Category: Protection

How to Protect Your Domain Name

Your Internet domain name e.g. mybusiness.co.uk can be very valuable and a key part of your business. You may think it’s impossible for someone to take your domain name but it does happen and the scammers are clever in how they do it, leaving you with the difficult task of proving you are the rightful owner.

For a hacker to take your domain name, there are two basic methods:-

  1. They change your DNS configuration, to redirect traffic from your site to their site
  2. They modify your registration contact information, which gives them full control over your domain.

There is a database called WHOIS that keeps track of the owner’s details and contact person for every domain name as well as the name server data.

A hacker can also change the registration data in the WHOIS database. This then makes it difficult for you to prove that you are the rightful owner, not the hackers. The hacker may also move the domain registration to another registrar which makes it more difficult to get your domain name back.

Domain Locking

The best protection for your domain name is to have it locked. This is a service provided by the domain registrars and it stops unauthorized transfer of your domain name to another registrar.

Once your domain is locked, it will be almost impossible for the thieves to redirect your nameservers or transfer your domain name.

Only with authorization from you, will your registrar will unlock the domain when you need to make changes, and then it can be returned to locked status.

WHOIS Data Entry Protection

Every domain registrar must maintain a publicly viewable “WHOIS” database. For every registered domain, the database must contain personal contact information, including each domain owner’s street address, telephone number, and email address.

Most registrars offer a security feature called WHOIS protection which replaces your contact details with those of the registrar. This maintains your security.

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Google Play Protect

Google say that Google Play Protect is the most widely deployed mobile threat protection service in the world, but that’s not so surprising as its free on all Android phones and there are a lot of those around.

Google Play Protect is Google’s built-in malware protection for Android

Google say it works constantly to keep your device, data and apps safe. It automatically scans your device and makes sure that you have the latest in mobile security, so you can rest easy.

It scans and verifies over 50 billion apps every day

Are There Problems?

Google Play Protect is supposed to protect users from malicious apps in the Google Play Store — but of 20 Android programs evaluated by AV-Test, Google Play Protect did not perform well at identifying malware.

Those results come from AV-Test, a Germany-based security firm, which periodically evaluates antivirus programs for Windows, Mac OS, Android and Linux.

AV-Test scores each Anti-Virus suite out of a possible 13 points: six for protection, six for usability and the one remaining point for extra features. Earning eight points is enough to secure at least a tentative recommendation from the company. Google Play Protect did not perform well. However the other products are anti-virus and Pay Protect is not intended to be that.

Google Play Protect does protect but do not relay on it for anti-virus protection as it falls down in that area.

If you have any experiences with scam APPS do let me know, by email.

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Dublin’s Tram System Website Ransomed

The website for Dublin’s tram system (Luas) was hacked and the attacker demanded a ransom of just one bitcoin (worth about $4000).

The attacker wasn’t after money but to teach the authorities a lesson for ignoring her advice after warnings about weaknesses in their security.

“You are hacked,” the message read. “Some time ago I wrote that you have serious security holes.

You didn’t reply.

The next time someone talks to you, press the reply button.

You must pay one bitcoin in five days.

“Otherwise I will publish all data and send emails to your users.”

It then listed an address to send the bitcoin. The message was subsequently removed.

The company tweeted: “The Luas website was compromised this morning, and a malicious message was put on the home page. The website has been taken down by the IT company who manage it, and their technicians are working on it.

“We apologises to all Luas customers for the inconvenience,” Luas added on Twitter.

Luas carried 37.6 million people in 2017 and transports 100,000 passengers on average daily.

A ransomware attacker with a soul. Let’s hope the authorities take notice of the security weaknesses and don’t get caught out again.

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Surrey Police Roll-Out Property Marking Kits

The Police believe that the use of property marking kits can make a big impact on the level of burglaries in an area.

Detective Inspector Dee Fielding said: “We have evidence from many Police Forces that the use of the SelectaDNA kits have successfully cut the number of burglars trying their luck when they realise that items marked with the DNA code are much harder to sell on. In North Manchester, SelectaDNA report that burglaries reduced by up to 83% following a home crime reduction initiative.

The kits are called forensic marking kits named SelectDNA. The Surrey Police have 30,000 kits to hand out to household in burglary hotspots.

Local officers and neighbourhood teams will be handing out the free SelectaDNA property marking kits over the next 12 months to those households in hot spot areas.

The SelectaDNA packs consist of a bottle of clear liquid which carries its very own unique synthetic DNA code which is only visible under ultraviolet light. The product can be used to mark valuable items of household property such as TVs, laptops, iPads, games consoles, musical instruments, tools, jewellery and antiques. It takes seconds to apply the liquid and it’s virtually impossible to remove. Marked property is then registered onto a secure police and insurance approved national database which proves ownership and allows recovered items to be traced back to the owner. By marking your property and displaying the orange window stickers warning that property is DNA marked, criminals will be deterred from targeting protected homes.

For those Surrey residents outside the project areas, a discount of 50% with free P&P is available on SelectaDNA Home kits. Just visit www.selectadna.co.uk and use the discount code ‘DNASURREY50’ to order a kit for just £29.75.

Surrey Police offer the following tips to keep your belongings safe:

  • Lock your doors and windows every time you leave the house
  • Hide all keys, including car keys, out of sight and away from the letterbox
  • Install dusk to dawn outside lighting
  • Secure bikes at home by locking them to an immovable object
  • Keep ladders and tools stored away; don’t leave them outside
  • Mark your property with a forensic marking product, and register your belongings with Immobilise.com

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