KAPPA COMMENTARY: INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND CYBERSECURITY
PROTECTING YOUR IDENTITY IN THE 21 ST CENTURY
By Robert Daniels, Information Security Chairman
Remember to install the latest security update or software update not only on your home computers but your tablet and smart phone as well. 9. Avoid Phishing scams in suspi- cious emails and phone calls that ask for credit card information, passwords or login ID. Remember, a true net- work administrator can reset your password so they will not need to ask you for it. 10. Always protect sensitive data and never leave your devices unat- tended. 11. Install anti-virus protection. 12. Back up your data. 13. Utilize a virtual private net- work (VPN) software when you use public Wi-Fi access points in airports, hotels, and even Starbucks. 14. Be careful what you click on when visiting unknown websites, downloading software, or email at- tachments received unsolicited. Now if you are like me, you have multiple logins to keep track of and as I’ve already noted you should never use the same password for all of your business. I have administrator pass- words for Servers, user passwords for login access to Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. membership database, YourMembership.com (YM) both as a brother and as an administrator, email passwords, my BOX account adminis- trator password, banking passwords, Facebook, Twitter, and so on. I think you get the picture—I have a lot of passwords both as an Internet user and as a technology specialist. Some login passwords require changing ever 30 days which compounds matters.
subscribers may have been affected if they had contacted Verizon customer service in the past six months. On July 21, 2017, over 50,000 records for some of Wells Fargo’s wealthiest clients were accidentally given to a former employee by an attorney which included names, SSNs, and private financial details. As you can see security breaches are not necessarily the work of criminal hackers looking for financial gain but can be simple mistakes like in the case of Wells Fargo or the product of network security vulnerability exploits. So, I have some tips for protecting your PII and how to make your Inter- net surfing a little more secure and safe. Never enter personal informa- tion in an email message when you don’t know the recipient. 2. Never enter personal informa- tion on a website provided as a link in an email message. 3. Never include personal infor- mation in an Internet forum, discus- sion group, or newsgroup message. 4. Never use the same password for all your electronic business. 5. Never divulge personal information to others over an instant message connection. 6. Never buy from an online store that doesn’t offer a secure, encrypted connection when you’re prompted for your personal informa- tion and credit card number. 7. Never download a file from a site you don’t trust. 8. Keep all software up to date. 1.
I n the age of data breaches and security concerns about the protection of personally iden- tifiable information (PII) being bought and sold on the “Dark Web” – that hidden place on the information superhighway where nefarious techies meet to trade the spoils of their latest hack- ing conquests – protecting your identity in the 21 st Century is of grave importance. Now most of you may never have heard of the “Dark Web” so let me explain: The “Dark Web” is the encrypted network that exists between Tor (anonymity network) servers and their clients, which aims to con- ceal the identities of users and their online activities. You may also have heard mentioned the “Deep Web” which in contrast to the “Dark Web” is simply databases and other web services that for one reason or another cannot be indexed by conven- tional search engines. Among other things, it is the “Dark Web” where your PII from data breaches like the Home De- pot, Target, Xbox 360, and PSP will be sold or traded. Informa- tion like names, credit/debit card numbers, D.O.B., Social Security Numbers (SSN), addresses are all considered PII. Two of the most recent data breaches that you may not be aware of hap- pened this month at Verizon and Wells Fargo. On July 13, 2017, Verizon reported 14 million of its
Publishing achievement for more than 100 years
THE JOURNAL FALL 2017 | 211
Made with FlippingBook Online newsletter