South Beach Digital, LLC

11/30/2022

[WordPress Security] Configuration Probing: Your Backups Might Be Your Greatest Weakness

Configuration files exist to make life easier for developers and website operators. In a world without configuration files, every instance of code that depended on a database connection could potentially require the connection details to be hard coded or manually entered. Other reusable data would b...

11/17/2022

Don't become a Black Friday Scam victim.
https://news.trendmicro.com/2022/11/02/black-friday-shopping-scams-2022-ray-ban-nike/?utm_source=scamadviser&utm_medium=referral
Scam URLs to beware:
coatpark[.]com
nestorliquor[.]com
annishuan[.]com
hugoiio[.]com
cathytok[.]com
hardaddy[.]com

Black Friday Shopping Scams 2022 (Ray-Ban, Nike, and MORE)

11/05/2022

Tried to cancel a service but couldn’t? Learn steps to take.
https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2022/10/tried-cancel-service-couldnt-learn-steps-take?utm_source=govdelivery
By Jim Kreidler, Consumer Education Specialist, FTC.
November 3, 2022

Tried to cancel a service but couldn't? Report it. ReportFraud.ftc.gov
Have you ever been unhappy with a service — like your phone or Internet — and tried to cancel it? But, when you tried, you found it difficult or nearly impossible? Learn about the ways companies illegally trick or trap people who use their services, steps to take, and your rights.

Today, the FTC announced that Vonage, a phone company, didn’t give customers an easy way to cancel their telephone services. Instead, the FTC says the company used a series of hurdles. These “dark patterns” made people hunt for the cancellation phone number; when they were able to call to cancel, they were often passed from agent to agent with repeated sales pitches; and, if they succeeded in cancelling, many wound up being charged surprise high-cost Early Termination Fees (“ETFs”). In many instances, even when people managed to navigate Vonage’s process and cancel their accounts, the FTC says Vonage continued to charge them without their permission.

As part of the settlement, Vonage must pay $100 million that the FTC will send to the small businesses and customers who were harmed by the company’s practices. Vonage must also stop using dark patterns, let people know important information at sign-up, make it simple for people to cancel, and get their consent for every charge.

If you’re considering a product or service check out the company’s policies on:

Easy and simple cancellation. It should be as easy to cancel as it was to sign up in the first place. Before you place an order, look at the company’s refund and return policies, and whether you’ll be charged any cancellation fees.
Automatic renewal. As soon as you know you don’t want to renew your plan, look at the company’s cancelation policy. Make sure it won’t automatically renew before you can cancel it. For more on avoiding charges in auto-renewal plans read Getting In and Out of Free Trials Auto-Renewals and Negative Option Subscriptions.

The .gov means it’s official. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

10/07/2022

https://www.wordfence.com/blog/2022/10/national-cyber-security-awareness-month-you-could-be-the-biggest-threat-to-your-wordpress-site/?utm_campaign=Wordfence%20Blog%20Emails&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=228705944&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8qy_mLGMwcdZgOwT2e9SGaWZrT6wCra12cQ5NAUk1hNKBZErQUvW5x8-yQSvS2XUd6_b4A094jm48tCXbr2VJQmxgC1w&utm_content=228705944&utm_source=hs_email

03/24/2022

FROM THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION TODAY
Password Checklist
Passwords are the locks on your account doors. You keep lots of personal information in your online accounts, including your email, bank account, and your tax returns, so you want good protections in place. Here’s a checklist to make sure your passwords are secure.
How To Keep Your Password Secure

Report Identity Theft
How To Keep Your Password Secure
Make sure your password is long and strong. That means at least 12 characters. Making a password longer is generally the easiest way to make it stronger. Consider using a passphrase of random words so that your password is more memorable, but avoid using common words or phrases. If the service you are using does not allow long passwords, you can make your password stronger by mixing uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.
Don’t reuse passwords you’ve used on other accounts. Use different passwords for different accounts. That way, if a hacker gets your password for one account, they can’t use it to get into your other accounts.
Use multi-factor authentication when it’s an option. Some accounts offer extra security by requiring something in addition to a password to log in to your account. This is called multi-factor authentication. The “something extra” you need to log in to your account fall into two categories:
Something you have — like a passcode you get via an authentication app or a security key.
Something you are — like a scan of your fingerprint, your retina, or your face.
Consider a password manager. Most people have trouble keeping track of all of their passwords. The longer and more complicated a password is, the stronger it is, but a longer password can also be more difficult to remember. Consider storing your passwords and security questions in a reputable password manager. To find a reputable password manager, search independent review sites, and talk to friends and family for ones that they use. Make sure to use a strong password to secure the information in your password manager.
Pick security questions only you know the answer to. If a site asks you to answer security questions, avoid providing answers that are available in public records or easily found online, like your zip code, birthplace, or your mother’s maiden name. And don’t use questions with a limited number of responses that attackers can easily guess — like the color of your first car. You can even use nonsense answers to make guessing more difficult — but if you do, make sure you can remember what you use.
Change passwords quickly if there’s a breach. If a company tells you there was a data breach where a hacker could have gotten your password, change the password you use with that company right away, and on any account that uses a similar password.
Report Identity Theft
If someone is using your information to open new accounts or make purchases, report it and get help at IdentityTheft.gov.

Looking for more tips to keep your information secure? Read Protect Your Personal Information and Data.

03/22/2022

Half a billion LinkedIn users are in for an unpleasant surprise, as scraped datasets of their profile information are up for sale right now on an underground forum.

Fact: Half a billion LinkedIn users are in for an unpleasant surprise, as scraped datasets of their profile information are up for sale right now on an underground forum.

08/27/2021

https://fb.watch/7EN_3SIpgR/
I had to share this video for the amazing recipe for Blueberry Muffins! Imagine Maine Blueberries?!?

07/19/2021

Tell us what you think of these sketch videos. Do they keep YOUR attention?
Oh, to order, just go to http://www.princesshouse.com/lchurch