SB – Security

BOB GOSTISCHA (Enthusiastic IT Security Expert)   
OCTOBER 2024, CYBERSECURITY AWARENESS MONTH, PRESENTATION. 
October is Cyber Security Awareness Month, reminding us to stay safe in the digital jungle. Learn about common cyber threats and how to protect yourself online.

Highlights

  • Fishing attacks: Watch out for emails or messages pretending to be from trusted sources, aiming to steal your information.
  • Malware: Be cautious of viruses, worms, and Trojans that can damage files, steal data, or give attackers control of your device.
  • Ransomware: This sneaky software encrypts your files and demands a ransom for their release, with no guarantee of restoration.
  • Spyware: Keep an eye out for this nosy software that tracks your activities and can lead to identity theft or financial fraud.
  • Adware: Annoying pop-up ads that can also track your browsing habits.
  • DDoS attacks: Overwhelm servers to make websites unavailable, causing financial and reputational damage.

Join me for this and much more. The presentation centers around a comprehensive video and your questions. 
You ask and I’ll do my best to give you a simple to understand answer. 
Why not schedule your club’s meeting now? Dates fill up quickly, so please don’t wait till the last minute. 
Looking forward to our get-together in October 2024. 
Bob Gostischa, Enthusiastic IT Specialist

**Another level of security for your Windows PC (one of the choose 3 series for meetings).  Admin versus Standard User to sign on to your Windows 10/11 PC.
Bill James, Computer Club of Oklahoma City

Creating a Safe Environment on Facebook. This presentation covers the advantages and disadvantages of being on Facebook. Learn what you need to do to be more secure when using the app. Don’t put your privacy at risk; choose carefully when you sign up and customize your settings. What to do about friend requests and how to avoid scams, fake news, ads that drive you crazy, and more. 
Judy Taylour, SCV Computer Club

Cybercriminals are out to get us-Senior Scams.  ID theft, phishing, vishing, spoofing, fraud, all of these, and more, are targeting seniors. From the FBI: “Approximately 28% of the total fraud losses in 2020 were sustained by victims over the age of 60, resulting in approximately $1 billion in losses to seniors. This represents an increase of approximately $300 million in losses reported in 2020 versus what was reported by victims over 60 in 2019.”
During this presentation, we will look at many of the scams that face seniors and what we can do to prevent that from happening.
Judy Taylour, SCV Computer Club

ID Theft: Protect Yourself, Yourself.  Some town, 225,000 residents, USA:
Four arrested in suspected ID theft ring
Six ID theft suspects arrested at a local Walgreens
Bank ID Theft notice to consumers
Woman suspected of using identity theft to steal tens of thousands of dollars
Four out-of-towners accused of mailbox vandalism, identity theft
Identity thieves reassembled shredded documents
Former Physical Therapist convicted of Identity Theft

Identity theft is a serious crime. It happens when someone uses information about you without your permission. Judy’s presentation covers how your ID can be stolen, how to help prevent that from happening, and what to do if you become a victim of ID theft.
Judy Taylour, SCV Computer Club

Online Privacy.  Using almost any electronic device potentially puts some of your personal information at risk. Discover what you should and should not worry about, and how to take reasonable, common-sense steps to protect your privacy online.
Joe Kissell, Take Control Books

Securing your Communications, Events, Files, and On-line Activities with Proton. You do everything possible to prepare for the unexpected and keep your family safe. But extending this protection online is difficult unless you’re particularly tech-savvy — until now. The Proton Family plan lets you protect your loved ones by giving them access to all Proton services and premium features. Up to six family members share 3 TB of storage space, and everyone gets their own encrypted email address, calendar, secure storage for their files, and VPN to browse securely.
John Kennedy, East-Central Ohio Computer Users Group

**Security/Privacy Windows 11/10 (3 mini-presentations–see Operating System).  Microsoft Defender protects against all types of malware, but it also manages numerous other security features. Make sure your settings are what you want.
Bill James, Computer Club of Oklahoma City