Wednesday, February 10, 2016

Hacking of Children's Tech Toys

This just came to my attention from the BBC. They are sharing warnings about hacks of VTech products. Click on the link below to read the BBC article.

Parents urged to boycott VTech toys after hack

As more of our devices are connected to the internet, from home appliances to tech toys, we need to be much more aware of both the advantages and disadvantages of such connectedness. If you do an online search for the "internet of things" you can learn much more about this phenomenon.

Breaking News!

Planning to shop online on Cyber Monday?

Here are some tips gleaned from the November update of Stop.Think.Connect from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for staying safe on Cyber Monday.

Keep a clean machine. Make sure your software, operating system, and antivirus programs are all updated. This will help your computer fight against viruses and malware that can be sent through emails, links, and websites.
Connect with care. Try not to do any online shopping on unsecure wireless networks, such as places with public and free Wi-Fi. Do your online shopping at home, and make sure your home wireless network is password protected.
Be cautious online. Do not click on suspicious links or download items from unknown sources. Do not click on links from pop-up ads. Do not follow unsolicited web links in email and pop-up ads.
Pay attention to website URLs. Malicious websites may look identical to a legitimate site, but the URL may use a variation in spelling or a different domain (for example, the malicious site may use .net instead of .com). Also look in the address box for https:// before any transaction. Unlike http:// URLs, https:// tells you that the site is taking extra measures to secure your information.
Set strong passwords. Especially for sensitive online accounts (such as online banking), make sure your passwords are complex and unique to each account. Change your password often, and do not set passwords that will be easy for cyber criminals to guess. A good rule of thumb is to create passwords with eight characters or more that use a combination of numbers, letters, and symbols.
Don’t believe everything you see. While many retailers are offering great deals on Cyber Monday, there will also be deals that are just too good to be true. So before you buy that new iPad for only $50, be sure to shop only on the websites of trusted, major retailers, and avoid shopping through pop-up ads or suspicious websites.
Use a credit card. There are laws to limit your liability for fraudulent card charges. You may not have the same level of protection when using a debit card.
Keep a record of your order. Retain all documentation from the order in case your purchase does not ship or if there are unauthorized charges on your bill.
Check your statements. Check your purchase records against your credit card and bank statements. If there are differences, report them immediately.

With the increasing threat of cyber scams and other online shopping fraud, it’s important for everyone to practice safe online behavior on Cyber Monday, throughout the holidays, and every day.

November 4-8 was Media Literacy Week in Canada. The theme this year was What’s Being Sold: Helping Kids Make Sense of Marketing Messages and they focused on the marketing both kids and adults encounter every day. To check out their resources go to Media Literacy Week .

For a quick introduction to media and its role in our lives check out the new Media Minutes from MediaSmarts. These short videos were designed for educators but are a good thoughtful intro to media and its various aspects.

Facebook Privacy Settings: Coping with Change

Every once in a while Facebook makes changes that may seem confusing or inadequate. No matter what the settings situation there are tips for maintaining your privacy. Here are a couple:

1 - Don't use a photo of yourself. There are many creative options.

2 - Whenever posting photos or updating status from any device be sure it is not set to public.

For more background on the changes check out this CBS news story from Philadelphia.

RSU18 Web Wisdom

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Wednesday, February 10, 2016

Hacking of Children's Tech Toys

Parents urged to boycott VTech toys after hack

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