ESCROW - Extreme Security Cool Resource Of the Week!

   ESCROW - Extreme Security Cool Resources Of the Week.  OK, well sometimes you start with the acronym and see how you can make it work!  And I've got a good one for you.

   It's a bit geeky, but if you're interested in learning more about the more in-depth technical aspects of security you will enjoy this resource.  And I've got another, less geeky, resource.

   Everyone knows about Youtube.  You can find just about anything there, but there's so much content that sometimes it's hard to find what you're looking for.

   Enter SecurityTube, securitytube.net, and SecurityTube, securitytube-training.com - originally created as a way to aggregate information security videos in one place.  These are some fantastic free online learning resources.

   Some of the resources have difficulty ratings to help you choose the right course of video.  For example, this one on Wireless LAN (WLAN) security is rated "easy" (and that's certainly in the eye of the beholder!).

   For those who don't want anything that in depth, here's another tip.  You can go to Youtube and search for "cybersecurity for beginners".  There are many basic information security videos there including this one from NOVA PBS:

  Check some of these out and let me know what you think!

News you Need Now (NNN)

    I recently received a letter from the SSA (Social Security Administration).  It provided instructions for me to finish setting up my online account.  As I've written in the past you can, and need to, create personal accounts on the SSA and IRS websites.  The key issue is that you need to reserve and establish your identity on these critical government websites before someone else does it for you!  This is ID Fraud is still a big issue.

   These accounts are straightforward to set up.  One thing you will need to do is go through an Identity Proofing process.  That process asks you for some personal information that, in theory, only you should know.  I list info about the irs.gov account creation process in this post.

   Here is some info from the ssa.gov website:

You can create a my Social Security account if you’re age 18 or older, have a Social Security number, a valid email, a U.S. mailing address, and a cell phone that can receive text messages. You’ll need to provide some personal information to confirm your identity; you’ll be asked to choose a username and password; and then provide your cell phone number. You’ll then receive a security code via text that you will be required to enter when you first create an account. We’ll send your cell phone a new security code each time you log in with your username and password. The security code is part of our enhanced security feature to protect your personal information. Keep in mind that your cell phone provider's text message and data rates may apply.

   Now SSA has increased their security by offering two-factor authentication (2FA) on their site.  We've written about 2FA a number of times in the past.  SSA had said this was coming and now it's available.

   I highly recommend that you create accounts on these sites and use 2FA where available.  Here are the instructions for SSA.  Here for the IRS.  You can enable 2-factor authentication on the SSA site when you create your account.  Here's a link to a previous post looking at other sites where 2FA is available.  Double up wherever you can!