The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide

Identity protection tips for the holidays

With high profile data breaches at Marriott and Quora and a new government report about Equifax’s breach, the U.S. PIRG Education Fund is offering tips for consumers to protect themselves as they use their credit and debit cards to travel and buy gifts this holiday season.

“Breached companies from Equifax to Marriott have failed to clearly explain the risks posed by their breaches and the steps consumers can take to protect themselves,” said Mike Litt, consumer campaign director for the fund, a group that helps consumers. “Depending on what information thieves steal in a data breach, consumers could be victims of many different types of identity theft and fraud.”

The U.S. PIRG Education Fund recommends that consumers take the following steps, whether their information was stolen in high profile breaches or not:

Charter Communication agrees to record settlement for fraud in its internet services

Charter Communications and Spectrum Management Holding Co. have agreed to pay $174.2 million for defrauding internet subscribers. About $62.5 million of the funds will go to refunds for consumers, making it, regulators say, the largest-ever payout to consumers by an internet service provider, or ISP, in U.S. history.

Charter Communications merged with Time Warner in 2016, and has rebranded the internet, phone, and cable service as Spectrum Cable. Providing services to more than 26 million customers in 41 states, it’s the second-largest cable operator in the United States by subscribers, after Comcast.

The Tuesday agreement settles a fraud allegation that New York state’s largest ISP denied customers the reliable and fast internet service it had promised.

Five companies settle charges that they had mobile apps that didn’t keep sensitive user information secure

Five companies settled charges Friday that their mobile apps failed to keep sensitive user information secure when transmitted over the Internet.

The mobile apps of Western Union Financial Services, Priceline.com, Equifax Consumer Services, Spark Networks, and Credit Sesame had a security problem that could have allowed sensitive information entered by users – such as passwords, Social Security numbers, credit card numbers, and bank account numbers – to be stolen by eavesdroppers using simple techniques, tests by the New York Attorney General’s Office showed. Although each company told consumers that it used security measures to protect their information, the companies failed to determine whether their mobile apps had this problem.

The settlements with the New York agency require the companies to carry out comprehensive security programs to protect user information.

Tips to help consumers protect themselves on Black Friday and Cyber Monday

As millions of holiday shoppers head out for Black Friday shopping and take to their computers for Cyber Monday, it’s important to remember that just because items are supposedly on sale, all may not be what it seems.  

“When purchasing gifts for family and friends, we encourage consumers to use our tips to protect themselves against fraudsters and scams,” said New York Attorney General Barbara Underwood  

Underwood offers the following tips for consumers shopping on Black Friday and Cyber Monday:

Security problem in Samsung smart TVs corrected for 2018, with an update for older sets coming soon

Samsung has fixed a security flaw in its smart televisions in response to an investigation into privacy and security standards in these TVs.

Consumer Reports reported in February it had found that millions of TVs from Samsung, as well as those from brands that use the Roku TV platform, could be controlled by hackers using easy-to-find security flaws.

The problems were discovered during a Consumer Reports-led privacy and security evaluation of five smart TV brands.

Attack on Facebook exposes 50 million users’ accounts

Facebook announced Friday that earlier this week, "attackers exploited a vulnerability in Facebook’s code that impacted ‘View As,’” a feature that lets people see what their own profile looks like to someone else. This allowed them to steal Facebook access tokens which they could then use to take over people’s accounts."

Ed Mierzwinski, the senior director of U.S. PIRG's consumer program, said:

Early reports of yet another big breach, this one where hackers apparently exploited Facebook vulnerabilities to expose the data of 50 million users, are very troubling. It's yet another warning that Congress must not enact any national data security or data breach legislation that weakens current state privacy laws, preempts the rights of states to pass new laws that protect their consumers better, or denies their attorneys general rights to investigate violations of or enforce those laws.

Copyright 2018, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Uber to pay a record $148 million settlement for not disclosing 2016 data breach

Uber settled charges Wednesday it concealed a 2016 data breach in violation of notification laws. The settlement, which was reached with 50 states and the District of Columbia, requires Uber to adopt data breach notification and data security practices and have its data security reviewed by an outside company. Uber also is required to pay a record $148 million penalty.

“New Yorkers deserve to know that their personal information will be protected – period,” said New York Attorney General Barbara D. Underwood. “This record settlement should send a clear message: we have zero tolerance for those who skirt the law and leave consumer and employee information vulnerable to exploitation.”

In November 2016, hackers based in the United States and Canada secretly informed security officials at Uber that they’d downloaded the personal information of 57 million riders and drivers, 25 million in the United States and 7.7 million drivers. The information stolen included names, email addresses, and mobile phone numbers; drivers’ license information on about 600,000 drivers nationwide was also stolen. After providing proof of the massive data breach, the hackers demanded “six figures” to delete the data and not disclose the breach. Uber paid the hackers $100,000 to conceal the breach.

29 attorneys general file comments with FTC on role of states in consumer protection

Twenty-nine  attorneys general filed comments with the Federal Trade Commission on the significant role state attorneys general play in consumer protection, and asked the FTC to include states in the discussion as the agency holds public hearings on “Competition and Consumer Protection in the 21^st Century.”

In June, the FTC announced it would offer public hearings “on whether broad-based changes in the economy, evolving business practices, new technologies, or international developments might require adjustments to competition and consumer protection enforcement law, enforcement priorities, and policy.” The FTC asked comments by August 20.

“State Attorneys General are a critical line of defense, protecting consumers against the kinds of unfair and deceptive practices that are far too prevalent,” said  New York Attorney General Barbara D. Underwood. “At a time when consumers’ privacy, data, and security are often treated as commodities rather than sensitive information, this role is more vital than ever.”

Boomer bloggers ponder self-worth, control, social media, and the afterlife

It’s still summer, and I’m enjoying its bounties with warm weather, family visits, garden produce, longer days, and nice summer fruits and drinks.

Meanwhile, our boomer bloggers continue to write great articles. Here are their submissions for The Best of Boomer Blogs #560.

Self-worth

Last week, Sue Loncaric from Sizzling Towards 60 and Beyond asked her readers to rate their self-worth. Loncaric received many comments from readers who, like her, struggle with appreciating and valuing themselves as unique and special. This week, she’s sharing her ideas on five easy ways to help you start appreciating yourself and start thriving.

Control

Laura Lee Carter of the Adventures of the New Old Farts has been having lots of trouble this summer. After being evacuated for a wildfire near her home in southern Colorado in July, she now has no Internet access from home. In fact, she feels like she isn't controlling very much of anything anymore...

Social media

Tom Sightings of Sightings Over Sixty read a book this week that focuses on the threats to our current democracy. It made him wonder in his post “On My Mind” whether social media has done anything except make our problems worse . . . or if there's a better way.

The afterlife

There's nothing as mysterious as what happens after this life. Because Carol Cassara is a metaphysical worker, she's often asked to recommend reading about afterlife matters, especially by boomers. At A Healing Spirit's blog, she offers some of what she considers the best reading about afterlife matters. And if you'd like your heart touched, read her piece on the wisdom of dogs. 

Observations

Sometimes ordinary days produce unexpected experiences. Such is the case with Meryl Baer of Six Decades and Counting. One morning she decided to wear a new T-shirt and was surprised by the interest people took in her apparel. She describes the episode in “A Picture Is Worth What?”

Rebecca Olkowski with BabyBoomster.com spent the afternoon at The Getty Center in Los Angeles for a friend’s 60^th birthday party. The birthday girl organized a scavenger hunt which was a fun way to see some of the exhibits. Not all the 60-plus year old guests were up to the task, but they had fun. 

Enjoy the articles. And, be sure to join in the conversations. Boomer bloggers love to hear from readers.

Copyright 2018, Rita R. Robison, Consumer Specialist

Watch out for online nanny and caregiving job scams

Finding a new job can be a challenge. Websites can help you find work, but scammers also use these sites to find people to rip off.

Do you look for work on caregiver/nanny job sites? Sometimes scammers will offer a job but say you need to buy supplies or other equipment, said Carol Kando-Pineda, attorney for the Federal Trade Commission’s Division of Consumer and Business Education. They pressure you to act quickly, before you have time to think. They send you a check and tell you to deposit it and transfer money to their vendor to buy the supplies.

Don’t do it — scammers post fake job listings for nannies and caregivers, then make up elaborate stories to get your money, Kando-Pineda said. The positions seem real, but they’re not — it’s a scam. The check will bounce. So, the money you sent is actually your own — and it’s gone.