{"id":5628,"date":"2014-08-05T12:30:09","date_gmt":"2014-08-05T16:30:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kaspersky.com\/blog\/?p=5628"},"modified":"2022-05-05T04:36:19","modified_gmt":"2022-05-05T08:36:19","slug":"julyroundup2014","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kaspersky.com\/blog\/julyroundup2014\/5628\/","title":{"rendered":"July Monthly Roundup"},"content":{"rendered":"

In July, Kaspersky Lab published its latest relevant reads and need-to-know security news. From protecting your webcam and your privacy, to keeping kids safe online, we kept you in the loop. If you missed any of our July posts, don\u2019t worry! Our monthly roundup will get you up to speed. \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Millions of Smartphones Vulnerable to Rouge Hotspots by Default<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Fun fact: the mobile service provider AT&T puts default lists of trusted Wireless networks into its customers\u2019 iOS and Android devices. This means that users will conveniently, automatically connect to a variety of Wi-Fi hotspots managed by AT&T. Comcast\u2019s XFININTY is also in the business of disseminating wireless hotspots for its customers. Their Internet service is in the process of rolling out a feature called \u201cXFINITITY WiFi\u201d, which will rely on the modems and routers of its users to fuel the Internet for your home and private network, while simultaneously acting as a public hotspot to others with XFINITY credentials. Despite the convenience of automatic connection to public hotspots, the problem is that once you connect to one of these, it appears your device may automatically connect to any other hotspots you come across that broadcast the same network name and SSID. How do you really know how secure these hotspots are? The increasingly Wi-Fi-enabled world in which we operate is conducive to attackers who could set up rogue or malicious Wi-Fi hotspots in order to monitor Internet communications, pilfer login credentials,\u00a0infect users with malware<\/a>, or perform other malicious actions. We suggest avoiding public Wi-Fi\u00a0altogether and\u00a0running a solid security product<\/a>\u00a0for protection in the eventthat something goes awry.<\/p>\n

Stop Webcam Snoopers Cold<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

In the last decade webcams have become so commonplace that the phenomenon of seeing someone as you speak with them tens or thousands of miles away has gone from a mere pipedream to an everyday reality that can take place in the palm of your hand, courtesy of your smartphone. The scary truth is that you are not the only one that can access your webcam. Aren\u2019t convinced? Just ask Miss Teen USA 2013<\/a>, whose webcam was hacked into and used to take nude photos of her.\u00a0 Attackers with programs like\u00a0Blackshades<\/a>, which was cracked down on earlier this year, can essentially hack their way into your computer and use your camera at will. Although this is a serious concern, our poll indicates that more than half of users don\u2019t protect their webcam. Some 40 percent do think to cover their webcams with duct tape, a Band-Aid and so on, but there are better ways to protect your privacy.\u00a0For example, Kaspersky Internet Security<\/a>\u00a0makes it near impossible for invasive malware threats to turn users\u2019 webcams against them by alerting users whenever an application attempts to access the webcam and has permissions setups that allow for certain programs like Skype or Hangouts to have access while denying all others unless expressly granted permission by the user.<\/p>\n

Ten New Security Tricks to Protect You This Year<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Criminals are constantly inventing new tricks to steal your money or your data, or even hold it hostage, making it increasingly more complicated to protect your computer or mobile device from online threats. It is no wonder that the security industry must continually innovate. Below is a brief list of new protection technologies that counteract fresh (not to mention, scary) tricks of hackers in 2014, all of which will be implemented in the 2015 version of\u00a0Kaspersky Internet Security \u2015Multi-Device<\/a>. The full article will explain the new protection technologies at length.<\/p>\n