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Author: Elaine Rigoli
Elaine Rigoli is a veteran business writer with years of experience managing content and community for various B2B and consumer websites. Elaine has written thousands of articles and has been quoted in The Wall Street Journal and eWeek, among other publications.

Google+ Profile:  Elaine Rigoli


Facebook Graphic: Know Which Posts Are Public, Which Are Private, When to Speak Up, and When to Stay Silent

Posted on Tuesday, June 11th, 2013 by

Jay Shepherd (@jayshep on Twitter) has created a very cool guide that simplifies security when it comes to comments on Facebook. For example, you would never leave a comment to someone’s post that says you just bought a new flat-screen TV, you will be out of town for the next two weeks,  you love using PayPal to buy new things, you don’t ever use a firewall or VPN, you love hanging out at Starbucks to get work done, and you love banking at My Neighborhood Bank.

Yet a crook can use several public posts you make about your lifestyle habits to string together a more detailed, accurate attack — whether in your home or online. Click to check out the cool graphic. Read More

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Facebook Security: Worms, Spam on Rise As User Data Becomes Currency of Hacker Economy

Posted on Wednesday, June 5th, 2013 by

Currency of the new hacker economy? That would be access to your sensitive personal data on Facebook (and beyond). A new McAfee security report says a resurgence in online threats is related to the cybercriminal community believing that social network users constitute a very target-rich environment of potential victims.

Read on to find out why this is happening — and how these threats are connected to your Facebook log-in, contacts, and preferences. Read More

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Data Breaches Cost Companies More Money, Study Finds

Posted on Tuesday, May 21st, 2013 by

When companies suffer a data breach or similar hack into their systems, they lose more than their good reputation and positive brand value — they also lose a whole lot of money. A new study finds that “malicious” breaches cost an average of $840,000, while “non-malicious” data breaches cost an average of $470,000. Read on to learn what companies are doing to protect themselves — and their customers! Read More

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Health Data Breaches Multiply; Canadian Hospital, Department of Veterans Affairs Both Hit With Lawsuits

Posted on Thursday, May 16th, 2013 by

Just when you think it’s safe to provide your Social Security number on your doctor’s intake forms, another wave of medical data breaches crashes over our hopeful heads and reminds us that less (personal detail) is more.

Read on to learn which medical centers are affected now — and about two new “medical data breach” lawsuits against a Canadian hospital and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Read More

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Risky Signals: 5 Reasons Why the Free WiFi Headed to Boston-Area Payphones This Summer Isn’t Wicked Smaht

Posted on Tuesday, May 7th, 2013 by

Pending city approval, free WiFi is expected to hit the streets of Boston this summer, turning about 16 existing pay phones into wireless hacking hotspots.

The hotspots will offer ongoing Internet access for an unlimited amount of time at no cost to users or taxpayers — but does the city know what it’s potentially doing to its throngs of residents, students, and tourists? Keep reading to learn the top four reasons this isn’t such a good idea. Read More

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‘Today Show’ Endorses Private WiFi for Consumer Security

Posted on Thursday, April 25th, 2013 by

The Today Show has joined the ranks of other high-profile media outlets to endorse Private WiFi’s cutting-edge personal VPN technology. Click below to watch the feature segment by Mario Armstrong, Today’s digital lifestyle contributor, who explains how a private VPN creates a “secure tunnel” between you and any would-be hackers. Read More

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ACLU Files FTC Complaint

Posted on Tuesday, April 23rd, 2013 by

The ACLU claims that the four major mobile carriers — AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and Sprint — are not doing enough to protect users’ private and personal data related to security updates on their Android devices. The ACLU says the mobile providers are all using a “deceptive and unfair business practice” — but what exactly are they doing?

Click to find out what security holes could be compromising your Android mobile phone.

  Read More

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Fraud Facts: FTC Video, Insurance Infographic Help Identity Theft Victims

Posted on Wednesday, April 17th, 2013 by

Are  you a social worker, attorney, or someone who likes helping others work to help resolve the issues identity theft causes?

If so, check out a new video from the Federal Trade Commission. The video is designed to help facilitators who assist consumers in repairing their identity.  Entitled Helping Victims of Identity Theft, it’s the latest addition to the FTC’s library of resources that explain not only how to recognize identity theft, but also how to report it and repair the damage it can cause.

The FTC says it gets more complaints about identity theft each year than any other consumer issue, and estimates that nine million consumers become identity theft victims each year.

Other studies say that every three seconds, someone becomes a victim of identity theft. Click to check out this infographic made by insurance provider Protect Your Bubble. Read More

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Oregon University Medical Data Breach Leaks Patients’ Social Security Numbers

Posted on Tuesday, April 9th, 2013 by

It’s a question worth asking your healthcare provider: are you doing the bare minimum to meet federal HIPAA standards or are you actually using common sense to protect my sensitive medical information?

That’s the concern after another data breach rocked Oregon Health & Science University. It reported on March 25 that a surgeon’s unencrypted laptop was stolen from a vacation rental home in Hawaii. The stolen laptop contained medical record numbers, types and dates of surgeries, names of surgeons of 4,022 patients, and (worst of all) the Social Security numbers for at least 17 confirmed patients.

Click to find out what other data breaches have rocked other healthcare facilities in 2013 — and why one security firm calls the low rate of hacking during the past few years merely “the calm before the storm” when it comes to our protected health information.

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1-2-3-4: Simple Travel Tips to Safeguard Your Online Privacy As Free Hotel WiFi Expands

Posted on Tuesday, April 2nd, 2013 by

Check out what’s coming to the Crowne Plaza, InterContinental, and Holiday Inn hotels — free WiFi — and you don’t even need a room key to hop online! But is it safe? And what can you do to protect your online security? Click to read the article and find out more. Read More

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