As more consumers take advantage of online resources, such as financial accounts, social networks, and shopping sites, the need to manage a growing number of passwords and logins can cause frustration and risky behaviors. How can you avoid reaching this point? (Click below image to enlarge) EMBED THE IMAGE…
Tax season is in full swing as U.S. Residents and businesses gather up their tax documents and file their returns before the April 15 deadline. It’s also the season for scammers and criminals to brush off their fraud campaigns to swindle you out of your hard-earned money. According to industry…
How vulnerable are you on Facebook? Try ZoneAlarm Privacy Scan and find out today. Scan now! Facebook is offering Graph Search as the best way to figure out how you are connected to other users and to discover people you may have more things in common with. Someone can…
Whether you like it or not, your Internet activities are being monitored every time you log online. Learn who’s tracking you, what it means for your privacy, and what you can do about it. For more information about ZoneAlarm 2013 products’ features, including Do Not Track, click here. (Click…
Parenting in the digital age offers complex and multifaceted challenges that were uncommon just a decade or two ago. The proliferation of social networking sites like Facebook have made some children more susceptible to online threats than ever before. And now, even when your children are safe at home, some…
ZoneAlarm 2013 security products are now available! The new product line is Windows 8 compatible and integrates a new Facebook Privacy Scan and Do Not Track. ZoneAlarm 2013 products also offer improved performance and security through advanced antivirus and firewall capabilities. With new features like Facebook Privacy Scan and Do…
Children have always been vulnerable to real-life danger, but increased web access is exposing them to online threats as well. Facebook, in particular, is the digital playground for many children, but not everyone on the social networking site is playing nicely. Therefore, parents must take steps to ensure their child’s…
If you have a pre-teen or teenager, odds are you wouldn’t let them stay out with their friends or roam the streets too late at night. But even when your children are safe at home, some of their online activities could be putting them in harm’s way. A recent ZoneAlarm…
More and more ghastly ghouls are coming out of the crevices of the Internet every day — especially during Halloween. Besides the typical monsters that lurk online all year-long, a whole new class of fright mongers who make social media sites their playground, are among us. All of these shifty…
In a recent study of 50 million Facebook users and 500,000 Facebook applications, the following conclusions paint a different picture than what most people perceive about the apps they’ve come to love. (Click below image to enlarge) EMBED THE IMAGE ABOVE ON YOUR SITE Data-Hungry Apps
As the Internet becomes increasingly interactive and the number of online threats continues to grow, more and more web-based services are realizing that two-factor authentication is more than just a good idea. Instead of relying on just a password or secret question to confirm your identity, it heightens Internet security…
Half of teens say they’ve been using the Internet for five years or more, and 58% consider themselves heavy users. The time teens spend online is more secret than ever, and their lives and computers are more at risk than you may think. (click image to enlarge) EMBED THE IMAGE…
Whether you’re a parent of a kid in elementary, middle or high-school or a college-bound young adult, your last few days of summer probably seem to be anything but lazy. With so many things to think about, you don’t want to put security on the back-burner. At the very least,…
If you are part of Generation Y then your daily life is all about being connected. Tweeting, friending, and googling is routine, but protecting yourself from the various cyber-related issues that will likely pop up should be, too. According to our research, only 31% of Gen Y ranked security as…
With the 2012 Summer Olympics in full swing and everyone paying attention, it is important to remember that athletes are not the only group competing this summer. Another group, cybercriminals, is also chomping at the bit to take advantage of the games, which offer the perfect online environment for launching…
Teens today are pressured into sharing personal information online. In addition, those who have public profiles and lie about their age online are more likely to have negative experiences. For some teens, sharing personal information is a sign of trust. The good news is that a large majority of teens…
The digital age allows people to connect online more than ever before, and teens in particular have made social networks part of their daily life. Unfortunately, the problems that plague teens in real life, like bullying, have also followed them online. Here, we explore how these online interactions start, who…
As tragic stories of bullying continue to make headlines, and movements like the Bully Project gain steam, communities are coming together to put a stop to bullying — in all its forms. However, one form of bullying is particularly notable and should be paid special attention to: cyberbullying. This fairly…
Job seekers have long dreaded certain interview questions such as “where do you see yourself in five years?” But that type of inquiry now seems fairly innocuous, considering a new question employers have been asking during interviews: “May I have your Facebook username and password?” That’s right. In addition to…
These days, kids are glued to their social media. Whether tweeting in junior high or updating their Facebook status on a smartphone from the high school cafeteria, the younger generation is in constant communication with their peers. That’s why addressing the issue of privacy on social media should be a…
Nearly two-thirds of Internet users also use social networking sites. As social media becomes mainstream, more users recognize the importance of protecting their privacy and managing their accounts. How are you taking control of your profiles? (click image to enlarge) EMBED THE IMAGE ABOVE ON YOUR SITE Zone Alarm Free…
Protecting your child is a not a new concept, but protecting your child’s online activity is an ever-evolving task. Now that most things take place online, including your child’s social life, it’s important to make sure both you and your child are aware of the dangers that lurk on the…
With more than 800 million users, Facebook is arguably the most dominant social networking platform in the world. The social network’s popularity and fast growth also make it a prime target for cybercriminals. Below, we take a look at Facebook’s online presence, how it’s being attacked, and what you can…
Facebook has finally introduced its much-publicized profile revamp called “Timeline.” Now, user profiles appear in a digital scrapbook format organized chronologically, which highlights the most important and memorable moments of your life—on Facebook. The new format has garnered praise, and criticism from users concerned about their profile privacy. Previously, there…
Teens today are immersed in the Web and, more specifically, on social media sites. As more relationships are built and maintained through social networking sites, kids are encountering a growing number of unkind peers. Are parents seeing this and becoming more connected and involved in their kids’ online lives? Find…
Source This week, many Facebook users are being affected by a coordinated spam attack that is littering newsfeeds and profiles with violent and pornographic images. Though this most recent breach has prompted an outcry (due to the severely disturbing images), these spam attacks are not new or unusual. With millions…
A new paper released last week by researchers at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver (“The Socialbot Network: When Bots Socialize for Fame and Money”) has created a stir by highlighting social media sites’ vulnerability to infiltrations by socialbots. In an eight-week experiment, the UBC researchers deployed 102 socialbots on…
Yet another redesign of Facebook’s user interface has surfaced. Facebook continues to push the limits on the amount of content users can share and follow. At the social networking site’s f8 conference on September 22, Mark Zuckerberg announced the future face of Facebook. Are the new Timeline and Open Graph…
Source The Web is an information playground, and everyone is eager to share. And with the recent addition of sharing tools – those little icons that allow you to like, post, and more across various social media platforms – users can “share” easily and instantly. But while those seemingly innocuous…
Source You may think hackers are only focused on FBI break-ins and bank accounts, but nothing could be further from the truth. According to a Ponemon Institute report published this June, 90 percent of surveyed businesses reported at least one IT security breach in the past 12 months. Any breach…
Facebook is now working with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to terminate the Facebook accounts of inmates due to inappropriate behavior, often in the form of inappropriate sexual behavior. One specific incident involved a minor who was stalked by her former predator via her Facebook profile. The…
“Friending.” It wasn’t common parlance before the advent of the insanely popular social networking platform Facebook in February 2004. Now it seems like its run amok. 12-year-olds are friending their grandparents, parents, and even teachers on Facebook, even. A survey by Retrevo, published about a year ago, found that almost…
Should children be allowed to use Facebook? Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg certainly thinks so. At a summit on innovation in education in May 2011, Zuckerberg said he wants younger kids to be allowed on Facebook. The current COPPA (Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act) doesn’t allow websites to collect…
Facebook is the largest photo-sharing site in the world. Recently, Facebook started using Tag Suggestions, which uses face-recognition software to suggest people’s names to tag in pictures without their permission. Let’s take a look at how the software works, privacy concerns and some tips on how to avoid unwanted tagging….
It looks like Facebook updated some of its safety and security tools in April, to the delight of privacy advocates everywhere. The updates came barely a day after security firm Sophos sent the social networking giant, which boasts over 500 million users, an open letter about privacy and security concerns….
It’s 2011 and social media is, quite literally, everywhere you look: Your smartphone, your iPad, video games–even television, it seems, has begun taking its cues from social media. And heading the proverbial pack? Young teens. Common Sense Media, in a 2009 comprehensive report, estimated that 22% of teens log…
If you aren’t worried about your child’s safety online, you should be–statistics show that 69% of teens regularly receive personal messages online from strangers–and most of them don’t tell a trusted adult about it. Additionally, 64% post photos or videos of themselves, while more than half (58%) post info about…
There’s no denying it: Facebook is everywhere. (At least 41.6% of Americans currently have an account.) Still, the massively popular site’s ever-changing privacy and security policies can make it difficult to assume the appropriate safety precautions. That’s why we’ve created the ultimate primer for your Facebook safety needs. (Click Image…
Source Facebook, the social networking giant with more than 600 million active users (as well as having earned the distinction of the most visited website on the Internet) has had its share of privacy scares in the past; it’s ever-changing Terms of Service policy can make it difficult to…
When the majority of teens and kids are checking their Facebook accounts at least once a day, with many checking multiple times, keeping them safe is important. Here we look at the current social networking climate between kids and their parents and ways to keep them safe and secure when…
When your kids are begging you to join a popular social networking site like Facebook, it can be difficult to resist their pleas. After all, they want to be included in all the grownup fun, too — so how do you let your kids experiment while making sure they’re safe…
As technology advances, our children become more exposed to online threats. The online world offers a lot of benefits to children, which can be educational and rewarding. However, along with the benefits come the dangers that are associated with the online world. You should be aware of how to keep…
Today’s bullies have moved from the playground to the Web. Cyberbullying has grown into a big problem among middle and high school aged youths. 41% of kids report being bullied while online. 1 in 4 have had it happen more than once. Exactly what is cyberbullying and how can parents…
Social media is hotter than ever right now, and it’s not showing any signs of going away either. Don’t believe us? In 2008, Reuters announced that social media sites had overtaken porn as the number one Internet search. Since April 2010, Twitter has gained forty million users, and Facebook reached…
In a recent survey conducted by ZoneAlarm, 79% of consumers were found to use risky password construction practices, such as using personal information and common words. The graphic below illustrates some of the most commonly made mistakes people make when selecting a password, as well as some tips on how…
By Dameon D. Welch-Abernathy, CISSP, Check Point employee, a.k.a. PhoneBoy Facebook recently introduced a new feature called Facebook Places. Using your GPS-enabled Smartphone, you can “check in” to a physical location to let your friends know where you are. Competing services like Foursquare and Gowalla have offered this capability…
The good news is that there’s a Facebook “Friend List” technique that lets you restrict your most personal news, thoughts, photos, and profile info to a special group of people. You create a Friend List that contains only these people. Here’s how to create your “inner circle” friends list:
A high number of Facebook users are still putting themselves at risk by opening their individual profiles to total strangers by clicking on unknown links that they receive. This is the conclusion of a recent blind study conducted by our Security Research & Response team. By Check Point’s Security…
By Doctor Security To continue with my 2010 social networking theme, I want to share a couple of recent attempts to scam me or infect my PC. The first attempt came in the form of an email from a young friend with an AOL account. The subject line…
By Doctor Security Security experts worldwide are predicting that 2010 will be the year cybercriminals focus on using social networking sites like Facebook to launch attacks. Now, one of the best ways to keep yourself secure on Facebook – one that they will never tell you because it’s…