Joe Biden has just dealt a big defeat to big tech

It might seem obvious that a US president should protect Americans' privacy and national security, both of which could be jeopardised depending on how and where the vast amounts of data that we all generate are processed and stored. Yet, amazingly, former President Donald Trump's administration sought to prohibit the US from placing any restrictions on "the crossborder transfer of information, including personal information" to any country if such transfers were related to the business of any investor or service provider operating in the US or other countries signing the agreement...

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2024/mar/18/joe-biden-has-just-dealt-a-big-defeat-to-big-tech

75% of Social Security Recipients Don't Know This. Protect from fraud and scams.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6P5IgCZ4uY

What to do (and never do) after you’ve been scammed - The Washington Post

If you're not careful, the hours after a scam can lead to more lost money or stress…

https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/12/29/what-do-scammed-money-victim-fraud/

Phishing attacks are increasing and getting more sophisticated

"What we've been seeing is an increase in the use of voicemail and text as part of two-pronged phishing and BEC [business email compromise] campaigns," said Jess Burn, senior analyst at Forrester Research. "The attackers leave a voicemail or send a text about the email they sent, either lending credibility to the sender or increasing the urgency of the request." …

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/01/07/phishing-attacks-are-increasing-and-getting-more-sophisticated.html

What to know about QR code scams | Popular Science

Criminals can use the codes to try to steal money and personal information. Here's how to stay safe...

https://www.popsci.com/technology/avoid-qr-code-scams/

Americans overwhelmingly want Congress to restrict sharing of personal data, poll finds - The Hill

Americans overwhelmingly back Congress enacting new rules on companies' use of their personal data, a new poll released Friday finds. ....
https://thehill.com/hilltv/what-americas-thinking/421384-opting-out-of-data-sharing-is-what-americans-want-most-from-a

Senators Demand FCC Answer for Fake Comments After Realizing Their Identities Were Stolen

In a bipartisan letter on Monday, two US senators called on the FCC to investigate the identity theft and fraud in public comments collected by the agency during its proposal to rollback net neutrality protections last year.....

https://gizmodo.com/senators-demand-fcc-answer-for-fake-comments-after-real-1826213294

Malicious Chrome extensions infect more than 100,000 users, again - Ars Technica

Over two months, seven extensions stole credentials and installed currency miners. ....
https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2018/05/malicious-chrome-extensions-infect-more-than-100000-users-again/

N.Y. attorney general slams the FCC over net neutrality investigation

New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and the Federal Communications Commission traded barbs on Wednesday over an investigation into a suspected scheme to manipulate the process through which Americans can weigh in on the FCC's move to repeal net neutrality rules.

Schneiderman, in an open letter, said an enormous number of fake comments were sent to the FCC about its move to repeal net neutrality rules. Those behind the scheme may have impersonated hundreds of thousands of real Americans by appropriating their names and addresses to make submissions, he said, in a scam akin to identity theft on a "massive scale."....
https://www.cnbc.com/2017/11/22/n-y-attorney-general-slams-the-fcc-over-net-neutrality-investigation.html

Equifax breach already taking a toll on consumers -- Chicago Tribune

The scenario that personal finance and credit experts feared most about the heist of consumer data from Equifax may already be underway. ....
http://www.chicagotribune.com/classified/realestate/ct-re-1126-kenneth-harney-20171120-story.html

IRS awards $7.25 million fraud-prevention contract to Equifax -- POLITICO

The no-bid contract comes as lawmakers pound the company for a massive breach that potentially exposed identities of more than 145 million Americans. ...
http://www.politico.com/story/2017/10/03/equifax-irs-fraud-protection-contract-243419?cid=apn

Equifax acquired an identity protection company before making the hack public to profit from the theft.

Equifax acquired an identity protection company before making the hack public to profit from the theft.
https://investor.equifax.com/news-and-events/news/2017/08-11-2017-005951319

Equifax Just Equi-F'ed Everyone

Stephen takes a deep dive into the hack of the massive credit report agency Equifax, which may have exposed up to 143 million people's identities.....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyIEd5QVkyc&feature=youtu.be

Why did Republicans vote to destroy your online privacy? That's where the money is

Every Senate Republican and all but 15 House Republicans voted to dismantle your online privacy, overturning a rule by the FCC that would have required internet service providers to get your permission to sell off your private web data. Your web searches, your financial data, your shopping habits—basically every step you take online is now back up for grabs. Why would Republicans—the supposed champions of the little guy, the libertarians—sell you out?

 Money....
http://www.dailykos.com/stories/1648458

This New iTunes Scam Can Steal Your Identity

What would you do if you received a mistaken email saying you'd bought nearly a hundred dollars' worth of movies on iTunes? You'd probably dispute the charges — and that's exactly what the latest Apple phishing scam hopes you'll do....
https://www.yahoo.com/tech/itunes-scam-steal-identity-174700121.html

LPT: Write a fake pin number on the back of your credit card.

That way if it gets stolen the person will only get 3 attempts before the ATM machine swallows the card. https://www.reddit.com/r/LifeProTips/comments/5t018o/lpt_write_a_fake_pin_number_on_the_back_of_your/

'Can you hear me?' scam has police urging people to hang up immediately (Fox News)

Police nationwide are urging people to avoid answering a simple question from a phone number they do not know. ...
http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2017/01/27/can-hear-me-scam-has-police-urging-people-to-hang-up-immediately.html

How to Protect Your Digital Privacy in the Era of Public Shaming - ProPublica

Americans face unprecedented threats to the digital safety of their personal information. We offer nine tips to foil hackers, ransomware, online trackers, data brokers and other menaces....
https://www.propublica.org/article/how-to-protect-your-digital-privacy-in-the-era-of-public-shaming

New Google prompt vastly simplifies two-factor authentication

Two-factor authentication is getting a stronger padlock to further secure your Google account. Currently you can further secure your account by getting a code via text message (or phone call), or with a code from the Google Authenticator app.

A new Google prompt adds a third option....
http://www.macworld.com/article/3086346/android/new-google-prompt-vastly-simplifies-two-factor-authentication.html#jump

How to keep thieves from hijacking your cellphone account

No one is completely safe from identity thieves. I should know since I was a victim. But here's how to better protect yourself against scammers, and how to lessen the damage of identity fraud....
http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Passcode/Security-culture/2016/0608/How-to-keep-thieves-from-hijacking-your-cellphone-account