Category Archives: Recommended Reading
← Older postsChoosing Secure Passwords through Poetry
Users and security researchers have long struggled with the problem of coming up with passwords that are both easy to remember and difficult to crack. Two computational linguists from the USC Viterbi School of Engineering have come up with a unique … Continue reading
Posted in Password Security, Recommended Reading | Tagged password security, passwords, user education
For Your Reference: Phishing Scams Targeting University Employees
The online news outlet Inside Higher Ed recently posted an article about new phishing scams targeting university employees. The article highlights recent phish emails promising salary raise information and requesting help with processing wire transfers. The article is available at … Continue reading
Posted in Phishing, Recommended Reading |
Server certificates and Heartbleed
Cloudflare, a large web-hosting company, has a very detailed article on how server certificates are not (in the real world) extractable using the Heartbleed bug: http://blog.cloudflare.com/answering-the-critical-question-can-you-get-private-ssl-keys-using-heartbleed They set up a test server and challenged anybody to obtain the private key. … Continue reading
Posted in Password Security, Recommended Reading, Security Updates | Tagged Heartbleed
Password Management Tools
Using a single password for multiple sites may be a convenient practice, but it is not a safe one. Most IT security experts recommend using a different password for each online account to prevent hackers from gaining access to all … Continue reading
Posted in Password Security, Recommended Reading | Tagged password security
The Java Issue in Plain English
After a string of exploited vulnerabilities in the Java browser plug-in, the Department of Homeland Security, along with a number of online security experts, have recommended that users disable or restrict access to Java in their web browsers whenever possible. … Continue reading
Posted in Recommended Reading | Tagged java
Browser Security: Which New Browser is Best?
What browser are you reading this article on? Internet Explorer? Firefox? Chrome? Have you thought about how secure your browser of choice is? A recent article from Sophos Naked Security outlines the beefed-up security features of the next generation of … Continue reading
Posted in Education, Recommended Reading | Tagged google, microsoft, mozilla, web browser security
Summer Cyber Security Reading
Are you looking to read more on how to keep your computer and all of your personal information secure? Here’s a list of some of our favorite sites that cover cybersecurity topics, from a listing of the latest malware threats … Continue reading
Posted in Education, Malware, Phishing, Recommended Reading, Security Breach, Security Updates | Tagged identity theft, information security, malware, phishing, user education
January SANS OUCH! Newsletter: Securing Your Home Wifi Network
The SANS (Sysadmin, Audit, Network, Security) Institute publishes a monthly newsletter called OUCH! that address current security awareness issues. This month’s newsletter covers the importance of securing your home wifi network and the steps you should take to secure your … Continue reading
Posted in Recommended Reading | Tagged privacy, wifi
Bluetooth Technology and Security: What You Need to Know
Many of today’s smart phones, personal computers, and tablets use Bluetooth technology to wireless communicate with peripherals such as headsets, mice, and keyboards. While this technology is space-saving and convenient, it also has some potential security risks associated with it. … Continue reading
Posted in Mobile Devices, Recommended Reading |
The Basics of Browser Security
USC’s IT security group recommends the November 2011 issue of the Monthly Security Awareness Newsletter for Computer Users. The issue is devoted to the basics of web browser security and is available at: http://www.securingthehuman.org/newsletters/ouch/issues/OUCH-201111_en.pdf
Posted in Recommended Reading, Security Updates | Tagged web browser security