social networks – PSafe Blog

Is Facebook’s New Phishing Tool Effective?

PSafe Newsroom — Mon, 23 Jul 2018 23:00:12 +0000

With phishing scams continuing to rise in volume, Facebook is taking a stand and getting into the hacker fighting game by introducing a new tool that cracks down on malicious look-alike websites. The tool could be useful for stopping you from opening fake websites, but it may not do everything.

You still need a security app on your device to fully protect yourself from phishing scams. Download dfndr security and you can block phishing attempts by activating the anti-hacking feature. With advanced AI built in — this feature can block attacks coming from your web browser, SMS, or chat apps.

The Facebook phishing tool has some advantages, particularly in identifying homograph attacks. Uh, what are those you might ask?

Homograph Attacks
Some phishing attacks come in the form of a homograph attack. Hackers create websites with domain names that are almost identical to a brand name site, with the sole purpose of fooling someone and getting them to unknowingly input login credentials.

The only way to tell a site is fake is by examining the name of the site. A fake one usually has a letter or a punctuation mark out of place. Unless you’re watching closely, you could easily be fooled. This is where the Facebook tool comes in.

What the Tool Does
Named Certificate Transparency Monitoring, the tool is a Facebook-hosted application that any webpage owner can access for free with a Facebook account. The tool has been around since 2016 but it was recently updated it, allowing webmasters to detect homograph domains that are spoofs of their websites.

Webmasters add their domain to the tool’s dashboard which will scan the public Certificate Transparency (CT) logs. The logs have information about new domains that recently got an SSL certificate. The tool will then warn website owners about fake sites in the CT logs that use a similar name to theirs.

Will the Tool Help You Really?
As someone concerned about your security, the Facebook tool can help you identify phony websites, but in the end, it’s really for domain owners to suss out imposters. While the tool is useful, it will not actively block phishing scams lurking out there.

Once again, it’s wise to take security into your own hands, and have an antivirus app downloaded and ready to be your eyes and ears against hacking attempts.

Going to College Next Year? Beware of Cyber Attacks

PSafe Newsroom — Fri, 29 Jun 2018 00:00:21 +0000

If you’re going to college next year, make sure you know about cyber attacks that are hitting post-secondary schools. There are more cyber crimes than ever in 2018, but you can avoid these with the right security software.

One wickedly smart way to protect your Android or IOS phone is by using dfndr vpn, a virtual private network that hides your IP address and location, especially on campus Wi-Fi. With a VPN, you can keep your gaming, snapchatting, or Facebook sessions totally anonymous from snoops or hackers.

Here’s what you should know about cyber attacks before you land at college.

The Stats
Last year alone, there was an average of 12 DDoS attacks per week. These types of attacks can infect entire colleges by hitting multiple computers or devices at once, causing them to lose Internet access. Additionally, about a quarter of all colleges or universities were the victim of cyber attacks in 2017.

Devices Get Targeted
Plenty of institutions have a policy that requires you to bring your own device, which can expose any personal info stored on tablets or smartphones to potential hacking attempts. Criminals sometimes take advantage of anyone not using security apps or VPNs and hack into their devices to steal data, oftentimes planting ransomware in order to get a fast payoff.

Your devices should always have security software downloaded, as well as the right authentication methods to make sure cybercriminals have a hard time gaining access.

How Do Hackers Target College Kids
In addition to attacking single devices, hackers also target full-on networks with DDoS attacks and viruses. Phishing scams are also common, so steer clear of any weird emails that could contain malware. Make sure your password is randomized and has a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols. While it feels like a hassle, change your passwords frequently, at least every 6 months during college life.

And while it’s fun to exchange files with your friends, don’t download any files when using a public computer because these are accessed by other people (ahem, potential hackers). Always log out of public computers after you use them, especially if you send a file from your smartphone to your email or vice versa.

Bad News… Colleges are Huge Targets
The main reason why hackers go after higher education institutions is that they can easily access a lot of personally identifiable information (PID) such as social security numbers, payment information, medical records, and more. Also, the average cost of a data record belonging to a university is worth roughly $200 with registration, which can net hackers money if they steal school records and put it for ransom.

Fake App is Designed to Take Over Your Twitter Account

PSafe Newsroom — Sun, 10 Jun 2018 12:00:09 +0000

Phishing scams and other online cons are growing in volume and they are now coming for your Twitter account. There’s a new fake app designed to take over your account, giving cybercriminals the ability to change your information and promote their phony app through your profile. Watch out for this scam because it’s overtaking a large amount of Twitter accounts and yours could be next.

When you’re on the go and tweeting for pleasure or for work, make sure you follow common sense, especially with your Android phone. Download a security app like dfndr security, which has a full virus scan feature that does a thorough scan of your device, memory card, and SD card for any threats, promptly eliminating them. Things do happen, so remain aware of how this latest Twitter scam operates.

“Who Visits Your Twitter Profile?”
These online scam artists are talented because they’ve advertised the fake app as a tool to see who is visiting your Twitter profile. However, divulging this information is a breach of privacy and Twitter doesn’t allow this type of information to be shared. The phony app counts on people who want to grow their follower base or just terribly curious, and have successfully lured in victims with hollow promises.

Once downloaded, the app asks for permission to read tweets from your timeline, see your followers, follow new people, update your profile, and post tweets on your behalf. Yup, it can actually tweet for you, but in the form of spam. Scams, fake news, and even phishing scams are all taking your Twitter name in vain. The ultimate goal for these cybercriminals is to hook more people in and rack up a financial gain.

How to Get Rid of It?
Many have gone on Twitter to warn users about the pitfalls of this app, which seems enticing on the outside, but has caused a world of pain to many who’ve fallen for it. Thankfully, you can get rid of it without much hassle when you access Twitter on a computer.

Go to your Settings section on the site, then click Privacy, scroll down to Apps until you find the app that says “Last visits 24 hours.” Once you reach this point, click “Revoke Access” and you should be free from the app once and for all.

What Else Should I Know?
Be wary of anything you see on Twitter that seems too good to be true or asks you to click on a link without any information preceding it. These kinds of tweets are likely a scam or a phishing trap to get you to click through. Having a security app installed can help thwart threats and guard your social media accounts.

Facebook Knows Your SMS and Android Phone History

PSafe Newsroom — Tue, 15 May 2018 22:19:59 +0000

It was recently discovered that Facebook has been keeping tabs on all your Android SMS and phone usage history for years. The company recently announced that it would suspend the activity of third-party data brokers from the websites in order to reduce data collection for advertising parties. However, this announcement only came out after the company was called out for storing information from personal interactions.

A good way to protect yourself from these situations is with dfndr performance’s Facebook Messenger cleaner feature, which allows you to delete old conversations and files. Here’s what you should know about Facebook’s recent debacle and the information they gathered while you weren’t paying attention.

Your Data Has Been Known for Years
New Zealand-based programmer Dylan McKay was among the first to discover that Facebook was all up in his business. He sent out a tweet that revealed a downloaded ZIP file from the social media site, containing complete logs of his outgoing calls, incoming calls, and SMS. Other users followed suit by reporting similar discoveries that raised hard questions on how much privacy you really have on Facebook.

Facebook Claims “We Keep You Connected”
A spokesperson for Facebook responded to McKay’s claims by saying that the company has been uploading the contact data of its users in order to make it easier for people to remain connected, much like other social media sites. This was especially true with old Android phones, which had looser permissions on what information Facebook could attain from your digital interactions.

Because these permissions weren’t as strict, the Facebook app removed restrictions at the time of installation that normally protects phone logs and SMS data. Google eventually made changes to ensure that users are notified of what type of information they’re willing to share with Facebook and what data they’d like to keep to themselves.

The Network Found a Way Around This Privacy
Even after Google changed the privacy permission settings, independent developers found a workaround and still collected SMS and phone data until the launch of Google 4.0 on the Android API last October. You can check your call and SMS logs on the Facebook app by clicking on Settings>Download. To grab a copy, go to Facebook data>Start My Archive. You can turn on the Facebook continuous upload setting on the Messenger app if you’d like to protect your privacy.

Protect Yourself With a Security App
With dfndr performance’s Facebook Messenger cleaner, you can delete old files in your chats, including videos, audio messages, GIFs and images shared on Messenger. You can choose a date range to decide how much data you’d like to get rid of — an easy fix to keep your personal information safe.

The Facebook Malware Scanner is Holding Users Hostage

PSafe Newsroom — Mon, 30 Apr 2018 12:00:02 +0000

The fight against malware is a long journey with no sight in end, but companies are trying their best to keep users safe from lurking dangers. Facebook is one such company that has been implementing a plan that requires users to scan their computers with anti-malware software before logging onto the site. The problem is that unsuspecting users with clean machines have received the notifications. Some have even been completely locked out of their accounts, which begs the question – Mr. Zuckerberg, what’s going on?

An Anti-Malware Attempt Gone Wrong
Unfortunately, part of the ongoing issue is that Facebook has been incredibly opaque on why you might be required to scan your device. The social networking giant has acknowledged that the company doesn’t collect enough information to know for sure whether your machine is infected. It’s possible that the company is using a network to watch how malware spreads, but other than speculation we don’t know the hard truth.

Another potential issue is millions of people could lose access to their accounts. Some individuals came forward with complaints, citing the fact that they own a Mac and can’t download the Windows executable file required for the scan. Without any ability to run the scan, a user is locked out of their account indefinitely.

Possible workarounds have been discovered, including switching web browsers, but there are no concrete answers on why Facebook opts to remain silent on the issue. Attempting to lead the fight against malicious malware is a noble effort, but if you find yourself faced with being locked out of your account – a different strategy might be in order.

Other Options to Stay Safe
If you can’t rely on Facebook’s anti-malware solution to keep you safe, what other options are out there? A strongly recommended action to take is downloading an antivirus app to your smartphone such as dfndr security to keep your device safe by performing scheduled in-depth security scans. Best of all, the app offers an anti-hacking feature that can detect malicious links within applications like Facebook Messenger and your web browser.

While no one is entirely sure why Facebook has been so quiet on this issue, it remains clear that the best way to keep your devices protected when using social media is to always have a third-party app installed. The company did note that they ‘had helped clean up more than two million people’s computers,” but for any further information on their malware scan feature, we’ll just have to stay tuned.

Net Neutrality is Dead: Here’s What That Means For You

PSafe Newsroom — Sun, 04 Mar 2018 23:00:33 +0000

Last December, the FCC repealed net neutrality rules that had been set in February 2015. In its distilled essence, the death of net neutrality now means that your internet service provider (ISP) doesn’t need to treat all of your online activities in the same manner. Providers now have the option to charge more for certain services they deem more extensive, such as streaming services like Netflix or Hulu. Or, create bundles for different services as ISPs in Portugal currently do with their packages.

However, you can still take back the power with virtual private network solutions (VPNs), such as dfndr vpn to make your data private and prevent ISPs from discriminating against you and the services they will or won’t offer.

You can imagine VPNs as private tunnels that encrypt your data from your computer to its end-point to prevent individuals and companies from seeing exactly what websites and services you are utilizing.

Let’s say that you decide to visit to visit your favorite social networking website. In a normal circumstance, your computer or phone would send out a request to that social network’s server; this request can be seen by others snooping on the network or private internet providers. Without net neutrality, ISPs can decide if they want to charge more for certain types of traffic.

But, if you use a VPN to visit your social networking site, all of it remains hidden. Your computer takes your website request and encrypts it. This request is then ‘tunneled’ to another location where it is fulfilled. Finally, the resulting information is then encrypted and sent back to you. What’s encryption exactly? Well, the entire process hides your activities from anyone keeping a close eye on your connection.

Proper VPN solutions should also have privacy protocols that prioritize your confidentiality. dfndr vpn, for instance, doesn’t track your IP to maintain your privacy. Also, top speeds may be a must if you’re into video streaming or gaming, which is why going premium is sometimes the better choice if you need the best connection at all times.

There is a possibility that net neutrality could be restored, but until then your data is under your ISP’s control. Don’t allow ISPs to take control of your internet, take the power back to choose how your Internet is delivered.

How Does Snapchat’s Facial Recognition Software Work?

PSafe Newsroom — Mon, 19 Feb 2018 22:00:21 +0000

Snapchat is a app that’s swept the world over the past few years, and it undoubtedly provides a lot of entertainment and laughs — and wonder as to how its technology actually works. But how much can you really trust apps like Snapchat? It must be said that it’s important to use caution when using any apps or websites that learn information about your identity and your actions because some of these apps or websites may be malicious.

One of Snapchat’s most advanced — and exciting — features are filters. Many of those boast facial recognition, where it turns its user into a different character whenever it’s used. But how does that technology work, and what does Snapchat know about you that you may not have realized? Find out below.

Snapchat’s Facial Recognition
The Snapchat filters that we all adore come from a Ukrainian startup called Looksery, which was acquired for an impressive $150 million by Snapchat. While the company tries to keep it under wraps exactly how their technology works, there’s been research done on the topic.

To put it in layman’s terms, the app uses computer vision to spot you based on contrast patterns that can commonly be found in the human face. It uses a general “map” or “graph” to find people’s faces and overlay the features of these filters. To make this work, Snapchat trained their system with hundreds or even thousands of different faces, manually marking them where features lay: nose, mouth, eyes, and overall face. That means that when each of us uses the filters on our own faces, the program can use up to 24 frames per second to use its “point-mask” to shift to match your specific face.

How Much Does Snapchat Know?
This cool (but slightly creepy) process does pose a question: How much does Snapchat know about us? Should we be taking measures while using the app to protect our identity? While the tool does seem to have a lot of information on us — our contact list, our name, our location, and even our current activities — it doesn’t seem that the application can detect too much about us via the facial recognition apps. It may learn more about our facial features and the structure of our face, but it’s not presenting anything too crazy at the moment. This means that we can snap away using these fun and quirky filters without fear.

Does Facebook Messenger Slow Your Phone Down?

PSafe Newsroom — Sat, 03 Feb 2018 13:00:31 +0000

If you have the Facebook app, you’ve likely also downloaded Messenger. In fact, it’s almost impossible to even access your Facebook messages without downloading the additional messenger app, unless you resort to only looking at them on your computer. When it comes to easily getting in contact with people, there’s one mobile app that reigns supreme — even more so than your standard SMS text messaging program — and that’s Facebook Messenger. But Messenger can quickly bloat with files. Cut down those videos or photos by using dfndr security’s facebook messenger cleaner to free up space now:

This dfndr security feature will remove all of the GIFs, photos, and audio files that have built up over time, causing your Messenger app to swell and slow down your phone. By removing these files, you’ll experience better performance on your phone and on the app itself.

As long as you have a reliable Wi-Fi connection, Messenger is probably the quickest and easiest way to get in touch with another person digitally — and the most fun, considering all of it’s new features. All-in-all, Messenger is not a bad app to have, but it’s also well-known for taking up a lot of your phone’s memory. Since it’s one of the larger apps you can download, can — and will — it slow down your phone’s performance?

Picture this: you have an emergency situation and the signal in the area you’re in isn’t great. However, if you have access to Wi-Fi or can, at the very least, turn the Wi-Fi off and still access the Internet, Facebook Messenger is your best option for reaching an important contact. Unfortunately, the very thing that can help you reach the help you need is also slowing your phone down to a crawl.

Sure, that may be an extreme situation, but it still doesn’t change the fact that it’s important to know how a big file app like Facebook Messenger can affect your phone’s abilities. It is very possible that, due to the large size of the Facebook Messenger app, it can slow down your phone, especially while sending messages in-app. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll need to delete your Facebook Messenger.

All About the Trusted Contacts Feature on Facebook

PSafe Newsroom — Fri, 19 Jan 2018 13:00:36 +0000

If you’ve been on Facebook recently, you may have been encouraged to use to the “Trusted Contacts” feature. It’s one of the many new features that Facebook has been rolling out to increase security on their platform. However, you can also improve the security of your Facebook app by using dfndr security’s social guardian feature to add an extra password to the app. Click here to protect your sensitive social apps from prying eyes:

This Trusted Contacts feature can be a useful tool for getting back into your account when you’ve been locked out, but ultimately it isn’t something you want to rely upon. Here’s a little bit more about the feature, how it works, and what you can do to make sure that you won’t need to use it.

Trusted Contacts: An Introduction
If you’ve ever been locked out of your Facebook account, you know that it’s not an enjoyable experience. Trying to verify your credentials after a hack can be confusing, and it can take up a lot of your time, even ending up in serious frustration. That’s why Facebook introduced the Trusted Contacts feature to help users who have been hacked or whose accounts are performing suspicious activity.

This feature allows users to select three to five contacts (ideally close friends) who can receive a code in the event of a compromised account. Then, they can be the ones to send a special recovery code, and pass it along to you to gain access to your account. The system works as an added layer of security. It’s a way to verify that you’re the one looking to log in to your account at any given time.

The Problem With Trusted Contacts
Some have noted that the program can be frustrating at best to regain access, and others think that it needlessly complicates security. While it’s an ideal system to recover your information, it could already be too late. The best way to prevent losing your information isn’t a preventative measure like Trusted Contacts, but instead to set better passwords, and practice safe browsing to ensure that your account isn’t compromised in the first place.

It’s also important to use dfndr’s social guardian feature to add an extra layer of protection to your account. While the Trusted Contacts feature can help protect you, you can never be too safe when it comes to protecting your online identity.

3 Tips for Facebook Live Streaming on Android

PSafe Newsroom — Thu, 23 Nov 2017 00:00:08 +0000

Facebook Live is a huge phenomenon in today’s world, allowing social media users everywhere to stay connected, to answer questions, and to share amazing experiences in an instant way with their friends, families, and followers. While it may be intimidating to shoot your own Facebook Live, once you start, you’ll find that it’s actually really fun and exciting. Find out some of the best tips below for live streaming your Facebook Live through your Android device to get a clear and crisp picture every time. Before you start, use wi-fi check to check your connection speed:

Wi-Fi check will test the speed and security of your connection to ensure you’re in a spot that’s optimal for streaming. That will really make sure everyone gets the most out of your video!

You won’t want to be in a spot with poor connection or service when you’re streaming a Facebook Live from your Android device. That will result in a delayed or grainy picture, spotty sound, and an overall bad experience for your viewers! Instead, take advantage of a spot that has a strong wireless connection.

Forward Your Calls Beforehand
Before you start your Facebook live, you’ll want to do everything you can to ensure that you’re not interrupted during your session. A great way to do that is to forward all of your calls to go directly to voicemail beforehand. To do so, open your phone app, touch the action overflow icon, and choose “settings,” then, “call settings.” Then, choose call-forwarding and choose “always forward.” Just make sure you remember to turn off call-forwarding after you’re done streaming so you don’t miss the rest of your calls.

Choose the Right Setting
There’s nothing more annoying than watching a video that you have to strain to hear because of background noise, or that you can’t adequately see because of a glare on the screen. Choosing the right setting to film your video negates these issues arising for your viewers. Choose a quiet spot with no background noise for optimal results. You should also make sure that you have adequate lighting for your stream. Don’t make viewers squint to see you; film in a room that has natural light or that is generously lit without being overly bright. You’ll also want to make sure that the camera isn’t pointed directly at a light that will be distracting to viewers.

Planning the perfect Facebook Live takes some work, but it’s worth it to impress your followers and to share a fun experience. Follow these tips and you’ll be the envy of all of your viewers!