Merchants that use Scottsdale, Ariz.-based security services provider Chief Security Officers (CSO) to validate their adherence with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) will have to find a new assessor. The PCI Security Standards Council, the group responsible for managing payment security, last week revoked CSO’s status as a Qualified Security Assessor…
From the Desk of Chad M. Barr, CISSP, CISA An increasing number of domestic and international criminals are using the Internet for illegal purposes. Computers and other electronic devices can be used to commit crimes. This newsletter will discuss who are potential targets, the nature of computer and cyber crime, and what you can do…
Why should you, as a merchant, comply with the PCI Security Standards? At first glance, especially if you are a smaller organization, it may seem like a lot of effort, and confusing to boot. But not only is compliance becoming increasingly important, it may not be the headache you expected. Compliance with data security standards…
We’ve all seen the pop-up windows telling us that our PC is infected with a virus or other malware. But the real malware can be that free software and the free offer to fix your PC. Those ads and warnings can be fake, and you’ll do more damage to your PC and the security of…
If you encrypt a wireless network, there will be a reduced risk of someone monitoring your communications or hacking into the network. Wireless networks are not as secure as the traditional “wired” networks, but you can minimize the risk on your wireless network (at home or at work) by following the tips below: Change your…
These scams continue to proliferate at alarming rates and are becoming more and more difficult to detect. It’s important for you to understand how to recognize a phishing attempt and what you can do to protect yourself. What Can I Do? Be cautious about all communications you receive. If it appears to be a phishing…
Safeguarding your business and personal data has never been more difficult or important. How do you safeguard sensitive/confidential data? The manner of protection often depends on what kind of data you are safeguarding, how important or sensitive it is to you, to your organization or your customers. The following tips will help you become aware…
It’s important to verify the sites you visit on the Internet. A certain amount of information (such as your IP address and domain name) is automatically sent when you connect. Web sites can also track the pages you visit, determine the version of your browser and operating system, and even compromise files and passwords. Below…
Once you have installed an anti-virus and/or anti-spyware package, you should scan your entire computer periodically. If your anti-virus package has the ability to automatically scan specific files or directories and prompt you at set intervals to perform complete scans, enable this feature. What can I do to protect my computer? Don’t click on pop-up…
It is important to make sure you secure your portable devices to protect both the device and the information contained on the device. The following outlines steps you can take to protect your mobile communication device. Some of the steps are dependent upon the functionality of your device. Use a password to access your device….
