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What You Should Know About SSL Certificates

Wed, 11 Oct 2017 01:00:40 +0000

SSL certificates sound complicated, which can confuse people into not caring about them. If the name does not sound familiar, why bother with them, right? In actuality, SSL certificates are very important to web security and the safety of your Android and personal data. A weak SSL certificate can expose your personal information to a hacker. Click here to download dfndr security and use the anti-hacking feature to block malicious and deceptive websites so your personal information is never at risk:

Ever wonder why premier online marketplaces (such as Amazon) are safer to use when it comes to using your credit card than weird vendor websites? The premier marketplaces have something that the sketchy sites do not: a strong SSL certificate. The presence or absence of one of these security layers is all that stands between your credit card info and a hacker.

What is an SSL certificate?
SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificates are paid security systems that protect sensitive websites from exposing your Social Security number and credit card information from being exposed as you type it. You know if an SSL certificate is protecting your webpage if you see a padlock in the URL bar at the top of your browser.

Not all SSL certificates are the same, however. The more expensive they are, the more complicated and secure they are. Weak SSL certificates are dangerous, causing the entire webpage to be vulnerable to phishing and malware. Sometimes, weak SSL certificates are not easily advertised, so it is difficult to spot a dangerous and unsecured website.

Websites with weak SSL certificates allow hackers to copy and replicate your credit card, bank, and Social Security numbers. By going on a bad website, you risk losing your finances and identity without even knowing it. By clicking on a bad ad link, a hacker could copy your credit card and use it to withdraw your money before you log off. That’s why it’s important to use anti-hacking so that you never enter your personal information on an insecure site.

There are many ways to identify how strong a website’s SSL certificate is. The first is obvious — just look for the padlock icon in the address bar before typing in your personal information. If the padlock is unlocked or missing, it would not be wise to share your private information on that site. Depending on the type of browser you use, it may also notify you when your connection to a website is not secure, to further protect you online.

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Apps Stealing from Other Apps Can Compromise Your Security

Wed, 11 Oct 2017 00:00:20 +0000

Most security features can pinpoint apps that steal sensitive user data. When two apps work together, however, it becomes much more difficult to detect the collection of private information. A study released by Virginia Tech uncovered upwards of 20,000 app pairings that can share information in a way that threatens user security. Always take extra measures, keep your apps protected from prying eyes by activating the applock feature now:

applock allows you to set an extra password by creating a numeric or finger pattern.

The Virginia-based security researchers discovered that the risk of privacy exposure for users significantly increased when apps shared information in pairs. Hackers can uncover highly sensitive information about users by combining the data from a navigation app with that of an itinerary, thanks to this flaw.

Privilege Escalation
Privilege escalation is a technique utilized by apps and developers to gain deeper access to data and secure information. Apps are able to do this by exploiting a gap within the system such as a bug or a design flaw. Once apps are able to escalate their privileges through this technique, they can perform unauthorized actions. A significant portion of the apps identified in the study relies on privilege escalation to leak and pair data. While such apps would normally never be granted access to sensitive information, the exploitation of bugs and design flaws allows them to expand their reach and potential actions.

Malicious or Not?
When looking at the app pairings uncovered by security researchers, it is hard to pinpoint which specific pairings are intentionally engineered for the purpose of stealing data. Often, only one of the paired apps is malicious. Other times, both of the apps are simply poorly designed. Regardless, the pairing of this data can prove useful to hackers who can access their app log files, regardless of whether or not the flaw was maliciously constructed.

Information at Risk
When relying on calendar, online shopping, and communication apps, beware of the data privileges assigned to such services. App pairings can result in the leaking of user contacts and geolocation, and can even allow access to the web. The apps most susceptible to such dangers are often free since developers are trying to entice users, but the app could also contain several design flaws.

Moving forward, Android mobile users should be aware of the security levels of their apps, both new and old. Users should also be cognizant of the permissions granted to each application, should always read the terms of service, and should never trust apps to have access to information beyond what is strictly necessary.

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How to Prevent Identity Theft When You’re Online

Wed, 04 Oct 2017 01:00:31 +0000

Browsing the Internet is fun, useful, and — let’s face it — a part of our day-to-day lives. Since we do it so often, we can then come face to face with phishing attacks, malware, and even identity theft. Enduring an identity theft issue is quite the inconvenience. Click here to download dfndr security and use the anti-hacking feature when browsing the web to make your online experience more secure:

Anti-hacking will protect you against phishing attempts and malicious websites that are designed to steal your personal information. Once activated, you’ll be automatically blocked from unsafe websites so that you can browse the web worry-free. Still, there are other ways you can protect yourself against identity theft online.

Watch Out for Phishing Sites and Attempts
Phishing attempts present themselves in the form of a website that looks like a legitimate business, however, they’re really looking for your sensitive information. For instance, they may be asking for a username and password, or even an address, social security number, credit card number, driver’s license number, or bank account number. Don’t enter information if anything about the site seems suspicious, and don’t hesitate to do research on the site to make sure it’s safe. Avoid this from happening altogether by using Anti-Hacking and only shopping on sites that you know to be secure.

Create Unique Passwords for Every Site
Using unique passwords for each login will make it less likely that you’ll suffer from identity theft. This is because hackers who gain access to one account could easily get into another if you use the same password for multiple sites. Use complex and unique passwords for each site so that you are completely protected. You may even want to consider using a secure password generator to ensure that your key is as safe as possible.

Secure Your Wireless Network
Securing your wireless network is another great way to protect yourself against the possibility of identity theft. Leaving your network open by not securing it with WPA encryption can allow an attacker to use your network without your knowledge, and also see what you’re doing on the web. Then, hackers can build a profile of you and your entire family, as well as of the websites you visit. This could allow malicious individuals access to items like your social security number or your credit card number. Add a password to your wireless network to protect against this, and change it periodically.

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Is It Safe to Let Your Android’s Browser Remember Passwords?

Wed, 04 Oct 2017 00:00:02 +0000

Is it safe to have your Android remember passwords for you? As you may have guessed, as badly as you want the answer to be “yes,” it’s a wholehearted “no.” Having your Android remember passwords for you may allow you to access your email or banking website more swiftly, but if your phone somehow falls into the wrong hands, this easy access is going to make your life a whole lot more difficult. Click here to use advanced protection to protect your phone’s security in the event of loss or theft:

There are a few ways your passwords can be turned against you when you save them to your browser. Because your phone travels everywhere with you, there is always a chance you will lose it, and if you have passwords saved in it, anyone just needs to get to the home screen and everything will be open to them.

The same can be true if someone is able to access your phone remotely. Essentially, the hard work has already been done for them. It doesn’t matter if your password is a series of impossible to guess numbers and letters — if it is already saved, the guesswork is already done. Even something as innocuous as your email can have huge ramifications. Besides sending prank emails, most sites allow you to reset your password through the use of your email, and a would-be hacker can use your email to gain access to numerous accounts while simultaneously locking you out.

How to Protect Your Device
There are other resources to defend yourself against hacks. dfndr’s applock feature allows you to lock your apps with a password, to further protect yourself against potential hacks and thieves. Even with additional security measures, the best thing you can do is to avoid situations that could result in your phone falling into the wrong hands. This means keeping an eye on your phone at all times while you are out and about, as well as while you are with friends.

It may seem like a paranoid habit, but the simple truth is that it’s always better to be safe than sorry. The same is true for your Internet browsing. Make sure to always use secure networks, and be careful about the sites that you use. If you don’t know the site, look it up and make sure it is legitimate — any information you put into an untrusted site could be used against you.

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How to Protect Your Data from Ransomware Attacks

Mon, 18 Sep 2017 01:00:54 +0000

Ransomware scams have grown in scale and strength over the years. Some of the most successful ransomware scams can yield anywhere from $3 to $18 million from victims. The hackers will threaten to publish the victim’s personal data, essentially holding their personal data for ransom, which makes the name “ransomware” very fitting. Ransomware doesn’t always strike instantly, either, so you may not know that you have it on your device until it’s too late. Click here to use the security scan feature to quickly scan your device for any hidden threats:

How Do Ransomware Attacks Work?
Typically, hackers get the ransomware tech to your phone or computer system through the downloading of a file or some vulnerability in your network’s service. The ransomware essentially acts like a lock and locks up your computer or phone so that you can’t access any of your data or information. The ransomware may then send itself your data so that it can blackmail the victim into paying the ransom to get their private information back. Once the victim pays the hackers, the hackers typically send them an unlock code that will get rid of the ransomware from the system.

What is WannaCry?
In May 2017, the WannaCry ransomware attack targeted computers that were running an outdated and unpatched version of Microsoft Windows as their operating system, which included much of the computers at the UK’s National Healthcare Service (NHS). During this large ransomware attack, the hackers encrypted the data so that the computers couldn’t access their data. After that, the hackers demanded that they get their ransom via Bitcoin because it’s practically untraceable.

However, before the NHS or the other 230,000 infected computers could pay the ransom, a young British computer pro cracked the WannaCry attack and shut down the malware himself. As it turns out, the ransomware attack was poorly designed, which made it easy for the computer expert to find the “kill-switch” and shut down the hack.

How to Keep Your Data Protected
In order to keep ransomware and hackers out of your phone, you should regularly scan all of your devices for malware to ensure that your device is free of viruses and ransomware. Another way to keep your data safe is by creating an additional authentication step for your accounts. By creating a special code or setting up a phone call verification to identify yourself, you can keep your data safe. Also, be sure that you use your own Wi-Fi on your devices because public Wi-Fi is more likely to be hacked.

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Tips for Keeping Your Android’s Photo Library Small

Mon, 18 Sep 2017 00:00:25 +0000

Phone cameras have come a long way since their first conception, and they are now a genuinely useful tool for completing many tasks, such as taking photos. But you’ll want to make sure you keep the library slim. You’ll often be surprised to find as you scroll through that you have multiple pictures of the same thing, sometimes saved in different places. For that purpose, use the duplicate photos feature. Click here to remove photos clogging up your device:

While phones haven’t quite come to rival the best digital cameras, they have benefits. Our phones are always with us and allow us to easily send and share photos. Transferring these photos to a computer can free up some room, but it means you won’t be able to whip out your phone and share a memory in the middle of a conversation with friends.

Read More: 4 Best Android Camera Apps

Managing Your Photo Library
You don’t want to allow that photo library to become overly full, though. Besides slowing down your phone, you may also run out of room, and find yourself unable to capture the memory that’s happening right now. The great beauty of the phone camera is its ability to capture the surprising moments, moments you didn’t know were coming and that you would not normally have thought to bring a camera for. You don’t want to waste time scrolling through your library deleting pictures to free up space. By the time you’re done, there’s a good chance the moment will have passed.

So, how to pick which photos to have on your phone? You want a small enough number to allow for free space, but need some to show friends. So the real question becomes: What do you need immediate access to? Probably not selfies or even nice landscapes. If they’re nice enough you’ll probably have them up on social media, and be able to pull them up easily even if they’re not on your phone, and if they’re not nice enough to show to everyone you probably don’t need to show them to friends.

What you’ll really want are moments such as family events, parties, and achievements. It may sound like the sort of stuff your grandma would show to her friends, but maybe your grandma has the right idea about this — you want to be able to show off important life events, especially if they involve people you care about.

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College Students: A Prime Target for Hacking

Tue, 12 Sep 2017 02:00:59 +0000

As college students across the country make their way to campuses armed with textbooks, smartphones, and computers — the one thing they’re likely missing is the right set of tools to prevent hacking attacks. The anti-hacking feature can make web browsing more secure for all college students, regardless of their online security knowledge. If you’re a college student download this handy tool now or if you’re a parent, encourage your child to protect themselves:

Providing a reliable backup for a wide range of online security slips, the anti-hacking tool protects students from malware, phishing attempts, viruses and unsecured credit card information or social security numbers.

To hackers, students are easy targets ripe for the picking, uneducated about online security with often near-perfect credit scores. With access to campus-wide networks of emails and other sensitive information, student’s lack of security knowledge can imperil an entire university.

Unprotected and Unaware
College campuses are easy targets for hackers, full to the brim with potential victims who know little or nothing about online security. Though schools who employ dedicated IT personnel to teach and monitor cyber security are more likely to experience stronger overall security performance, most campuses fail to provide anything beyond a basic IT security overview for students. In addition, not only are college students unusually susceptible to hacking attempts, they’re also significantly more likely to engage in online behavior that compromises their cybersecurity. With limited budgets, young students are more willing to rely on piracy to access textbooks, movies or software instead of accessing them through official sites.

Risk Factors
Student emails are linked to university-wide networks, and a student compromised by malware can unwittingly open an entire campus network to dangerous malware infections. Thanks to the confluence of vulnerable networks and inexperienced users, universities are regular targets for malware and ransomware attacks. Among the most common threats to campus, networks are malware attacks similar to the Trojan horse virus, a type of attack that masquerades as innocuous software and tricks a user into downloading it intentionally. Other common forms of malware known to target students include Adware, a form of malware which infects victims through ads, and Conflicker, a computer worm which targets and infects the Microsoft Office operating system.

Addressing the Issue
Both college administrators and students share the responsibility of staving off future hacking attempts. Students can employ basic online security tactics, avoiding the sites that make them easy targets, installing an effective antivirus on their computers and phones, and following university guidelines for regularly changing passwords. On the university’s part, administrators should be implementing two-factor authentication, monitoring university email logins, and employing staff and student engineers as allies in combating security threats.

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What You Should Do if You Lose Your Phone While Traveling

Tue, 12 Sep 2017 01:00:32 +0000

It’s natural to panic when you misplace your smartphone, especially while traveling. These days, practically our whole lives are stored on our devices — important contact information, account information, emails, and valuable mementos such as photos and videos. Luckily, you can minimize the damage of losing your phone while traveling. Click here to enable anti-theft in advance so that your phone is protected in the event of loss or theft while traveling:

With anti-theft activated, you can remotely block thieves from accessing your phone, sound an alarm to find your phone nearby, show you your phone’s location on a map, and erase all of your phone’s data. anti-theft is a great tool to take advantage of on your phone because it’s easy to activate and gives you a crucial layer of additional protection. Find out how to access these features of below.

What to Do When You Lose Your Phone
The first step is to locate your phone from a different device. This step should be taken first to ensure that you didn’t misplace your device at your hotel or leave it at home. This can be done by visiting my.psafe.com and entering your Google account information. Once you’ve logged in, you can view your phone’s location, lock your device, erase all of your data, sound an alarm, or see if your SIM card has been taken out or replaced by clicking the “+” symbol in the bottom right corner.

You can choose which option seems most appropriate based on your situation. If your phone is somewhere in your room, for example, you may choose to play a sound in order to locate it quickly. If you suspect someone has taken your device, you can remove all of your data to prevent identity theft. You can also lock your phone to prevent further access to your device. From here, you can determine whether or not further action should be taken with the police in the event that your phone has been stolen or tampered with.

It’s important to be proactive in the event of misplacing your phone. In order to access the anti-theft features, you should have them activated prior to misplacing your device in order for them to work. The next time you plan to travel, you will experience a safer, worry-free traveling experience because you are prepared.

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Best Free and Paid Password Protection Services

Tue, 12 Sep 2017 00:00:13 +0000

First thing’s first: How does password theft happen? It’s surprisingly easy, and as with many tech issues, it’s more often a case of human error rather than tech wizardry. The Internet is composed of a vast number of sites, and almost all of them require some sort of log-in. Some of these sites, while looking legitimate, are actually phishing attempts. Click here to use the anti-hacking feature to block phishing attempts and malicious websites:

With phishing attempts, hackers often wait for someone to stumble upon them, input a password, and wham — if they have your name, and if you’ve used the password elsewhere, you’re already in trouble. If you use it for things like banking or email (the latter of which allows you to reset passwords on most sites) you’re in deep trouble. So, the first step to take is to use anti-hacking. But you should also be wary and read URLs carefully. The next step is to use a password protection service.

How it Works
Password protection services work by generating random strings of letter and numbers for each of your passwords, so they are all unique and complex. The service then remembers the password for you, because you probably don’t have a brain built for remembering multiple strings of random letters and numbers. By diversifying and making guessing tough, the services are an enormous safety net for your online adventures.

If you’re looking for a free option, LogMeOnce is a good choice. Instead of using a master password as most services do, LogMeOnce relies on other techniques. By routing through your smartphone, it can use a fingerprint or pin identification to ensure you are really you. It also has an option for a master password, if you feel unsafe using your phone.

Another good option is LastPass 4.0. LastPass allows you to take an active hand in your security. LastPass will check for weak passwords and help you change them, and it can even help search through your websites for sites that are known to have been compromised. From there it will help you change any passwords associated with said sites.

Of course, security is worth spending some money on, so there’s also the option of LastPass 4.0 Premium. Premium offers even more freedom and safety. Let’s say you want to allow someone to log in to one of your sites remotely, but don’t want them to know the password. Using LastPass Premium, you can grant them access and fully log them in, without ever allowing them to see what your password for the site is. With more freedom and safety, and for only $2 a month, LastPass Premium is a smart buy.

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Vicious Mobile Banking Trojan Steals All Your Information

Mon, 11 Sep 2017 01:00:00 +0000

As hackers develop new methods for creating malware, it can become harder to detect these virtually invisible threats in the Google Play Store. A new banking trojan, nicknamed “BankBot,” appears harmless initially, but it can intercept and steal an Android user’s sensitive bank information. That’s why it’s important to run a full virus scan on your device after downloading any new apps from the Play Store. Click here to scan your phone for malware:

Regularly running a Full Virus Scan on your phone is critical in detecting malware that one would normally not discover until it’s too late. Experts are warning that, as more apps saturate the Play store, it is becoming more difficult to detect harmless programs from malicious ones. To find out more about what type of threat this malware may pose to your security, read on below.

What is BankBot Malware?
The BankBot malware is hidden inside of an app called “Funny Videos,” which has between 1,000 and 5,000 installations from the Google Play store. The app appears to be a normal video application, and it advertises that it features “only hand selected and most popular video clips from YouTube.” Once installed, the malware can access sensitive information from over 400 banks nationwide.

Malware like “BankBot” is often disguised in pop-ups, such as a window asking the user to agree to the app’s terms and conditions. Once the user clicks this, however, the malware creates an overlay that enables it to begin stealing information from the user. Google has since removed the malicious app from the Play store, but some users still question Google’s security precautions in detecting these harmful viruses.

Lately, Google Play has had a lot of trouble with malicious ads and pop-ups hidden in its apps. They recently removed more than 40 infected apps, which had been downloaded more than 36 million times.

How to Protect Your Device
In order to protect yourself against these nearly invisible threats, you’ll also want to enable the Anti-Hacking feature. Once activated, Anti-Hacking will protect you against malicious websites and phishing attacks that are designed to steal your personal information, such as passwords or financial information. Click here now to stay safe online:

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How to Identify a Sketchy Third-Party Seller on Amazon

Mon, 11 Sep 2017 00:00:07 +0000

For users who prefer to use the mobile Amazon app, be sure to run a full virus scan when dealing with third-party vendors. The scan will not only search your phone and SD card for malware, but also check apps, ensuring that your online shopping experience is seamless and secure. Click here to scan your phone for malware now:

Third-party vendors account for a significant part of Amazon purchases — about 44% to be exact. Yet, it’s not Amazon’s responsibility to verify or test each third-party product and it’s not company policy to reimburse scam vendor victims who fail to file complaints. Instead, the job of vendor policing often falls to you, the purchaser, as you scan reviews to determine whether or not the product is legitimate. While some vendors are clearly offering knockoff or low-quality goods, other times the too-good-to-be-true low prices override these judgment calls. When making the decision to purchase through a third-party seller, there are a few fake vendor red flags to keep in mind.

Too Good to Be True
In the case of Amazon vendors, if the price often seems too good to be true, it usually is. Vendors offering items, often technology, at staggeringly low prices should not be trusted. In such cases, the shipment will often be listed as traveling from overseas, with an expected delivery date of 6 weeks from order placement. Amazon pays vendors every two weeks, and scam sellers will go through at least three pay cycles before the original purchasers recognize that the purchase was inauthentic.

Product Reviews
Once a surefire way to ensure the quality of a product, the reviews section is now sometimes manipulated by sketchy sellers to boost the appearance of their product. However, smart shoppers can still use this section to determine the trustworthy vendors from the fake vendors. If all product reviews are from a few years ago, the account was likely hacked by a fake vendor. If all product reviews were posted recently within a short timespan or share similar language, they were likely paid for by a fake vendor. However, established and trustworthy third-party sellers will boast a range of reviews over a wider timeline.

Company Website
Another easy way to determine the legitimacy of a third-party Amazon vendor is to locate their company website. Scam sellers will rarely go to the length of building a fake website to accompany their listings and can be exposed through an easy Google search. Trustworthy vendors will offer an easily accessible website featuring the same or similar products offered through their Amazon listings.

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4 Different Ways Hackers Can Penetrate Your Network

Wed, 16 Aug 2017 01:00:28 +0000

Do you worry about your network being hacked when you’re browsing the Internet? If not, it’s definitely something to start thinking about. A vulnerable network could mean that predators can obtain your personal information, credit card information, and more. If you think you may have a virus on your device due to a vulnerable network, be sure to run a full virus scan immediately by downloading dfndr security:

The full virus scan will allow you to scan your devices for malware and security breaches that could leave your device vulnerable to exposing your personal information. Furthermore, the scan will fix any issues that it uncovers. Here are the essential ways hackers can breach your network.

Find Weak IP Addresses
The first way that predators hack into your network is by finding weak IP addresses. In this case, hackers’ computers do all the work for them. They start numerically from 0.0.0.1 and continue upwards until a weak address is found and they are able to make a connection. There are approximately 4.2 billion combinations worldwide for these addresses; but, as noted, their computers do the work for them, so that large number does not have much of an effect.

Phishing Scams
Phishing scams are one of the oldest tricks in the book, and also one of the most successful. These scams typically come in the form of a mass email that appears to be from a legitimate author or entity, such as your bank or a subscription site. These emails ask readers to click an embedded link to verify their account and enter their login information. This gives hackers access to your personal information

Free or Cheap Software
You may think you’re getting a bargain, but downloading cheap or free software may be putting your network at risk. These downloads could offer hackers an “in” to your network, supplying them with sensitive information or allowing them to introduce malware or viruses to your devices. Instead, you are better off paying for software that you can verify is secure.

Password Hacking
This is a method that requires some trial and error, but hackers still have success breaking into networks this way. Commonly, people use the passwords that came with their router/modem, making it easy for hackers to guess the password. Always set your own passwords using a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. Change passwords once or twice a year.

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How Risky is it to Check Your Bank Account on Public Wi-Fi?

Wed, 16 Aug 2017 00:00:27 +0000

You’re at a coffeeshop doing some work on the cafe’s Wi-Fi, and you decide to check your bank account to see if you have enough funds to cover your weekend plans. But is this a safe idea? The answer: not really. If you’re going to check your bank account, you should always do so on a secure, private Wi-Fi network, or else on your phone’s cellular connection. Otherwise, a hacker may be able to see your every move. When accessing your bank information online, you should activate anti-hacking so that you remain protected against online scams:

The anti-hacking feature eliminates worry, letting you browse online and stay protected against phishing attempts, hackers, malicious websites, and online scams. That way, even if a malicious website is mimicking your bank’s website, you won’t be able to enter your account information on the site because anti-hacking will warn you of the site’s intentions and block your access. That’s it; think of anti-hacking as your personal browsing bodyguard. That way, you can get back to browsing the websites you love without worrying about a scam.

The Difference Between Public and Private Wi-Fi
Before exploring this issue further, however, it’s important to first establish what it really means to have a secure Wi-Fi connection. If you want to check the security of your network — no matter if the network is private or public, use the wi-fi check feature. This feature will also check your connection, download speed, and DNS security. Click here to use wi-fi check:

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You May Have the DNSChanger Virus and Not Even Know It

Sun, 30 Jul 2017 22:17:04 +0000

The DNSChanger Virus is one of the most widespread computer viruses in the history of the Internet. You may have read about it five or ten years ago when it was at its peak. But just what was the DNSChanger Virus, and what is the status of it now? How do you know if you have it? Malware doesn’t always make its presence on your phone obvious. The best way to protect your phone from viruses — and remove any hidden viruses — is to run a Full Virus Scan on your phone. Click here to scan your phone and SD card for malicious threats:

The DNSChanger Virus is considered a Trojan virus (named after the Trojan horse). It works in a similar way: it appears to be something friendly and normal, but once it breaches your Internet, it mutates into a malware that hijacks your computer. The toughest part about the DNSChanger Virus is that you cannot detect it until you get it, and once you get it, it is difficult to find.

The DNSChanger Virus is the product of Rove Digital, an Estonian web company, that used their malware to invade a person’s computer server and redirect all Internet traffic to their own servers, where they inject the victim’s computer with their own advertising. At its peak, the DNSChanger Virus became so widespread that it affected tens of millions of Americans. Even though the FBI quarantined the DNSChanger virus six years ago, cutting its victims in half, it is still on the Internet in alarmingly high numbers.

The DNSChanger Virus has since spawned mutations that go by different names, but they all have the same origin. If the DNSChanger Virus hijacks your phone, your Internet browsing is at the mercy of hackers and malware, slowing down your Android with ads and potentially more viruses.

The best way to avoid getting the DNSChanger Virus is to avoid sketchy unsafe websites that are heavy with ads and malware. And while it is difficult to identify the DNSChanger Virus once it invades your computer, the best way to kill it and prevent malware from infecting your phone is to perform a Full Virus Scan regularly on your device. The DNSChanger virus may seem like ancient history, but it is still active and can affect your Internet browsing. It is better to be safe than sorry, and always lean on the side of caution.

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Which Apps Slow Down Your Smartphone the Most?

Sun, 30 Jul 2017 20:11:06 +0000

It isn’t just about how you use your phone, but also what you use on it. You may have noticed that different apps have different effects on battery life, and the same is true of phone speed. Some apps are just more efficient than others; this may be due to how the developer designed the app, or because you use the app so frequently that it collects an enormous amount of data. You should, of course, always delete the apps and content you aren’t using. Click here to quickly evaluate the apps on your device and remove any unwanted apps with App Manager:

Sure, you probably know that big apps like games, browsers with a seemingly endless amount of tabs open, and social networking apps are causing your phone’s poor performance. But what about when all of the obvious contenders are out of the way and your phone is still not performing correctly? Or, what about if you don’t want to have to worry about all of this and just get on with using your phone?

You know the feeling: you’ve been blasting some tunes on your commute home or switching rapidly between your browser, Instagram, and text messages, when all of the sudden the “switching” becomes anything but rapid. These are some of the most frustrating moments of being a smartphone user today. After all, aren’t multitasking and speed what counts in this day and age of technology?

Turns out, what’s often slowing our phones down is what we don’t realize is happening in the background. With all that quick app-hopping, we don’t often recognize that we’ve left apps open or that some apps sneakily still use data even when we’ve moved on. The Accelerate Internet feature is designed to speed up your Internet by closing apps that are running in the background of your phone. These apps can take up too many resources, and cause your phone to slow down — without you even knowing it. Click here to speed up your Internet and close background apps now:

DFNDR helps your phone run more smoothly by taking out the guesswork for you and using its own intelligence to keep your smartphone smart. Multitasking is tough enough without having to be limited by your technology, so it goes without saying that every little bit helps. If you have the chance to improve your phone’s performance, wouldn’t you do so?

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Signs That Your Social Media Account Has Been Hacked

Sun, 30 Jul 2017 20:11:43 +0000

The typical signs of a hacked social media account can be easily pinpointed: weight loss ads claiming that users can “Lose 10 pounds in 2 weeks with this new pill!” or giveaways telling users to “Sign up now! Giving away free 5,000 iPads!” Sometimes, though, compromised accounts are harder to pinpoint, giving hackers access to personal data for weeks before the breach is detected. One easy preventative measure that you can take is to activate the Applock feature. Click here to lock your sensitive apps:

By using Applock, Android users can choose to protect certain apps with a password and safeguard this sensitive data from thieves and hackers. It’s a simple, but effective, way for your apps to remain private, even if your phone’s screen is unlocked.

Signs of a Compromised Account

The top two signs of a compromised account include changes to posts and changes to follower counts. While the appearance of numerous new posts is a common sign of hacking, so is the disappearance of older posts. Hackers taking over Facebook or Instagram accounts often delete old posts and photos. In addition, dramatic changes in follower counts, either in the number the account is following or the number of followers, often point to a hacking incident as well.

In some instances, hackers will change the account’s information immediately after accessing it, shutting out account owners. In these cases, repeated, incorrect password entries are a sign of a compromised account rather than a forgotten password. Additionally, on social media sites that allow messaging, and on Twitter in particular, hackers will send infected links to mutual followers in an effort to compromise more accounts.

Logins from Other Devices

Social media giants such as Facebook will often track the devices associated with specific accounts, and notify users when a login has been attempted from a device not previously associated with the account. However, there’s an easy way to double check individual accounts. Facebook provides users with data on the devices and locations of past and active login sessions, and allows users to end sessions for unfamiliar devices. To view this service, visit the Facebook account settings page and go to the “Security” tab. Under this section, users should click “Where You’re Logged In” to view all recent login data.

Twitter offers a similar tool which lists the times of recent logins and types of devices associated with the logins. To access the tool, click your account’s avatar at the top of the screen and click on “Settings and Privacy.” From the “Settings” screen, go to “Your Twitter Data” on the left-hand side of the page and scroll down to see “Your Devices and Login History.”

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6 Things You Didn’t Know About Facebook Messenger

Mon, 24 Jul 2017 00:00:12 +0000

Every 20 minutes, 3 million messages are sent using Facebook Messenger. That’s a lot of communication being passed back and forth. One way to manage all the GIFs, photo or files you receive from your friends, is by using the Facebook Messenger Cleaner to rid yourself of old files:

As you keep Messenger optimized with Facebook Messenger Cleaner, you may not be aware there are many benefits that this chat app has to offer — no tech expertise required. Check them out below.

Use Messenger Without a Facebook Account

Just like with WhatsApp, you can join Facebook Messenger only using your mobile number.

Chat with Companies and Groups

When on mobile, you can easily start chats with companies and even learn new skills. Open Messenger on your Android and look at the bottom of your screen. Click on the hexagon-shaped icon on the far right to get started. These ChatBots can help you pick out gifts, improve your vocabulary, answer company-specific questions, and save you money on trips.

Search Through Conversations

Whenever you’re on your PC and need to look back through your message history for a specific piece of information, open your chat in Messenger. Click on the settings icon on the pop-up chat screen to access this. You’ll then see a “Search in Conversation” option on the right-hand side of your screen.

Mark Items as Unread

If you accidentally open a message you are not ready to reply to, easily mark it as unread so that you remember to return to it later. To do this, open Messenger on your PC, click on the settings icon, and select “Mark as Unread.”

Make Plans with Your Contacts

Create calendar events in your chat windows and have Facebook remind you and your friends of plans. On mobile Messenger, open a conversation, click on the information logo on the top left, and select “Plan.” Select the date and time and it will automatically appear in your chat window. Click on the bubble that appears to add a plan name and location.

Securely Send Money

Pay your friends back for dinner or request money from the guy who’s buying your old phone with just a few clicks. Simply open up your chat window, select the “$” sign, and enter the amount. No bank account or card information is exchanged. Just set up a payment and receiving method in your personal settings.

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What You Need to Know About the Different Types of Hackers

Sun, 23 Jul 2017 23:00:05 +0000

The prospect of any of your devices, electronic systems, or information being hacked is scary to think about, but the more informed you are, the more you can protect yourself against hacking. Believe it or not, not all hackers are created equal. Obviously, you want to avoid being hacked by any of the following predators. Click here to use the Full Virus Scan feature to prevent malicious hackers from infecting your device:

Black Hat Hackers

This first genre of hackers are also known as “crackers,” and they’re the type that you’re likely to hear about on the news. These predators find banks or other corporations with weak security systems in order to penetrate their networks and steal money and credit card information from clients and customers.

White Hat Hackers

These hackers are also known as “ethical hackers,” and you probably didn’t know there was such a thing out there! These individuals work to use their hacking skills positively, by using them to remove a virus, PenTest a company, and so on.

Gray Hat Hackers

These are the “in-betweeners” of the previous two hackers just mentioned. While they don’t steal money or information, they also don’t use their skills to do good deeds like the White Hatters do. Instead, these individuals use their skills to deface websites or do more “harmless” acts across the web.

Red Hat Hackers

These are regarded as some of the most powerful kinds of hackers, and they are able to stop Black Hatters in their tracks. To do so, they shut them down by infecting them with viruses and accessing their computers to completely destroy them, forcing them to get a whole new machine.

Green Hat Hackers

These are hackers that are new to the scene and are striving to learn more about the practice. Whether the Green Hatters will grow to use their skills for good or evil is undecided, but there are tons of them out there looking to learn the ropes — which is a frightening thought.

Blue Hat Hackers

This is another group that is new to the scene, but these hackers are out for revenge against anyone who has made them angry. The difference between Blue Hackers and Green Hackers is that Blue Hackers don’t have much desire to learn hacking skills after they’ve used them to get their revenge, whereas Green Hackers want to learn for the sake of knowing the “sport.”

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Best Apps for Keeping Track of Summer Deals

Sun, 23 Jul 2017 21:30:37 +0000

Summer time in the shopping world is known for presenting some seriously great deals. Between the Fourth of July deals, end of season sales, and back to school promotions, there is no shortage of deals to scoop up. While these apps are all great to keep on your phone for all of your various shopping trips, you’re probably thinking that having all of them on your phone may clog it up. Luckily, you can use Quick Cleanup to keep your phone running well all summer long. Click here to free up space on your phone for more apps:

Quick Cleanup frees up space on your phone by removing junk files, cache, temporary files, and trash. Removing these files will allow you to have more space for those shopping deal apps. Since it can be tough to keep track of all the shopping apps, check out a list of the best of the bunch below to get organized before you hit the mall.

Flipp

This app is an all-in-one when it comes to gathering coupons and deals for some of your favorite stores. Gone are the days of scouring your newspaper or the net for the best deals; this app will put them all in one place for you. The best part of this is that you get to choose your favorite stores — such as Best Buy, Target, and Walmart — so you decide what you see. You are also able to add in your loyalty or rewards numbers for these stores, making it even easier to save.

Shopular

This is the perfect app to bring along on your mall shopping trip, as it will populate the right coupons at the exact right time. Because this app uses your location to determine what coupons and notifications to send you at what time, you will see deals that are relevant to you based on what store you’re in. And contrary to what you may believe, this app actually won’t drain your battery. Don’t get caught scavenging your email at the register for a discount code; have them sent directly to you with this app to save as much money as you can on each purchase.

PriceGrabber

This app is only available for Android, but it’s one that packs some serious punch! This app features a barcode scanner, and when it’s used, it immediately populates a price comparison of the product you’re viewing from other vendors. It also is sure to factor in tax and shipping information. Finally, it provides product reviews so that you can see what others are saying about a desired product so you know exactly what you’re getting before you head to the cash register.

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Tips for Using Wi-Fi Safely When Traveling Abroad

Wed, 19 Jul 2017 23:00:11 +0000

Free Wi-Fi networks are notorious for putting your data at risk and opening your devices to possible hacking attacks. When accessing these networks while traveling abroad, the risks associated with free Wi-Fi become even greater. When connecting to an unknown or public Wi-Fi network, you should take advantage of DFNDR’s Wi-Fi Check feature. This function will verify download speeds, DNS security, and network security, clearing up concerns about which hot spots to trust. Click here to check your Wi-Fi:

While the smartest approach is to rely solely on data, this may not be a viable option for most travelers due to cost. In situations where you feel the need to rely on free hot spots, be sure to use Wi-Fi Check and to follow the safety tips listed below.

The Risk

When targeting tourists through Wi-Fi, hackers typically rely on one of two main tactics. In both cases, sensitive data can be viewed, recorded, and stolen by hackers. These attackers can potentially view your passwords, social networks, important documents, emails, bank account information, and much more through the compromised device.

The first tactic involves tracking users’ movements on unencrypted Wi-Fi channels. In this instance, hackers can capture all data sent to and from your computer and, with websites who don’t use HTTPS, can view your usernames and passwords, as well. In some instances, unprotected networks can enable Man-In-The-Middle attacks, in which traffic sent from your device to another is intercepted, recorded, or adjusted and then passed on.

The other risk Wi-Fi users face when traveling abroad includes fake hot spots offered for free, often mimicking the name of a known and trusted free Wi-Fi network. Oftentimes, these networks will appear to mobile users as Starbucks or Apple Store hot spots, when in fact they are malicious connection points.

Safety Tips

When leaving on a trip, you should change passwords, using a strong combination of letters, numbers, and symbols. In addition, your phone’s Wi-Fi setting should be switched off when not in use to prevent automatic connection to nearby hot spots. Before connecting to a Wi-Fi network, verify that the channel is encrypted and authentic. This can be done by verifying the network name with hotel managers or airport employees. When using these networks, only access encrypted channels (ones where the URL begins with “HTTPS”).

Make sure to turn off sharing settings, program your devices to “forget” Wi-Fi connection, and enable two-factor authentication for all accounts.

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Vulnerability Found in Alexa App, What Should You Do?

Tue, 18 Jul 2017 22:00:41 +0000

Amazon’s Alexa is an incredibly helpful, albeit slightly limited, personal assistant. It can play music, read audiobooks, host a trivia night, set a timer, order pizza, and perform a number of other useful tasks. One more thing Alexa can do? Alexa can allow anyone with your Amazon credentials access to your account’s calling and messaging capabilities. To ensure that this vulnerability, and other similar ones, aren’t allowing hackers to introduce malware onto your Android, be sure to run a Security Scan. This scan will quickly verify that your phone is free of any security breaches:

This vulnerability was revealed at a recent SANS Institute summit. According to Brian Moran of BriMor Labs, Amazon’s lack of two-factor authentication, or 2FA, allows for this security flaw. While the initial mobile sign-in with Alexa requires 2FA, including a PIN sent by SMS, this is the only instance in which this authentication method was required.

If your Amazon Echo account does not have two-factor authentication enabled, anyone with access to your Amazon credentials will be able to make Alexa calls and messages as another account, receive Alexa calls and messages sent to another account, and sync your Alexa account’s contacts with their device. For those who own the brand new Amazon Echo Show, which allows users to virtually “drop in” on trusted contacts’ houses, the dangers this breach poses are even more significant.

Safety Tips

To ensure that this security hole doesn’t result in the loss of sensitive data, all users need to do is turn on two-factor authentication. This can be done by logging in to your Amazon homepage and clicking the “Login and Security” button. From there, click the edit button on “Advanced Security Settings” and then “Get Started.” From there, Amazon will allow you to register your phone number or a preferred authenticator app which can be synced through a QR code.

In fact, relying on 2FA is a smart move for all accounts. This is an easy way to add an extra measure of security of all login sequences. Two-factor authentication can rely on three different types of authentication, including something a user knows (such as a PIN or a password), something a user owns (such as a smartphone), and something to identify a user (such as a fingerprint or retina scan). As the password is often the weakest link in account security, creating a backup mode of authentication is a smart idea in any case.

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Best Word Processing Apps for Your Android

Thu, 13 Jul 2017 12:30:23 +0000

Being an employee in today’s professional world means you often have to take your work on the go with you. Whether you’re editing a document during your morning commute, or adding to a powerpoint presentation at home, you need a top-ranked word processor for getting the job done. The good news is that incredible office applications now exist for your Android device. However, to ensure that these apps work well, you’ll want to make sure that background apps aren’t slowing down the performance of your word processing apps. Click here to use Memory Booster to close background apps:

Carrying your work computer everywhere is often inconvenient. It’s bulky, heavy, and less versatile than you might’ve hoped. That’s why you should download a word processing app on your phone or tablet, to help you get some work done while on-the-go. Below you’ll find a list of the best word processing apps for you. All of these apps allow you to open, modify, and create documents with ease.

Google Docs

When it comes to word processing apps, Google Docs is considered a tried and true classic. If you’re comfortable using Google Docs’ computer version, you’ll have no trouble adjusting to its Android sibling for making, opening, and editing documents. Ideally, Google Docs should be downloaded with its peers: Google Drive (storage), Google Slides (powerpoint), and Google Sheets (spreadsheets). These apps also have the added benefit of being 100% free.

Microsoft Office

If you love using Microsoft Office on your computer, then the Android version is likely a good fit for you. No learning is required here. Its original interface has been streamlined to include only the key features, but it is essentially the same as using Word, Powerpoint, and Excel on a laptop. The basic version of the Microsoft Office app is free, unless you want a more advanced edition.

OfficeSuite Pro + PDF

OfficeSuite Pro + PDF is one of the most user-friendly apps on the market. This word processor lets you do almost anything, except create a powerpoint. (You still can open *.ppt files, however). Designed by MobiSystems, OfficeSuite lets you view, modify, and create new Microsoft and PDF documents. The best feature? When you transfer documents from your cell phone to a computer, they require no reformatting. The trial version is also free.

Polaris Office

Polaris Office is another great choice. This user-friendly app can easily open PDFs and Microsoft Office documents. Its appearance is extremely neat and free of distraction, so you can prepare efficiently for any big meeting. There are different templates available, and you can export documents you create as PDFs and memos. Polaris Office also hosts its own cloud dropbox, where you can store all of your saved documents.

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How Malware Uses Fake Login Screens to Gain Personal Info

Wed, 12 Jul 2017 23:00:44 +0000

Session-hijacking is now a very real concern for cell phone users worldwide. Recently, a threat known as “overlay malware” has begun appearing on Android devices. Impersonating login pages from popular websites, this malware steals a user’s name and password through keystroke-logging. These hacked sites are often ones that hold a person’s most confidential information, such as their bank and social media accounts. Giving up this personal data to hackers can lead to disastrous consequences, such as identity fraud and theft. Click here to scan your device for malware and keep your personal information safe:

In order to keep your personal information safe, you should regularly scan your device for malware, especially after downloading any new apps or accidentally clicking suspicious-looking links. DFNDR’s Full Virus Scan feature is an excellent weapon in the fight against malware. The Full Virus Scan searches through your entire phone, looking through every app and inch of storage. It will check your phone and your phone’s SD card for any malware, and quickly deal with any security breaches it finds.

Recent Appearances of Keystroke-Logging Malware

Back in August 2016, keystroke-logging malware had infected Google’s AdSense Network. The Moscow security company warned Android users about a malware that would attack when they visited certain Russian news sites. These unsuspecting visitors didn’t even need to click on anything. The so-called “last-browser-update.apk” would simply download itself onto their phone. Turns out, last-browser-update.apk is a banking Trojan. Banking Trojans are specifically designed to steal a user’s online banking information.

Similarly, Netflix suffered a phishing scan at the beginning of 2017. In January, users were targeted with emails, pretending to be sent by the popular streaming site. These phishing emails would ask for the user’s login details, then proceed to acquire their credit card information. This keystroke malware was so thorough in its design that it even gave Netflix users the option of logging in through Facebook. When the phishing attack ended, it brought users to the real Netflix page. Click here to protect yourself from phishing attacks and malicious websites with the Anti-Hacking feature:

Indeed, perhaps the most troubling aspect of fake login screens is how convincing they’ve become. Hackers are very, very detail-oriented in their approach now. So, it’s best to protect your Android with Full Virus Scan, running regular scans, and Anti-Hacking. You never know what new threats could be lurking out there.

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Can a Lack of Storage Space Affect Internet Speed?

Mon, 10 Jul 2017 16:00:19 +0000

The storage space on your phone is almost full, and suddenly your phone’s performance seems like it’s lagging behind. Even your Internet seems to be slower than usual. But are these two related to each other? The answer: your phone’s minimal storage space could be the reason for your slow Internet, if your browser app is storing too many temporary files on your device. Click here to quickly remove all useless files from your device with Quick Cleanup:

The Quick Cleanup feature will allow you to instantly remove all junk files, temporary files, trash files, and cache. These unnecessary files can take up a lot of space on your device because of the way modern apps collect and store them. Clearing these files from your phone will free up space on your device for new apps and files, in addition to improving the performance of your phone and apps. If you’ve never cleared cache from your Internet app before, then clearing these files should help to improve your online experience.

While a lack of storage space and your slow Internet speed may be unrelated, they’re still issues that you shouldn’t ignore. Continue reading to find out how you can tackle these issues on your smartphone.

How to Find Out Why Your Internet is Slow

Your Internet could be slow for a number reasons. It could be the result of an old router, placing your router in an undesirable location, or an issue with your Internet service provider. Click here to use Wi-Fi Check to check the speed of your Internet and your network security:

How to Respond to a Lack of Storage Space

A lack of storage space can be frustrating because you’ll no longer be able to download new apps and files. Your phone may also start to lag behind, because it’s having a harder time performing tasks. In order to free up space on your device, you should evaluate all of the files on your device. Back up any videos, photos, and music that you want to keep, and then delete these files from your phone.

If you don’t have a microSD card for your phone, you should get one to store any media files that you want to keep on your device. Make sure to look up how much external storage space your device can hold before purchasing a microSD card. Some phones can only hold 32GB of storage space, while more powerful phones can hold up to 256GB.

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What You Should Remove First When Your Phone Storage is Full

Mon, 10 Jul 2017 15:00:43 +0000

Whether your phone has very little internal and external storage space, or else a combined storage space of more than 300GB, it’s never a good idea to overload your phone with files and apps. This can cause your phone’s performance to drop, making it act as if it has prematurely aged. If your phone storage has recently become too full, then it’s time to free up some space on your device. The first step you should take to remedy this issue is to remove junk files from your phone. Use Quick Cleanup to instantly remove unnecessary files:

If you have a lot of apps on your phone, these apps can quickly bloat from storing all of these unnecessary files. Quick Cleanup is a useful tool that instantly removes all cache, junk files, temporary files, and trash from your device. This will save you time — so that you don’t have to remove these files manually from each app — and free up space on your device.

Step 2: Remove Apps You Don’t Use

If you like to follow app trends and test out the latest apps, odds are, you’ll stop using these apps after a while. If you have old social networking apps, ridesharing apps, games, photo-editing apps, and more that you no longer use, then it’s time to delete them from your phone. If you change your mind and want to redownload an old app that you paid for, you won’t have to pay for the app again; all of your apps are saved to your account. Click here to use App Manager to quickly evaluate the apps on your phone and delete any that you no longer want:

Step 3: Remove Videos, Photos, and Music

Before removing any files, make sure that any photos, podcasts, music files, or videos that you want to keep are backed up to another location. You may want to backup these files to your PC, laptop, or an external hard drive. Now, evaluate the media files on your device: are you actually using all of these files? Photos, videos, and music can take up a lot of space on your device. Choose a select number of these files to keep on your device — if you regularly use them — and delete the rest. You don’t really need to keep HD photos from your recent trip abroad, videos of your friends goofing off, or half of your music library on your phone. If you still want access to these files, though, store them in the cloud.

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