Your Online Security Authority Blog » Thoughts on Security

Anyone can be on the front lines, of keeping everyone safe online through CyberSecurity!

Online Security Authority — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 04:41:57 +0000

The internet has seen astounding growth since its creation. From small chat-rooms inhabited by only the most technical of users, to seemingly everyone having an Internet connection, the entire landscape has changed. While this has created great technological advancements, it has also spawned a new breed of crime, cybercrime and online hacking.

Hacking has been around for a long time, but hackers have never had the potential to mine as much sensitive information as they do now. Many people shop online and trust retailers to protect their credit card information, but stores sometimes fail to do so. In 2008, more than 40 million credit card numbers were stolen from large retailers such as Sports Authority and Barnes & Noble. And, it’s not just credit cards that are targeted – passwords are also a prime target. In early 2011, hackers targeted popular online password manager, Lastpass, and managed to steal the user names and passwords of its customers.

Both credit card and ID/password theft are the building blocks of identity theft. Research shows that identity theft leads to an average of $31 billion in fraud a year. These types of crimes cannot be handled by the average police department for many reasons, but the main reason is they don’t have the means or knowledge to track down the perpetrator.

Because of this, many colleges are now offering a cybersecurity degree. As cybersecurity is a relatively new field compared to normal criminal study, there are not many qualified professionals in the workforce. A cybersecurity degree will prepare students to protect business infrastructures in order to keep private data private and safe from prying hands. A degree in the field could lead to a job as a database manager, a computer system analyst, information systems manager, or even with the FBI or CIA.

Anyone can be on the front lines of keeping everyone safe online. If Internet technology or security interest you, getting a cybersecurity degree could be right up your alley. Many schools offer the courses online, allowing you to take the classes at your convenience instead of working your schedule around class times at a campus. Take your career to another level and help keep the online world safe!

as always, be safe Online

Your Online Security Authority

Bill Wardell

teach it, learn it, and share it…

OSA Technorati Tags: Astounding Growth, Barnes Noble, Business Infrastructures, Computer System Analyst, Credit Card Information, Credit Card Numbers, cyber security professionals, Cybercrime, Cybersecurity Degree, Database Manager, Information Systems Manager, Internet Technology, New Breed, Perpetrator, Prime Target, Private Data, Security Interest, Sports Authority, Technological Advancements, Types Of Crimes, User Names, Will Prepare Students

Craigslist: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Part 3

Online Security Authority — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 20:38:40 +0000

Craigslist: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly | Part I | Part II | Part III |

Safety Tips

Here are some tips recommended by Craigslist that its users should implement to ensure even greater safety and avoid scams:

2. Do not give out any personal information

3. Do not invite anyone to come to your home

4. Never meet anyone, even in a public place without bringing a friend along or at least letting someone know where you will be and at what time

5. Never send funds through any wire transfer service

6. Never give out financial information

7. Avoid deals that involve shipping or escrow services

8. Do not rent housing or buy an expensive item without seeing it first-hand

9. Never submit to credit checks or background checks

The Ugly

While Craigslist may have its good and bad points when it comes to security, you may also want to consider some of its other perks/drawbacks. Many consider craigslist as a form of online garage sale and use it to get rid of unwanted items—like couches that are too heavy to lift, baby supplies like strollers and car seats, and even boyfriends!

There is also a section of free items available to choose from. This is great for people who have useful items that aren’t worth much, but they don’t want them to go to waste—bags of packing peanuts, cardboard toilet paper rolls, and an unopened can of Diet Pepsi. Just like on the popular PBS series, Antiques Roadshow, you never know when someone is going to be selling an absolute treasure, or even giving it away for that matter! Some postings are so unique and interesting that they have inspired a “Best of Craigslist” flag category.

Many people have found gainful employment due to a Craigslist posting. There has been more than one career started through Craigslist advertising, such as the Hipster House cleaner from Washington, D.C., as well as the author of this article. There are thousands of success stories of people locating housing—you can find anything from a single bedroom rental to a multi-million dollar home for sale in Malibu. And finally, there have been many happy couples who were able to meet by making a connection through Craigslist.

Similar to classified ads in the newspaper, Craigslist can be an amazing resource for communities—providing goods, services and job opportunities that are open to anyone—yet you still have to use caution when making any transactions and even while you are searching for products or services. The final word is that if you don’t want your children to be exposed to scams, inappropriate language, or explicit material, it is best to block them from using Craigslist. And make sure that you, yourself, use smart safety practices when visiting the site.

About the Author
Natalie Clive is a writer for MyCollegesandCareers.com. My Colleges and Careers helps people determine if an online education is right for them and helps them search for online degrees that can help them reach their goals.

We would like to thank our guest writers on the Online Security Authority Blog! We feel it’s a honor and pleasure, to have others participate and contribute to the great content, advice and opinions on and in this Online World, we all live in… help us, help them, by supporting and visiting their sites!

as always, be safe Online

Your Online Security Authority

Bill Wardell

teach it, learn it, and share it…

This is Still, One Of My ALL Time Favorite Movies !!

OSA Technorati Tags: Absolute Treasure, Antiques Roadshow, Baby Supplies, Background Checks, Boyfriends, Car Seats, Cardboard, Couches, Craigslist, Credit Checks, Diet Pepsi, Gainful Employment, Garage Sale, Hipster, Packing Peanuts, Pbs Series, Safety Tips, Strollers, Toilet Paper Rolls, Unwanted Items

Craigslist: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Part 2

Online Security Authority — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 06:46:06 +0000

Craigslist: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly | Part I | Part II | Part III |

Remember in part one, we talked about how Craigslist has become one of the greatest online tools for job seekers, buyers, sellers, online daters, and anyone wishing to express their opinion about local issues. Now lets explore…

The Bad

Craigslist’s reputation is very mixed. Even though they offer sufficient warnings against illegal activity on the site, there are no specific regulations to control such actions beyond the safety suggestions mentioned in the next section. While many people have truly benefited from utilizing Craigslist’s services, there have been a plethora of related crimes reported in the news.

Here are some of the things you might want to be aware of before using, or allowing your children to use, Craigslist:

Anyone Has Access

There are no user names required to respond to any post on Craigslist. However, to place a post, you do have to provide a valid email address and be able to confirm it before being able to accept the site’s terms and conditions and create a password. No other personal information is required to place a post on the site. Anyone, young or old, male or female, sane or slightly insane, has access to post.

No Response Control

If you do decide to post on Craigslist, be aware that you can’t control the kind of responses you receive. While most responses will be legitimate, you may have some pranks or explicit responses mixed in. Just be aware that your postings can be read by anyone from anywhere. Therefore, you may not always receive the responses that you are expecting.

False Information

There is no way to monitor if a post contains falsified information. The only way to really know is by contacting the user, preferably in person, in a public place, and accompanied by someone else. If an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Scams

Scams are a huge problem on Craigslist. There are several specifically known scams that you can read warnings about on their site. While not all scam posts may be deleted, you can learn to recognize when something is legitimate or a fake. If anyone asks for personal information, such as social security number, phone numbers, or address, this is most likely a scam. You can find tips for avoiding scams in the next section of this article.

Explicit Content

Many posts, particularly those in the personal ads and discussions, contain explicit content or inappropriate language. While many of these posts will be deleted according to the speed at which people flag anything that is inappropriate, there is still the chance that a child who is browsing the site will come across such material prior to its removal.

Murders/Law Suits

Unfortunately, there have been several cases of murder, theft and other crimes that have occurred as a direct result of relationships formed through Craigslist. Even such horrifying things as the “Craigslist Killer” have been spotlighted on the news.

When you accept the terms and conditions of the site, you release Craigslist from all responsibility for such occurrences. Therefore, it’s up to you to be smart about the interactions you choose to make. In more than one of these cases, children were involved in the crimes. Most of these crimes can be traced to users not being smart about sharing personal information.

as always, be safe Online

Your Online Security Authority

Bill Wardell

teach it, learn it, and share it…

OSA Technorati Tags: Bad Reputation, Control, Craigslist, Crimes, Daters, False Information, Illegal Activity, Illegal Site, Job Seekers, Local Issues, Nbsp, Online Tools, Plethora, Postings, Pranks, Response Control, Safety Suggestions, Scams, Social Security, Social Security Number, Terms And Conditions, Ugly, User Names, Valid Email Address

Craigslist: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Part 1

Online Security Authority — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 06:36:42 +0000

Craigslist: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly | Part I | Part II | Part III |

Craigslist has become one of the greatest online tools for job seekers, buyers, sellers, online daters, and anyone wishing to express their opinion about local issues. Formatted like local classified ads you would find in a newspaper, Craigslist allows anyone to post under the following headings: community, personals, discussion forums, housing, for sale, services, jobs, gigs, and resumes.

Started in 1996 by Craig Newmark as a way to let his friends in San Francisco know about local events, Craigslist has become a resource used in all major US cities. However, despite the advantages of using Craigslist, there are also risks involved.

It’s important to be aware of not only the benefits of a service such as Craigslist, but of the things you can do to make it more secure for both you and your family.

The Good

First, let’s cover the benefits of Craigslists and the security measures they have taken thus far to protect users. While many have found employment, sold items, or bought that longed-for antique through Craigslist, an equal number have come into contact with some kind of scam or inappropriate behavior as they’ve used the site. These are the security protocols currently in place on Craigslist:

Anonymous Contact Info

Craigslist allows all users to have their identity protected if they so choose. An arbitrary email address is assigned to each posting. When seekers respond to a post, they are not given the real email address of the person who posted, but a generic address generated by Craigslist. The message is then forwarded through Craigslist’s secure network to the correct address.

Flagging

Craigslist offers a flagging system, both for good and bad items. Whenever users see a posting that they think may be questionable, they can select to flag it by selecting one of the following options from the flag box in the upper right-hand corner of the page: miscategorized, prohibited, spam/overpost, or best of craigslist. This last option is for any posting they think is a particularly good post, whether the product is good or they just think the posting if unique. Flagging is excellent for marking inappropriate posts. Any user can flag an item—they don’t need a user ID and password. However, it takes a specified number of flags before a post will be removed, which is determined by the Craigslist site administrators.

Scam Alerts

Before entering any craigslist category page, you must read a Scam alert page and accept the risks involved with using the site. The Scam alert is different for each page and describes the risks for that particular category. For some pages, such as personals, you must certify that you: are at least 18 years of age, understand that postings may not always be correctly categorized, are willing to flag any inappropriate posts, and that you thereby release Craigslist from any liability. Here are the exact Scam alerts posted on a few of their pages:

Personals:

SCAM ALERT – scammers posing as potential romantic partners are directing CL users to age and identity verification sites, dating/adult/cam sites (where you can see their “pics” or chat with them), even sites designed to deliver malware — all in hopes of earning affiliate marketing commissions at your expense.

Jobs:

SCAM ALERT – affiliate scammers are posting bogus ads promising (nonexistent!) employment, paid research trials, or other compensation, but then notifying repliers that they’ll need to jump through a hoop first, directing them to:

background checking services
credit checking or reporting sites
sites where you are instructed to enter your resume or other personal information
sites where you are asked to sign up for a “free” trial offer
sites offering training or education
sites offering a “system” for making money
survey or focus group sites
sites designed to deliver malware or misuse your identifying information
all in hopes of earning affiliate marketing commissions or otherwise profiting at the expense of persons seeking employment.

as always, be safe Online

Your Online Security Authority

Bill Wardell

teach it, learn it, and share it…

OSA Technorati Tags: and the Ugly, Clint Eastwood, Correct Address, Craig Newmark, Craigslist, Craigslists, Daters, Discussion Forums, Email Address, Flagging System, Generic Address, Gigs, Headings, Inappropriate Behavior, Job Seekers, Last Option, Local Events, Local Issues, Online Tools, Resumes, Secure Network, Security Measures, Security Protocols, the Bad, The Good

Analysis on Exhibitors’ Intellectual Property Protection

Online Security Authority — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 06:27:42 +0000

Exhibition industry, belonging to the field of trade in service, is a fresh troop in information industry. As the economic globalization intensifies, various exhibitions in China also started being carried out like a raging fire. The core of exhibition industry itself is creativity, and related contents involving intellectual property rights should be protected legally. However, as the most important chain of exhibition industry, the exhibitor is the exhibition project owner and cares most about how to protect the intellectual rights of exhibition project, preventing the project from being imitated.

So far in China, there are no explicit laws and regulations on the intellectual property protection of the exhibitors or designers, and exhibition industry has not formed a national association yet, in addition, qualification authentication for exhibitors is blank. Therefore, many famous and effective exhibitions are imitated frequently and some even only change the name of district. Based on the above situations, this paper will introduce the ways and strategies to protect intellectual property to exhibitors on the basis of China’s current intellectual property legal frameworks.

1.Protection on the exhibition emblem

Exhibitors can apply for registered trademark according to China’s Trademark Law in order to protect exhibition emblem form being plagiarized, misappropriated or cloned. Trademark registration is a sort of legal procedure. Trademark registrant firstly files an application, and if there is no objection or the raised objection is inconsistent within three months after the preliminary examination and public announcement, the registration of trademark would become effective and be protected by law. The trademark registrant will have the exclusive right of this trademark. It takes one year or one and a half years from application to approval of registration. The validity of the registered trademark is 10 years, since the date of approval of the registration. If registrant needs to use the registered trademark sequentially, he can apply for renewal of trademark registration.

Once the behaviors of violating the registered trademark are found, one may first issue a warning letter to the infringing party, and ask them to stop the infringement. If the other party still disregard totally, one can request for investigation to the industrial and commercial administrative department above the country level. In this way, if you are a foreigner or foreign enterprise, you should handle it through the designated trademark agency. And the third way is, if the infringement is serious, one can lodge a complaint to the People’s Court where infringer lives or the infringement occurs.

2.Protection on the exhibition projection

However, exhibition registered emblem is only one aspect among exhibitors’ intellectual property protection. Exhibitors care more about intellectual property protection on �originality� in exhibition project, such as the subject and content. Some personal opinions will be discussed as followed:

According to China’s current laws, exhibition can not register with its name, thus, in order to protect the intellectual property from being infringed, the owner of exhibition project should try to determine the intellectual property in texts or graphics before the exhibition is held, for example, nail down the theme of the exhibition in the approved prospectus, define the designs and plans to express or highlight the theme. In addition, in order to prevent the design scheme being plagiarized during the whole designing and producing process, confidentiality agreements should be signed by the partners.

However, only these prevention methods are far from enough. China’s exhibition industry is still in the stage of growth and the corresponding legal norms and industry rules are immature, so it will give some illegal businessmen possibilities to copy or plagiarize exhibition project. Therefore, exhibitors need to find out promptly the exhibitions with similar projects all over the country to ensure their projects are not counterfeited. Once the similar exhibitions are found out, exhibiters should collect evidences immediately, for example, the same exhibition project themes, similar exhibition design and emblem. After obtaining enough reliable evidences, the exhibitors can win the initiative role when assert one’s rights, and inhibit others infringing his intellectual prosperity.

Sino-Link Consulting is a comprehensive consulting firm based in Beijing, aiming at providing the full spectrum of international business and legal consulting services for clients interested in manufacturing, investing, or opening an office or factories in China. The One-Stop services provided by Sino-Link are recognized as convenient, efficient, and effective.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/intellectual-property-articles/analysis-on-exhibitors-intellectual-property-protection-1102351.html

OSA Technorati Tags: Economic Globalization, Exhibition Industry, Exhibition Project, Exhibitions In China, Exhibitor, Exhibitors, Firstly, Half Years, Information Industry, Intellectual Property Protection, Intellectual Property Rights, Intellectual Rights, Laws And Regulations, Objection, Preliminary Examination, Public Announcement, Raging Fire, Registrant, Trademark Law, Trademark Registration