HBO is taking a proactive approach. Plepler called for employees to be notified even before news of the hack broke. “It was one of the best examples of how to react to a crisis and communicate to your employees,” says Nigam. “I’ve never seen it happen this fast.” (With Sony, it took then-chairman Michael Lynton 12 days to email employees about the status, though he was in largely unchartered waters at the time.)
Source: HBO Hack: Insiders Fear Leaked Emails as Probe Widens | Hollywood Reporter
Although Verizon said that the PINs alone can’t help access online accounts, Hemu Nigam, a cybersecurity analyst at SSP Blue, said he would still advise customers to change their PINs because they could give people access to other accounts they use. “The unfortunate part is if you use that PIN, you’re probably using a similar PIN for other situations, so once I have that I can test that PIN on other things,” he said. “Verizon’s relationship with the customer is not at risk, but the customer is now at risk
Source: Why you should change your Verizon PIN right now – The Washington Post
“In the medical space, though, there is nothing more invasive towards one’s privacy than having a medical record indexed in a Google search that millions of people can see,” said Hemu Nigam, the chief executive of SSP Blue, a company that specializes in cybersecurity affairs. “This is a great move, but why did it take so long?”
Source: Medical records will no longer appear in Google search results – The Washington Post
Bottom Line — Should companies like Facebook be allowed to create end to end encryption communication apps? Does this become a tool for terrorist to avoid detection as they plan their next attack?
Source: Britain reopens privacy debate after attack, presses tech firms | Reuters
HEMU’S BOTTOM LINE: The Right To Be Forgotten
If the Internet is a reflection of our real world, do we really need to be forgotten online? Are you asking Google to forget you? Is that like asking people to forget the footprints you have left in this world so far? Why or why not? Read more here.
HEMU’S BOTTOM LINE: Online Shopping Rates Drop Surprisingly:
Should we stop going to malls because thieves might steal our wallets, purses, or iPhones? Nearly 25% of Americans stopped shopping online because of the security breaches on eBay, Target, and other large companies. Are you still shopping online? Read more
If Facebook has learned one thing from its social media reign, it’s that users take the appearance of the platform very seriously. As a company this is great since it means users are loyal and inspired to stay connected with Facebook. The universal rollout ofTimeline in 2012 created havoc in the social media community, as hoards of Facebookers took to Internet chat rooms and profiles to voice their opinions about the visual appeal of the format change, as well as the increased visibility of uploaded content on profiles. With the introduction of a redesigned News Feed and plans to update the Timeline appearance and implement Facebook Graph Search, users once again responded with their honest feedback. Some of the most common user concerns relate to unknown individuals viewing private content through friends’ comments, as well as social reader and movie viewing app publications on the News Feed.
In the world of pop culture, nothing entices the public more than celebrity gossip. Search Google Trends on any given day, and famous sports figures, reality stars, singers and actors undoubtedly top the list of the most sought-after Internet topics. Sadly, the global appeal of celebrity serves as the ideal niche for eager hackers and cyber criminals looking to uncover personal information from unsuspecting celebrity inquirers. One such emergent trend in phishing scams targets the public fascination with celebrity scandal, as fabricated videos and newsfeeds tempt Internet users to access corrupted content containing viruses and other hacker material aimed at collecting personal information.
The term personal computer means much more than the phrase typically implies. Computers represent such an integral part of our personal lives that we use them in almost every possible setting. We review business emails in our pajamas, check status updates while brushing our teeth and browse the Internet while cooking dinner. Unfortunately, computer users may be most vulnerable to a disturbing trend in hacking crimes while in the comfort of their own homes, as hackers work to gain control of victims’ computers in order to watch their every move through connected webcams.
Hemanshu (Hemu) Nigam is an online safety, security, and privacy expert and CEO of SSP Blue, an online security consultancy. He is also a frequent contributor to CNN, HLN, Fox News Channel, Fox Business Network, CBS, HLNTV.com, and abcnews.com. To sign up for SSP Blue’s Weekly News & Info, please click here, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter. See also Hemu’s personal site.
Kids all around the world dream about the day they visit the magical world of Disney. For many of these children, Disney parks and resorts represent a world of legend filled with enchanted princesses, celebrated adventures and beloved animated characters turned into real-life photo opportunities. Beginning this spring, Disney plans to issue digital ID bracelets to collect and analyze visitor preferences and spending information with just the tap of a wrist — thus helping to materialize each customer’s Disney dreams by offering individualized experiences and tailored marketing information.
Hemanshu (Hemu) Nigam is an online safety, security, and privacy expert and CEO of SSP Blue, an online security consultancy. He is also a frequent contributor to CNN, HLN, Fox News Channel, Fox Business Network, CBS, HLNTV.com, and abcnews.com. To sign up for SSP Blue’s Weekly News & Info, please click here, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter. See also Hemu’s personal site.
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