Looking over my dad’s new smartphone photos, my heart skipped a beat. I was staring at vibrant photographs of every credit card in his wallet – and there were many. That’s not where it ended. There were additional photos such as the one of his medical insurance card with his social security number on it. […]
“We don’t cover stupid” is a reminder that ignorance and lack of expertise have become unacceptable excuses for technological negligence. This entertaining but reasonable statement was made by an insurance company who is suing for reimbursement of a payout after learning an insured healthcare provider failed to take appropriate security measures to protect online patient medical records. The provider’s […]
A few weeks ago, a friend observed a drone in front of her house when she went to investigate an unusual sound. For about 15 minutes she watched it hover above trees, moving back and forth 15 to 20 feet in both directions. She felt violated as she assumed the drone was filming her and her […]
Tax related identity theft occurs when someone uses another person’s social security number to claim a tax refund from the IRS by filing tax returns early in the tax-filing season. The IRS estimated that it prevented $24.2 billion in fraudulent identity theft refunds in 2013 but they paid out $5.8 billion in refunds that were […]
I’d like to tell you that I’ve never clicked on a link I shouldn’t have clicked on, but that would be a lie. Do you realize that even a close friend can accidentally give you a virus with an innocent suggestion to download a screensaver, sign a petition, watch a video or read a joke? I’m likely more cautious than many, […]
Whether directly impacted or not, there are things we must all learn from the Anthem breach. The sensitive information that was accessed has provided criminals with the ability to create new lines of credit and to steal the identities of victims indefinitely but there are important steps we can all take to protect ourselves before it is […]
On a rainy day with multiple accidents and horrible traffic, my friend activated Waze on her iPhone and we navigated flawlessly to the end of our 29 mile journey without traffic and in great time. I was very impressed with Waze, a free, community-based traffic & navigation app that worked beautifully for us that day. […]
It’s always a good idea to be careful when shopping online but with the arrival of Cyber Monday and holiday shopping time, it’s time to be extra careful as cyber criminals and predators come out in huge numbers. HOW TO AVOID INTERNET SHOPPING SCAMS Watch out for phony websites, spam emails and pop-up ads offering low product, airfare […]
An ongoing game or two of Words with Friends, an app on my Android phone, has been a simple and guilty pleasure that I’ve enjoyed regularly. After an annoying upgrade option kept popping up on my screen, I read the privacy policy to learn exactly what I’d be giving up in exchange for the improved version […]
Tammy Minn’s article below is printed in the October 2014 print issue of Inland Empire Magazine. I am honored and proud to share the article/interview here and hope that you will get a good tip or two out of it yourself! Until next time, … Stay Cyber Safe!
When an alligator cartoon offering a Facebook Privacy Checkup popped up while I was using Facebook, I assumed it was fraudulent. Facebook hadn’t seemed concerned about making their privacy settings transparent before and with the unfamiliar alligator and no Facebook logo I was suspicious. Yet something about the offer made me look into it further […]
Before I’m hired to remove personal information from the Internet, clients understandably want to know if it will stay off permanently. The reality is that multiple factors can cause personal information to come back. The purpose of this article is to share important behaviors and habits that will reduce the spread of personal information as well as reduce the chance […]
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