Beginner's Guide to Privacy and Security

Best practices and recommendations on how to protect and recover from compromised accounts and computers, use real-world scenarios to detail how scams and phishing emails are used and provide best practices on how to use the internet in a more safe and secure manner to protect yourself, your family, and your clients.

A Beginner's Guide to Privacy and Security

Trying to remain safe online, practicing good security and working to keep your data private is extremely challenging. This is made even more difficult with the speed at which technology changes, vulnerabilities are discovered, and attackers change their tactics. Just when you think you have learned the right techniques to keep your data private and your devices, email, etc., secure, another breach is announced, a new vulnerability is discovered in your operating system or web browser, and/or attackers come up with another scam/trick to gain access to your devices or information...all of which are out of your control. If you aren't tech savvy, it can be even more overwhelming. Since technology and attack methods change so rapidly, there are no simple answers or steps you can take to be 100% protected. This is where we are hoping we can help by recommending steps you can take to increase the security of your accounts and devices, better protect your privacy, and be safer online. Check out our "Security 101" section for a collection of the minimum security procedures everyone should be following.

If you are looking for a specific subject matter, click one of the topics below. We try to do our best to tag each blog post with the appropriate tags. If you own a small business, you may want to check out the "business owner" tag. The "scenarios" tag is real world examples of how you, your family, or your friends can be impacted by risky social media behaviors.

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December 19, 2019

Phishing Scenario: Malicious email using current events to push malware

December 19, 2019/ Logical Cybersecurity

Phishing Scenario: User infected with ransomware

April 02, 2018/ Logical Cybersecurity

If you have ever wondered how a ransomware infection occurs, this is the story for you. We will go through the steps of how a phishing email to an unsuspected user resulted in the files on their computer becoming encrypted with ransomware. Even though this scenario resulted in a computer being infected with ransomware, phishing emails like this one can result in other type of malware/virus infections as well. As we walk through the phishing scenario, I will provide some tips on how to verify the email is legitimate and point out warning signs that could have alerted the user that the email was malicious and fake.

May 31, 2017

Safe internet habits: practice safe searching

May 31, 2017/ Logical Cybersecurity

Studies have documented how dangerous internet searches can be. Naturally the list of the most dangerous search terms change a bit every year, but there are certain search terms that always make the list and some put you at a greater risk than others. We will discuss which search terms are among the most dangerous while learning some steps you can take to reduce your risk of stumbling on to a malicious website or downloading malicious software.

April 18, 2017

VirusTotal: a valuable and free tool at your service

April 18, 2017/ Logical Cybersecurity

What if I told you there is a way to run a file or URL (website address) through numerous different security (or antivirus) vendors for free. I know you’re probably quoting the old adage right now of, “If it’s too good to be true it usually is”, but in this case such a tool does exist and it is known as VirusTotal.

April 18, 2017

Antivirus Software: Is it helpful or too risky?

April 18, 2017/ Logical Cybersecurity

For many, many years now everyone has been told they must have antivirus installed on their computers, phones, etc. Today though, things are not so cut and dry. Some security researchers claim antivirus software puts your devices at a greater risk.