Latest news with #digitalsecurity
Washington Post
2 days ago
- General
- Washington Post
Have you received scam texts about an unpaid toll? You are not alone.
Text scams are the cockroaches of our digital lives — resilient and repulsive. With summer travel season starting and families hitting the road, I suspect many people will start seeing more scam toll and ticket text messages. On my phone, I have seen an increase in threats that I could face large penalties and even jail time. Others have been warned their vehicles could be impounded.
Free Malaysia Today
4 days ago
- General
- Free Malaysia Today
Govt reviewing laws, focus on role of parents to prevent child abuse
Law and institutional reform minister Azalina Othman Said with her Uzbek counterpart, justice minister Akbar Tashkulov, signing the memorandum of understanding on the exchange of legal expertise, among others. (Facebook pic) PUTRAJAYA : The government is reviewing several existing legal provisions to introduce clearer and stronger obligations for parents and guardians, in its effort to prevent abuse and sexual assault of children. Law and institutional reform minister Azalina Othman Said said the move would include proposing amendments to make it mandatory for parents and guardians to monitor their children's online activities, as well as to participate in digital safety awareness and education programmes actively. 'This approach reflects the principle of shared responsibility in safeguarding future generations from the growing threat of sexual crimes in the digital age,' she said in a statement issued today. Azalina said this in her keynote address, titled 'Creating a Safer Digital Future: Malaysia's Legislative Approach to Online Child' on the first day of the Tashkent Law Spring International Legal Forum 2025 in Uzbekistan, where she is currently on an official visit. In her address, Azalina also highlighted Malaysia's legislative initiatives aimed at strengthening online child protection laws and called on the international legal community to embrace a shared moral duty in addressing crimes against children. She emphasised the importance of ensuring that perpetrators of such offences are brought to justice without exception, underlining that protecting children in the digital space requires global cooperation and collective will. During the visit, Azalina also had the opportunity to hold a bilateral meeting with her counterpart, Uzbek Justice Minister Akbar Tashkulov, on May 30, with the meeting yielding meaningful results when both parties agreed to sign a new memorandum of understanding (MoU). 'This MoU will be in effect for three years and covers important aspects such as the exchange of legal expertise, cooperation in the reform of justice institutions and strengthening the capacity of the judicial systems of both countries. 'This move is very significant in supporting efforts towards a more responsive and dynamic legal system,' she said. In addition, Azalina also received a courtesy visit from the Head of Division and Senior Counsellor, Directorate of Public Governance, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Dr Tatyana Teplova. She said the meeting marked the beginning of strategic cooperation between Malaysia and the OECD, particularly in the aspects of strengthening the justice system, upholding the rule of law and improving the country's digital governance. 'I also expressed my desire for Malaysia to obtain the support of OECD expertise in implementing legal harmonisation with international standards, without disregarding local realities and the government's aspirations for sustainable institutional reform,' she said.
Times of Oman
26-05-2025
- Business
- Times of Oman
Oman sees sharp rise in cyber fraud
Muscat: Fraud crimes in the Sultanate of Oman has surged by a staggering 35 percent during the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period last year, announced the Director General of Inquiries and Criminal Investigations. Cyber fraud, in particular, presents a significant security challenge due to the rapid growth of digital platforms and e-commerce. This expansion creates opportunities for fraudsters to exploit technical vulnerabilities and a lack of security awareness among users. The rising statistics for these crimes underscore the urgent need for collaborative security and community efforts to enhance digital prevention and combat these illicit practices. Brigadier Jamal bin Habib Al Quraishi, Director General of Inquiries and Criminal Investigations, detailed common fraudulent methods: Deceptive Websites: Fraudsters design fake websites resembling official ones, which are then promoted to appear high in search engine results, lending them false credibility. Victims are lured into revealing banking information after completing bogus forms and paying fees. Once a One-Time Password (OTP) is entered, funds are immediately withdrawn and transferred through a network of fake accounts and digital currency platforms, quickly obscuring the crime's trail and moving money abroad. Job-Based Scams: Fraudsters, often operating internationally, advertise fake job offers such as "financial advisor" or "financial agent." They then instruct targets to open bank accounts to receive and transfer money to other accounts, or to withdraw cash and transfer it via exchange services or digital currencies. Unwittingly, targets become involved in fraud and money laundering, facing legal accountability for handling funds from illicit sources. Fraudulent Phone Calls: Impersonating official institutions, banks, or companies, fraudsters use phone calls to offer victims attractive rewards or services in exchange for sensitive data or verification codes. They may even possess accurate bank balances and personal data to build trust. Brigadier Al Quraishi stressed that official authorities never request such information over the phone, urging the public to ignore and immediately report such calls. The General Department of Criminal Investigation and Research has successfully apprehended perpetrators in several such cases and taken legal action. Fake Package Delivery Messages: A similar tactic involves text or WhatsApp messages informing victims of a package delivery. These messages prompt victims to click a fake link to complete procedures and pay a delivery fee, allowing fraudsters to access their data and steal their money. E-Shopping Fraud: Brigadier Al Quraishi noted a significant increase in e-shopping fraud reports, largely due to the high demand for online shopping, especially during holidays and promotional periods. Fake Instagram accounts are also used to promote domestic worker recruitment, where victims pay fees via fake links, leading to bank detail hijacking and theft. Digital Currency Platform Exploitation: Digital currency trading platforms have become a prime target for fraudsters, leveraging users' inexperience. Victims are initially convinced to make small profits, then encouraged to deposit larger amounts, only for their funds to be withdrawn from their digital wallets, making retrieval impossible. Some platforms also receive funds from unknown sources linked to previous cybercrimes, which are then used to purchase and transfer digital currencies to other accounts. Digital Exploitation of Children: Brigadier General Jamal Al Quraishi warned of rising digital exploitation of children through video games, particularly those with direct communication features. Fraudsters entice children to disclose personal family information or encourage in-app purchases. Cases of cyber extortion have also been observed, where perpetrators demand private photos from children, later using them for illicit gains. Families are urged to monitor children's online activity, educate them on how to react to fraud and extortion attempts, and report incidents. Brigadier Jamal Al-Quraishi confirmed that the Royal Oman Police (ROP) continues to collaborate with international and regional security organizations to track, monitor, and apprehend perpetrators of these crimes. The ROP, in coordination with international agencies, successfully arrested an international organized crime network upon its entry into Oman. This network was involved in cyber fraud operations across several countries, luring Asian nationals to work in the Sultanate, confiscating their documents upon arrival, and training them to carry out online fraud, including creating fake social media accounts and romantic chat applications, and impersonating wealthy individuals to gain trust for investment in fake digital currency platforms. Brigadier Jamal bin Habib Al Quraishi emphasised the critical importance of enhancing public security awareness to help individuals recognize danger and avoid falling victim to online fraud. This includes: • Avoiding suspicious links. • Never sharing personal or banking information without verifying the sender's credibility. • Activating two-step verification. • Using strong, unique passwords for online accounts. • Allocating a separate bank card with a limited balance specifically for online shopping. He reiterated that official institutions do not request personal information over the phone, advising the public to ignore and not interact with such attempts. Anyone who experiences fraud should immediately report it to their bank to block affected accounts, file an official report at the nearest police station, or contact the hotline (80077444). All correspondence and conversations with the fraudster should be retained as documentary evidence.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Best VPN for Travel (2025): IPVanish Named Top Secure VPN for Travelers by Expert Consumers
Expert Consumers has recognized IPVanish as the best VPN for travel in 2025 NEW YORK CITY, May 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Expert Consumers has recognized IPVanish as the best VPN for travel in 2025, following a comprehensive review of leading virtual private network providers across multiple categories. The decision reflects the growing need for secure digital tools in a post-pandemic travel landscape where mobility, privacy, and global connectivity intersect. Best VPN for Travel IPVanish - a virtual private network (VPN) service known for its strong encryption protocols, strict no-logs policy, and fast, reliable global server network. The Return of Travel and the Rise of Digital Security As international travel continues its rebound in 2025, travelers are once again navigating foreign networks, accessing cloud-based services, and working remotely while in transit. Whether for business or leisure, today's travel experience is increasingly digital - and with that comes increased exposure to online threats. The prevalence of public Wi-Fi networks in hotels, airports, cafés, and co-working spaces offers convenience but introduces real vulnerabilities. Open networks can expose sensitive data to interception, monitoring, and cyber attacks. VPNs offer a vital line of defense, creating a secure, encrypted tunnel between the user's device and the internet, masking the IP address, and shielding personal information from unwanted access. In its comprehensive review, Expert Consumers evaluated dozens of VPN providers based on multiple criteria relevant to travel, including connection stability on public Wi-Fi, ability to bypass geo-restrictions, encryption standards, data logging policies, and ease of use on mobile and desktop platforms. IPVanish emerged as the top recommendation for frequent travelers and digital nomads alike. Key strengths highlighted in the review include end-to-end AES-256 encryption, a strict no-logs policy, and a network of over 2,400 servers in more than 140 locations worldwide. The service offers advanced features such as a kill switch, DNS leak protection, and split tunneling - giving users more control over which apps route through the VPN. IPVanish also includes built-in support for WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2/IPSec protocols, allowing flexibility depending on the user's priorities for speed or security. The review also emphasized IPVanish's strict no-logs policy and independently verified privacy commitments. In regions where internet censorship or geo-blocking remains an obstacle, IPVanish proved capable of bypassing restrictions without compromising user security. This makes it a valuable tool for travelers needing access to familiar services, such as banking platforms, streaming accounts, or location-specific content, while abroad. Addressing the Realities of Modern Travel Remote work, cross-border collaboration, and longer travel itineraries have changed how people engage with the internet abroad. The VPN category has expanded to serve not just corporate IT departments but independent professionals, families, students, and content creators. IPVanish's unlimited device policy and competitive pricing model made it an accessible solution for users managing multiple gadgets on the road. Travelers can connect their phone for secure messaging, stream on a tablet, and send work files from a laptop - simultaneously and without compromising performance. The review also noted that IPVanish's support infrastructure and transparency stood out. Clear privacy documentation and responsive customer service contributed to a more trustworthy experience, especially for users unfamiliar with VPNs. With increased awareness of data privacy and the evolving tactics of cybercriminals, using a VPN has become a travel essential, much like carrying a passport or securing travel insurance. A VPN provides assurance that banking transactions, login credentials, and communications remain confidential, no matter the country or network used. While a growing number of public institutions and service providers claim to offer 'secure' Wi-Fi, the reality is that users have limited control or visibility over how those networks operate. A VPN like IPVanish restores that control, ensuring that users can safely work, browse, and communicate while traveling. As more travelers seek out secure solutions for navigating the digital world, VPN usage is expected to grow. IPVanish has positioned itself as a reliable partner in that space, offering stability, security, and scalability to match the demands of modern mobility. Expert Consumers concluded that IPVanish's performance in critical areas like speed, privacy, usability, and global reach made it the clear choice for travelers in 2025. To read the full review, visit Expert Consumers. About IPVanish: IPVanish, a Ziff Davis company, is an award-winning cybersecurity provider whose tools and products support internet safety, digital privacy, and online freedom. With a commitment to innovation, transparency, and user-centric solutions, IPVanish is a leading name in the VPN industry. About Expert Consumers: Expert Consumers provides news and reviews of consumer products and services. As an affiliate, Expert Consumers may earn commissions from sales generated using links provided. CONTACT: Drew Thomas (press@
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Yahoo
Why Android users should care more about monthly security updates
We store a massive amount of personal data on our phones. Whether you have a flagship or midrange device, your email, personal photos, credit cards, banking info, and more are accessible from your pocket. While most people take care of their phones physically, they may not pay the same care to keeping their phones updated. A notification letting you know there's an update may go ignored because it takes too much time or gets in the way of what you're doing. Keeping your phone updated makes sure the sensitive data stored on it is kept safe from digital threats. Here's why you shouldn't ignore that update notification and update your phone as soon as you see it. What is a monthly security update? A Google Pixel on the "Checking for update" screen that appears before installing a new Android version Think of Android as the foundation of your phone's house. While it's solid, over time it develops cracks and vulnerabilities that can be used by animals and nature to get in. To fix these cracks, you need to patch them to keep your foundation solid and invulnerable. You aren't changing anything major about the cosmetics of the house, only making sure it's in good structural shape. The patches for this theoretical house are security patches. These monthly patches differ from major OS upgrades or quarterly feature drops that Google Pixel devices receive. Major OS upgrades change how your phone works. It may change things visually, alter how you interact with your phone, add new features, or modify existing features. These updates usually happen once a year, but it seems like they'll happen more frequently going forward. Security updates are less prominent. They fix vulnerabilities behind the scenes while affecting the user experience as little as possible, if at all. They are issued frequently to keep up with new vulnerabilities that are discovered and patch them quickly. Google is in charge of vulnerabilities related to Android, while chip manufacturers are in charge of vulnerabilities in their hardware. Google rounds up these vulnerabilities and gives them to device OEMs. The OEMs are then responsible for releasing the update that contains these fixes. The OEMs may need to collaborate with carriers to make sure the updates don't interrupt their service. Threats are omnipresent A hand holding a phone with camera, security, and battery icons around it with a warning sign. While our operating systems are largely secure, vulnerabilities are discovered in them all the time. Security researchers and malicious actors look for and find these weak points, which can become doorways to detrimental actions. Malware : Malware is malicious software that allows bad actors to take over your phone in some way. They can steal your information, lock your phone until you pay a ransom, or use your phone's resources to do something nefarious without your knowledge. Data Theft : Some exploits allow bad actors to steal sensitive information stored on your phone, such as passwords, banking information, photos, contacts, and more. Spying : Exploits may allow hackers to access your microphone or camera without your knowledge or permission. Device Takeover: In severe cases, vulnerabilities may allow bad actors to take over your phone and all its functions. The scary part about these vulnerabilities is that hackers don't care who they hurt. They create their hacks, and often automate them, so that they hit as many devices as possible. Those who haven't updated their devices to block these attacks are at risk, which is why it's important to keep your device up to date. Why monthly updates are so important A man's hand holding a Pixel 6 showing an update in progress with a pillow in the background that has pictures of pink watermelon slices on it. Even though threats exist, why is it important to update your device monthly? There are situations in which hackers find exploits before a patch is issued. These are called "zero-day" exploits and are leveraged by hackers quickly, since devices don't have protection against them. Google and its partners release a patch as soon as possible, which is released in the monthly update. By installing the update, you minimize the time your phone is exposed to this exploit and ensure your data is as safe as possible. If you ignore these updates, you leave your phone open to more exploits for longer, making it more vulnerable to more threats with each missed update. Leaving your data unprotected is almost asking for it to be stolen, so it's crucial to stop ignoring updates and install them as soon as they appear. There are no excuses Many people may feel that stopping what they're doing to wait for an update to install every month is annoying and tedious. However, these excuses are not worth the risk of having your data stolen. The update takes too long or makes my phone restart Monthly security patches are, in most cases, smaller, quicker, and easier to install than OS updates or feature drops. While your phone must be restarted to install them, keeping your data safe is worth it. You can set updates to install overnight when you're not using your phone, so it's set when you wake up. This can minimize the disturbance when using your device and keep you safe at the same time It won't happen to me This is dangerous thinking that may end up being untrue. While you may think you're unimportant to hackers, they are indifferent to who they hack. All they care about is hacking as many devices as quickly as possible, so they don't care how important or unimportant you think you are. Doesn't my VPN or antivirus app protect me? VPNs protect others from seeing what you're doing on your phone. Antivirus apps are great for scanning downloaded files and apps to make sure they are free from malware. Neither of these solutions fixes or blocks issues with the underlying operating system that they operate within. I don't notice a difference Good, that's the point. These updates should not change how your phone works and should only fix things in the background, allowing you to keep using your device as normal. Your digital life is worth protecting Since smartphones store personal information about your life, it's important to keep it protected. As soon as you see an update notification, take time to install it. You can also manually check for updates by going to Settings > System > System Update if you want to be proactive. There are Android settings you can change to make your phone more secure.
