about digital security.

Don’t be snared by new Win10 tech-support scams

Posted on September 15, 2016 by Fred Langa in On Security, Top Story

Online scammers are now targeting those who recently upgraded to Win10, via fake — but highly sophisticated — Windows support sites. Some of these scam sites appear to be authentic Microsoft offerings, complete with the word “Microsoft” or “Windows” in their names, and with layouts, colors, typefaces, and logos that are similar to official sites.

Windows 10-style updating comes to Win7/8.1

Posted on August 18, 2016 by Susan Bradley in On Security

Despite complaints from many quarters about Windows 10’s forced, cumulative updates, Microsoft is pushing its new patching standard onto Win7 and Win8.1. From Microsoft’s perspective, the change is an attempt to get rid of the archaic releases and fracturing in the updating process.

New AV-Comparatives report ranks anti-spam tools

Posted on May 5, 2016 by Lincoln Spector in On Security, Top Story

Keeping those deceitful and/or malicious messages out of our inboxes seems like a losing fight; even the best mail systems can’t catch all spam. Third-party anti-spam programs add another level of protection. But as a new report shows, they’re not equally effective — but many work as advertised.

On Security

The Problem With Passwords Is Us

Ransomware attacks get more personal

Summarizing Microsoft’s new update schedules

Pump up your computer-security awareness

How to fully test your malware defenses

Keeping Win10 updated gets more complicated

The ultimate security-tools list: Fall edition

Don’t be snared by new Win10 tech-support scams

Windows 10-style updating comes to Win7/8.1

New AV-Comparatives report ranks anti-spam tools

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