Industry News Recap: National Cyber Security Awareness Month

By | October 7th, 2016|Online Safety|

CSIDNational Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM) kicked off this month and as a result, more eyes than ever are on cybersecurity. This week, we’re spotlighting a few recent national stories we expect to be a key part of the conversation among those participating with us in the month-long celebration.

Cybersecurity and the 2016 Election
For the first time in history, cybersecurity has emerged as a major topic in the 2016 general election. In the first presidential debate, both candidates talked about cybersecurity, especially in regard to alleged recent state sponsored cyber attacks. Both candidates agreed that the US should have strong cybersecurity capabilities to combat such threats.

National cybersecurity will continue to be in the news as Election Day itself approaches. Politico recently reported that hackers have probed voter registration systems in more than 20 states. In the wake of this news, more and more voters are becoming concerned as they prepare to head to the polls. Fortunately, many states are now working diligently with the Department of Homeland Security to ensure that their voting systems are properly secured for Election Day.

IoT Breaches On The Rise
The Internet of Things (IoT) continues to grow steadily, and organizations of all kinds are learning to adapt to the new technology ecosystem. However, security flaws in the IoT remain as a concern that has not been adequately addressed. Powerful DDOS, or “distributed denial of service” attacks via IoT devices have made headlines in recent weeks. DDOS attacks are a tried and true type of threat, but what we’re beginning to see is cyber criminals using compromised IoT devices to augment the size of an attack.

As part of NCSAM, the Online Trust Alliance released a checklist of steps for ensuring the security of IoT devices. Just as for most online risk mitigation, consumers should regularly update privacy settings on home and wearable devices in order to remain secure. Additionally, users should create long and strong passwords for all of their devices, and update them regularly.

Security Skills Gap
As we discussed a few weeks ago, the shortage in trained cybersecurity professionals is a problem. New reports show that the problem is continuing to grow. More than 209,000 U.S.-based cybersecurity jobs remained unfilled, a figure that is up 74 percent since 2011. Overall, the state of the cybersecurity skills shortage continues to pose a threat to the industry.

In spite of these issues, 79% of current cybersecurity professionals say that they are happy in their career path. It’s a fulfilling career, especially for today’s tech savvy population. Additionally, more and more schools globally are establishing programs and scholarships that directly address the cybersecurity skills gap by sparking curiosity and inspiring younger generations to get involved in the field.

To stay up to date with all the industry news shaping up during NCSAM, be sure to follow us on FacebookTwitter and LinkedIn

We’re Gearing Up for National Cyber Security Awareness Month

By | September 30th, 2016|Online Safety|

CSIDCyber security is a shared responsibility. That’s why every October, businesses, government agencies, universities, associations, nonprofit organizations and individuals come together to participate in National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM) to promote online safety awareness. NCSAM was created as a collaborative effort between government and industry to ensure all digital citizens have the resources they need to stay safer and more secure online, while also protecting their personal information.

We’ve participated the last several years and are proud to once again be registered as an official NCSAM Champion, where we’ll join the conversation on how to stay safe online and build a culture of cyber security awareness nationwide. Here are some ways you and your organization can take part in all of the activities throughout the month:

Become a Champion: Whether you’re an individual interested in getting involved or representing your organization, find out more about how to become a NCSAM Champion. You’ll be joining a large community from around the country dedicated to promoting a safer and more secure Internet.

Get Involved with Events – Onsite or Online: Browse Stay Safe Online’s list of events and mark your calendar for conferences and panel discussions in your area. There are also a number of virtual events, like webinars and Twitter chats, taking place throughout the month. Here are a few we’re looking forward to in particular:

  • October 6: #ChatSTC Twitter Chat – The Basics of Online Safety
  • October 13: #ChatSTC Twitter Chat – Creating a Culture of Cybersecurity from the Break Room to the Boardroom
  • October 20: #ChatSTC Twitter Chat – Recognizing and Combatting Cybercrime

Stay Informed: Stay up to date with all NCSAM news by following our friends at Stay Safe Online on Twitter and check out their resources for helpful tips and tricks around online security.

We’ll be actively involved in many of the NCSAM activities across all our social channels, so be sure to follow us on FacebookTwitter and LinkedIn.

CSID Bolsters Social Media Monitoring Product to Help Keep Children Safe Online

By | September 20th, 2016|Company News, Online Safety|

CSIDToday, we’re pleased to announce that our Social Media Monitoring product now includes child-monitoring services. This important addition, which can be rapidly deployed and customized through our Identity Management Center (IMC), lets our partners enable subscribers to monitor privacy and reputational risks, cyber bullying, weapons references, and sexual predator activity for their child’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts.

Ninety-two percent of teens go online daily. Ninety-one percent of these individuals share photos of themselves, and 71 percent share the name of the city or town in which they live. It’s more important than ever for parents to be vigilant of the security risks facing their children across social media. Not only can a child’s social media activity put them risk for identity theft or fraud, it can also impact his or her future success. In fact, 35 percent of admissions officers reported that when checking on a student’s online presence, they found something that negatively impacted an applicant’s chances of getting in, a figure that has nearly tripled from last year.

Here’s what CSID President and Co-Founder, Joe Ross, had to say about the news:

In today’s world where children and teens are constantly connected, they may be sharing information that puts them at risk for identity theft, reputation damage, or worse. The new child monitoring services added to our Social Media Monitoring product will allow businesses to provide subscribers peace of mind, knowing that they’ll be alerted if their children are sharing any information or engaging in activities via social media that puts them at risk.

For more information on CSID’s Social Media Monitoring product, visit https://www.csid.com/socialmonitoring/ and to stay up to date with all CSID news, be sure to follow us on FacebookTwitter and LinkedIn.

There’s an App for That: Keeping Your Phone Secure

By | August 18th, 2016|Online Safety|

CSIDThis summer, with the explosion of Pokemon Go, we’ve seen how a mobile app can take the world by storm. The mobile world continues to grow, and as it does, we must remember to take the necessary steps to ensure our devices remain secure. As we approach the end of summer, here’s a little back-to-school refresher on accessing the apps on your phone safely.

Check Privacy Settings
Think about the accounts you use most frequently – do you know what your privacy settings are for each of them? Whether it’s a banking app, an online retailer, or an email account, if you’re interacting with it often, you should monitor your privacy settings. Certain apps will have default settings that may share information you’re not comfortable giving out. Taking a thorough look at your settings is well worth it to maximize your privacy.

Not sure where to look for privacy settings? The National Cyber Security Alliance has created a guide with links to the security settings of several commonly used apps like Spotify and Amazon. Once your settings are up to date, your next purchase or song session will be that much more secure.

Updates Are Your Friend
Privacy settings aren’t the only thing you should update – the apps themselves need to be refreshed, too. Once an app is released into the world, developers don’t stop working on it. They’re constantly monitoring for bugs and ways to improve their product’s security, and updates pass those improvements along to users. Updates may change an app’s interface, but they also frequently provide benefits under the surface, such as eliminating glitches and offering better overall security.

If your phone isn’t already set to automatically update, turn that function on for the peace of mind that you have the most secure version of the app available.

Delete Apps You Don’t Use
Most people have at least one app on their phone that they never touch. Not only is that forgotten app taking up space on your phone, it may also be a security threat. As we mentioned earlier, there will likely be security updates for your abandoned apps that you may not be aware of, making your phone an easier target.

Depending on your device, you can either disable or permanently delete an app. If you’re an iOS user, you’ll also want to delete the apps from your iTunes account, or they will reinstall anytime you sync your phone.

Keep Your Family Secure, Too
There are several apps whose sole purpose is to hide other apps on someone’s phone. Your child may be using these types of apps to divert attention away from other apps you might not want them using. New messaging apps are constantly being developed which allow users to chat anonymously. By posing as fellow teenagers, hackers have the opportunity to mine your child’s personally identifiable information and put their identity at risk.

It’s worth taking the time to review what your kids have downloaded onto their phone, and talk to them about the potential risks of certain apps. Encourage them to mirror your privacy settings, as well.

What other tips do you have for keeping your phone secure? Join the conversation and stay up to date on the latest tips and cybersecurity news by following CSID on FacebookTwitter or LinkedIn.

Load More Posts
WordPress › Error

There has been a critical error on this website.

Learn more about troubleshooting WordPress.