Binary Code

Computers and other electronic devices store information as Binary Code (which is a series of 1s and 0s that might look like this: 10101001 01101100 11001010).
Network Topology Map

A Network Topology Map is a diagram of a computer network's components, including network access points and connections between its various parts.
Fake Anti-Virus Software

Fake Anti-Virus Software - also known as 'scareware' - is designed to trick you into buying worthless anti-virus protection that you do not need.
Domain Name System

The Domain Name System (DNS) is like the ‘telephone book’ of the Web – it translates a website's name into its corresponding numerical IP address on the Internet.
Social Engineering

A Phishing e-mail is an attempt to trick the recipient into giving up information, such as account, credit card or password information.
Data Encryption

Data Encryption is the intentional scrambling of information into unreadable form - until it is later converted back into its original form by the intended recipient.
Botnet, or Compromised Computers

A Botnet is a collection of computers compromised by a malware attack that can be controlled remotely (via the Internet) to attack websites, send out spam emails, etc.
Distributed Denial of Service Attack

A Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) Attack can use a botnet to force a website, network or other resource to shut down by overloading it with requests for data.
USB Flash Drive

A USB Flash Drive, aka a 'stick drive' or 'thumb drive' is a portable data storage device which connects to a computer's USB port to send and receive data.
Electronic vs. Static Media

Static Media is something like a book, magazine or printed photo, while Electronic or Digital Media (websites, digital photos, etc.) requires power to be viewed.
Administrative Access

A user with Administrative Rights has unrestricted power to create, modify or delete files, folders, settings and programs on a particular computer.

Changes to the HIPAA Enforcement Rule: What Providers Need to Know Now

Posted on July 30, 2013 by The Security Advocate

By Catherine G. Patsos, Esq.

Changes to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Rules are here,[i] and covered entities and business associates have until September 23, 2013 to comply with them. Many changes have been made to the Enforcement Rule, as well as the Privacy and Breach Notification Rules. One of the most significant changes to the Enforcement Rule for providers is that a covered entity is now liable for the violations of its business associate if the business associate is acting as an agent of the covered entity.

Enforcement Rule

There are four modifications to the Enforcement Rule that generally affect the investigation of HIPAA Rule violations and imposition of civil monetary penalties (CMPs). First, the Secretary of the U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) is required to formally investigate allegations of HIPAA Rule violations that are due to willful neglect, and impose CMPs upon findings such violations. Second, business associates are now liable for CMPs for certain HIPAA Rule violations. Third, the Secretary is required to determine the amount of CMPs to be imposed based on the nature and extent of harm caused by the violation. Finally, the Secretary’s authority to impose CMPs will be restrained only where a criminal penalty has actually been imposed with regard to the HITECH Act; previously, the Secretary was prohibited from imposing CMPs in cases where the offense was criminally punishable under the HITECH Act. Accordingly, the Secretary has broader authority to impose CMPs on violations of the HITECH Act.
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Tagged with: Catherine G. Patsos, Catherine Patsos, Civil Monetary Penalties, CMP, Health Care, HIPAA, HIPAA Enforcement Rule, The Security Advocate
Posted in Guest Posts

What Is a (Computer) Worm?

Posted on July 22, 2013 by Scott Aurnou

By Scott Aurnou

One of the primary threats to computers and electronic devices is malware (short for ‘malicious software’). A worm is a fairly common type of malware that replicates itself to spread around a computer network and from computer to computer. Unlike a computer virus, a worm will often operate as a standalone program and does not to attach itself to – or corrupt – any ‘host’ file. Instead, a worm will frequently hide in parts of a computer’s operating system that the average user will not notice. At times the only observable sign of an infection is the slowing of a computer’s functions as the worm takes up more and more system resources as it continues to replicate itself.

While some computer worms are only designed to spread themselves over and over, others contain malicious computer code that can destroy data and/or programs, encrypt your computer’s files (without your knowledge or approval) to set up a ‘ransomware’ attack and install a ‘backdoor’ to allow an attacker easy access to the computer to essentially take it over remotely, co-opting the computer (or device) into a botnet. Botnets are often used to overwhelm a website with web traffic in a type of attack known as a distributed denial of service, generate false online ad revenue or send spam.
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Tagged with: Backdoor, Botnet, Computer Worm, Conficker, Laptops & Desktops, Malware, Network Security, Stuxnet, The Security Advocate, Worm
Posted in Laptops & Desktops, Network Security

How to Choose a Strong Password

Posted on July 19, 2013 by Scott Aurnou

Computer Security Tip of the Week

Scott Aurnou – Creating a strong password may seem like a chore, but sometimes it can literally be the only thing standing between a cybercriminal and your personal and financial information or access to your company’s network and intellectual property. Here are some tips for creating a strong password (that you can actually remember).

If you enjoyed this video, you can see more on TheSecurityAdvocate YouTube channel (and subscribe if you like).

Tagged with: Daisychaining, Hacker, passphrase, password, Password Strength, Security Question, The Security Advocate
Posted in Cloud Security, Laptops & Desktops, Network Security, Security Tip of the Week, Smartphones & Tablets

How to Make Windows 7 More Secure

Posted on July 15, 2013 by The Security Advocate

By Eric K. Cone

Windows 7 is one of the flagship products in the long line of Microsoft’s NT releases, a classification of robust business-ready operating systems built on what Microsoft refers to as New Technology. Like Windows XP, and Windows Vista, Windows 7 is a wholly re-programmed Windows operating system from the ground up. Because Windows operating systems are designed to be very user friendly, many processes and applications are usually started once the user logs on the system and begins to work.

While some pre-set processes might be considered fine to run at boot up, there are some processes and applications that can cause security vulnerabilities for the end user. Luckily, there are a few steps that you can take to help protect your computer and information from attack.

To start with, it is recommended that you do not set your user privileges as Administrator level each time that you want to use the computer. This level account will allow malicious processes to operate in the security context of a user with complete and total access to the system,

Windows 7 utilizes what is known as UAC, or User Account Control, and you should ensure that it is enabled. UAC helps to increase the security of the NTFS file system and Windows by restricting access via a prompt when escalated operations are invoked. This helps to increase security over malware, spyware, viruses, or other malicious computer code.

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Tagged with: Administrator, Eric Cone, Eric K. Cone, Laptops & Desktops, Microsoft NT, NTFS, The Security Advocate, UAC, User Account Control, Windows 7, Windows Firewall, Windows Task Manager
Posted in Guest Posts, Laptops & Desktops

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Changes to the HIPAA Enforcement Rule: What Providers Need to Know Now

Do You Need a Cloud Computing Policy?

What Is a (Computer) Worm?

How to Choose a Strong Password

How to Make Windows 7 More Secure