Your online privacy is under constant threat these days from every direction conceivable including software you install.
I spent yesterday with my CPA talking taxes, finances and data. My CPA is extremely concerned about data security and we were taking steps to secure and make sure his PCs were protected against any threats. However the main threat to security may not be your computer but your always connected smartphone which people are using to do banking, place shopping orders and more.
Smartphones are like having an open window allowing everyone into your world. I mean you are carrying a LoJack system in your pocket It's tracking and relaying where your present location. Even if you're not using GPS it is still pinging cell towers and GPS satellites can still see you. In other words, you can run but not hide.
It's been said that the world's most secure smartphone is the one at the bottom of a river. So what to do? To stay abreast and keep up in today's modern world a smartphone is a must. The link below is to an article which lists the 4 best phones for privacy and security. #1 may surprise you but it is still the preferred device used by many governments around the world.
https://smartphones.gadgethacks.com/how-to/4-best-phones-for-privacy-security-0176106/
In the past year, some clients and people I know have had their email and online accounts hacked. Many times scans of their system revealed nothing. I ask if they possibly responded to a phishing attempt. Almost always the answer is no. In each case, the compromised email account and equivalent phone app was also on their smartphones. I'm beginning to wonder if its time to take smartphone security more seriously. It could be the weak link in your online security.
Consider these facts from Malwarebytes online forum.
"These hacks aren’t happening in a vacuum. Mobile malware is a frontier ripe for cybercriminal activity. According to a 2015 Pew Research Center Report, nearly two-thirds of Americans own a smartphone, and roughly one in five of those users conduct most of their online browsing using their phone instead of a computer. The reality is that as more and more people use their phones to go online, more cybercriminals will hear the call."
“Everything from backdoor malware that steals personal information to ransomware that locks your phone until payment is made exists in the mobile space. With millions of malware samples in the wild, there is no reason not to be concerned.”
https://blog.malwarebytes.com/101/2016/09/top-10-ways-to-secure-your-mobile-phone/
New Wi-Fi attack cracks WPA2 passwords with ease
The common Wi-Fi security standard is no longer as secure as you think.
https://www.zdnet.com/article/new-wi-fi-attack-cracks-wpawpa2-passwords-with-ease/?ftag=TRE-03-10aaa6b&bhid=2219791
Beware the Software Santa. Free comes with a cost.
CCleaner, a software I used in Windows 98 days is currently in trouble with users due to unwanted monitoring and collection of data. This is just the latest incident for the company. Last year it was modified by hackers and used to serve malware. CCleaner is available from Avast (Piriform) and is used to scrub and optimize all kinds of devices including Windows, Macs and mobile devices.
In the latest version 5.45, the company added features that many users were not pleased about. The features in question are used for data collection. The collection of data is performed by tasks called Active Monitoring and heartbeat which continuously send user data to CCleaner servers. The company claims that nonpersonal and nonidentifiable data only is sent to servers, however, the difficulty in opting out is frustrating many users. If you close the program it only minimizes and to close the program it has to be forced closed or the service stopped.
When servicing client systems I almost always find malware and PUPS (potentially unwanted software) installed. These items compromise system security and performance. Often times these programs are installed along with legitimate software by the user during the install process. It is important to pay attention to the install process to make sure that you don't install more than you intended especially when Googling and installing free software. Always pay attention to your search results and don't select a search result that isn't a direct link to the desired software or is listed as an ad. The software may be advertised as free but they are trying to get paid.
https://www.zdnet.com/article/cc-cleaner-provokes-fury-over-active-monitoring/?ftag=TRE-03-10aaa6b&bhid=27630927001468733386426006914379
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