Are There Security Risks to Livestreaming?
Livestreaming means sharing live content online. Gamers livestream their gameplay, enabling subscribers to watch them play video games and interact with them via chat in real-time. Authors and other entertainers use livestreams to host discussion panels and talk about their work, industry news, or other relevant topics. Reviewers and industry news experts may livestream industry announcements to share their genuine reactions with viewers.
Watching a live stream lets viewers enjoy a shared experience with the streamers. While this can bolster subscription numbers and enable gamers to generate revenue, there are also risks. Security Magazine reports that every day there are approximately 2,200 cyber attacks affecting individuals and corporations. Let's look at some of the security risks of live streaming and how streamers can mitigate their risks.
What's a cyber attack?
Cyber attacks occur when someone accesses a computer or computer network without authorization. Hackers may attack a network and destroy data. Hackers also hold computers and networks for ransom, preventing authorized users from accessing the system until they pay money to end the ransom. Hackers may also access client data they can use to steal identities or commit credit card fraud.
How are streamers affected by security issues?
Streamers use streaming platforms to connect with their audience. Twitch is one of the most prominent streaming platforms. Recently, hackers accessed Twitch accounts and disclosed payout information and source codes. The disclosed information shared some streamers' confidential information.
Hackers can also hijack live streams and disrupt a broadcast, sharing sensitive or offensive information or preventing the streamer from connecting with their audience. This could jeopardize a streamer's ability to make money or build their platform.
Streaming equipment creates opportunities and risks.
Streamers need video equipment, include webcams and microphones, to broadcast livestreams. Gamers also need gaming computers connected to the internet. Once any system's connected to the internet, it's vulnerable to hackers who use their skills to get around firewalls and penetrate other security software intended to protect livestreams.
When choosing the best webcam for streaming, you'll need a webcam with a suitable lens and stereo or multi-channel input microphones that produce superior sound. The best webcams also have high resolution, with no less than 1080p. Experts recommend 4K or ultra-high definition (UHD) for streaming.
The best webcams include the Logitech HD Webcam C310, Microsoft LifeCam HD-3000 webcam, PTZOptics Webcam 80, Logitech C922 HD Pro webcam, and Razer Kiyo webcam. You'll want to review the specifications to select the best option for your needs before purchasing a new webcam and ensure it's compatible with your computer system.
Can you learn how to protect your streams?
Cyber security experts have the skills needed to protect computers and computer networks. Individuals who complete networking security training learn about military-grade information security systems. It takes 24 weeks of full-time studies to complete the curriculum and acquire the skills to launch an information security analyst career. Courses cover networking for cyber security, cyber range, CompTIA Security+, and practice labs offering hands-on experience implementing security measures on real-world networks.
Whether you're thinking about becoming an information security analyst or want to acquire the skills needed to protect your computer system, taking formal training ensures you have the knowledge and ability to implement adequate security measures. Information security analysts use firewalls and security protocols to protect computers and networks. Learning how to prevent data breaches can help you identify vulnerabilities when installing new software or purchasing new equipment, ensuring you make informed decisions about your system and protect your streams from unauthorized access.
Whenever you access the internet, it's possible to be hacked. When people gain unauthorized access to your computer or streams, they may share confidential information or steal data. Learning about your equipment and how to reduce the risk of being hacked can help you protect your streams and prevent cyber security issues.
Website Security: 5 Red Flags of an Unsafe Website
Living in the 21st century, we take care of our devices more than our bodies. And why not? All our valuable data is stored on our devices, and it is pivotal for us to take extreme caution while browsing the internet. However, it’s not always easy to detect unsafe websites that have the potential to steal our data. This blog post will help you spot red flags the very instant you jump on an unsafe website.
Along with spotting red flags, you will also learn three easy ways to protect your devices from cyberpunks. After all, some safe-looking websites are designed in such a way that we miss the explicit red flags and fall into the traps laid by the website owners. Let’s dive in.
Red Flag No. 1- No SSL Certificate
Just like you look at a stranger’s ID before letting them in your house/office, you must check this certificate when visiting a website. Confused about how to locate it? Just like people hang their IDs in their neck or stick them to their shirt pockets, a website has this certificate right along with its domain name. If you see a padlock symbol on the left-hand side of the URL at the top of your browser, you can feel assured that your connection is safe and your information (passwords, data, etc.) is privately sent to this website when entered.
Still not sure? The other sign of the presence of an SSL certificate is in the domain. Carefully check out if the site link begins with “HTTPS” or “HTTP”. If the former appears, then you are safe. And if the latter appears, then you should take an about-turn!
The purpose of an SSL certificate is essentially to encrypt your sensitive information such as your bank details and your email addresses. Without this certificate, your data might be at risk of being exposed to cybercriminals.
Red Flag No. 2- Missing Trust Seals
Now you might be thinking, how do we trust the SSL certificate? This is where the trust seal comes to play. To check the authenticity of the SSL certificate legitimate websites will have a certificate of authentication, or you might call it a trust seal on the header and footer of their websites. This assures you that the site is safe to be used to share sensitive information. You might notice that the trust seal will be from accredited internet security bodies like Norton, McAfee, and Trustwave.
However, in a world where people can present fake passports and IDs, you need to be wary of fraudulent websites that might deceive you with quite authentic-looking trust seals. Check the authenticity of the trust seal by clicking on the seal which should take you to another website that explains the accreditation.
Red Flag No. 3- Vague Contact Details
When you buy from a new website or even from a known valid source, you expect to have some kind of contact information that can be used in times when you’re unsatisfied with the quality of the purchase or experience. However, if you are not readily presented with valid contact information, you must change your decision to interact with that site.
That is if you do not find credible contact information on every page of the website with a clear mention of email address, phone number, social media handles, or sometimes physical addresses, you know what to do.
Red Flag No. 4- Explicit presence of common malware indicators
Be on the lookout for these common malware indicators as well:
- Phishing Kits: Do not fill in your sensitive information without reading the details properly. Some sites look like safe sites, but they are to trick you into handing over your personal information. To check their authenticity, the easiest way is to pay close attention to their grammar. If you find grammatical errors and weird spelling mistakes, you know that the site is malicious. In other cases, you might be redirected to other sites or see too many ads. These are indicators of a shady website.
- Suspicious pop-ups: Pop-ups are one of the quickest indicators of site malware. If the pop-ups have pompous claims that try to tempt you to fill in your sensitive information, stop and take a U-turn right away!
Red Flag No. 5- Poor Customer Review
The easiest way to check if a business website is legitimate is to look for customer feedback and reviews.
Poor or negative experiences shared by past customers or users of the website may indicate that it’s better to not engage with that website. On the other hand, if you see many positive reviews, it’s likely that the website is legit.
This was about the five common red flags that will help you protect your sensitive information. Besides, stay up to date against web-based threats and review your own business website frequently to resolve any red flags. After all, your business must have adequate cybersecurity.
Now, let’s see three easy ways to protect your devices and information from malware and cybercrime.
3 tools to help you browse safely
#1 SSL Certificate checker
Although this post has made you aware of how to check the authenticity of an SSL certificate, if you wish to remain on the safer side, you can use an SSL certificate software (like The SSL Store or SSLChecker) that will further ensure your safety. Plus, with such a tool, you can also obtain an SSL for your own website design and development.
#2 VPN software
To secure yourself from local threats even after checking all the red flags, you should get a VPN (Virtual Private Network) for your devices. It is especially necessary if you’re frequently using public Wi-Fi which makes your device vulnerable to hackers on the same network.
#3 Anti-malware software and Antu-virus software
This one goes without saying. It’s always a good idea to invest in reputed anti-malware and anti-virus software that will protect you from threats. Regular scanning with such software helps in the early detection and removal of bugs from your devices. Such software also prevents you from accessing unsafe websites automatically.
Use these tools and browse safely. Besides, to give an extra protective layer to your sensitive information check out how data encryption can help your business.
Become an Aware Internet User
Now you know how to protect your devices and sensitive information while browsing online. You also know what red flags to look for in a website. Happy browsing!
Author Bio
Hazel Raoult is a freelance marketing writer and works with PRmention. She has 6+ years of experience in writing about business, entrepreneurship, marketing and all things SaaS. Hazel loves to split her time between writing, editing, and hanging out with her family.
Keeping Your Business Secure In A Digital Age
More companies are doing business online than ever before. While this has fuelled incredible gains in customer outreach and profitability, it has, unfortunately, come with new threats to security. Far too many businesses don't take the threat seriously enough until disaster strikes. Here are just a few simple tactics you can use to keep your business safe from cybercrime.
Research the Terminology
Information technology professionals have a language all their own, and it can be intimidating. There's a good chance that the average entrepreneur, in spite of being a very intelligent person, will have no idea what an SQL injection attack or zero trust architecture is. It's outside their comfort zone and doesn't seem relevant to everyday business processes. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Every hiker, even if they're not a diehard prepper, should know which plants in the woods are poisonous. Every entrepreneur needs to have a strong awareness of basic digital security threats and their most common countermeasures. Education really is a matter of survival.
Optimize Countermeasures
No two businesses are alike, and this means that any security strategy must be tailored to your company's specific needs. For example, one of the most common attacks against businesses involves malware attached to emails. A firewall system can be an excellent counter to this specific threat. Does your business have to store a client's personal data? If it does, then you might want to consider offline data storage solutions such as placing an encrypted disk in a secure vault. Also, be cognizant of update prompts on your business devices. These may contain critical security patches for your operating systems. Analyze your needs and devise a plan accordingly.
Secure All User Endpoints
The modern workforce is becoming increasingly decentralized. This is objectively a good thing. A now-famous study by Stanford University found that remote workers acting on their own schedule were about 13% more efficient than centralized employees. On the other hand, remote workers aren't using standardized devices and more importantly, they don't have equal defenses for those systems even though they're often working on the company network. Enter endpoint security. It's an approach to protection that emphasizes standardizing defense across multiple user endpoints as well as limiting access to questionable users. Virtual private networks (VPNs) add yet another layer of security for linked devices. In other words, it's about individual workers taking collective responsibility for digital safety.
Neglect Training at Your Own Risk
A recent study by security company Tessian revealed that 43% of people have made errors on the job that compromised their company's cybersecurity. The number of people who did so maliciously was dwarfed by those who acted out of ignorance. In fact, the third most common attack on businesses (called a phishing attack), depends on employees being in the dark about security protocols. It involves so-called "social engineers" fast-talking workers into dropping their guard and revealing sensitive information. Teach everyone at your company the names and goals of the most common threats. Show them the difference between a legitimate email and a fraudulent one. Most importantly, develop a straightforward guide to professionalism in phone and text conversations with people outside the company who have inquiries. The chain of communication is only as strong as its weakest link.
Build With Security in Mind
Every business in the world needs some physical infrastructure, even if that's just a computer in someone's suburban home. This means that software is only ever as secure as the hardware it's housed in. Getting an old-fashioned high-quality safe to store devices in after closing for the day is a classic solution that still works. The advent of facial recognition software and algorithms capable of predicting human behavior can boost the effectiveness of video monitoring systems. Biometric security is also becoming more affordable for small businesses, already being incorporated into many devices from bank vaults to smartphones.
Keeping your business secure doesn't mean giving in to paranoia. All it requires is having greater awareness of the tools and techniques available to keep everyone safe and thriving in the online world.
How Data Encryption Can Help Your Business Stay Safe
Data encryption helps protect your valuable and sensitive data by rendering it unreadable to users who do not have the authorization to view it. Encryption adds an extra layer of security for your business, making it more difficult for hackers to utilize any stolen data from your systems.
Why Encryption Is Important
There are a variety of ways, such as tls 1.3, to encrypt data. The reason for using encryption is to protect your data from malicious use by unauthorized users. If your business stores sensitive information such as credit card numbers, birthdates, names, Social Security Numbers and addresses, your organization may be legally liable for damages caused by your failure to protect this information from unauthorized access.
Encryption is particularly important for any data that is accessible from a portable device, such as a laptop, tablet or smartphone. If one of these devices is lost or stolen, it can be easily broken into, even without the password. Encryption makes any data the thief might access on the device worthless.
How Encryption Works
Encryption uses mathematical algorithms to make data unreadable by those who do not have the key to decode the message. The two main types of encryption are asymmetric and symmetric. Asymmetric encryption uses a combination of public and private keys. Symmetric encryption utilizes a single private key.
Advanced Encryption Standard is the most common type of symmetric encryption. This encryption scrambles data in hexadecimal form several times by utilizing 128-bit, 192-bit or 256-bit keys. Users can also create a password instead of using the keys; however, this method may be less secure, because passwords are usually easier to guess than keys.
Asymmetric encryption is used for sending secured messages between multiple users. These messages are encrypted by both a public and a private key. The recipient can use the public key to verify the identity of the message sender and their private key to decrypt the message. Anyone who intercepts the message can not read it without the intended recipient's private key.
Types of Encryption
Full-disk or whole-disk encryption protects all folders, files and volumes on a system. This type of encryption does not require users to save files to a specific location on the disk. When this type of encryption is used, users must enter an encryption passcode or plug in a USB device with the encryption key when booting the computer.
Individual folder and file encryption protects only the folders and files specified by the user. This method of encryption can be useful if your business only has a few files that need to be protected. Volume encryption protects one particular part of the disk. When this method is used, users must save data that needs to be encrypted to the specific encrypted volume.
Encryption Options
Some popular operating systems, such as Windows 10, have built-in encryption. There are also various third-party encryption programs. If you use a third-party program, choose one that is regularly updated and tested.
Encryption Best Practices
Before you turn on encryption, back up your files and create an image backup. Make sure you have access to either your operating systems' installation media or an emergency boot disk. When you are prompted to create a passcode or PIN, choose random letters and numbers and memorize them. Make it as long and complex as you can, but also something that you can remember. If you forget your passcode, you won't be able to access anything that is encrypted on your computer. Store a written copy of your passcode and encryption key in separate, secure locations.
If your computer is connected to a Wi-Fi network, use Wi-Fi Protected Access 2 to protect data shared over that network. When accessing your network from a laptop or other mobile device, use a virtual private network for added security.
You still need to utilize other security best practices on devices with encrypted data. It is better not to have your system breached at all, but using encryption makes it more difficult for someone who breaks into your system to steal your valuable data.
3 Areas To Improve Data Safety For Digital Marketers
Digital marketing is a career that is rising in popularity since most marketing has been moved entirely to the digital space. But along with that change comes the risk of security breaches due to the nature of the job. To ensure that your marketing agency doesn't become the epicenter of a data breach, here are a few tips to improve your data security.
1. Email Marketers
Those who market mainly through email face unique data security challenges. Via phishing and spamming, bad actors can hijack email marketing and steal someone's data once they gain access to accounts through tactics like credential stuffing. That's why digital marketers should always have email security software installed and should add the appropriate outbound email filters to stay ahead of possible breaches.
What you're hoping to do with all these precautions is keep your customers safe, because it's their data that is such a goldmine for hackers and phishers. On your business's end, a data breach can end up in tons of customers lost and terrible PR. There can even be legal consequences if the business responsible is found to have been negligent with customers' data.
In general, you should be safeguarding your business data by consistently updating software, installing antivirus, and having a strong firewall in place. Employees should be trained in best practices surrounding data security, and should all have multi-factor authentication in place on any work accounts. Ideally, you want to prevent any attacks or breaches before they ever occur, rather than learning from your mistakes. That’s why digital marketers should always have email security software installed and should add the appropriate outbound email filters to stay ahead of possible breaches. An enterprise secure file transfer software is the way to go if you're looking for the highest level of security.
2. Social Media Marketers
Social media provides marketers with an excellent tool for gaining a wider audience and successfully advertising to thousands at a time. But social media accounts are often hacked, and when an entire business's account is taken over by hackers, a lot of damage can be done. Often, customer emails and accounts are available through social media, and if a business is reusing account information, it could wind up with a huge problem.
This is one reason why it's so important for businesses to consistently update all passwords, and to ensure that they're strong enough to withstand hacking attempts. There's even some concern that in the future, social media bots that currently do basic tasks for accounts will be able to completely mimic someone's identity by cloning their accounts. While social media is absolutely a tool businesses should be using, it should be used with proper caution.
The precautions marketers should take with business accounts are things like changing passwords often, using multi-factor authentication when possible, and reviewing account settings every so often. It's also worthwhile to check out who's following your account and avoid sharing too much information in your posts. Also, be aware of what kind of information you're collecting about customers on each platform - could a bad actor gather enough data to cause problems just by looking at your posts?
3. Blog or Website Marketers
Another common marketing tactic many businesses use is consistently posting on a blog or website to generate more traffic to their business website. Many of these business websites are years old and are due for updates that may not happen, leaving the website vulnerable to attacks and breaches. Marketers looking to shore up their website security should be accepting any patches or upgrades as they become available.
If your website is used solely for posting about your business, it may not be such a big deal, but websites that collect client information or perform transactions can be quite dangerous if they're left unguarded. Encryption by VPN is also a good way to add a layer of safety to websites, as encrypted data is essentially useless to anyone who manages to steal it.
Digital marketers are constantly sending out emails and links for customers to click through for promotional materials, but they could unwittingly be sending malware or viruses. Ensure your business and your customers' safety by taking these precautions in your marketing efforts.
Does your business have adequate cyber security and why is it necessary
The first computers were invented in order to calculate, but as time went on, the need for faster calculations lead to more powerful computers that could do more complex computations. These early machines relied on the user entering every parameter necessary for a computation such as starting values and expected end results. With time however, programmers began creating programs that allowed users to simply input what they wanted their output numbers to be and then having the program compute those numbers for them based off other factors programmed into the machine beforehand.
In this day and age, having a website is pretty much a necessity. Websites help businesses stay connected with customers, advertise their products/services, and generate leads to make more sales.
The internet has made it easier than ever for businesses to expand their client base and reach the right audience. But to prevent cyber threats from affecting business operations or compromising sensitive data, companies need to have an active role in ensuring that their websites are secure from hackers or malicious software. If you're not sure if your company's website is secure, here are some signs that your site may be at risk
Look for these signs
- You were hacked recently
- Site’s loading speed is unusually slow
- Website has been infected with spam links
- Your website is constantly being targeted by hackers
To keep your business safe from cyber threats, you need to ensure that your site's security is up-to-date. Luckily, there are plenty of affordable cyber security options available for businesses. As a business owner, it is crucial to understand every aspect of data protection and what you can do to ensure sensitive information is stored on your site.
There are many ways that companies can protect their sites' cybersecurity
- Using HTTPS:// protocol whenever possible
- Using strong passwords and changing them regularly
- Keeping software updated, so patches don't leave you vulnerable
- Installing anti-virus software to protect against malware
If you're wondering whether your company's website is secure, consider contacting an internet marketing agency for more information on how they can help your business stay on top of its cyber security.
Businesses that want to grow and expand their client base need to have an internet presence. A website can help a company increase sales or generate leads, all while staying connected with customers. For a business' site to function correctly, it needs to be protected from cyber threats such as hackers who may attempt to access your information or files linked on the site.
Cyber security is an essential branch of information technology that protects computer systems from attacks through the networks they are connected to. It often includes measures taken to safeguard data on these computers and prevent physical damage to or destroying components of the computer system, seek professional help from RemoteDBA.com.
About cybersecurity
President Bill Clinton first used the term cyber security in his State of the Union Address on January 23, 2000. Since then, it has become a trendy topic worldwide, and companies have started opening up their cyber security departments. Many studies have been, The key focus on cyber security is keeping hackers out of private entities' information that could potentially cause them damage if exposed. There have also been many studies conducted regarding this field, such as protecting hospitals against Cyber Attacks.
Cybercriminals are becoming more powerful with time and use multiple methods like phishing, password cracking, or ransomware to gain access to essential files in organizations. These criminals make use of any tools they can grasp at the moment to succeed in stealing private information and money from companies or individuals.
Cyber security has become a new part of the military defense as countries worldwide try to ensure their digital borders are secure. Countries like Estonia, China, and many others have started to focus more on cyber security as it emerges as one of the most important aspects of warfare over the internet.
It is not easy to provide an exact number regarding how much money is spent worldwide on cyber security yearly. Still, we can safely assume that there is a massive demand for this growing market and that its annual revenue sums up to billions of dollars. So far this year, close to 2 billion exposed records and experts estimate that around 1/3 of all attacks worldwide (cyber crimes) remain unreported.
The cyber security market is increasing. It is expected to do so for the following years as more people become aware of how important this field has become.
The number of data breaches occurring worldwide increases year by year as hackers finds new ways to penetrate through the security measures taken by companies and public entities to reach their private information.
Cyber Security Market Forecast
Worldwide spending on information security products and services will increase from $77 billion in 2017 to almost $101 billion in 2020, a compound annual growth rate(CAGR) of 5.7%. Much of this growth is attributable to the increasingly digital nature of the business world. There are 12,000 new malware attacks, at least 60 ransomware variants, and 350,000 cyber incidents every minute. It is reported that 80 percent of all cyber attacks have been launched from China.
In any case, cyber security is an expanding market that requires more qualified employees to prevent the constant stream of network breaches, data theft, and destruction of valuable information.
In the next few years, the need for cyber security will increase as more countries and government agencies worldwide begin to focus their resources on protecting vital information from hackers. The number of cyber security hubs worldwide is also growing as companies understand how important this field has become. Experts estimate that the cyber security market will continue to grow for years to come and that average annual revenue close to $100 billion can be expected until 2020.
Wiki leaks, a platform for sharing classified documents, started releasing secret details about military operations in Afghanistan. The Afghan War Diary was one of its first information-based leaks, which turned into one of the most significant leaks in history. Many governmental agencies were worried because Wiki leaks had access to hundreds of thousands of pages with best unknown android apps, sensitive information about their activities during the war. Still, they could do little since a Wiki leak was not breaking any laws by publishing their material online.