Author: Summer Powell

The image displayed below showcases an advertisement discovered on the popular online marketplace eBay. This advertisement specifically highlights and promotes eBay’s range of toolbar products. If you would like to view the image more closely and examine it in detail, please click on the link that has been provided. So you’re going about your business, happily browsing eBay in search of fine Victorian polished brass door knockers or assorted 1800th century cast-iron crockery when you notice near the bottom of the screen an icon alerting you to a new message. That could be important. Quick, better click it! Or maybe…

In the past year, Java has faced significant challenges stemming from the discovery of multiple vulnerabilities. These revelations have cast doubt on the strength of Java’s security measures as initially believed by Oracle. Consequently, Java has become a prominent target for cyber attacks, raising concerns among security experts about the wisdom of average users keeping Java installed on their devices. I concur with this perspective, as the risks associated with Java’s security flaws are increasingly apparent and warrant careful consideration. In the security community, we have a concept known as “attack surface”. Your attack surface is any area of your…

The image featured on Wikipedia.org provides viewers with a captivating glimpse of the National Security Operations Center (NSOC), a pivotal facility that holds the important responsibility of monitoring and supervising national security operations. Serving as a central hub, the NSOC plays a critical role in coordinating and implementing strategies to address potential threats, ultimately ensuring the protection and security of the nation. News broke on Friday that security company RSA Security LLC was reportedly paid $10,000,000 in a deal with the National Security Administration to use a compromised algorithm as the default for generating random numbers in some of its…

If you firmly believe that deleting a file ensures its complete removal from your system, it is crucial to take into account the most up-to-date information that is accessible. It is worth noting that even after you have deleted a file and cleared out the contents of the Windows Recycle Bin, there are frequently techniques and software tools that can be employed to potentially retrieve the file. This indicates that the file might not be completely eradicated from the system as originally assumed. Even after you’ve formatted your hard drive it’s still sometimes possible to recover data from it. This…

This image displays the CryptoLocker desktop background that appears when a computer is infected with the malware. If you wish to explore further into CryptoLocker and gain a better understanding of its implications, you can access more information by clicking on the following link: https://zookaware.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/cryptolockerAVmessage.png. What would you do if every important file on your computer was suddenly gone? And the only way to get those precious files back was to pay an anonymous internet criminal hundreds of dollars to return them? That’s the situation thousands of individuals and organizations worldwide have lived through in the past few months. Ransomware…

I must acknowledge that my sentiments regarding **Windows 8** are rather unfavorable. Should you wish to explore further the factors contributing to my lack of excitement for **Windows 8**, I encourage you to keep on reading to uncover the primary rationale behind my preference to avoid using **Windows 8** whenever possible. Well, hate is a strong word. I’m fond of the parts it shares in common with Windows 7. I like the updated task manager, and with Windows Defender being included by default I’m glad to see Microsoft is making strides to make Windows as secure as it can be…

Did you know that computer infections are often caused by outdated and unsafe software rather than tricky hackers? Attackers target vulnerabilities in old software that has not been updated, which makes it easier for them to infiltrate systems and introduce malware. Regularly updating software is essential to strengthen protection against online threats and prevent potential attacks that could compromise personal information or lead to data loss. By ensuring software is always up-to-date, you can create a more secure online environment, reducing the risk of being a victim of a cyber attack. It is important to take proactive steps to protect…

It is a frequent situation for numerous individuals to come across themselves in a scenario where they inadvertently click on the “Next” or “I agree” buttons without thoroughly considering the specifics during the installation of a new software program. This commonly occurs when we are in a hurry or not fully focused on the installation process. Nonetheless, the consequences of this rapid action become apparent when we later open our web browser and are met with the unwelcome appearance of an annoying toolbar that has been installed without our consent. Browser toolbars aren’t simply benign annoyances either. Beyond simply taking…

With the continuous expansion of the internet and the overwhelming volume of information accessible online, users are finding it increasingly difficult to differentiate between secure and risky online content. This challenge is further compounded by the evolving nature of online threats and the need for users to exercise caution and vigilance while navigating the digital landscape. Online reputation sites attempt to solve this problem by giving each website a rating of some kind to indicate how safe that website is. There are many reputation sites, but MyWOT (which stands for “My Web of Trust”) handles website ratings in a rather…