Provided expert commentary to Consumer Affairs for their article on child identity theft . “Thieves covet the clean slate that a child’s identity provides,” explained Thomas Hyslip, an assistant professor in the cybercrime program at the University of South Florida. “Unlike adults, who often have messy financial histories involving existing debts, missed payments or high...
I recently contributed to this Realtor.com article about the hidden risks in our smart homes. We discussed a critical vulnerability: many devices ship with factory settings that cybercriminals can easily exploit using automated tools. My biggest warning? Watch out for inexpensive IoT gadgets with hard-coded, unchangeable passwords—they create a permanent open door to your network....
I spoke with the BBC about the recent AWS outage and discussed concerns of the three major cloud providers all being American corporations. Cybersecurity expert Thomas Hyslip, who currently teaches at University of South Florida, said that there was another benefit to the dominance of US firms. “Of all the places for it to be,...
To gain more insight about USAA Insurance, WalletHub posed the following questions to a panel of experts. Click on the experts below to view their bios and answers. 1. Should people in the military community always get insurance from military-oriented companies like USAA? 2. Should USAA’s reputation for handling claims be a factor for customers...
I recently contributed to a Wall Street Journal article highlighting the critical role of multifactor authentication (MFA) in protecting against cyberattacks. As recent breaches at UnitedHealth Group and other major companies reveal, the absence of MFA can leave organizations vulnerable to devastating financial and reputational losses. Even the most basic MFA significantly enhances security, making...
I contributed to a discussion on how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing fraud, enabling criminals to clone voices and exploit vulnerabilities in credit card and bank account security. With AI scams forecasted to cause $30 billion in losses by 2027, it takes only seconds to create convincing impostor audio, making traditional security measures increasingly susceptible to...
In a recent interview, I emphasized a crucial tip for avoiding phone scams: “No one is going to call you and ask for money. Hang up and contact the institution directly to confirm.” As scams become more sophisticated, staying vigilant and verifying requests can help protect you from falling victim to fraud. “No one is...
In an interview with PolitiFact, I discussed the widespread use of encryption in daily digital interactions. From secure messaging on platforms like iMessage to encrypted web browsing on sites starting with “https,” encryption plays a vital role in protecting data. Understanding these built-in safeguards is essential as we navigate an increasingly connected world. “Encryption is...
The surge in fraudulent unemployment claims across the nation is a growing concern. Drawing on my experience as a cybercrimes expert and former federal law enforcement officer with the U.S. Department of Defense, I highlighted the troubling scale of this issue and the need for enhanced measures to combat these widespread scams. Suburban police departments...
In a critical discussion about the ransomware attack at OneBlood, I explored why healthcare systems are frequent targets for cybercriminals. As a vital part of our critical infrastructure, healthcare organizations are under pressure to restore operations quickly, often making them more susceptible to paying ransoms. This growing trend underscores the urgent need for stronger cybersecurity...