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Articles from Robert Siciliano | Selfgrowth.com
- Beware of Rogue Cell Phone Charging Stations - by Submitted on Dec 06, 2018 from Robert SicilianoHumans have evolved a new body part: the cell phone. One day it will be part of anatomical illustrations of the body in health and medical books probably an appendage on your head. I’m not a Dr. so don’t quote me. For now, we have to figure out a way to keep this appendage juiced ...
Views: 17 - Protect Yourself From Gift Card Scams - by Submitted on Dec 06, 2018 from Robert SicilianoSo maybe Christmas now means the very predictable gift card swap, but hey, who can’t use a gift card? But beware, there are a ton of scams. This includes physical, not just digital, gift cards. Regardless of who gave you the card, you should always practice security measures. Below are ...
Views: 27 - Here's What Crazy Mass Shooters Look Like - by Submitted on Nov 29, 2018 from Robert SicilianoMass shootings. They happen so often these days, they are hardly making headlines, and when they do, they are soon pushed out of the news cycle thanks to what’s going on in the White House or in Russia. There are many red flags that show what crazy mass shooters look like. Look at ...
Views: 52 - How to Protect You Frequent Flier Miles NOW - by Submitted on Nov 29, 2018 from Robert SicilianoSocial Security numbers and credit card numbers are not the only types of data that hackers are after. Now, they are looking at frequent flyer accounts, and they are stealing reward miles, and then selling them online. How do Hackers Steal Frequent Flyer Miles? As with other types of ID ...
Views: 43 - How Your Username Can Be used to Track You - by Submitted on Nov 21, 2018 from Robert SicilianoYou probably have a few usernames, or you might have just one that you use for every site. Either way, your user names can be used not just to identify you online, but it can also be used to track you and find out information about you. How do people track you based on your user name? They do ...
Views: 35 - Beautiful Buxom Brunette Lures Boxer to His Death - by Submitted on Nov 09, 2018 from Robert SicilianoEddie Leal, 23, was an up-and-coming professional boxer who gave free boxing lessons in his garage to down-and-out neighborhood teens. He was a good guy. And like most young men, was looking for a girlfriend. One day he saw that a young woman, Rebecca Santhiago, was asking for a friend ...
Views: 82 - Financial Preparedness in a Disaster - by Submitted on Nov 06, 2018 from Robert SicilianoYou have probably heard that it’s important to be prepared for a disaster. You might have a first aid kit set aside, food and water, or a battery-operated radio. But, are you financially prepared? Creating an Emergency Fund It might be tough but try to set aside some money a little at ...
Views: 59 - It Should Be Illegal for Teen Girls to Give Rides to Strangers - by Submitted on Nov 01, 2018 from Robert SicilianoIf only. But that’ll never be. Brandi Hicks, 17, and her high school friend, Liz Reiser, exited a video store at 9:30 pm, where they were approached by Matthew Vaca, a creepy acting stranger. He asked them for a ride to his house. At first they refused, but then he offered $20 for gas. ...
Views: 82 - Woman Voluntarily Sits in Truck of Man Who Creeped Her Out - by Submitted on Oct 31, 2018 from Robert SicilianoWho does this? Morna Brennen did this when she was 22. She and a few friends went to a bar and stayed there late. At some point while they were there, a man took an interest in Morna. But she was creeped out by him and pretty much ignored him. Later when it was time to leave, Morna and one ...
Views: 121 - How to be a Grandma Identity Thief Murderer - by Submitted on Oct 31, 2018 from Robert SicilianoLois Riess is a woman from Minnesota who police say shot her husband, went on the run, and then killed a woman in order to take on her identity. Here are some shocking facts about her: Riess Looked Like her Victim The woman Lois Riess killed, Pamela Hutchinson, looked like her. This is why ...
Views: 49 - Should You Use Facebook to Login to Websites? - by Submitted on Oct 23, 2018 from Robert SicilianoHave you ever used Facebook to sign onto another site? Many of us do this pretty blindly simply because it is very convenient. But, this convenience could come at a cost. You know the drill. You go to a website and it says “Log In With Facebook.” or Google. Usually, it just takes ...
Views: 41 - Does Your Mobile Have Spyware on It? - by Submitted on Oct 19, 2018 from Robert SicilianoYou have a mobile phone, you might think it’s pretty safe, but what you might not realize is that these devices can have spyware on them. Keep in mind, many of the “signs” listed below are everyday normal phone behaviors. But combined, might mean spyware. Here are some of the ...
Views: 78 - Do Not take that Stupid Facebook Quiz - by Submitted on Oct 11, 2018 from Robert SicilianoWhere should you live in the world? What Game of Thrones family are you in? What is the food that best describes your personality? All of these answers are given and found by doing quizzes on Facebook. You have surely seen them if you use Facebook, and have may have taken these quizzes, but you ...
Views: 65 - DNA Tech is Catching Bad Guys and its Great and Scary - by Submitted on Oct 10, 2018 from Robert SicilianoIn 1996, a 12-year-old Washington state girl was raped and murdered. However, it wasn’t until June 2018, that an arrest was made in the case. How did this happen? DNA technology. The man arrested is Gary Hartman, and he is accused of killing and raping 12-year old Michella Welch. Donald ...
Views: 110 - Check Your Free Credit Report Now - by Submitted on Oct 04, 2018 from Robert SicilianoWhen is the last time you checked your credit report? If it has been more than a year, you can get a free one. The issue is, however, is how to really understand it. Here’s some information about obtaining and reading your credit report. Obtaining Your Free Credit Report Based on US ...
Views: 73 - Bitcoin Scams Up the Ying Yang - by Submitted on Oct 03, 2018 from Robert SicilianoIf you are thinking of jumping onto the Bitcoin bandwagon, or any type of cryptocurrency, you have to make sure that you are watching out for scams. There are a ton of them out there, including the following: Fake Bitcoin Exchanges You have to use a Bitcoin exchange if you want to buy or ...
Views: 83 - Beware of the Social Security Administration Employee Scam - by Submitted on Sep 27, 2018 from Robert SicilianoThere is a new Social Security scam in the news, and you should definitely know about it. The Acting Inspector General of Social Security, released a statement that warns people of this new scheme. Basically, scammers are impersonating Social Security Administration employees. The scam ...
Views: 91 - 2017 Was the Worst Year for Identity Theft EVER! - by Submitted on Sep 27, 2018 from Robert SicilianoJavelin Strategy & Research recently released its Identity Fraud Study, and it revealed that the number of identity theft victims rose by 8% in 2017 when compared to 2016. That’s almost 17 million people, which is a record high. Despite more information and industry efforts to make ...
Views: 55 - Background Checks Don't Tell the Whole Story - by Submitted on Sep 14, 2018 from Robert SicilianoWhen it comes to background checks, the National Crime Information Center is the gold standard. It is only available to law enforcement agencies and is the most accurate and complete database tracking convictions and arrests in the US. That sounds pretty great, right? Unfortunately, it’s ...
Views: 82 - A "Credit Profile Number" is a fake SSN, and it Works - by Submitted on Sep 12, 2018 from Robert SicilianoCyber criminals are constantly trying to stay one step ahead of the good guys, and there is now another scam out there that you should know about: synthetic identity theft. Basically, the criminals take information from someone, and then make up the rest. They also often use fake Social Security ...
Views: 83 - 2017 Was the Worst year for Data Breaches EVER! - by Submitted on Sep 07, 2018 from Robert SicilianoIt seems like 2017 broke records for all the wrong reasons…one of them being the worst year for data breaches in history. According to reports, hacking was the most common way to collect this data, but almost 70% of exposures occurred due to accidental leaks or human error. This came ...
Views: 78 - 15 Year Old's Naked Photos Spread Like Wild Fire - by Submitted on Sep 05, 2018 from Robert SicilianoYou have probably heard the story before. Teenage girl takes some scantily clad photos and sends them to her latest boyfriend. “What could go wrong?,” she thinks. Well, a lot could go wrong, and an article on Vice.com really lays that out. You might think that the boyfriend is ...
Views: 159 - 10 Tips on Discussing a Screwed Up World with Kids - by Submitted on Aug 22, 2018 from Robert SicilianoDo you have children? How do you talk to them when something like a mass shooting happens? What about a robbery in your neighborhood? Do you talk about nuclear weapons? If you are like most parents, you don’t know where to start. Here’s 10 tips that you can use to talk to your kids ...
Views: 91 - Be aware of all these Confidence Crimes - by Submitted on Jul 27, 2018 from Robert SicilianoCriminals have a reliance on tricking victims to get access to account information, like passwords. This is known as social engineering, and is also called a “confidence crime.” These come in many forms: Do Not Take the Bait of These Phishermen A phishing email that targets a ...
Views: 98 - 10 Huge Home Security Mistakes - by Submitted on Jul 25, 2018 from Robert SicilianoThough it would be nice to think that you can fix something if you make a mistake, there are some where there is just no going back. And in some cases, these mistakes can be tragic. Here are some of the biggest mistakes that people make with their home security: Leaving Doors Unlocked ...
Views: 119 - 5 Digital Security Tips That You Should Always Beware Of - by Submitted on Jul 25, 2018 from Robert SicilianoHackers are out there, and they have their eyes on YOU! So, you are the first line of defense against them. Do you know how to make your smart phone or computer more difficult for hackers to access? Here’s five tips to help: Password Information You would think that these days, ...
Views: 106 - Are You Taking Responsibility for Your Personal Safety? - by Submitted on Jul 18, 2018 from Robert SicilianoFor the most part, the local police department does not prevent most assaults or burglaries. That would require a cop to be everywhere all at once. Not happening. However, they do their best to capture and arrest those who commit these crimes. And, preventing crimes goes way beyond getting a ...
Views: 144 - 15 Tips to Ensure the Safety and Security of Your Home - by Submitted on May 23, 2018 from Robert SicilianoWhen is the last time you thought about the safety and security of your home? How about thinking about it right now? Do you do the following? If not, start, today: Do you have propane tanks for a gas grill? Or gasoline cans with gas in them? They aren’t supposed to be stored inside. ...
Views: 201 - Are Your Employees Putting Your Company at Risk? Here’s How to Find Out! - by Submitted on May 18, 2018 from Robert SicilianoEven if you have the best security on your computer network, you might have noticed that you still seem to get hacked…or worse. Ask Equifax. Why is this happening? It’s probably because a member of your staff has made it easy for cyber criminals to get inside. It’s really ...
Views: 166 - Creating a “Plan B” for Survival - by Submitted on May 09, 2018 from Robert SicilianoWhat do you do if you have a “Plan A” for survival, but you realize that it’s a bad plan. Do you have a “Plan B?” Forget about doing things like running to the grocery store right before the snow storm of the century hits. Everyone else in your town or city will ...
Views: 180 - Freezing Your Child's Credit: What You Need to Know - by Submitted on May 04, 2018 from Robert SicilianoYou might not think about this, but identity thieves really want your child’s Social Security number. If they get this number, they can do a lot, including buying a car, renting an apartment, opening a credit card account, or getting a mortgage. The Social Security numbers of children are ...
Views: 593 - Protect Your Company with This Social Media Security Advice - by Submitted on May 02, 2018 from Robert SicilianoSocial media is an excellent tool for small businesses, yet, the use of social media by small business staff can definitely put the company in danger. Many small business owners and managers don’t realize this. Recently, I was talking to employees of a credit union about what to do in a ...
Views: 212 - Secret Self-Defense Weapons You Might Not Know About - by Submitted on May 02, 2018 from Robert SicilianoDo you have a secret self-defense weapon on hand that you don’t even know about? Here’s a few: Canes. Might seem obvious…but… Your first instinct would probably be to swing the cane like a baseball bat. However, this isn’t the best way. An attacker can easily ...
Views: 191 - Mobile Phone Numbers Are as Sensitive as Your Social Security Number - by Submitted on Apr 19, 2018 from Robert SicilianoAll of us have cell phones these days, and if you are like the vast majority of the population, you access everything from social media to banking information right from your mobile phone. However, if you do this, which everyone does, you are putting yourself in the position to get hacked. With ...
Views: 218(1 vote) - Self-Defense Options You Might Not Know About - by Submitted on Apr 10, 2018 from Robert SicilianoIf you are like most people, you probably haven’t done a lot of thinking about what you would do in a situation involving physical assault. Why would you? I mean, it’s unpleasant and scary. Further, depending on your physical makeup, you may think you’d probably lose anyway. ...
Views: 214 - The Term "Identity Theft Protection" is Often a Lie - by Submitted on Apr 05, 2018 from Robert SicilianoIf you are working for an IT security company, I have a message for you: the term “identity theft protection” is way overused and even abused as a marketing term. We know that this term is used to sell services and products, but does it really protect a user from being the victim of ...
Views: 220 - Do You Know How to Use a Knife for Survival? - by Submitted on Apr 04, 2018 from Robert SicilianoUsing a knife in a survival situation is a skill that can mean the difference between life and death. But, you have to know how to use the knife. Here is some information: Knife Safety: Carry a fixed-blade knife if you are going outdoors. It is less likely to get broken Always keep a ...
Views: 240 - Don't Overlook Basement Security - by Submitted on Mar 29, 2018 from Robert SicilianoIf you are like most of us, you probably don’t think much about the security of your basement. However, you might want to start doing that. Why? Because burglars love to get into homes by crawling into the basement. They know that most people don’t put a lot of security there, so it ...
Views: 209 - 45 Home Security Tips That Help to Keep Burglars Away - by Submitted on Mar 20, 2018 from Robert SicilianoIf you have a home, you should be worried about burglars. Here are 44 home security tips that you can use to keep the burglars away: Keep your doors locked all of the time. Use a deadbolt on every door. Don’t leave ladders outside. Teach young kids NOT to answer the door. Make ...
Views: 240 - Use a Password Manager Or You WILL Get Hacked - by Submitted on Mar 19, 2018 from Robert SicilianoDo you ever use the same password over and over again for different accounts? If so, you are not alone. However, this is quite dangerous. It’s best to use a different, unique password for each account, and to make it easier, you should use a password manager. According to surveys, ...
Views: 217 - Is Your Bugout Bag Ready to Go? - by Submitted on Mar 14, 2018 from Robert SicilianoIt seems like there have been a number of natural disasters hitting the US over the past couple of years…hurricanes, wild fires, floods…the list goes on. If you are caught in the face of a survival emergency, do you have supplies? Consider a bugout bag. These are sacks that you can ...
Views: 206 - Protecting Yourself from a Data Breach requires Two Step Authentication - by Submitted on Mar 08, 2018 from Robert SicilianoHave you ever thought about how a data breach could affect you personally? What about your business? Either way, it can be devastating. Fortunately, there are ways that you can protect your personal or business data, and it’s easier than you think. Don’t assume that protecting ...
Views: 238 - Should You Fight or Take a Flight When Being Attacked? - by Submitted on Mar 06, 2018 from Robert SicilianoI am a big believer that people should run away from an attacker. If a bad guy gets into your home and he often wants to cause you pain, RUN as quickly as you can to the nearest door. If you are in a corner or you have to protect a loved one, you might have to fight him. Most of us are taught ...
Views: 219 - 14 Social Media Disasters Ready to Strike - by Submitted on Mar 02, 2018 from Robert SicilianoThere are many ways that you or a small business could get caught up in a social media disaster. Can you think of any off the top of your head? If you are like most of us, probably not. Here are 14 ways that you could be in danger: A Terrible Online Reputation – Do you keep a watchful ...
Views: 253 - Understanding and Stopping Criminal Identity Theft - by Submitted on Feb 23, 2018 from Robert SicilianoThe definition of criminal identity theft is a crime where the criminal impersonates the victim in order to protect their innocence. This can lead to victims getting fines or even getting arrested and charged for crimes they did not commit. How Does This Happen? There are a number of ways ...
Views: 200 - Storing Water for Survival - by Submitted on Feb 13, 2018 from Robert SicilianoDo you think you know all there is to know about water storage? Most people think they have a good grasp on it, but they are in for a bit surprise. Below, there is a lot of information about storing water that might contradict what you think you know: Storing Barrels – You can keep ...
Views: 227 - Top 10 Signs of a Malware Infection on Your Computer - by Submitted on Feb 08, 2018 from Robert SicilianoNot all viruses that find their way onto your computer dramatically crash your machine. Instead, there are viruses that can run in the background without you even realizing it. As they creep around, they make messes, steal, and much worse. Malware today spies on your every move. It sees the ...
Views: 217 - The Natural Predatory Nature of Humans - by Submitted on Feb 06, 2018 from Robert SicilianoA study published in Nature shows us that both evolution and genetics have made a big impact on the behavior of humans…including in the case of murder. However, as we have become more civilized, these instincts have been muted. Scientists have looked at the rate of homicide in more ...
Views: 235 - Get a Credit Freeze NOW Before it's Too Late! - by Submitted on Feb 01, 2018 from Robert SicilianoWhat is a credit freeze? It’s an action you take to lock down your credit report. A lender can’t see your score, which means your Social Security number and credit rating is useless to them. In other words, they can’t tell if you are risky or not. When an identity thief can ...
Views: 620 - Protecting Your Parents from Identity Theft - by Submitted on Jan 25, 2018 from Robert SicilianoAccording to statistics, those who are 50-years old and older, like 65-85, are often targets of identity thieves. The bad guys have no issue taking advantage of your parents. They violate their trust, and understand that they are often naïve about the internet and scammy phone callls. Cyber ...
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