Jump to content
Create New...

HEARTBLEED BUG - It Affects YOU!


Recommended Posts

G. David Felt

Alternative Fuels & Propulsion writer

www.CheersandGears.com

post-12-0-49522600-1397163396_thumb.png

In the news of the last 48hrs has been the story about the large hole in SSL or what is known as Secure Socket Layer.

I don’t usually talk about network security around here, but this vulnerability almost certainly affects you.

Whenever you buy anything online, most often, that transaction is encrypted using Secure Socket Layer (SSL). If you’re on a site such as Amazon, then you go to the shopping cart or checkout, at the top of the URL you’ll see http:// change to https://. That is generally an indicator that SSL encryption is protecting your credit card data.

Turns out there has been a massive hole in a specific implementation of SSL. On some sites, all your “encrypted private data” has been clear and open for attackers to see.

If you don’t want your identity hijacked, and ESPECIALLY if you have credit card data on these sites, you should change your password TODAY on Facebook, Twitter, and with Apple (e.g, iTunes). I happen to have a GoDaddy domain, so I need to change my password with GoDaddy, too. If you have a TurboTax or Dropbox password, those should be changed, too.

For a list of major vendors who have been vulnerable AND have installed the fix, see:

http://mashable.com/2014/04/09/heartbleed-bug-websites-affected/

Because SSL is so foundational to e-commerce sites, some vulnerable sites need time in order to install the fix. That means if you change your password to fool attackers on a site that has not yet installed the fix, you’re just giving the attackers your new passwords. If a site where you have an account sends you an email about the Heartbleed bug, take note! Meanwhile, be more diligent than usual about watching your e-shopping transactions!

Full Details about the Heartbleed bug can be read here: http://heartbleed.com/

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.



×
×
  • Create New...

Hey there, we noticed you're using an ad-blocker. We're a small site that is supported by ads or subscriptions. We rely on these to pay for server costs and vehicle reviews.  Please consider whitelisting us in your ad-blocker, or if you really like what you see, you can pick up one of our subscriptions for just $1.75 a month or $15 a year. It may not seem like a lot, but it goes a long way to help support real, honest content, that isn't generated by an AI bot.

See you out there.

Drew
Editor-in-Chief

Write what you are looking for and press enter or click the search icon to begin your search

Change privacy settings