Cyber Security: 5 easy ways to protect yourself

What is Antivirus? What is spyware? Why do I need Malware protection? 

Cyber security is an issue that has evolved over the years. The threats have morphed and have become very sophisticated.

How can you protect yourself?

Here are 10 easy ways to protect your PC, MAC, Phone etc from viruses and malware.

1. Stop visiting websites that contain malware and viruses. This seems obvious, but it's one of those common sense things that needs explaining.

There are a few categories of websites that it would just be better to avoid. P#rn0graphy is one such category. I hope my l33t speak is understandable there. P#rn sites are notorious for dropping malware and viruses on unsuspecting visitors. Another category to avoid is pirated software sites, and keygen sites. These are all notorioulsy rotten, relying on the first category of site to fund itself by alluring visitors.

You don't need that. If you think you do, that's fine. Just don't say I didn't warn you.

2. Install an Ad Blocker. This is an odd one, because I rely on advertising for revenue. But the fact is that some otherwise decent websites allow adverts from less than reputable streams. My rule of thumb is if the site is good and the ads aren't too annoying, I'll let it pass by the ad blocker. The key thing here is that I am in control of what I see and what gets served to me online.

3. Use Antivirus. And keep up to speed (every two or three years is enough) on the best new antivirus technologies, whether free or paid. In a future post, I will outline a simple way you can get good protection online while not breaking the bank.

4. Use a DNS service other than your ISP. Open DNS is fantastic, and google has a public DNS service that utilizes some heavy security features.

5. Use quality anti-malware, spyware and virus software. Don't bother with the free junk your ISP provides you. And stop installing Mcafee and Norton 360. There is much better free software out there!

6. Stop using Internet Explorer, now called Edge. I know, I know. For touch screens on Windows Surface, Edge works beautifully. But ... it's the same old same old. Firefox, Chrome and Safari are excellent browsers.

7. Stop installing every random extension you find on the chrome store. Some extensions seriously compromise your computer's security! Furthermore, many extensions are just glorified bookmarks. So, just bookmark your favourite websites.

8. If you have an android device, put antivirus on it. Android devices can get viruses! So it's a good idea to protect your device.

9. Check the ratings of apps or software you install to your Windows, iOS, OSx or Andriod device. A little research can go a long way.

10. Install an Anti-malware program on your windows computer. Do a little research, or come back soon for my list of the best o the best Anti-malware programs.

This is an investing website, but another way of investing is to watch your safety.

Tech Investing Tips Roundup

Here are 4 sites I rounded up specifically for Tech investors; especially if you are just getting into the space. These should give you some good ideas for your next venture in the tech markets.

Tips for Investing in Global Tech
http://www.advisor.ca/news/industry-news/tips-for-investing-in-global-tech-205716

Cyber Security is a growing investment sector that seems to be resilliant to market turmoil. Check it out: http://fortune.com/2015/09/23/cyber-security-investing/

A Primer on Tech investing
http://www.investopedia.com/articles/stocks/10/primer-on-the-tech-industry.asp

Going simple: ETFs that track the NASDAQ
http://www.investopedia.com/articles/markets/113015/top-5-etfs-track-nasdaq-2016.asp

Cisco Systems (Nasdaq: CSCO) is Looking More and More Like a Dividend Stock

By Diane Alter
www.moneymorning.com

Since the height of the dot.com boom, the transformation of Cisco Systems (Nasdaq: CSCO) has been extraordinary.

These days, the Silicon Valley Internet giant looks more and more like a dividend stock rather than an explosive growth company.

In fact, last Wednesday, the San Jose-based behemoth increased its dividend rate by a whopping 75% (from 8 cents per share to 14 cents) starting with the present quarter. That gives shares of Cisco a new dividend yield of roughly 3% which among the highest of major tech stocks.

For investors seeking a reasonably safe return and a less volatile investment, a great deal of value can be found in Cisco these days since the company now plans to return half of its cash flow to investors by way of dividends and stock buybacks.

And while the company may not post eye-popping revenue growth year-after-year, Cisco does appear poised to post healthy results and robust cash flow for years ahead.

That means Cisco's dividend will be both safe and stable.

Cisco Systems: Past, Present, Future

A once high-flying internet company, Cisco went public in February of 1990. The company rode the entire internet wave to the top, and is widely credited with changing the telecom landscape.

In fact, by late March 2000, at the apex of the dot.com boom, Cisco was crowned the most valuable company in the world, sporting a market cap in excess of $600 billion.

Since then its market cap has dwindled to $102 billion. Even still, in June 2009, it was added to the Dow Jones Industrial Average, and also maintains a place in several other influential indexes.

Of course, the future will tell if Cisco's bigger dividend and buyback program are part of a bigger and better Cisco, or simply a small consolation.

In the meantime, the fresh dividend hike is likely to keep shareholders happy, while the share buybacks (which reduce the amount of outstanding shares) will make its outstanding shares more valuable.

The news comes as Cisco reported impressive fourth quarter earnings that beat on all accounts. Cisco posted massive growth global rates in all regions except troubled Europe. Revenue increased 4% and profits jumped 56% compared to the same quarter a year earlier.

Following the earnings report, Cisco CEO, John Chambers noted that an uptick in orders at the end of the just ended quarter is a positive sign for the future. Acknowledging Europe remains a lackluster region, Chambers commented that the U.S. market is showing clear signs of improvement.

"We wouldn't have done the dividend commitment and the cash commitment if we didn't see stabilization in our business and had good confidence going forward," Chamber said on the earnings conference call.

Analysts and investors were quick to take note. Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS) recently added Cisco to its coveted "conviction buy list," and Piper Jaffrey upgraded Cisco shares.

For income investors, Cisco is suddenly a stock worth considering.


Source: Cisco Systems (Nasdaq: CSCO) is Looking More and More Like a Dividend Stock:

Cybersecurity Stocks: Four Ways to Play the "Flame" Attack on Iran

June 6, 2012

By Michael A. Robinson, Defense and Technology Specialist, Money Morning

www.moneymorning.com

 

Iran loves to rattle its saber-especially when it comes to Israel.

But the country that would like to wipe Israel off the map now finds itself the target of a very different kind of war.

On the frontlines of cyberspace, Iran has become the victim of another massive attack on its computer networks.

In the wake of the Stuxnet attack, the Flame virus unleashed on Iran is one of the worst pieces of malware ever to hit cyberspace.

The Flame virus is not just nasty, it's also very smart.

It was written to spy on a user's infected system and steal data. This includes documents, recorded conversations and even keystrokes.

Then it throws open a back door that allows hackers to tweak the code giving Flame even more ways to wreak havoc.

Clearly, news of the Flame attack comes at a key moment.

Rising tensions between the U.S. and Iran over its nuclear program have left the region under the threat of a wider conventional war.

In the background is the Israeli wild card. Israel has taken key political actions to ensure it's ready if it needs to attack Iran.

Flame's success is that it helps to keep a lid on this brewing powder keg.

In short, it is war by other means-even though Israel and the U.S. both deny they are behind the Flame attacks.

Yet, there's no question the Flame episode is part a major global trend that has put cybersecurity stocks back in the public eye.

And in a moment I'll show you four ways to invest in this growing field-pegged at about $65 billion.

But first, I want to make sure you have the correct context...

The Growing Menace in Cyberspace

The truth is that the U.S. is all too often on the receiving end of cyberattacks.

Hackers from around the world try to steal or destroy sensitive defense and financial data hundreds of times a day.

Not only that, the Pentagon maintains an active Cyber Command. The unit trains around the clock to keep the nation prepared to defend against hacks.

And for good reason...

There's just no question that in what I call the Era of Radical Change, a "Cyber Cold War" is a fact of life.

You see, rogue nations and freelance hackers can easily afford to create and launch weapons of mass computer destruction.

Compared to the cost of a fighter jet or battleship, writing computer code is practically free.

In the case of Iran, this is the second major cyberattack in the past two years. In 2010, the Stuxnet worm disabled machinery for several months that Iran needs for its nuclear program.

But Flame puts Stuxnet to shame. After all, the file itself is 20 times larger and far more complex.

It can turn a computer into a wireless vacuum cleaner. It sucks up names and phone numbers from nearby devices and transfers them back to the attacker's server.

Though Iran is not the only target, Flame has mostly focused on the Middle East. Other countries fending off Flame include Egypt, Israel, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Syria.

In all, the Flame virus has attacked nearly 600 systems.

Four Ways to Invest in Cybersecurity Stocks

Clearly, news like this means investors need to keep an eye on cybersecurity stocks. Several have gotten slammed in the market's recent retreat but offer good long-term opportunities.

Take the case of Fortinet, Inc. (Nasdaq: FTNT). Trading at about $20, the stock is off more than 20% in the past month. And the price may get even better because tech stocks have come under pressure of late. With a market cap of $3.2 billion, it has a 14% profit margin and earns 19% on equity. It has $428 million in cash and no debt.

Fast-growing Sourcefire, Inc. (Nasdaq: FIRE) also has gotten slammed. It's down more than 12% in the past month. Yet FIRE has $150 million in cash and no debt. However, Sourcefire can't match Fortinet's solid margins.  With a market cap of about $1.5 billion, Sourcefire returns just 3% on equity. But the company does have 2,500 clients in 180 countries and boasts 41 pending or actual patents.

Shares of Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. (Nasdaq: CHKP) also got caught in the May rout, ending the month off by about 13%. But the balance sheet looks great. Check Point has a market cap of about $10.4 billion. Selling at about $50, it trades at just 14 times forward earnings. It has an operating profit margin of more than 50 percent with $1.4 billion in cash and no debt.

Then there is small cap KEYW Holding Corp. (Nasdaq: KEYW). It trades at just $9. Though it's off slightly in the past 30 days, KEYW has beaten its larger rivals over the past three months. For the quarter, KEYW returned 29% to shareholders compared with 11.5% for FIRE and declines of 15% for CHKP and 26% for FTNT. The point is that we have millions of computers around the world connected to either the Web or private networks. For hackers, these computer networks are a target-rich landscape.

That means cybersecurity will remain an active field for investors for at least the next several years. And to help you stay abreast these growing cyber threats and other cutting-edge high tech, I recently launched the Era of Radical Change.  It is a free newsletter that will show you how to profit from the most important trends reshaping the world around us.

I'm referring to things like:

1. A mini robot that charges your cell phone just by hovering over it.
2. How a new app can turn your smart phone into a bomb detector and send an alert to the police.
3. And an exotic new material that's the thickness of a single atom. Someday, it will give us TV screens that are slimmer than a sheet of paper.

So, if you want to find a way to profit from the next generation of tech breakthroughs, the Era of Radical Change is a great place to start.

And you can't beat the price. You can get it free by clicking here.

source: http://moneymorning.com/2012/06/06/cybersecurity-stocks-four-ways-to-play-the-flame-attack-on-iran/