Posts

Do you know Victoria's Secret? I do.

Image
Have you heard the song “Victoria’s Secret” by Jax? I love this song not just because it’s catchy but because you can use it to teach about       Body image        Deception       Catfishing        Phishing email        And even Digital Forensics   The song discusses body image issues and the pressure to look good, but then she discovers the secret. What is Victoria’s secret? “Dude, Victoria was made up by a dude!”   Let’s talk about deception. Deception is rampant on the Internet. It’s used in catfishing scams, phishing emails, and millions of other online scams. Deception is used to gain your trust and get you to do things you probably wouldn’t do when you know the scammer’s secret.   Would you have clicked on that link in the email and entered your password if you knew it was a phishing email? Would your Grandma have bought a green dot gift card to pay her electric bill over the phone if she knew that the power company doesn’t call you to demand payment? Wo
Post a Comment
Read more

Here's what to do if you get catfished.

Image
  Got catfished? Do this. Break all contact. If you send them a message about ending it, they may pursue you more heavily vs. suddenly ending all contact. Report the profile on the social media platform Report them to the organization and dating site you made contact on If you lost money, report it to your local police department Report it to  https://ic3.gov
Post a Comment
Location: Lincoln, NE, USA
Read more

What's Love Got to Do with It?

Image
Ah, Valentine’s day. The holiday of love is quickly approaching. All this love in the air can only mean one thing, catfishing scams are ramping up. What's catfishing? Fraudsters try to take your money by pretending to be a love interest or playing on your emotions. It normally starts off as a direct message on social media or email, but it even happens on dating websites. A catfish scam can quickly ruin your Valentine’s Day. Not only did you get tricked, emotionally kicked in the gut, you also probably lost a lot of cash. Avoid heartache by watching out for these catfishing red flags: A new social media profile with very few friends They never want to show their face on video or meet in person Super fast expressions of love Sudden Major Expenses - and they ask you to help fund it They were going to finally meet you in person, but now this super horrible thing suddenly happened and they can't. They'll ask you for money to fix their car or pay that doctor's bill!
Post a Comment
Location: Lincoln, NE, USA
Read more

It's Data Privacy Week

Image
  Data Privacy week is January 23 – 28, 2023.  What are you doing to increase data privacy awareness in your business? What about at home? If privacy isn’t one of the topics you include in your current cybersecurity awareness program, this is a great reminder to get it added. What’s the point? Privacy is more than an abstract idea that businesses need to worry about; it’s something you as an individual need to be concerned with too. As this week approaches, I want you to think about: Trading privacy for convenience. We ALL do this. That free app, you're trading your data and privacy for the convenience of getting to use that app for free. When an app asks for permission to access some additional info on your phone, do you read what it’s asking for? Or do you simply click yes and move on? You could give away too much information. If that app is asking for too much access, it’s probably best to uninstall that app and save yourself some grief later on. Learn how to manage your privacy
Post a Comment
Location: Lincoln, NE, USA
Read more

They Say Change is for the Better

Image
Since you’ve read my blogs for a while, you know my passion for cybersecurity and the services I offer.   But did you know that I also offer digital forensics services? In the past, it’s been a tiny portion of my business in the past, and I didn’t speak about it much or even market it. That’s all changing this year.   Last year, I returned from maternity leave and immediately dove into working on a substantial digital forensics case. The case was infamous. The problem was daunting. The work was definitely interesting.   Working on this case reminded me how much I enjoyed forensics and how much I missed it. Digging for information. The hunt for the smoking gun. The quest for truth.   Why am I telling you all this? I want to let you know that I’m expanding the portion of my business that focuses on digital forensics. This also means that I am limiting my cybersecurity services. Here’s a rundown of my current service offerings:   Digital Forensics Digital Forensics I
Post a Comment
Location: Lincoln, NE, USA
Read more

The Holiday Phish is Coming for YOU

Image
    The bad guys are licking their candy canes in sweet, sweet anticipation.   Anticipation of what?   They can't wait to steal your holiday joy (and cash, passwords, and personal information) through the many online scams, cons, fake websites, phishing emails, and tricks they've prepared just for you. You’ll these scams everywhere this month. Especially in your inbox.   Let’s talk holiday phishing emails.   The holiday phishing email often includes an unbelievable coupon, special shopping offer, or impossible-to-get item. Other lures include bogus gift card offers, giveaways, contests, and too-good-to-be-true deals. The scams will also try to create a sense of "act now" urgency, like putting time limits on the deals. So if you see this email in your inbox this holiday season, beware it's the holiday phish, and it's come for you.   M ake sure you and your friends have grabbed your guide to   safe and secure online holiday shopping.
Post a Comment
Location: Lincoln, NE, USA
Read more

How to Shop Safe and Secure this Holiday Season

Image
Have you seen the Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals and ads that started before Halloween was even over? Businesses want you to spend your money shopping with them. And that means cyber criminals are just a few steps behind and ready to snag your cash instead.   To help you keep your money safe and receive the gifts you want this holiday season, I'm sharing…   5 TIPS TO SPOT A HOLIDAY SCAM   1.  Beware of the gift that was SUPER CRAPPY or NEVER WAS Keep your eyes peeled for the many clickbait ads promoting sought-after products or the impossible-to-score gift. Unfortunately, some of these ads are from fraudsters, posing as merchants who want to steal your passwords or give you the gift of malware. Some merchants will disappear without a trace, while others will send you an inexpensive, ineffective product for the same reason (AKA the crappy gift). Don't be a victim of the gift that never was. Don't click on the link in the email, avoid the online ad clickbait, shop with r
Post a Comment
Location: Lincoln, NE, USA
Read more