Tag: coming | SpinSafe

Warning! Hackers are coming after your travel account

February 15, 2024/in Computer Security

A few days after Kay Pedersen reserved a hotel room in Chiang Mai, Thailand, through Booking.com, she received an alarming email.

It was a warning from Booking.com in broken English that there had been “some malicious activities” in her account.

And then the trouble started. A few days later, her husband, Steven, noticed a new reservation at another hotel. And then another one. The couple reported the fraudulent activity immediately and Booking.com canceled all of their hotels, including the one in Chiang Mai.

“We immediately called Booking.com’s customer service requesting our original reservation be reinstated and these other odd ones, which we had not made, be canceled,” says Steven Pedersen. “They were able to do so, but not at our original rate. The rate would now be more than twice as much.”

The Pedersens are not alone. A new hacking wave has hit travelers hard. A few weeks ago, criminals reportedly stole Booking.com passwords through its internal messaging system. Other popular targets include loyalty program accounts and other online travel agencies.

Why are travel accounts so prone to attacks?

“They hold very sensitive information, such as passports, driver’s licenses, dates of birth and travel dates,” explains Caroline McCaffery, CEO of ClearOPS, an AI-powered security program management platform.

You don’t have to be a victim. There are strategies you can use now to ensure you won’t lose your hard-earned frequent flyer points or see your hotel reservation get canceled. But there are also things you can avoid doing online that will keep your account safe. Ultimately, though, this isn’t your problem to solve, but I will tell you whose it is in a second.

How to avoid hackers

Here’s how to keep your online travel account safe.

Use two-factor authentication. Two-factor authentication (2FA) requires a special code, along with your password, to gain access to your accounts. “Hackers can’t access this if they don’t have access to your device directly,” explains Zulfikar Ramzan, chief scientist at Aura, a digital safety company. He says if you’re using 2FA, it’s better to use an authenticator…

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Google’s sign-in page teases a ‘new look’ coming soon

February 12, 2024/in Internet Security

Google has begun teasing that its sign-in page is about to receive a redesign.

In the past few days, many people who have used the company’s “Sign in with Google” OAuth option to log in to a website have been greeted with a message informing them of a new redesign.

A new look is coming soon

Google is improving its sign-in page with a modern look and feel

For now, Google hasn’t offered any details on what this new sign-in page redesign will entail. The only option in the banner is to dismiss.

In recent years, the company has steadily incorporated Material You design elements into its web apps, and it would make sense for the login flow to follow suit. This would fit in with Google’s teaser of introducing “a more modern look and feel.”

Overall, it’s quite wise on Google’s part to let people know about the upcoming redesign in advance. One of the better ways to keep yourself safe from phishing schemes is to notice when something looks different or out of place. If Google’s sign-in page suddenly changed overnight with no warning, some may be suspicious that they’ve clicked onto a website trying to steal their Google Account.

What would you want to see from a redesign Sign in with Google flow? Let us know in the comments below.

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New Feature Coming to Android: Secure Zones

December 12, 2023/in Mobile Security

Summary: Android users can look forward to a new feature called Secure Zones, which aims to protect sensitive apps and data on smartphones. While Google is still working on the development of this feature, an early preview has given users an idea of what to expect.

Google is currently developing a feature called Secure Zones, which will allow Android users to keep important apps hidden in a secure area on their smartphones. Similar to Samsung’s Secure Folder, this functionality aims to protect sensitive information from prying eyes.

The Secure Zones feature, spottedAndroid expert Mishaal Rahman, was enabled on the Android 14 QPR2 Beta 2 software version. Although it is not yet functional, the preview provides insights into how the feature will work once it is officially released.

To access Secure Zones, users will navigate through their phone settings and select “Security & Privacy” followed“Private Space.” Apps within the Secure Zone will be protecteda lock and will not appear in permission manager, privacy dashboard, or other settings when the Secure Zone is locked. This ensures that app activity and notifications from the Secure Zone remain hidden.

Interestingly, Secure Zones will be created as a separate Android profile known as android.os.usertype.profile.PRIVATE. This allows for a clear segregation between the main Android OS and the Secure Zone. Users will need to sign into a Google account within the Secure Zone, further enhancing its security.

Google is also working on making Secure Zone apps accessible directly from the search bar. While this function is not yet operational, it indicates that more convenient access to Secure Zone apps may be available in the future.

The release date for the Secure Zones feature is uncertain, but it is expected to be introduced sometime next year. Speculations suggest that it may be included in the March feature drop for Android or in the Android 15 update set to launch in the fall.

Overall, Secure Zones will offer Android users a secure and private space to store sensitive apps and data, providing peace of mind and enhanced security for personal information.

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GoNetspeed fiber-optic internet service coming to Lisbon

December 8, 2023/in Internet Security

Contractors for GoNetspeed work Jan. 19 in Auburn. The company is preparing to bring fiber-optic internet service to the Lisbon area in early 2024. Steve Collins/Sun Journal file

GoNetspeed Tuesday announced that construction is underway to bring high-speed fiber-optic internet service to Lisbon. More than 2,200 residents and businesses will have access to equal upload and download speeds through the service, ranging from 300 megabits per second to 1 gigabit.

Residents are expected to have access to service by the beginning of 2024 with construction expected to be completed by the end of this winter.

Fiber-optic internet service is considered superior to internet delivered via cable or digital subscriber lines (telephone lines). It is connected with a dedicated service to each home, not a shared service like cable. Fiber-optic delivers a superfast connection using light signals, which don’t degrade over distance. Security is also enhanced by fiber-optic, which does not radiate its signal the way copper does, making it much more difficult to tap or hack.

GoNetspeed serves residential and business customers in Maine, Alabama, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Missouri, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont and West Virginia. The company claims to be one of the largest independent internet providers in the East.

For more information about GoNetspeed, or to inquire about service in your area, visit gonetspeed.com.

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