Oh my goodness...!

Not too long ago, I wrote a "Social Engineering" blog that I thought was pretty detailed.  It discussed different types of "Social Engineering" in depth; warning signs and what steps to take if you feel you've been victimized.

It truly is the Wild West out there.

We live with crime everyday.  It's become commonplace...unfortunately.  And, one of the frustrating aftermaths of being victimized by criminal activity is feeling victimized all over again when you try to rectify the situation and normalize your life.

As in anything in life, there is good...but, unfortunately, there is also bad.  So it is in the "tech" world.  There have been so many "lightening fast" advancements in this industry..that definitely is the good part, but the "law" has had trouble keeping up with these advancements.

We are experiencing an epidemic.  "Hacking" or Data Breaches have become commonplace...and that's dangerous.

As the frequency of hackings has increased, so is the likelihood that you will also be involved.  You may feel that you're a sitting duck in this scenario, because, after all, even though you have been most responsible and have put every security measure of which you are aware in place, you still have no control if your data is breached due to cyber criminal activity involving a third party (EX: Target or Blue Cross).

That is not exactly accurate.

I am often surprised how the smallest of technological troubles often times create quite an issue with time management and of course, with stress management...I.E. non efficiency.  None of us have time to waste...yet, I confess, I am one of those people who get caught up trying to figure out a minor problem and waste an inordinate amount of time doing so, or plug along executing a procedure, when there exists a more efficient way of accomplishment.

Hitting the road with your computer opens the doors to a whole world of potential security problems, both physical and software-based, but don't worry. They're all manageable. Remember, the weakest link in your security will usually be you—as long as you don't put yourself, your computer, or its data at undue risk, you should be just fine even if you have to work from a library or a coffee shop, or connect to whatever Wi-Fi you find to get some work done.

Unless you're a hermit, you are out and about every day, sometimes several time a day.  And each time you venture outdoors, whether it's to a meeting, the grocery store, a concert, sporting event, or on vacation, it's an occasion for something to happen to your mobile phone or the information in it.

Internet usage is growing dramatically, but the vast majority of internet users don’t have any security backgrounds. Neither do a large majority of companies care about information security and the severity of any attack that could harm the valuable assets of these companies.

In the news recently, it seems there have been more natural disaster phenomenons globally, occurring almost daily.  Earthquakes, Tornadoes, Floods, Fires.  We are all warned and drilled on the importance of preparing for and keeping a "disaster kit"...in our case in Southern California, it is known as an "Earthquake Kit". The essentials are packed in the kit.

Identity theft, social engineering, phishing,...these are all terms that are part of our life, whether you are aware or not.  We are so tied to our computer and the internet.  And even if you are not technically savvy, the world around you is, and because of that, your security is tied in with the world.