CompuClever Blog

Going Incognito – Browse Web in Privacy Mode

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Incognito, according to Wikipedia, from the Latin incognitus, refers to a person who wants to remain anonymous to the world and others, in hiding or shut off from humanity.

Web surfers have the option to enable privacy mode or “Incognito” mode on their browser.  Each of the main browser type offers some level of private browsing.  It is known as Private Browsing, InPrivate Browsing, and Incognito depending on the type of browser used.

Basically – this is a privacy feature that quite simply provides some privacy on your local computing device but, DOES NOT provide hidden detection or stealth beyond that.  Your ISP (Internet Service Provider) and other agencies connected on the Internet can detect your activities via your unique IP address on the web servers.

Disabling functions such as the web cache and browsing history make this a relatively private way of browsing the web.  Cookies, the data holders sent by web sites to recognize or track your online activity, are also disabled.

Items Deleted or Not Saved:

The list  of items that are deleted or not saved when you browse during Incognito or Privacy  mode are:

  • Website history.
  • The cache of files stored during your browse session.
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Don’t be Held at Ransomeware

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With two prominent malware attacks occurring back-to-back during the past two months, you’re likely familiar with the term  – “Ransomware” – a cyber-crime gaining worldwide attention. In this article we explore ransomware in depth and offer recommendations and instructions to prevent it from happening and to protect your PC.

Ransomware defined:

You can think of ransomware as “data kidnapping”. It is the result of a malware attack that blocks access to a user’s PC data. Once infected, the attackers try to force you into paying money so you can regain access. In some cases there is a threat to publish or delete the data unless the ransom is paid. Data and access is blocked by using strong file encryption.

Computers can be infected whether at home or in the work environment. This includes PCs on an enterprise network or government agency servers.

Some ways of infecting your PC include:

  • Surfing to unsafe or fake websites.
  • Opening emails and email attachments from unknown sources.
  • Opening malicious links in emails, Facebook, Twitter, and from online chat apps such as Skype.

The two main types of ransomware are: Lockscreen and Encryption.

  1. Lockscreen ransomware prevents you from accessing your PC or files and instead displays a full-screen message saying you have to pay a ransom to regain access.
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What Is a VPN, and Why Do You Need One?

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In March 2017, the US Congress voted to allow internet service providers (ISPs) to sell customer data. Anyone in the United States who connects to the Internet must rely on an ISP. This means your ISP now has knowledge of all of your browsing habits.

While ISPs claim they will use your Internet history to help sell you more relevant ads, the decision by Congress has made many people deeply uncomfortable.

WiFi Hotspots Are Also A Risk?

It’s not just ISPs who are after your browsing data and personal information. For example, whenever you login to a WiFi hotspot in a coffee shop or at the airport you are potentially putting yourself at risk. WiFi hotspots may not protect your data as it is transmitted to and from your device. Even worse, some WiFi hotspots may want to steal your data, such as browsing history or even passwords and credit card information.

Luckily, something called a virtual private network (VPN) may help protect you from ISPs and anyone else who wants to snoop on your Internet habits.

What Is a VPN?

A VPN is essentially an online service that allows you to create a secure Internet connection. All of your browsing is encrypted, meaning that no one, including your ISP or even the government can determine what you are doing on the Internet. Continue reading...

Breaking News – Yahoo Admits Breach of 500 Million Accounts

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My heart dropped when I was alerted by CNN that Yahoo admitted today that 500 million user accounts have been compromised. As a seasoned IT professional who has been involved with the security industry for the past decade, this is probably THE worse security breach that’s occurred since the inception of the Internet.

Here are the key facts that you should be aware of regarding this breach:

  • In August 2016, a person codenamed “Peace” attempted to sell what he claimed to be 200 million Yahoo user information.
  • Back then, Yahoo only said they were investigating the legitimacy of the claim.
  • On Sept. 22nd 2016, Yahoo issued a statement acknowledging the legitimacy of the claim. Furthermore, Yahoo confirmed the scale of the breach is actually 500 million accounts.
  • Yahoo also confirmed that the information stolen contains name, username, lightly encrypted passwords, date of birth, and for some accounts, security questions and answers.

Nevertheless, till this moment, Yahoo hasn’t issued a notice to all of its users advising them to reset their passwords.

Here at CompuClever, we felt it is necessary to inform you about this event because there is a high possibility that either you or someone you know might be impacted by this incident. Continue reading...

Antivirus Software – 7 Myths Debunked

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Making use of an Antivirus application is commonly understood to be a prerequisite of operating your computer in a connected, online world. Generally speaking, it is unthinkable that one would run a PC without being actively protected by legitimate AV software with a valid subscription, whether paid or free. Nevertheless, there are some common myths about antivirus applications. Some of these myths prevent users from providing themselves with adequate protection while other myths perpetuate untruths and misinformation.

Here are 7 myths about antivirus software that we get from interacting with users when dealing with security related support cases.  Let’s debunk the myths related to AV applications.

The Top 7:

Here are the myths that we cover in this article along with the real truths about each.

1. Authentication and encryption offers me all the protection I need.

It’s true that authentication and encryption can make it challenging for a criminal to get to your confidential information but not impossible.  Some authentication systems use a One Time Passcode (OTP) and send a Simple Messaging System (SMS) or computer generated call back system.

Unfortunately, cyber criminals have already found ways to circumvent multi-factor authentication which was supposed to radically reduce online criminal activity.   Continue reading...