words + pictures

by Tim Baggaley

Security

Using ZOOM is a calculated security risk

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Zoom’s developers have, no doubt, been burning the midnight oil fixing the security and privacy flaws in their programming and a number of updates have been made. But is it still risky to use?

Well, yes. Zoom’s popularity is, in no small part, down to its intuitive and simple user interface but the question is; is that convenience worth compromising security for?

Writing in the New York Magazine, Brian Feldman suggests that if you and your data are not important in the grand scheme of things, then you’re unlikely to be targeted by hackers and it is not worth worrying about Zoom’s weaknesses.

How important is your data?

The question should be; how important is your data to you? We’re not important people here on the global scale but if we get hit by a bus tomorrow, it is still going to hurt like hell. One also has to wonder what rarified circles Feldman moves in that the criminals are so discerning…

Anyway, read the following articles and make your own mind up but if you are the sort of person who always locks their car when they park it, even when it is surrounded by hundreds of other cars and many of which a lot fancier, then you understand the point of your personal security. Look for a Zoom alternative. We’re using Meet Now on Skype.

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Resources

Is your password rubb!$h?

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Here’s a quick test: Can you remember your passwords for all your online logins? Is that easy because you use the same one for everything and it is dead easy?

Don't tell me, let me guess...

Don’t tell me, let me guess…

Well, then, you know your security is rotten. While we are all quarantined and spending more time online than ever before, this really is the best time to overhaul your online security. Indeed, there really are only two available slots in the security update calendar:

  1. Do it now
  2. Wait until it’s too late

The simplest and most effective way to ramp up your security is to use a password manager. There are a number of different service providers and they are all similar. At Graphic Violence, we use LastPass. Password managers enable you to use very strong, unique passwords for each of your logins without you needing to remember any of them.

Shared logins multiply the risk

Are you thinking that no one would bother hacking you? It doesn’t work like that. The hackers steal huge databases from the likes of Facebook and Netflix containing millions, even billions of user logins. They then run software that checks those logins on other sites, like eBay and Amazon. If you use the same password on all your sites, then they are all busted.

You won’t know your data has been stolen until you start getting bills for credit cards you don’t have

The hackers collate the data they get from multiple breaches and match it to your email. Data from all your accounts on the same login can be aggregated; date of birth, postal address, mobile phone number and then this bundle is sold to ID fraudsters.

You won’t know your data has been stolen until you start getting bills for credit cards you don’t have, payments on a car you have never seen and bills for mobile phones you’ve never used.

This video explains the risks hackers pose and how the use of password managers greatly increases your online security.

This video walks you through the installation and use of LastPass.

If you need help installing and using a password manager, do get in touch, we’ll be more than happy to help you.

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The post Is your password rubb!$h? appeared first on Graphic Violence.

ZOOM is the weakest link

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Zoom has become the go-to video conferencing solution for social distancing in these coronavirus times. Unfortunately, you would do well to distance yourself from Zoom

The platform has some serious security weaknesses as well as dubious personal data harvesting practices and deeply inadequate privacy controls. Our advice is unequivocal; do not use Zoom in your web browser, do not install the app. Have no contact with the platform at all.

We’d guess, Zoom’s developers are working hard to fix the problems but that is their problem. Make sure it isn’t yours. We suggest using Skype or Google Duo as an alternative.

Further reading
– the problem

– the solution

Resources

The post ZOOM is the weakest link appeared first on Graphic Violence.