PHUKET: The recent New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) trading halt triggered a brief rush into cyber security stocks on renewed fears of yet another serious hack attack. While that incident was apparently caused by a computer malfunction, it shows just how jumpy investors are when it comes to the possibility of a new high-profile hack similar to the one that hit Target in 2013, during which as many as 110 million customers may have had their personal data stolen, or the embarrassing Sony hack allegedly carried out by North Koreans, and then again with the recent news that the Chinese may have stolen employee data of millions of US Federal employees. Given the steady stream of high profile hack attacks, investors might want to take a closer look at the following important cyber security stocks along with their returns: Israel-based large cap Check Point Software Technologies Ltd (NASDAQ: CHKP) offers a range of IT security products and services, including anti-virus products. Shares are … [Read more...] about Finance: Get smart with cyber security stocks
Security
Green BFF ‘security test’ on Facebook is fake news
Rumours of typing "BFF" (Best Friends Forever) on your Facebook to test if your account is secure from hackers or not is actually a hoax. The lie says that if you type "BFF" in a comment on a Facebook post and if it appears green, your account is allegedly protected. If it does not turn green, users are advised to change their passwords immediately as their accounts may be hacked by someone. Many people fell for this after several were seen typing the letters that turned green on a Facebook post as seen in this screenshot via World of Buzz. The letters "BFF" turning green is part of a feature on the social media platform where certain words trigger animations, reports Snopes. Others among them are "congratulations," and "xoxo". Facebook is currently under fire over the use of its data by British political research company Cambridge Analytica which reportedly obtained the personal information of 50 million Facebook users. Many of us do not realise how we are giving … [Read more...] about Green BFF ‘security test’ on Facebook is fake news
Gunman in French hostage-taking killed by police: Security source
TOULOUSE (REUTERS, AFP) - French police killed a gunman who shot dead at least three people and injured two others in a hostage-taking and shooting spree in southwest France on Friday (March 23), security sources said. A policeman involved in the freeing of all of the hostages at the Super U supermarket in the town of Trebes was injured during the operation to kill the gunman, the source added, asking not to be named. Interior Minister Gerard Collomb later said the injured policeman who was shot by the assailant had swapped himself for a hostage in the siege, hailing his “act of heroism”. Mr Collomb named the gunman as 26-year-old Redouane Lakdim and described him as a small-time drug dealer who was not considered a terror threat. “He was known by the police for petty crimes, we had monitored him and did not think he had been radicalised,” Mr Collomb said after arriving at the scene of the hostage-taking. … [Read more...] about Gunman in French hostage-taking killed by police: Security source
Typing ‘BFF’ to see if it turns green does not show if your Facebook account is secure
SINGAPORE - If you use Facebook regularly, chances are that you will have seen this viral post this week claiming that you can check if your account is protected simply by typing in the word "BFF". The post, which has been reposted and shared tens of thousands of times, includes a photo of Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg. It reads: "Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook, invented the word BFF. To make sure your account is safe on Facebook, type BFF in a comment. If it appears green, your account is protected. If it does not appear in green, change your password immediately because it will be hacked." One post by Facebook user Remee Dayao-Centeno, made on March 19, has been shared more than 13,000 times. The comment section is filled with users typing the word, with some turning green while others remain in the default black font. While the social media giant has not officially commented on the matter, tech sites have debunked the claim that typing out a green BFF means your account … [Read more...] about Typing ‘BFF’ to see if it turns green does not show if your Facebook account is secure
Phuket Police beef up security over holiday period
PHUKET: More than 280 Phuket police officers and volunteers gathered outside Phuket Provincial Police Station yesterday in a show of readiness to boost the safety of tourists and residents on the island over the Christmas and New Year holidays. “Security measures will be heightened from December 22 to January 15, to instill confidence in both locals and tourists who visit Phuket during this period,” said Region 8 Deputy Police Commander Chalit Thinthanee. The additional officers and volunteers chosen to carry out special duties have been assigned from police stations throughout Phuket, as well as army, civil defence volunteers and others. “We have passed on the message to all security forces to get rid of crime in any shape or form as much as possible, especially during the holiday period. As it is a long holiday, people are travelling around a lot more than usual. Bigger crowds pose a much higher crime risk and also create traffic issues, so we have to be extra … [Read more...] about Phuket Police beef up security over holiday period