How to monitor kids on Facebook without being their friend

  By Trishna | July 27, 2011 - 7:59 pm | Facebook, Hacking, Privacy, Security, Uncategorized
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Let’s face it – kids don’t like to ‘friend’ their parents for fear that they would then have to curb their freedom of speech with friends and peers. However, cyber stalkers and predators are a real concern for parents and an issue that needs to be addressed.

Here is an interesting video from The Wall Street Journal which gives you a suggestion of how you can protect your children and let them keep their privacy as well. Read the article on The Wall Street Journal

Technology Addiction and Real World Safety

  By admin | June 27, 2011 - 10:35 am | Security, Social Media, Technology Addiction, Texting
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Just yesterday we were out and I noticed a young girl
walking on the sidewalk talking on the phone. A car was behind her and she
stepped off the curb to walk on the road and she never once looked back! Numerous
times, I have seen young boys and girls using their smart phones while walking
down the street. Some even have headphones and are listening to music at the
same time! However, this idiocy is not relegated to the youth only. It seems
that even adults these days can’t refrain from using their smart phones while
driving!

This lack of awareness stuns and frightens me. Unless you have
been professionally trained, it is impossible to be aware of your surroundings
and use your smart phone at the same time! At this point in society I think
this is a case of Monkey See, Monkey Do. Children see their parents or other
adults using their technology and so they also feel that they can’t live
without it either. This kind of technology addiction needs to be acknowledged
and confronted. Children and their parents NEED to sit down and talk about
safety first. An open dialogue between adults and kids could lead the way to
everyone realizing what a hold this technology has on us these days. It would
then also force us to come up with reasonable solutions to the issues of commonsense
and safety in the real world.

Check out this article at The Province.

 

Beware of Hackers and protect yourself!

  By admin | June 27, 2011 - 9:55 am | Data Protection, Hacking, Identity Protection, Identity Theft, Password Protection, Privacy, Uncategorized
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Saw this video on The Prionvince’s website. It just reiterates the importance of being safe on the internet.

  1. Use different passwords and if you can’t remember them all consider getting a password manager or do it the old-fashioned way by writing it down and putting it in a safe place.
  2. Don’t open emails with forwards even from friends.
  3. Consider using one computer/laptop ONLY for things like paying bills, checking bank accounts and shopping on secure sites.

 

Delete your Data! Prevent Identity Theft!

  By admin | June 21, 2011 - 11:06 pm | Data Protection, Identity Protection, Identity Theft, Password Protection, Privacy, Security
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Just read an interesting article on CBC.ca – It’s a wake up call for customers who return their computers to anyone to make sure that all their data has be deleted.

For those of you who aren’t sure how your identity can be stolen check out our earlier post and for tips and techniques check out this one

Cheers and be safe

How to protect from Hackers!

  By admin | June 20, 2011 - 11:58 am | Data Protection, Facebook, Hacking, Identity Protection, Password Protection, Privacy, Security, Social Media, Texting, Twitter
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Just read this great article in the Globe and Mail - that talks about how even though we may not be large corporations like Sony, Citigroup or the FBI we are all susceptible to hackers online. Part of the issue is that hackers come in different forms and are often sight unseen so it is very hard to spot a hacker.

A hacker could attach a key logging software to something as innocent as a downloadable children’s game and this helps them track the information the user types and also collect user names and passwords. Since our entire lives now seem to be on the Internet we cannot stop using it and neither are we immune to these hackers so here are some tips.

  1. Limit information posted on social networking sites such as FB, twitter and even programs like Foursquare.  The only people who care where you are every minute of the day are predators, hackers and thieves!
  2. Make sure your anti-virus software is up to date and constantly updating. Word to the wise porn websites and some video downloading websites are LOADED with viruses!
  3. Make sure you uses different passwords for any internet usage and be sure to change them regularly. If you ar elike me and cannot remember more that 3 there are free Password managers out there such as LastPass that will help you generate and remember random passwords.
  4. As mentioned in a previous post - Do Not Click on pop ups or Internet offers that offer you the latest products on the market. These are usually scams and simply a way for hackers and predators to collect information about potential victims.
  5. Some experts even suggest that you donn’t click on links within emails no matter who the person who sent it to you is.
  6. If possible do not use the same computer to pay bills online as well as play computer games or download videos. Part of the problem is that hackers use these innocuous ways to get their software onto your system to track you.

Even with all these safeguards in place there use your common sense online and trust your instincts. Everything on the internet is not true and people need to be aware that there are predators online patiently waiting for their potential victims to play into their hands.

Be careful and safe.