Below are some timely articles on purchasing tech toys, just in time for your last minute Christmas shopping.  If you are buying your children/Grand children tech toys for Christmas, you should be aware of the potential security threat imposed by connecting those toys to your wireless internet connection, or your smartphone bluetooth.

Tech toys could put kids' privacy at risk. Here's how to stay safe
www.cbc.ca/news/technology/connected-toys-safety
Dec 22, 2017

FBI Tech Tuesday: Building a Digital Defense Against Internet-Connected Toys
www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/portland/news/press-releases/fbi-tech-tuesday-building-a-digital-defense-against-internet-connected-toys
Dec 22, 2017

Inside the FBI: Internet-Connected Toys Pose Security Risks
www.fbi.gov/audio-repository/inside-podcast-internet-connected-toys-081017.mp3/view
Dec 22, 2017

A research company called 4iQ, a provider of Identity Threat Intelligence, has recently discovered a very disturbing database on the Dark Web which contains in excess of 1.4 Billion searchable stolen credentials.  This list is an aggregation of information from numerous data breaches, which have taken place in the past.  Analysis of this database shows that users still use common and simple passwords, and re-use the same passwords for multiple accounts.  4iQ used the database to discover 40 of the most common passwords used by individuals.   Don’t fall victim to Cyber Crime, by using weak passwords or re-using passwords for a number of different sites.  Periodically change your passwords, especially if you’re a customer or client of a corporation that has been subject to a data breach.  Use a password manager like Lastpass, to help generate and keep track of strong passwords, as well as sync passwords between different devices that you use.  ie. between your PC, Tablet or Smartphone.

 https://4iq.com/     Dec 19, 2017

Another security vulnerability has been added to the “Security Terms” portion on this website.  It’s called Cryptojacking.  In order to fully understand what this is, two additional terms have been added, Cryptocurrency & Cryptomining, even though they don’t pose a security hazard on their own.  Cryptocurrency like the Bitcoin is unfortunately a common form of payment that is demanded by criminals when they highjack your computer contents for ransom. 

Don't get scammed over the holiday shopping season (or any other time of the year!) by following some of the guidelines that are contained in this "Time Money" article.  

By Megan Leonhardt
12/13/2017  

http://time.com/money/5052396/scams-holiday-shoppers-security

It doesn't matter at what length a company undertakes to secure the access to their building, or in a sensitive area like a data center, however the human factor is the weakest link. This is something to make you laugh, but there's a lot of truth to what you see!