Timeline’s rollout is unstoppable. Are you suddenly sharing more than you should?

With the ongoing rollout of Facebook’s Timeline feature, security and privacy have never been more important to your digital life. The new layout presents all of your current and past activities on Facebook — posts, photos, comments, likes and so on — in a handy timeline format to anyone with access to your profile, which may include friends of friends, colleagues, executives at your company, a potential future boss … well, you get the idea.

If you’ve made the jump to Timeline — and if you haven’t, you will within the next few weeks, like it or not — you should know that Facebook has changed a few things, and there are certain settings you need to pay attention to if you’re concerned about what parts of your life others can see. Here’s how to lock down your profile in the post-Timeline world.

1. Limit your connections Most key privacy settings are accessible by clicking the arrow in the upper right-hand corner of your profile screen (next to your name and the Home button). From here, select Privacy Settings in the drop-down menu.

2. Tailor your tags An easily missed entry in the Privacy Settings is one innocuously labeled How Tags Work. However, it is essential to tweak the settings found here if you want to take control of your profile’s privacy, as some tagging actions can be pretty invasive.

3. Rein in app permissions Speaking of permissions, the permission window that used to appear frequently when Facebook apps wanted to access your profile information is pretty much MIA now. Currently, apps need to ask you only once for permission. Once they do, they’ll mine your profile information as often as need be, sometimes even when the app isn’t being used.

4. Stop others from taking your information with them The Apps, Games and Websites privacy settings also contain some other features that security hounds would be wise to disable.

5. Reduce your social footprint Sharing is the whole point of Facebook, but the Timeline layout sometimes takes this to extremes, making it easy for others to see all your activity from years gone by. The good news is that you can disable Recent Activity updates, which broadcast new friendships, groups you’ve joined and any other changes in your basic information (such as relationship status or political views). Just click on the X next to a Recent Activity update on your timeline and select Hide Similar Activity from Timeline.

Step-by-step ‘how to’ on each item is provided at the source of this article:  http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9223862/5_ways_to_secure_your_Facebook_profile_in_a_post_Timeline_world?taxonomyId=84&pageNumber=1

Skimmers could steal your financial information at the ATM—or even at your local supermarket. Here’s how to protect yourself.

You may already know that it’s important to protect your financial information when you shop online. But a high-tech threat can steal your credit card information when you’re out shopping around town. Scammers can steal your ATM or credit card information without your even noticing, and the technology behind their tricks is getting more and more advanced.

 1. Mobile Malware

2. Malicious Mobile Applications

3. Phony Facebook Promotions and Contests

4. Scareware, or Fake Antivirus software

5. Holiday Screensavers

6. Mac Malware

7. Holiday Phishing Scams

8. Online Coupon Scams

9. Mystery Shopper Scams

10.  Hotel “Wrong Transaction” Malware Emails

11.  “It” Gift Scams

12. “I’m away from home” Scammers

Read details and information on how to protect yourself here: https://blogs.mcafee.com/consumer/mcafee-twelve-scams-of-christmas

Is your computer set to automatically check for software and security updates? Do you type your name in search engines to see what personal information is online? Have you customized your security and personal information settings on social networks?

These are all ways to own your online presence by controlling privacy and security settings.

But according to a new Microsoft study, Americans aren’t doing all that they can to protect themselves and their families when they go online.

Microsoft’s Trustworthy Computing Group recently studied online safety behavior and online security use among more than 2,000 Windows users in the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Brazil.

Based on the research, Microsoft (an NCSA Board Member company) created the Microsoft Computing Safety Index (MCSI), a scoring system of more than 20 steps that can protect you online. The more steps you take, the higher your online safety score.

The highest rating possible is a 100. In 2011, the average score across the five countries was 34. The score shows that people are taking steps to help protect them online—but there is also opportunity to do more.

• The scores are divided into three tiers: 80-100, 20-79 and 0-19. A score in the 80-100 range shows you are well-aware of the various threats—both existing and emerging—as well as the steps necessary to help guard against them.
• A score in the 20-79 range suggests you may have the basics covered, but there are opportunities to learn about new and emerging threats, particularly in the social realm.
• A score in the 0-19 range indicates you may not be taking advantage of the most basic – and oftentimes free – protections available.

One great aspect of the survey is that anyone can take it. The survey is online take and find out your score.

In the past, online threats were primarily technical in nature, such as viruses or malware on your computer. But now, online threats are evolving and becoming more social, such as phishing ads based on your online searches, stolen passwords, identity theft and cyberbullying.

Microsoft found that people across the globe are getting smarter about the “set and forget” precautions, such as installing anti-virus software and enabling automatic updates. But people aren’t actively managing security and privacy settings as frequently as they should to avoid social threats. Small steps, such as monitoring your privacy settings and limiting what personal information you put online, can help you control your online identity.

One of the key pieces of advice from the STOP. THINK. CONNECT. campaign is own your online presence. Take the time to adjust settings to your comfort level of information sharing.

Learn more about the MCSI  and find other ways to protect yourself by visiting NCSA’s Tools and Resources page.

 STOP. THINK. CONNECT. Source: http://staysafeonline.org/blog/how-safe-are-you-online-now-you-can-find-out

National Cyber Security Awareness Month Kicks Off Today With Extensive Activities Across U.S. Throughout October by National Cyber Security Alliance on Monday, October 3, 2011 at 1:34pm

What is a Mobile Device? Mobile devices include cell phones, smartphones, laptops, netbooks, tablets, and external storage such as USB-connected drives.  Actually, it is any computing device that can easily be carried and used.  These devices have become indispensable tools and are part of our everyday life.  You will most likely use a mobile device for your homework, social activities, and entertainment.  A smartphone today is so powerful that it doubles as a small laptop computer.

How Important is Your Mobile Device? If your smartphone is lost, stolen, or damaged, how will that affect your life?  If your thumb drive is lost, how will that affect your work at school?  Do you use your device for banking?  Online purchases?  You may not realize it, but personal details of your life may be on these devices.  These devices provide valuable productivity benefits, but along with these benefits, they are also subject to threats that may jeopardize your data, your identity, and your personal safety.  Mobile device threats are predicted to escalate significantly in 2011.  Your loss may be someone else’s gain.

What are the Threats Affecting Your Mobile Device and Data? The most common threat against mobile devices is loss. If it is not password protected or the data is not encrypted, your information is open to whoever has your phone.  Data that is not backed up is simply lost. Other threats include theft, breakage, malware through text messaging, e-mail, social networking apps, Bluetooth hacking, and location services. For example, geo-tagging automatically records your location on pictures you take on some devices unless you turn the feature off.  If the picture is posted to a public site, anyone can see where you are or where you have been.  Other apps can tag your location if you allow it.  When an iPhone is jailbroken, there are no guarantees that the image you use is malware-free. If the only copy of your semester’s work is on a thumb drive, losing it can lead to academic disaster.  These drives can also become corrupted, too.

What Can You Do to Protect Your Device and Data? You should think of your mobile device as a debit card with the PIN written on it.  Sounds silly, but your mobile device, such as a smartphone, may have enough information on it to actually be used as a debit card.  Keep track of it at all times. Back up your data to a safe place.  Avoid keeping sensitive information, such as personal and financial account information on a mobile device.  If you absolutely must store account information on your device, encrypt it.  The extra expense of the encryption software is a small price to pay.  Don’t keep old text messages.  Always beware of unusual messages.  Don’t configure your apps for auto login – require a password for every use.  Bluetooth should never be left in “discover” mode.  Only download apps from trusted sources – check the app’s privacy policy.  Check for apps (or with your service provider) for device protection options such as remote wipe or kill, location services, and contacts backup.

The FTC’s Identity Theft Site is a one-stop national resource to learn about the crime of identity theft. It provides detailed information to help you deter, detect, and defend against identity theft.  

On this site, consumers can learn how to avoid identity theft – and learn what to do if their identity is stolen.  Businesses can learn how to help their customers deal with identity theft, as well as how to prevent problems in the first place.  Law enforcement can get resources and learn how to help victims of identity theft.

4-5-11 Were you affected by Epsilon data breach? The breach, which took place last week but was announced over the weekend, compromised the e-mail addresses and some names belonging to the customers of many major U.S. companies that outsource their marketing and e-mail communications to Epsilon. The list of Epsilon clients whose customer e-mail addresses were stolen is not complete, and is likely to grow. But so far Target, Kroger, TiVo, US Bank, JPMorgan Chase, Capital One, Citi, Home Shopping Network, Ameriprise Financial, LL Bean Visa Card, McKinsey & Company, Ritz-Carlton Rewards, Marriott Rewards, New York & Company, Brookstone, Walgreens, The College Board, Disney Destinations, and Best Buy have notified their own customers about the breach. Hilton Hotels and Ethan Allen are also said to be affected. Here are some tips on what to do if you did receive an e-mail from one of the companies above or if you believe one of them does have your e-mail or name, and what could happen next.

 Remember, scammers will often use events in the news to grab your attention and spread malicious links. Always be on the lookout for suspicious links, and to learn more check out the Take Action Tab on the Facebook Security page.