Today, we honor the heroes who gave everything for our country. Their sacrifice is the foundation of the freedoms we protect every day.
At Privacy for Cops, we are proud to support those who serve and protect — from law enforcement officers and judges to district attorneys and their families.
This Memorial Day, we renew our commitment to safeguarding their online privacy, because security doesn’t stop at the badge — it extends to home and family.
We honor the fallen. We protect the living. 🕯️🎖️
Today, on Peace Officers Memorial Day, we pause to honor the law enforcement officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.
As a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving and supporting law enforcement, we stand with their families, colleagues, and communities in remembering their bravery, commitment, and selfless service.
Their legacy lives on in the hearts of those they protected. 💙
Keep Your Data Safe at an Airport – Avoid Juice Jacking!
If you’re not careful about how you connect to Wi-Fi when you travel, you could be exposing your personal information to hackers. In fact, when you connect to free Wi-Fi at an airport, there are hackers trolling these connections and sometimes impersonating the networks. They want to get access to your credit card numbers, bank accounts, and other sensitive information.
How do they do it? They create fake networks that are named very similarly to the official airport networks. If you connect to one of these networks, they can spy on everything you do on your device. Whether it be a cell phone, tablet, or laptop, hackers can get into it.
In fact, anytime you connect to a certified airport network with no password, all of your data is sent to that network. Basically, anyone who wants to listen in can transmit data from your computer or phone across that network.
Avoid Juice Jacking!
Juice Jacking is when you use a public charging station to charge your phone, and a bad actor (hacker) uses it to steal data or load malware on your phone or device. Essentially, it’s a cyberattack.
Avoid plugging into random USBs and bring your own plug gear for outlets.
If you need to get on the internet at an airport, be proactive and use these suggested tips to keep your data safe and still enjoy your trip:
Before you travel
Finally, make sure no one is “shoulder-surfing” (sitting behind you looking over your shoulder) your device content. Try using a security screen or lower the brightness to minimize visualization.
The recent wildfires in Southern California have been devastating, with many people losing their homes and others facing significant disruptions to their lives.
Our thoughts and prayers are with all those who are affected. We are beyond grateful to our law enforcement officers and first responders who are working tirelessly to keep our communities safe.
Support for the communities affected can also take form through charitable donations, volunteering, and advocacy for stronger environmental policies. It’s a time for solidarity in the face of these natural disasters.
Our office is in Pasadena, California, so we are in this with you!
As we look back on this year, we’re reminded of how grateful we are to our law enforcement community and their families. Thank you for your support and for continuously inspiring us to do better.
Happy Holidays!
The Public Safety Assistance Foundation and our subsidiaries: Privacyforcops.org and PolicePrivacy.com
QR codes are everywhere! Signs, menus, and yes, parking. But, think twice before scanning one. There have been numerous reports about a scam involving fraudulent QR Codes in parking lots.
How the scam works
You pull into a parking lot and see that there is a sign to pay. At first glance, nothing looks wrong with the sign. There is a QR code, hours of operation, and even a zone number. You scan the code and pay. Normally, you would receive an immediate text or email alerting you that your payment was processed and how much time you have left before the lot or meter expires. But, you get nothing. Or maybe you did see one credit card charge, but no other confirmation. The same day, the next day, or even a week later you start seeing other charges that have nothing to do with parking. Turns out, the QR code was a fake. And now your information is in the hands of a scammer.
TIPS TO AVOID FALLING INTO THIS TRAP:
1. Make sure the QR code or website is real. Just because a website has a logo doesn’t mean it is legitimate.
2. Pay for parking directly through your app or directly through the meter.
3. Check the spelling of the site. Look for spelling and grammatical errors. Instead of a website saying “paybyphone,” it might say “poybyphone.” Just one letter off. The scammers are trying to steal your data and make you think you’re on a real website.
4. Fake QR codes can be placed on anything. In some instances, they were glued on top of real parking meters. So, check for signs of tampering.
Let’s be real. Scammers don’t seem to be slowing down any time soon. They will always be out there lurking for the next victim. And unfortunately, travelers are frequently targeted by scammers – particularly hackers. Your personal data is much more valuable than your personal items. But, with these simple steps, you can make it much harder for thieves to steal your information.
Seven Ways to Travel with Peace of Mind:
Let’s start with the basics. Gift cards are for gifts – not for payments. We buy gift cards to give to someone as a present. A birthday, a graduation, an anniversary, a holiday, a promotion, or other gift giving reasons. Never ever, under any circumstances, buy a gift card and then read the numbers to someone you don’t know over the phone. That has scam written all over it.
How Do Gift Card Scams Work?
Gift card scams usually begin with a call, text, email, or an instant message from a social media account. Scammers will tell you to go to a specific store and they will tell you what type of gift card to buy. They will then ask you for the card number and the pin number from the back of the card. Once they have this information, it gives them access to get the money that you just loaded on the card. They don’t need a physical card to get the money.
What Might Scammers Say to Trick You?
Scammers might say they are from the government, such as the IRS or Social Security Administration. They might say they are from tech support and that something is wrong with your computer. They could say you’ve won a prize. They might even use other more stringent tactics and tell you they are a family member who has an emergency. This is called impersonating. They will say anything. Don’t fall for it!
Tips for buying gift cards:
Report Gift Cards Used in Scams to the FTC at https://www.ftc.gov/media/70967
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Privacy for Cops! We are grateful for the work we get to do every day in helping to protect law enforcement officers, publicly appointed officials, and their families, from the exposure of their personal information online.
Support Options Limited During Holiday Hours
We will be closed December 25-26 and January 1, along with limited availability during these holiday weeks.
We appreciate your patience during this time and will reply to your messages as soon as we return.
With respect, honor, and gratitude ~ Thank you to all those who served our beautiful country.
We see you.
We appreciate you.
We honor you.
