New flaw found in iOS 7 devices

A new flaw in iOS 7 has been found on the heels of Apple's recent encryption issue. This new flaw could be used to log everything a user does on their phone. The flaw was discovered by FireEye, a security firm, who is now working with Apple to fix the issue. 

FireEye has stated that this was possible by making an app that recorded any and all keystrokes used on an iOS 7 device. The app would then send all recorded keystrokes to a remote server. Any app using this malicious code could run in the background without the user being aware. The readout of the screen presses could then be used to reconstruct what the user was accessing making it possible to obtain passwords, bank information, or anything else input into the phone by the user.

Until Apple releases a patch for the vulnerability, the only way to prevent attacks is to open the iOS task manager and stop questionable apps from running in the background. Users can open the task manager by pressing the home button twice. You can read more about the issue on ArsTechnica.

Tor Network Attacked by Malware

Wired is reporting that the Tor network has recently come under attack this past Sunday.  Malware started popping up on multiple hosting sites over the network in the morning in something known as a 'Drive-by' hack attack.

Code was being delivered through a known Java exploit in Firefox and affects Windows users. The code would gather information on the users machine while they were connected to the Tor network.

The code was designed to grab a user's MAC address (a unique hardware identifier for the computer's network or WiFi card) and the target's Windows host name.

The Tor network uses proxies to try to provide anonymity to users. The concern is that the proxy points are run on a volunteer basis allowing anyone to run as a proxy point. This opens the network to break downs that can result in breaches of user information. This is something that full encryption running on the GoTrusted VPN service is not open to as all our VPN servers are secured, both physically and via encryption.

Tips For Protecting Data While Traveling

 

A recent article posted by Information Week from Eset has outlined a few strong tips for keeping your data secure while traveling.

The article was made in response to the FBI/IC3 warning to travelers regarding use of hotel Internet systems.

This is an excerpt from the IC3 warning.

"Recent analysis from the FBI and other government agencies demonstrates that malicious actors are targeting travelers abroad through pop-up windows while establishing an Internet connection in their hotel rooms."

The FBI recommends that all government, private industry, and academic personnel who travel abroad take extra caution before updating software products on their hotel Internet connection. Checking the author or digital certificate of any prompted update to see if it corresponds to the software vendor may reveal an attempted attack. The FBI also recommends that travelers perform software updates on laptops immediately before traveling, and that they download software updates directly from the software vendor’s Web site if updates are necessary while abroad.

Tips include: making sure your software is up to date prior to travel, backing up sensitive data on a encrypted external drive, and making sure you have password protection and inactivity timeouts engaged on all devices.

One of the tips mentioned is to use a VPN service when connecting to the hotel's Internet, something GoTrusted has always emphasized to its customers traveling abroad or simply to the local coffee shop. Using our secure tunnel while going through a connection that may or may not have your best interests in mind or simply lacks up-to-date security, ensures that your data remains private and secure.

Expanded Android Support For Jellybean

Good news for our Android users. We've rolled out new settings and instructions for use with the new Android 4.1 Jellybean operating system. You can find the new instructions on our 'Android Instructions' page when you log in under 'Existing Users' and and select 'Android Instructions'.

This update coupled with Android Jellybean will provide our users with increased and simplified connectivity using the GoTrusted service making it even easier to GoTrusted when on the go!

Google says 'Government Surveillance is On The Rise'

In an article recently published on NBCnews.com, Google has released information regarding governments' requests for information on users as part of their 'Transparency Report'.

There have been 20,938 total inquiries to Google, involving 34,614 accounts worldwide. Currently, it seems, that governments around the world are increasing surveillance of Internet users. Google has stated they have complied with most of these requests. It's also worth noting that this is only in reference to Google. The numbers are likely much higher when you take into account all providers governments may also be issuing these inquiries to.

The report comes following prominent email snooping cases from official agencies. A situation that puts front and center the fact that, in current digital times, it is so important for us to be advocates for our own privacy and safety when going online.

This is why we're working so hard here at GoTrusted. To make sure our customers' privacy is protected while using our Secure VPN Tunnel. Whether that's from malicious individuals or governments who's policies take a turn and privacy becomes the target. We are here to make sure worrying about your online privacy and security isn't an issue.

theVPNreviewer.com Gives GoTrusted's VPN High Marks

GoTrusted gets a great score on theVPNreviwer.com - with the industry website giving our service four-and-a-half out of five stars.

The review is chock full of information about using the GoTrusted VPN Service.  The article has lots of speed tests and other details that add up to a good experience with the review concluding that GoTrusted was "a reliable and fast VPN provider at a good price."

Check out the review, then, if you haven't already, check out our free trial.

Mountain Lion Now Supported in GoTrusted VPN v2242

GoTrusted has released GoTrusted Secure Tunnel version 2.2.4.2 with VPN support for the new Apple Macintosh Mountain Lion operating system (OSX 10.8).  

The new Mac VPN Service software is available for Download on the GoTrusted website by new and existing users.  As in previous versions, the new GoTrusted VPN software provides one-button operation for data encryption, network security, and identity protection.... just click and your Mac is secure on any Internet connection!

GoTrusted VPN Hong Kong Servers Are Live

GoTrusted has made live our new high-speed Hong Kong secure server location to better serve the Asia VPN Service market.

As is usual when using the GoTrusted VPN service, we take care of the hard work.  When connecting, the GoTrusted Macintosh and Windows VPN software will automatically select the Hong Kong servers if they will provide the best speed from your connecting country.  So there's nothing to do to use the new servers if 'Asia Region' is selected in Settings.

Gamers Utilize VPN Services To Protect Them From Very Real Digital Villains

While finding a shield to protect you against your digital enemies may be a major advantage in computer games like Battlefield and Call Of Duty, this digital armor will do little to offer identity protection against the very real threats that exist whenever you play computer games on unencrypted wi-fi networks.

The Internet has combined with game manufacturers to create nearly endless 3D worlds that allow you and your friends to attack enemies, fortify warehouses, stockpile new ammunition to ward off avatar aggressors. But while you play over open wi-fi networks, you could be exposing yourself to another type of digital onslaught. From up to a block away, hackers can access any personal information you transmit over any wi-fi network, making private browsing and private gaming impossible.

Since many games require passwords to access game profiles and may sync to e-mail accounts, gamers afraid of broadcasting this information often utilize VPN services to send all personal information through an encrypted tunnel to a secured data server, no matter where you decide to join your game.

While a photon rifle, a double-barreled shotgun or an armored truck may protect you from most threats you experience while gaming, ensuring complete identity protection gives you the peace of mind to blow up, blast, bomb and defeat your enemies. But despite how frustrated you feel about your real-life digital adversaries, keep your aggression in the game, and your VPN shields at full strength.

Safely Surf The Coffee Shop This Winter

It is as natural to the barista as a frothy espresso: as the weather cools down, coffee sales heat up. According to a study from the Katz School of Business at the University of Pittsburgh, coffee sales peak during the winter holiday season, increasing by up to 30 percent. Bundled-up shoppers after the perfect gifts crowd coffee shops for a hot beverage before heading back into the elements.

But if you are doing your shopping online at one of these locations, make sure your body isn't the only thing protected against the cold world around you. Have proper identity protection as well.

Screen Protectors: When browsing in public locations, it is important that no one is looking over your shoulder. Like an ATM, your computer screen may contain important information like your address, bank account information or PIN codes that nearby sippers could steal. For truly private browsing and the most low-tech identity protection solution available, pick up a screen protector for your laptop. This opaque plastic cover makes your screen invisible to anyone who is not sitting directly in front of it. You can find them at any computer store or department store electronics department.

VPN Services: Identity thieves looking to snatch your financial information may not be sitting at the next table. They may be sitting on the next block. Hackers can infiltrate a public wi-fi network from over a block away, checking out where you have been online and even snatching parts of your online identity. A

VPN account funnels your information through a highly encrypted server from wherever you are so you never have to worry that someone else is looking over your shoulder.
Dummy E-Mail: As e-mail scammers have become more shrewd at tricking users into clicking on e-mail links and entering password information into e-mail replies, web security firms have created dummy e-mail accounts so you can send an e-mail as normal but all replies are returned to a dummy e-mail so none of your activity can be traced back to you. This way, you will never inadvertently give away information through e-mail.

Bundle up your computer this holiday so you can sip your coffee, shop the web and surf with confidence at home, at the mall and even at the coffee shop.

SEC Calls For Companies To Disclose Potential Hacker Infiltration

If there was any doubt that this is the year of the security breach, the SEC put those doubts to rest earlier this month, when they announced a decision to require publicly traded companies to disclose all security breaches and threats to identity protection . Calling to task the sheer volume of security breeches reported this year from such big names as Gucci and Sony, the SEC even requires companies to report when the "risk of potential incidents" becomes so high as to impact the bottom line.

Among the demands listed by the SEC in the official statement, the new regulation demands "discussion of aspects of the registrant's business or operations that give rise to material cybersecurity risks and the potential costs and consequences." The SEC demands descriptions of cyber incidents and potential security risks present in the company's IT framework. For example, companies not requiring work-from-home employees to use VPN services would have to alert shareholders through the SEC.

"For years, cyber risks and incidents material to investors have gone unreported in spite of existing legal obligations to disclose them," Sen. John Rockefeller IV, chairman of the Senate Commerce committee said. "Intellectual property worth billions of dollars has been stolen by cyber criminals, and investors have been kept completely in the dark."

High-profile breaches at companies like Gucci, Sony, Lockheed Martin, Yahoo, Google and Amazon have given rise to increased focus on private browsing and corporate VPN.

VPN Services Fight for Freedom of Information in Iran

The main thorn in the paw of many Iranian citizens is Iran's lack of basic freedoms like freedom of speech and freedom of peaceful assembly. These repressive laws were put to the test in 2009 and 2010 as Iranian citizens used VPN services and identity protection software to amass protesters and broadcast their desire for freedom around the world.

But Iran's government has not gone without a fight and this week, took yet another step to reign in these freedoms. Iran's Telecommunication Minister Reza Taghipour announced Monday that the use of encrypted VPN accounts and other identity protection software to by-pass government imposed censorship filters was officially a crime and would be prosecuted by the law, German news agency Deutche Presse Agentur reported.

"Every country has its own rules for using the internet and we have our own," said Taghipour in a statement. "The use of VPN or other anti-filtering software is forbidden and considered as a crime."

This announcement seems to make millions of Iranians criminals as, according to studies done in the country by third-party sources, approximately 17 million Iranians access Facebook using a VPN, while another 5 million use the software to access other blocked information. Iran has had these rules in an official capacity for years but has been unsure how to enforce them. By attempting to track VPN service users online, the Iranian government believes it can stop protesters no longer willing to stand for these infringed freedoms.

'We have to and will take any necessary measure to confront this soft war,' the minister said, according to ISNA news agency.

Although the Iranian government cannot monitor encrypted VPN services, they plan on attempting to disrupt their use by the population. Technically this is difficult and imposing these laws previously have been spotty. For example, it is technically illegal to have a satellite dish in Iran to view TV programming from outside the country – but a look on the roofs of any major city will see satellite dishes in abundance.

Whatever steps Iran, or other governments may take to limit and censor the access to free information, VPN services will attempt to ensure these freedoms, which should be innate human rights, for oppressed people around the globe.

New Study Exposes Wi-Fi Security Trends

With convenient Wi-Fi hotspots popping up everywhere from Sears to Starbucks, there are very few places lacking in internet access these days. But according to a new study commissioned by the Wi-Fi Alliance, many users are not respecting the seriousness of Wi-Fi security and the lack of identity protection available. The Wi-Fi Alliance has sponsored numerous awareness campaigns to correct this laissez faire attitude toward private browsing. But according to their research, it has come to little avail.

Entitled "The Wi-Fi Security Barometer Survey," the study findings are based on 1,000 interviews fielded among nationally representative people, aged 18 or older. Wakefield Research conducted all interviews between August 12th and August 29th, 2011, using random-digit telephone dialing. The study found that, while many people knew of the inherent security risks involved with using unsecured Wi-Fi networks, only a fraction of them took the necessary steps—turning off automatic sharing on mobile devices, using a VPN service to shield their data—to protect themselves from intruders.

While close to 85 percent of the respondents knew that they should turn off automatic sharing on their Wi-Fi devices, only 62 percent of them had actually done so. And while most respondents knew that Wi-Fi networks left data open to snoops and spies online, only 18 percent of Wi-Fi hotspot users employed a VPN account to protect themselves.

Even when users are not in public, many are lax about web security. 86 percent said they had locked their Wi-Fi with some kind of password. But only 59 percent of the respondents had created passwords that met the basic requirements for length and strength. Through over 11,000 product certifications, the Wi-Fi Alliance has been working to get users to change their passwords, as they know how easy it can be to break into an unprotected network.

The Wi-Fi alliance encourages folks interested in further securing their networks to visit www.wi-fi.org/security for more information, quizzes, setup directions, animations and studies to help users protect themselves and their internet activity.

Prepare For Midterms With VPN Services

From Cliff's Notes to study groups, college students have already begun preparing for midterm exams coming up this October. But before you get to the treats at Halloween, it might be wise to have a few midterm tricks up your sleeve that studying can't provide. This guide can show you how using a VPN service can increase your identity protection and your productivity through the difficult exam period.

Protect Your Projects: The modern university is a competitive place. After all, Facebook was famously created in a dorm room. If you are working on an A+ midterm presentation, chances are your classmates know something about it and are interested in having a peak at your work. And if you have worked on your college's unsecured wifi networks or studied from an off-campus hotspot, you may have given your competitors a front-row seat. With a VPN account, you can reroute all your personal web browsing data through an encrypted remote server and hide your IP address so your computer-savvy classmates can't get a behind-the-scenes look at your next great innovation.

Battle The Campus Firewall: Anyone who has ever tried to research a taboo subject like child pornography or serial killers knows that finding information can be tricky. That's because college campuses ardently protect themselves from lawsuits by ensuring that illegal material is never viewed or downloaded on their watch. The result is an over-restrictive firewall system that often blocks legitimate research sites that students need to complete classroom assignments. In order to study, research and reference certain websites on campus, students can use a VPN service. By rerouting all web search data, VPN users can circumvent university firewalls and search on campus unencumbered. It is cheaper than a mobile hotspot and more secure than any campus wifi network.

Make the more scholarly choice this midterm season by using a service that can make your studying and private browsing that much easier.

Protect Your Personal Info At Work

With hacking a prevalent problem at home and in the workplace, a recent study commissioned by IT firm Sailpoint set out to see just how dangerous the modern workplace is for personal data, private browsing and identity protection.

According to the survey, one in five Americans would ditch a company if it lost their data, and 10 percent would tell their friends and family to abandon that business. But even though people are worried about it happening to them, nearly the same number of Americans said they would steal data from their employer, given the chance. Even more outrageous, almost a quarter of British citizens surveyed said they would sell that info for profit! (Only 5 percent of Americans would – or at least admit it.)

These statistics underscore the need for security in the workplace. There are simple things workers can do to protect themselves.

Always Log Out: A workplace uses a lot of public terminals and company-owned computers. From an open Facebook account to an e-mail left up, co-workers can swipe critical information just by walking past your desk. Sales leads or sensitive financial info are just a glance away if you don't take the extra three seconds before lunch to log out.

Make Complex Passwords: If you cover your desk in Yankees gear or have a prized pup named Pepper, you don't want to use these obvious interests as passwords. Any curious co-worker could pop into your personal info. Use at least one number or symbol to throw off would-be intruders.

VPN Services: A VPN account, which transfers your computer transmissions to a remote server, is the safest way to use office wifi. Many offices have encrypted wifi. But if co-workers are already on the same network, they can see your information with the right mouse clicks. So ensure that you are truly browsing in private at work.

Apple's FaceTime Encryption Raises Security Concerns For Video Chatters

When Apple introduced FaceTime—an iPhone-based video chat service—in June 2010, it wasn't long before people raised questions about security. After all, FaceTime only works over wifi and, while most wireless systems are properly encrypted, many are not. How would Apple ensure private browsing, VOIP calling and video chatting?

Apple has stated that a best practice for any WiFi use is to ensure that WiFi encryption is being used with the access point (preferably WPA2) – accordingly, if enabled, then FaceTime is secured using this encryption.. If your WiFi uses a different type of security—namely the much maligned WEP— or, as in the case with much of public WiFi, no security, your Facetime calls may be open to hacking or theft.

This issue was raised in two recent cases. Aldo Cortesi, a Kiwi security consultant famous for his work on the class-action lawsuit against gaming network OpenFeint earlier this year, released a report this week calling several of Apple's security protocols into question. His concerns stem from the way Apple devices access game and app servers. His report indicates that over 100 million users could be vulnerable to internet spies, and recommends some kind of identity protection.

Tech blog ZDNet also recently reported on a Health and Human Services update that requires all healthcare providers looking for government funds to be HIPAA compliant. In order to gain compliance, health care providers must update wifi security if they plan to use FaceTime. The HIPAA statute declares that, while WPA and WPA Personal may be acceptable depending on the circumstances, WEP security is not allowed.

These questions as to current security have caused some to seek alternate means around mobile device call security in general. Users can bypass these security concerns by imposing their own security measures. Commercially available methods, like VPN services, offer protection no matter what type of wifi security is being used. This offers a sigh of relief to business professionals and long-distance couples who would prefer to keep their video calls as private as possible.

Don't Get Spooked By Online Halloween Shopping

According to a report released by the National Retail Federation, not even the ghosts of recession's past can scare away Halloween's buying brilliance. After taking a dip in 2009, 2010 saw a return to full-fledged spooky spending, with shoppers plunking down $1.8 billion on candy, $1.6 billion on decorations and another $1.8 billion on costumes, both for their children and themselves. While Halloween is fast becoming a holiday favorite, online shopping for your favorite scary gags without identity protection could leave you in very real terror.

Busy online shopping days like Cyber Monday (the newly-minted web-based answer to America's busiest shopping day, Black Friday) attract online scammers, hackers and snoops looking to catch your credit card number or other online information over non-encrypted wi-fi networks. If you are buying candy, costumes or decorations on a non-protected network without the protection of a VPN account, you may be broadcasting your personal shopping info to every prying eye within a one-block radius.

Just like your favorite Halloween mask, VPN services hide your IP address and other pertinent details so you can browse in private. Behind this mask, all your web information is transmitted through a remote server so that it isn't open to the average person looking in, no matter what security is available on your network.

While most online shopping portals and e-commerce sites are encrypted for safe shopping, some can be easily manipulated. And with many scammers using phony e-mails to steal personal information, busy shoppers getting e-mails from Halloween retailers are at increased risk for identity theft and hacking. But with dummy e-mail addresses and other security measures, VPN customers are better protected, behind a scary mask of security.

Don't get spooked by online Halloween shopping this year. Just get a better mask and scare the snoopers right back.

VPN Service: The Perfect Back-To-School Tool

When shopping for back-to-school technology, most students think of a new laptop, an external hard drive or a tablet. But what about making sure your classmates are keeping their eyes on their own paper this fall? According to the Federal Bureau of Consumer Protection, students age 20-29 are most likely to be victims of identity theft, making identity protection a serious concern on college campuses.

Many students use VPN services to ensure their identity cannot be stolen online. By funneling all online information through a private, encrypted server, students can hide an IP address so cyber crooks never get an
accurate read on where you are, what you are doing or how much you are spending.

College students are perfect targets for identity thieves. They usually have a large amount of disposable income, furnished by mom and dad or student loans; they often spend large portions of the day online; and they are constantly passing personal info through school websites and campus Wi-Fi networks. In short, today's college campus makes private browsing nearly impossible, making students vulnerable to hacking, snooping and identity theft. But a VPN account allows students to browse anonymously from anywhere.

Your identity includes your name, address, phone number, email, social security number, mother’s maiden name, ATM pin, date of birth, and account numbers or usernames. Any combination of these can provide enough information for an identify thief to steal from you. By protecting these pieces of information, you can ensure that you will not become a victim.

The Bureau of Consumer Protection also recommends monitoring your credit score, shredding bills and offers that contain personal information, limiting credit card usage and leaving your social security cards at home. But for online activity, VPN services can protect your digital life as well.

Protecting Children Against Identity Theft In A Social Media World

You have taken strides to protect your children at school, at the supermarket and at the park. And by monitoring their Internet access, you have tried to protect them in cyberspace as well. But new reports show that, while identity protection software has never been more prevalent, identity theft is on the rise. And the thieves have a new target: children.

According to a new report from USA Today, the Federal Trade Commission has levied several large fines against companies targeting children. These companies track internet activity and distribute information, in violation of the Children's Online Privacy and Protection Act, or COPPA. App maker W3 Innovations had to cough up $50,000 after they collected information on children and targeted products to kids younger than 13. Earlier this year the FTC wrested a record $3 million settlement from online game developer Playdom, now a division of Disney, for similar COPPA violations.

Child safety advocates have stressed the seriousness of these offenses, saying that childrens' new-found infatuation with online social networks and mobile devices have left them vulnerable to identity thieves and pedophiles.

Many households have attached further privacy measures on their home computers to protect these portals to their children. VPN services allow parents to filter all children's internet activities through an encrypted server so they can't be followed or tracked. Private information disappears every time your child logs off the computer, giving parents added peace of mind against this new breed of child predator.

New Wi-Fi Threats Make VPN's Essential To Safe Surfing, Report Says

According to recent polls, over 83% of Americans own a cell phone or mobile device and, by 2015, are all expected to be connected to the Internet in one form or another. But with wireless companies scaling back smartphone plans—this month, both Sprint and AT&T announced data plans as low as $15 with drastically reduced wireless capabilities—the hunt for free Wi-Fi will gain millions of new hunters this year.

Sadly though, Wi-Fi security is still evolving, making identity protection and private browsing difficult.

A new report from Information Week magazine has shown a spotlight on some new dangers in the world of Wi-Fi that should draw concern from the mobile-connected community.
Snooping Software: Plugins and software platforms will continue to emerge, helping snoopers, spies and hackers glimpse private information. And as mobile networks have become more widespread, these platforms are even more lucrative for the opportunistic interloper. " It's trivially easy to snoop on unencrypted protocols and perform traffic analysis with Wireshark or a similar network protocol analyzer, or hijack browser sessions with a plug-in such as Firesheep," Information Week commentator Kurt Marko reported.

Man-In-The-Middle Attacks: VPN's can route your browser information through heavily encrypted channels to prevent attacks, thwarting Man-In-The-Middle hackers from rerouting all your browser information, lifting passwords and other sensitive information from public Wi-Fi networks. This is usually facilitated through wireless login Trojan pages, giving you no indication that you have been infiltrated.

While many tech-savvy individuals have taken to avoiding public networks to protect their information, this tactic may not work forever as mobile access becomes more central to our everyday communication. While many technology companies are now rolling out VPN plugins, 3rd party VPN services still hold the recommendation of tech professionals as they are constantly updated to protect against new and increasingly savvy snoopers.