Tag Archive for: life

Cyber Security Essentials: Safeguarding Your Digital Life In An Increasingly Connected World

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Welcome to the digital age, where everything from our personal lives to global commerce relies on technology. As we revel in the convenience and endless possibilities it offers, we must also face a sobering reality – the ever-growing threat of cybercrime. With each passing day, hackers are becoming savvier and more relentless, posing serious risks to our digital lives. In this blog post, we will delve into cyber security essentials – an indispensable guide to fortify your online defenses in an increasingly connected world. Whether you’re a tech enthusiast or just starting out on your digital journey, join us as we navigate through the complexities of safeguarding your valuable data and ensuring peace of mind in this rapidly evolving cyber landscape.

What is Cyber Security?

Cybersecurity is the practice of protecting information systems from cyberattacks. Cyberattacks can take many forms, including:

-Spyware and malware: Private data such as e-mails, bank account numbers, and passwords can be stolen by spyware or malware. Spyware and malware can also monitor user activity and gather sensitive information.

-Data breaches: In a data breach, hackers access personal data belonging to either individuals or organizations. This can include name, address, e-mail addresses, and Social Security numbers. Data breaches can also result in the release of confidential information.

-Criminals exploiting online security vulnerabilities: Criminals could exploit online security vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access to a system or to steal confidential information.

What are the threats to your digital life?

In an increasingly interconnected and digital world, cyber security is more important than ever. Here are five of the most common threats to digital life and how to safeguard yourself against them:

1. Hackers: Hackers can steal your personal information, passwords, and other confidential information. To protect yourself from hackers, make sure you keep…

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Ransomware Gang Has 6M Life and Annuity Client Records

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What You Need to Know

  • Federal investigators say the MOVEit attack organizer is great at what it does.
  • The biggest victim may be the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
  • A flood of stolen data has cut the price of a Social Security number on the dark web to $1.

Companies that write and reinsure your clients’ life insurance policies and annuity contracts say the Clop Ransomware Gang has stolen personal records for at least 6 million people, and that many of the stolen records include Social Security numbers.

The life and annuity issuers are caught up in a massive cyberattack that has affected hundreds of companies and government agencies throughout the world since late May. Affected life insurers and reinsurers use a file transfer system called MOVEit to exchange data with PBI Research Services. Since January, the Clop gang has been using a vulnerability in the file transfer system to install ransomware software on organizations’ computers.

Clop announced on June 7 in a blog post that it would begin publishing stolen client information if affected companies did not make ransom payments by June 14. The organization appears to be continuing to negotiate with some victims, but it has started posting some of the affected records on a site on the “dark web,” according to press reports.

The total number of affected life and annuity customers may be much smaller than the number of records affected. Some people may have had two or more life or annuity products included in the hacked data. A life insurer and a reinsurer also may have had separate affected records related to the same underlying product.

What It Means

Thieves, blackmailers and other foes who want to see your clients’ personal information and get into their retirement accounts, annuity accounts, life insurance accounts and other accounts may now find it cheaper and easier to accomplish those tasks.

Known Life, Health & Annuity Clop Victims

Here’s a look at some of the companies affected by the Clop attack and the number of policyholders and other customers who might have been involved, based on SEC filings and reports to the Maine attorney general’s office, which has an especially…

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Cyber Security Job Daily Tasks

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Navy veteran warns of online scam that cost him his life savings

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John McKendrick said he missed all the warning signs. He may be 80, but the U.S. Navy veteran has a master’s degree and is quite tech-savvy. But still, he said scammers wiped out his bank account. Hear McKendrick tell his story in the video above. “This money that they took, it was money I was living on. It was my main account,” McKendrick said through tears. It all started in March when McKendrick spotted an odd charge on his credit card for what he thought was Norton Security Protection. He said he Googled the company and called a number he found. The person who answered said he needed remote access to his computer to check whether their software was installed. “So I gave them access to my computer to check and they said, ‘No, you don’t have Norton installed, but look what we found. We found all these hackers,” McKendrick said. McKendrick says he was convinced that he needed their expertise. “He said, ‘Well, what we are going to do is we are going to put money into your bank account and that will be what triggers the hackers,” he said. His desktop was suddenly flooded with pop-up scam tabs so McKendrick gave Thomas the deceptive expert his account info and watched what he thought was his bank balance go up by $10,000. “Then, my job was to go and withdraw that money from my account. What I would do to return the money would be to go to a Bitcoin machine,” he said. McKendrick repeated that process every day for a week, each time scanning and sending a receipt to the agent. “So he was assured he would get his money back. Well, as it turns out, that was my money he was getting back,” McKendrick said. By the time he caught on, $94,000 was gone. Money he’s been saving for a final goodbye to his late wife. “I was planning out things where I was going to spend part of it on a lovely celebration in London, the funeral service we were going to have,” he said through tears. McKendrick filed a police report and has spoken to his local representatives and reached out to his bank. He said even if he doesn’t get his money back, he hopes his story will stop someone else from making the same mistakes.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. —

John McKendrick said he…

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