The increased popularity of cloud computing and mobile devices has had a major impact on how businesses of all sizes implement and execute their network security plan. Network operating company AT&T has done an extensive survey to identify the latest security trends and how businesses are preparing themselves for potential threats. More companies are using wireless networks, cloud services, and mobile applications to minimize the impact of potential threats and for disaster recovery. This survey has been conducted by AT&T for 12 consecutive years, here are some of the findings:

• Over half of the companies surveyed (63 percent) say the threat of security breaches is their most important security concern for 2013.

• 76 percent of companies are using cloud services or plan on using them in 2013.

• 62 percent already include cloud services as part of their corporate infrastructure.

• The majority of companies that were surveyed invest in mobile security services. Of those companies, 66 percent take proactive measures against distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks.

• 84 percent of the companies said that they are concerned about the use of mobile networks and devices and their impact on security threats.

• Over three-fourths (78 percent) of the companies said their business continuity plan accommodates the possibility of a network security event.

• Only 49 percent of the companies surveyed said that, for disaster recovery purposes, they plan on leveraging cloud computing for data backup and recovery.

• Over half of the companies (52 percent) are taking proactive measures by identifying potential attacks with DDoS protection services.

• Almost all of the companies (87 percent) indicated that they have a business continuity plan in place in case of a security disaster.

• 64 percent of the companies included their wireless network capabilities as part of their business continuity plan.

The survey shows that most companies are aware of the potential security threats that pose a risk to their company. Many of them are preparing for security breaches and putting plans in place to protect their data and recover it if necessary.

In the past we have talked about what makes a strong password. They should have to have at least eleven characters, no recognizable words, mix in some numbers and symbols, and use a different password for every website. For many people who have accounts on tons of websites, this is practically impossible. How could anyone who uses 10, 20, or even 50 sites remember that many unique passwords?

There are now several websites that offer password memorization programs that will remember all of those long passwords for you. Websites like Roboform, KeyPass, LastPass, and Dashlane will remember all of your passwords and make logging in a breeze. Whenever you make a new account for a website, the program will remember the password for you. The next time you go to log into that site, the program will enter the password for you.

Dashlane has just improved to a 2.0 version that not only works on Macs and Windows, but for iPhone and Android too. Installation is quick and another cool feature is that it can import existing passwords from other password vault programs. The 2.0 version will not only enter your password, it will also log in for you. When you want to log into your Facebook, Twitter, or other site, you just click on the bookmark and you will immediately be logged in. Now that Dashlane is storing your passwords and remembering them for you, it is possible to create unique, long passwords. This will better protect your information from hackers.

Dashlane’s second new feature is even better than the first. You can have Dashlane remember other information that you hate filling into forms on websites. It will remember your name, address, phone number, and even credit card numbers. This will save you tons of time whenever your purchase something online. All you have to do is click the credit card box and select which one you want to use. You might be nervous about this feature, but Dashlane doesn’t ever see your credit card information. Instead, they save the information on your computer and retrieve it whenever you need it.

To prevent someone from using all of your passwords if they steal your laptop or phone, your entire Dashlane database is protected by a master password. They also offer two-factor authentication, just like Twitter. This makes it almost impossible to get into your Dashlane account because you need the master password and unique code sent to the owner’s phone every time they log in. Having a program like Dashlane’s on your computer and phone can save you time and allow you to create stronger passwords.

In a recent experiment, three hackers were asked to crack over 16,000 cryptographically hashed passwords. The most successful hacker was able to crack 90 percent of the passwords, in only 20 hours. So in just under a day, they were able to correctly figure out over 14,000 passwords. So how secure do you think your passwords are? If they aren’t over six characters long, you could be the next victim of a cyber-criminal. Here are five rules you should follow whenever you create a password to best protect your information online.

Rule #1 – Your password should ALWAYS be over six characters long. In the experiment, the first thing the hackers did was guess all of the six character passwords. The most successful hacker, Jeremi Gosney, was able to hack 62 percent of the passwords in just 16 minutes! This proves how easy a six character password can be cracked.

Rule #2 – Even seven and eight characters is probably not enough. Hackers use math and equations on their computers to crack passwords. While it will make things a little more difficult for hackers if you add one or two more characters, they are still easily solved. By changing the number of possible characters and maximum length in their equation, the hackers can figure out your longer password.

Rule #3 – “Salting” won’t make your six character password stronger. There are many sites that boast that their password protection technology that uses “salting” will make your password more protected from hackers. All salting means is that they add random numbers and hashes to the original password. While it may slow down a hacker, the benefit of salting diminishes with each cracked hash.

Rule #4 – Don’t use real words. In the experiment, the least successful hacker was able to guess 62 percent of the list in about an hour. All they did was use a custom dictionary of popular passwords that you can find online. Using real words will only make it easier for a hacker to crack your password, especially if they are popularly used words.

Rule #5 – Make an 11 character password. The methods that the hackers used to crack most of the passwords were amateur methods. With more complicated techniques and more powerful computers, even passwords that follow the “best practices” could be cracked. The best thing you can do to protect yourself from being hacked is by creating super long passwords that contain gibberish. Don’t use a pattern, don’t use real words, and don’t make them short. Use at least 11 characters, mix in lower case and upper case letters, symbols, and numbers.

If your company uses Twitter, it is encouraged that you use Twitter’s new two-factor authentication feature to protect your account against hackers. Many big name companies, like Burger King, The Onion, and the Associated Press, have been hacked into. To better protect your company from the cyber criminals, take advantage of the new two-factor security feature.

Before Wednesday, all Twitter users were logging in the same way. Now, Twitter’s new security method called login verification has been added. This new security measure is just like locking the top and bottom lock on your front door at home.

The way the two-factor authentication system works is through SMS. Twitter sends a code in a text to the user’s phone every time they want to log in. The code is generated when you try to log in, so the code is different after each log in attempt.

While this extra safety measure is great for protecting big companies from being hacked, everyone should use it. While the amount of damage that can be done to a personal account probably isn’t as high (unless you’re a celebrity), it is important to protect your personal information. Big brands have a lot to lose if they are hacked. It can cause embarrassment to the company, spread malware, affect stock, and even damage brand reputation.

Some may not like the inconvenience of adding a few extra seconds to their login time, but the precaution can save you a larger headache later. The only downside to the authentication process right now is that it does not support profiles with multiple managers. This means if more than one person is running the company’s Twitter account, there could be problems because only one phone can receive the code. However, the two-factor authentication system is a great way to give added protection to your Twitter profile.

If you are one of the millions of Facebook users, you have probably encountered a scam, without even knowing it. You have probably seen the Facebook pages that say “Type X into the comments and see what happens” or “If I get a million likes my dad will get me a car.” These pages and requests seem innocent, but they most likely aren’t real. By clicking “Like” on scam pages will open up your account to spam and unwanted ads.

One of the most famous scams was a colorful picture with the image from Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon album. The caption read, ”OMG it really works. Step 1: Click on the picture. Step 2: Hit Like. Step 3: Comment “MOVE” Then see the magic!!” You might have seen this in your news feed and saw that your friends had “liked” it and commented. Then when you followed the steps….nothing happened. Well, nothing happened to the picture, but something DID happen.

“Like” Farming

The scam is called “Like” farming. This is how it works. A Facebook page is created and starts posting photos with inspirational quotes or other innocent content. After you “Like” it, the picture shows up on your news feed regularly for all your friends to see. As more and more people interact with the photo, Facebook’s algorithm shows it more often on the news feed. Another common “Like” farming strategy is to try and get to your emotions by asking for “Likes” to support a cause.

Why Scammers do it

So why do the Facebook scammers bother trying to get a bunch of “Likes” and comments from you and your friends? MONEY. Once a page becomes popular enough from the “Likes” and gains enough fans, the owner can start placing ads on the page. Now these ads will show up on your news feed. They could be ads for a game, app, or recommendation for a product on a website. The person who owns the original page will be given a commission for every purchase made through the link. Some even more devilish scammers might be getting paid to have the links lead to sites that will put malware on your computer to steal your identity.

The Big Payoff

Some of the really popular pages, such as one for hamburgers, can be sold. The hamburgers fan page has almost half a million fans, and a business would love to get their ads on all of those potential customers’ news feeds. How much does the owner want for the page? $5,000. There are many pages for sale and if you “Liked” them, you could be solicited by unwanted ads if they are bought.

Like most everyone else who uses a smartphone, you probably have not taken any steps towards protecting your mobile device from app malware. What most people don’t understand is that your mobile devices need to be protected just like your home computer. Our smartphones hold passwords, banking information, photos, and more personal information. Understanding the importance of protecting your mobile device from malware is the first step to protecting that information.

What is malware?

Malware is the term used for malicious software. It can contain a virus, Trojan horse, worm, spyware, or adware. All of these types of software can disrupt your mobile device and gather your private information. Malware can also allow unauthorized access to your systems which can disable your phone or allow remote access.

Why is it important to protect against mobile app malware?

A recent study found that mobile users are now two and a half times more likely to encounter malware than six months ago. It also found that hackers are becoming smarter and using more sophisticated means to access personal data on phones. Today, our phones contain our whole lives. Just think how upset you would be if you lost your phone. So would you want someone looking at your information while you have your phone without you knowing it?

Taking steps to protect your mobile device

Here are a few things to keep in mind before downloading apps or ringtones to your mobile device:

• Check who the developer of the app is and look for reviews. Do not download anything from unknown developers.

• Pay more attention to free apps. A lot of time the apps are free in exchange for allowing collection of data.

• Read the permissions. Do not just click “I accept” without reading the details.

• Use secure passwords. Strong passwords are longer and more complex to remember, but they will make it difficult for hackers to access your information.

• Be extra careful when using public Wi-Fi. if you access social networks, email accounts, and bank information on non-encrypted public connections you are more vulnerable.

• Use anti-malware software to protect your mobile device.

With Mother’s Day almost here, many sons and daughters will be looking for last minute presents. Online scammers will use the holiday and need for last minute gifts as a way to steal your information. So when you open your email and see “Don’t Forget Mother’s Day Flowers – Only $19.99”, be skeptical.

Scammers are going to look to take advantage of people’s sensitivity and love for the one who brought them into this world. If you aren’t careful, you could fall victim to an email scam. Bitdefender Labs has found that there are several different types of scams you may run into this Mother’s Day via email.

Often times the embedded links for those cheap, last minute, guaranteed delivery flowers will bring you to some non-flowers related site. The links will often lead to gag gift sites that are nothing more than a phishing scam. There are also other fake online stores used in Mother’s Day Scams such as ones that sell jewelry, shoes, and designer clothing. A good rule of thumb is that if you found out about the discount online store through a suspicious email, it is probably a scam.

The people buying the gifts aren’t the only ones who need to be careful of scammers on Mother’s Day. Moms need to be on the lookout for suspicious looking emails as well. Many people send E-cards on Mother’s Day and scammers are taking advantage of that. So if you see a Mother’s Day card in your inbox, make sure you recognize the sender before you open it. If the sender name or email looks suspicious, it probably is carrying malware, not a cute card.

Another popular scam that moms need to mindful of is emails that are giving a voucher for flowers from one of your children. They will often say not only will you get a bouquet on Mother’s Day, but once a month for the rest of the year. Scammers will also try and pull the old bait-and-switch on moms too. These emails will ask you to buy a voucher via email and then you can use the coupon at the store or restaurant later. If the email seems sketchy, has lots of spelling errors, very generic wording, or lots of capital letters, it is probably a scam.

“Good to Know” includes advice on how to protect yourself from the dangers of the internet, like identity theft, scams, online fraud, and offers suggestions on how to make computers and mobile devices more secure. The site identifies more than 10,000 unsafe websites every day and informs users and other web companies of the findings.

Here are 10 tips from Google Security experts that every internet user should follow;

1) Use a long, unique password that is made up of more than just letters. Add in numbers and symbols to make it more secure. This is especially important for email accounts and online banking.

2) Never send passwords over an email and never share them with others.

3) Always set up password recovery options and keep them up-to-date.

4) Avoid scams by not replying to or clicking on links inside suspicious-looking emails, instant messages, or webpages.

5) Do your part by reporting and flagging content that is abusive, illegal, or suspicious.

6) Frequently check your privacy and security settings, and customize how you share your content with others.

7) Be mindful of your digital reputation. Think twice before you post something online that is embarrassing, harmful, or inappropriate.

8) Pay attention when you are asked to sign in online. Look to see if the web address starts with https://, this signals you that your connection to the website is encrypted and more resistant to hackers.

9) Always lock the screen on your computer, tablet, or phone when you aren’t using them. Set a password for even more security, this way other people can’t access your personal information.

10) Keep your device’s browser and operating system up-to-date. When you do install software, make sure you are getting it from a trusted source.

Think you are too smart to ever be scammed online? Think your anti-virus software can’t be broken? Well there are many scam emails and viruses that can slip through the cracks and can be very convincing. Scammers are getting smarter too and will do anything to trick you into giving up private information. Here are some scam indicators you should look for when checking your emails:

1) Disembodied Links

• Links that are the only content in the body of an email
• Bit.ly or otherwise shortened links that don’t display the actual address
• Hyperlinked text

When in doubt, DON”T click.

2) Vague, Generic, or Nonexistent Subject Lines

You probably send emails with no subject to your friends all the time, but if an email from an unrecognizable address comes in with no subject you need to be careful.

3) Intense Enthusiasm

EMAILS IN ALL CAPS can indicate spam. If there is an excessive amount of capital letters and exclamations, proceed with caution.

4) Urgency

People don’t normally use email to send urgent messages that relate to a time-constrained emergency. So if someone emails you saying they need money wired NOW because it is life or death, they probably are lying. Why wouldn’t they email a family member? Something to think about.

5) Grammar and Spelling

You didn’t have to get an A in English class to notice obvious spelling and grammar mistakes in an email. Look for odd syntax or major typos, especially if the sender claims to be a reputable company or your bank.

6) Sensitive Information Requests

More people willingly send their secure information to scammers than you think. Many scammers get private information from people by disguising themselves as companies, schools, and banks. These institutions will NEVER ask for sensitive information to be sent over email so that should bring up a red flag right away.

7) Surefire Guarantees

By now you should know that nothing on the internet is guaranteed. Promises of boosting your sex life or quick money to be made at home should not be taken seriously. Scammers will tell you anything to get you to click on a link in their email. It pays to be skeptical.

8) Name-Sender Disagreement

Scam email addresses often have different names to try and fool the recipient. Check the address before assuming the email is real. An email from TD Bank won’t have an email address that reads “contact@lightsaberduel.com”.

It’s tax season and the deadline for tax filings of April 15th is almost here. Because of this, the Center for Internet Security (CIS) has come out with some tips for recognizing and defending against tax-related scams. It is important for everyone to be aware that these threats are out there so you will not fall victim to these scams.

Findings have shown that identity theft and phishing scams are the top security concerns yet again. Cyber criminals are using a variety of techniques to lure people into their scams. One popular tactic is to trick people with emails that appear to be from legitimate organizations in order to get them to provide personal data.

With the tax deadline approaching, scammers will be taking advantage of people waiting until the last minute to file. It is important to be educated about the phishing scams to protect yourself from being affected by them. If you provide your private information to who you think is the IRS or tax preparer, your identity can be stolen by a cyber-criminal. This can result in financial loss, damage to reputation, and damage to credit score. Another method the online thieves use is to send an email that discuses supposed changes to the tax laws and includes downloadable content to explain them. This content, usually in PDF format, will be carrying malware that can infect your computer and potentially steal private information.

If you have already filed your taxes, you are still at risk. Many schemes will try to extract information from you about your refund or say there was an error in your paperwork. Here are some tips that the CIS says will help protect you from these tax scams;

Do not respond to emails that appear to be from the IRS. The IRS does not initiate communication with taxpayers through email or social media outlets to request personal or financial information. The IRS will also never send emails stating that you are being electronically audited or that you are receiving a refund.

Do not send sensitive information in an email. You should also never open any attachments or click on links inside emails that may seem suspicious.

Carefully select the sites you visit. Safely searching for tax forms, advice, tax preparers, and other tax information requires caution. Do not visit a site by clicking on a link sent in an email, found in a personal blog, or on an advertisement. Many fake websites are created off these and can place malware on your computer.

Be careful with Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi hotspots are great for quick and easy internet access. They are also often unsecure and give hackers easy access to your internet devices, even your smartphone.

Secure your computer. Make sure your computer has the latest updates for its anti-virus and anti-spyware software. Make sure your security controls are set up and that your firewall is on.