Security is one of our perennial Lifehacker topics: as fast as technology advances, criminals find new ways to exploit it. Here are our 10 most popular guides to security, covering every aspect of your online life.
It’s always the way of digital things: as soon as a technology becomes successful, scammers and criminals line up to exploit it. Current hot development areas for the con artists? Fake free Mac anti-virus solutions and scams aimed at the growing audience on Pinterest.
Malware isn’t always about stealing your personal information or roping you into a botnet. The recent Flashback malware for Mac (which infected more than 600,000 users) used a more subtle method to make money: hijacking the browser so that every search infected users made was redirected through a “pay per click” network, adding up to big bucks for the cyber-criminals. In an added twist, Twitter also played a crucial role in keeping the malware updated.
Keeping your computer secure can be confusing, so it’s not surprising that mistaken beliefs often end up taking root. Here are the ten biggest myths about computer security, busted once and for all.
Another reminder that Macs are not immune from security issues: researchers have discovered that Apple’s own FileVault encryption system store the password for that system in a plain-text file, making it potentially vulnerable to attack.
Given the rise in popularity of social networking, this should come as no surprise: the percentage of email that is spam has dropped slightly, but junk marketing and malware spreading through social networking sites are on the rise.
If your system gets a malware infection, booting can be next to impossible — and even if you’ve followed all the best security precautions, sometimes hardware or software failures can render your system inaccessible. Make sure you’re prepared by setting up a recovery USB stick ahead of time.
A simple password stops criminal types gaining access to your machine, but doesn’t protect your data if the hard drive gets removed, or stop attempts to intercept your internet connection. To achieve that goal, you need encryption, but it can be a confusing topic. Here are the basics everyone needs to know.
There’s a new Mac trojan that’s been floating around, and it’s terrifying everyone. It’s written in an unknown language, doesn’t even need your password to compromise you and now it’s apparently infected 600,000 users. Here’s how to use Terminal to check if you’re one of the unlucky many.
Facebook and Twitter consume increasingly large chunks of our time, providing us with a public face to the world and accumulating personal data over time. Those benefits come with significant security risks, however. Make sure your social networking dream doesn’t turn into a nightmare by ensuring you follow good security practices.
