Tag Archive for: family

How to protect your home, and family, from hackers

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Any devices like Amazon Echo or Google Nest, whether inside or outside of the home, can be hacked into. Here’s how to protect yours.

PORTLAND, Maine — More people are tapping into technologies that make them feel safer, including doorbell cameras such as Ring or Google and Amazon devices that respond to you and keep an eye on your kids or dogs while you’re away.

“It’s really all devices that are considered ‘Internet of Things,’ and what that means is it’s not generally a computer or a laptop. [It’s] your Google voice devices, Alexa, security cameras,” Paul Tracey, a cyber security educator and the founder and CEO of Innovative Technologies, said. 

“What we’ve seen is, FedEx gets dropped off, hackers have gotten into a camera and they know that package is there, and they’re able to determine you don’t come home every day until 5 p.m.,” Tracey said. “It’s allowing someone else to see your patterns and things that you don’t necessarily want someone else to know.”

In extreme cases, hackers have been able to talk to people inside their homes through their cameras. 

In Tennessee, a hacker broke into a Ring camera set up in an 8-year-old child’s bedroom and told the girl he was Santa Claus. The little girl can be seen on camera screaming for her mother. 

So what can you do to protect your devices and your family? 

Tracey said start by changing passwords. Don’t keep the admin password that came on the bottom of your internet router or your device, because that’s the first thing a hacker will try. 

RELATED: ‘I think Putin already lost’ | Sen. King talks Russia, Ukraine, cybersecurity

Second, use different passwords for different devices. 

Third, pay attention to any software updates.

“Just like you would check the…

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Deal Alert: Microsoft 365 Family 12-month subscription with AVG Internet Security 2021 available for $69.99

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Microsoft 365

Newegg is now offering a couple of great deals on 12-month Microsoft 365 Family subscription. Microsoft 365 Family 12-month subscription with AVG Internet Security 2021 is now available for $69.98 (was $134.98). Find the deal here at Newegg. You can also get Microsoft 365 Family 12-month subscription with HR Block 2021 Deluxe is available for $79.98 (was 144.98). Find the deal here at Newegg.

Microsoft 365 subscription highlights:

  • Microsoft 365 can be shared with your family, up to 6 people
  • Microsoft 365 includes premium Office apps, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook
  • Microsoft 365 includes 1 TB OneDrive cloud storage per person to back up files and photos
  • Microsoft 365 can be used on multiple PCs/Macs, tablets, and phones (including Windows, iOS, and Android)
  • Microsoft 365 is an annual, auto-renewing subscription

Find the deal here at Newegg.

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Child identity theft a growing problem, how to protect your family

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KUTV —

Your child could have had their identity stolen, and most parents wouldn’t even know it. In the United States child ID fraud impacts one in every 50 children, and costs families nearly $1 billion a year.

Britta Clarck, with the Better Business Bureau Mountain West, said the cases of child identity theft are growing. But there are ways to protect your family, and make sure people are not opening credit cards or committing fraud in your child’s name.

Children make great targets for identity fraud for multiple reasons.

“They’re starting off with this clean blank slate of this child’s credit, first of all,” said Clark. “Then secondly you have the time that it takes to uncover these fraud attempts.”

The thieves can take a child’s personal information and use it to apply for benefits like healthcare, open bank, or credit accounts, apply for loans, sign up for utilities, or even rent a home.

Clark said it can take years, even decades before anyone notices the damage.

“And oftentimes the parents may never notice. And it’s the child who finds out when they grow up and try to start having credit lines of their own.”

Children with unmonitored access to the internet and social media are more likely to be targeted.

“Those scams can be you’ve won something from Minecraft. Or you have this chance to meet your favorite celebrity or athlete and you just need to fill out this information.”

Clark said kids don’t always know that some information is not meant for strangers. Scammers may even pose as a child’s friend online, while they are actually fishing for identity information.

“So they could say oh what’s your name, what’s your parents’ names, where do you live?”

Parents may often miss red flags, writing them off as junk mail or spam.

“You should be monitoring your child’s credit just like you monitor your own,” she said.

Signs of child ID theft include calls or letters about bills in your child’s name or taxes they owe. Parents being turned down for government benefits or a child’s student loan application being denied are other signs.

To protect your children, teach them about internet security, and what is considered private information.

You can also check their credit for free once a…

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Family of Security Guard Shot in Oakland Speaks Out, Asks Public for Help in Finding Suspect – NBC Bay Area

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The family of the private security guard who died after being shot while on assignment in Oakland last week spoke out Friday, asking the public’s help in seeking the person responsible.

“We’ve heard so far that there were people doing video with their cell phones .. and we’d like them,” said wife Virginia Nishita. “I beg you, please come forward.”

Kevin’s wife said she was stunned Kevin was shot in an attempted armed robbery of a news crew in downtown Oakland on Nov. 24 and died days later. But not surprised her husband put himself in jeopardy for the sake of others.

“That was his personality, to be that protector, to be that brave one,” she said. “He just wanted to protect people. Not just his family but others as well.”

Still the senseless nature of the crime has left the family heartbroken and demanding answers.

“We just need the closure. We don’t like this open, not knowing how someone we loved passed away. We just need to know and have peace,” and said Kevin’s daughter Maureen Campos.

Kevin was employed by Star Protection Agency California and working with a KRON4 reporter at the time of the shooting.

“He didn’t deserve this. He was retired,” said Kevin’s son Enrique Nishita. “He just looking to stay busy, we just wish he could come home.”

The family says it is still working on memorial services and they take some satisfaction in hearing Oakland is now taking action including a plan to hire more police officers.

“This is justice for Kevin. He was a security guard, and he was out there to protect the newscast … and we need justice for him,” said Virginia.

A reward of $32,500 is being offered to anyone with information that may lead to an arrest.

Kevin Nishita, a security guard protecting a news crew died days following a gunfire battle. Former coworkers and friends remember him and mourn his passing. Sergio Quintana reports.

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