Many of us have the latest gadgets and “smart” appliances on our gift lists.  Many are now connected to the wonderful “Internet of Things”.  What I’m sure none of us have on our wish list is getting hacked.  Today’s blog is advice from Consumer Education Specialist Ari Lazarus from the Federal Trade Commission—the division of the Federal government that takes on the responsibility of consumer protection.

Today’s hackers are attacking a lot more than just computers. They’re going after ‘Internet of Things’ (IoT) products – like internet connected cameras and refrigerators and using them to create havoc on the internet.

In October, hackers used the “Mirai” malware to attack unsecured IoT devices, turning them into zombie computers to overwhelm and shut down popular websites including Netflix, Paypal and Twitter.

Attacks like that are more than just an inconvenience. They can put your information at risk. So what can you do to reduce the risk of compromise to your home network and smart products?

• Be mindful of each question during the set up process—DO NOT JUST CLICK “NEXT”. Review the default settings carefully before making a selection, and use the security features for your device. If it allows you to set up a passcode lockout (“three strikes and you’re out”) and enable encryption, you can add a layer of protection to your device.
• Like you do for your computer and smartphone, download the latest security updates. To be secure and effective, the software that comes with your device needs updates. Before you set up a new device, and periodically afterwards, visit the manufacturer’s website or the device’s settings menu to see if there’s a new version of the software available for download. To make sure you hear about the latest version, register your device with the manufacturer and sign up to get updates.
• Be sure to create original passwords for each device. The manufacturer may have assigned your device a standard default password. Hackers know the default passwords, so change it to something more complex and secure.

At Legal Shred, we want to do everything we can to help make this year’s holiday season your best ever.  For more on identity theft best practices, please visit legalshred.com or hvshred.com

Going into the last weeks of 2016, we’d like to use this week’s blog to reflect on a great year.  On January 1, 2016 we announced our expansion into the Greater NY/NJ Metro market taking on the dba “Legal Shred”.  In April we solidified our presence with the acquisition of Stay Green and welcomed Joseph Ferguson to our team. A few months later we secured clients in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and NJ.

As we grow, our mission and core value remains the same.  Security, strong relationships, and accepting nothing less than the best from ourselves each and every service, each and every day, each and every week, each and every month…each and every year.  That’s how we roll.

We appreciate the continued support of so many clients who have now been with us since our first days in 2008 and each client we have serviced since–whether monthly, weekly, or just once.

We at Legal Shred are looking forward to helping with year end-clean outs as well as partnering with our existing and new clients to make their 2017 budgets manageable while ensuring top level data security including document destruction as well as hard drive destruction.

Already we have helped save over 20,000 trees and nearly 4000 cubic yards of landfill.

We always welcome feedback as to how we can improve our service–we look forward to hearing from you in these final weeks of 2016 and going into 2017.

For more information on the most secure and cost efficient document security solutions, please visit www.legalshred.com or call us 845 705 7279

THANK YOU!

We use this blog to share valuable resources for best practices in Identity Theft Protection.  This entry is adapted from a blog by Andy Ozment an Assistant Secretary, Cybersecurity and Communications.

According to Ozment, most of us have developed a very close relationship with our mobile devices: we carry them with us throughout the day, check them frequently, and even sleep with them nearby at night. Although mobile devices allow us to instantly connect with friends and family, to access the internet, get directions, and make purchases, this increased convenience also comes at an increased risk. Many of these online activities require us to provide personal information such as our name, email address, account number, and credit card information. This puts us at an increased risk of having this information compromised by cyber criminals.

The Department of Homeland Security is encouraging all Americans to follow these simple steps to ensure the security of their personal information online:

To keep your private information private, avoid sharing your full name, address, and other personal information online. Frequently check a website’s privacy options to ensure you have enabled the highest level of privacy as options may get updated or changed completely

The old “when it doubt, throw it out” guide works in this case.  Links in emails, tweets, posts, and online advertisements are often how cybercriminals compromise your computer or mobile device. If it looks suspicious, it’s best to delete it, even if you know the source. If appropriate, mark the message as “junk email” so that future messages from the sender do not end up in your inbox.

Passwords are key–make them strong. Setting passwords that are long, unique, and hard to guess is one of the most important things you can do to protect your online accounts. Changing passwords regularly and using different passwords for different accounts goes a long way to protecting your online information.

For any vulnerable accounts, ask for protection beyond passwords. Many websites now offer additional ways for you verify your identity are before you conduct business on their sites, such as two-factor authentication.

The same pertains to your mobile devices–In order to prevent theft and unauthorized access, use a passcode to lock your mobile device and always lock it when it’s not in use. Never leave your mobile device unattended in a public place.

For more on best practices for identity theft protection, please visit www.hvshred.com and www.legalshred.com