Posts by Dawn Connelly

And why you can’t afford not to. Many businesses have that one room in their facility where only IT goes—the room where old hard drives, back up drives, ancient fax machines, and other similar items are stored away. No one uses these devices, but they’re kept there, under lock and key for no other reason…

Do they increase your risk of ID theft? Years ago, most United States workers received annual social security statements in the mail. But once those statements stopped and the social security administration began engaging online, the opportunity to check your personal account became much more convenient. It’s estimated that more than 34 million people now…

Two main scams to watch out for Tax season is in full swing and with it, the possibility of becoming a victim of tax scams. Because as most people are busy preparing their taxes, cybercriminals and identity thieves are at the ready to steal identities and tax refunds from unsuspecting filers. This season, there are…

Yes—and here’s why. The United States just experienced the longest government shutdown in our nation’s history, but the prospect of another closure is still looming. In addition to the many effects of this event, including reduced FDA inspections and loss of wages for hundreds of thousands of workers, there is also the fact that identity…

How scammers get your information Have you ever wondered how solicitors get your personal information? Think about the abundance of fake emails, unsolicited phone calls, junk mail and other items that you receive that have your name, address, email, and other personal information. The fact is, while these unscrupulous folks are experts at stealing people’s…

Here’s an easy-to-keep resolution We all know how hard it is to keep those New Year’s resolutions; you know, the ones where we promise ourselves we’re going to eat better, exercise more, get more sleep, save money, the list goes on and on. But here’s a resolution that is not only easy to keep but…

The most common holiday schemes Tis the season! And now that all the shopping, cheer and festivities are well underway, it’s a good time to make yourself aware of some of the most common schemes that are taking place throughout the country. Because although this is the time of year to spread kindness and joy,…

How NOT to become a victim It’s a frenzy—traffic, irresistible sales, crowded stores, long lines and loads of money exchanging hands. If you’re one of the many thousands of people who brave the Black Friday frenzy—you should know that there’s more at stake than saving on holiday gifts. For pickpocketers and ID thieves, it’s an…

How to find out & what to do next This statistic might shock you: it’s estimated that 3.5 million children have had their social security numbers stolen, according to the Federal Trade Commission. What may also shock you is that many of these crimes are against babies—moments after they’re born and their parent applies for…

How the government, companies and others track you We’ve all heard of the Big Brother concept—that everything we do is being tracked, or watched by either the government, by companies looking to sell us stuff or by others who want to get a hold of our personal information. And while it may seem outlandish, the…