Protection from cyber attacks  

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Protection from cyber attacks  

 

Louis Barton, executive vice president for Frost Bank, talks to those in attendance during the Frost Bank "Cyber Safety Starts With You" Small Business Luncheon at the Weslaco Area Chamber of Commerce.
Louis Barton, executive vice president for Frost Bank, talks to those in attendance during the Frost Bank “Cyber Safety Starts With You” Small Business Luncheon at the Weslaco Area Chamber of Commerce.

Louis Barton has spent a lot of time learning how to protect himself from “the bad guy,” and that was before he became a leader in cyber safety at Frost Bank.

At a forum on cyber security, Barton discussed ways hackers can find their way into anyone’s bank account, credit card, phone or computer and steal their identity. Many in attendance were wide-eyed during some of his examples, like having your information stolen when you walk by a billboard.

“The bad guys are out there, and they are trying to take the best things that come out of the internet and use them to make money, to use them to steal your identity,” he said. “Fraud is just one of your risks. The internet is always changing – but a little awareness can go a long way.”

Barton is the director of operational risks and an executive vice president for Frost Bank. He keeps informed on things that could happen to bank clients as well as how to protect them. He said no matter how much security there is, the threat of cyber attacks will never be eliminated and that one doesn’t have to be rich to be a target for “the bad guys.”

“When he is in your back pocket and you don’t know it, isn’t that the worst,” he said. “But it’s not always money they are after. What’s more valuable? Your data is. Your social security number is. Why? Because I can sell it over and over and over again.”

Information theft can even be a life or death situation. Barton told the story of a patient who needed a kidney transplant but when it came time for an emergency transplant, he couldn’t get it. His  identity and insurance information had been stolen which delayed the critical kidney transplant.

On the positive side, Barton said nobody needs a doctorate degree in technology to be protected from such attacks. Common sense is the first step. Protecting passwords, using a validation tool like virustotal.com to check on websites and backing up data are ways to greatly lower your risk, especially from things like ransomware, which will lock you out of your computer.

twitter-holds-verified-accounts-for-ransomfor-15000-in-ads“That happened to a hospital in Beverly Hills,” he said. “Your computer is locked, and the bad guys will hold it captive until you pay what they ask for the password to unlock it. Even then, according to the FBI, in 50% of the cases, they won’t give you the password.” The FBI has a most wanted list for cyber criminals. One of those criminals was wanted for ransomware that caused more than $100 million in losses.

According to an article at adweek.com, the most expensive virus was named MyDoom and it gave hackers remote control access over a variety of computer systems. It was estimated to have caused $38.5 billion in damage.

But it’s not just adults who are targeted and susceptible to damaging cyber attacks. Barton said one in 12 children is a victim of identity theft by the time they are 18. He said using some simple tools can help entire families stay safe, or as safe as possible. The site breachalarm.com is a public tool that allows people to check and see if their email passwords have been compromised by being posted online and alerts you to change your password. The site claims to have detected more than 571 million accounts that have been hacked.

“It’s scary what people can do and how they get your information,” said Marlene Rodriguez, from LiftFund, a non-profit organization that provides small business owners with loans through various programs. “With the way teens and young adults are posting everything about their lives and where they are and what they are doing, this would be great information to provide them and teach them.”

Barton added that other ways to add protection to your cyber accounts is to have a regular process for payments everywhere, to use dual controls and have your bank explain what those are, to reconcile your accounts daily and to read all electronic notices and alerts. He also said to be careful opening all emails and to read carefully where those emails came from.

“The bad guys have all sorts of ways of making things look legitimate and they are coming up with new ways every day. They want to scare you into changing your password or giving up your account. You have to be diligent and careful. You have to use common sense to protect yourself, your family and your business from cyber fraud.”

Story by Henry Miller also appears in the October 2016 edition of Valley Business Report.

Has been a writer/editor for more than 25 years. Was a syndicated writer for more than 130 newspapers and talent for 40 radio stations covering NASCAR during its heyday. Covered the 1996 Olympics for Thomson Newspapers. Has won more than 30 local, state and national writing and photography awards. Earned a communications degree from the Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio and an MBA from UTRGV. Teaches business classes for Wayland Baptist University. Covered stories including the blackout of the Northeast, Dale Earnhardt's death, the murder of Michael Jordan's dad and many other stories. A native of New York, he lives in McAllen with his 12-year-old daughter Camilla. He enjoys being a motivational speaker, playing sports, reading, cooking, coaching volleyball and, most of all, being with his 13-year-old daughter daughter Camilla, a volleyball and track star, and straight A student. He is also the youth director at his church, Christian Fellowship Church in McAllen.

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