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A very popular belief is that a Mac is safer than a Windows PC.  Although it is true that the nature of Mac operating system secures it against most viruses, Macs are still vulnerable to other types of malicious software such as trojans, ransomware, cryptoviruses, spyware, adware and scareware.  Don’t be lulled into a false sense of security just because you use a Mac.  There are still many measures you must take to protect yourself from infection, data loss and identity theft.

Important Security Updates
Dropbox: Dropbox has released version 19.4.12 for its file hosting program. Updates are available at Dropbox’s website. [See Citadel’s warning below]

Google Chrome: Google has released Google Chrome version 56.0.2924.76. Updates are available from within the browser or from Google Chrome’s website.

Individuals at Risk
Identity Theft
Identity fraud rises 16% to record high: The number of identity fraud victims increased by sixteen percent (rising to 15.4 million U.S. consumers) in the last year, according to Javelin Strategy & Research. Their study found that despite the efforts of the industry, fraudsters successfully adapted to net two million more victims this year with the amount fraudsters took rising by nearly one billion dollars to $16 billion.

Important Security Updates
Apple: Apple has released updates to address vulnerabilities in iTunes, Safari, iCloud for Windows, macOS Sierra, iOS, tvOS and watchOS. Updates are available from Apple’s website.

Dropbox: Dropbox has released version 18.4.32 for its file hosting program.

Individuals at Risk
Cyber Update
WordPress 4.7.2 Update Fixes XSS, SQL Injection Bugs: Developers with WordPress fixed three security issues this week, including a cross-site scripting and a SQL injection vulnerability, with the latest version of the CMS. ThreatPost, January 27, 2017
Cyber Warning
Remote attackers can force Samsung Galaxy devices into never-ending reboot loop: A single SMS can force Samsung Galaxy devices into a crash and reboot loop, and leave the owner with no other option than to reset it to factory settings and lose all data stored on it.

Important Security Updates
Google Earth: Google has released version 7.1.8.3036 for Google Earth. Updates are available from Google’s website.

Kindle for PC: Amazon has released version 1.19.1 Build 46084. Updates are available through the Kindle or from Amazon’s website.

Individuals at Risk
Cyber Privacy
You’ve probably never heard of this creepy genealogy site. But it knows a lot about you: Early Tuesday morning, Anna Brittain got a text from her sister: Did she know about Familytreenow.com? The relatively unknown site, which presents itself as a free genealogy resource, seemed to know an awful lot about her.

Important Security Updates
Adobe Flash Player: Adobe has released version 24.0.0.194. Updates are available from Adobe’s website.

Adobe Reader: Adobe has released version 2015.023.20053. Updates are available through the program’s Help menu/Check for Updates or from Adobe’s website.

Individuals at Risk
Cyber Update
Adobe, Microsoft Push Critical Security Fixes: Adobe and Microsoft on Tuesday each released security updates for software installed on hundreds of millions of devices. Adobe issued an update for Flash Player and for Acrobat/Reader.

Important Security Updates
KeePass: KeePass has released version 1.32 of its open source password manager. Updates are available from the KeePass website.
Current Software Versions
Adobe Flash 24.0.0.186

Adobe Reader DC 2015.020.20039

Dropbox 16.4.30 [Citadel warns against relying on security of Dropbox or other cloud-based file exchange systems.