HeartBleed

Frequent Internet users, beware! A new issue, HeartBleed has recently been discovered by a security engineer, and now websites are trying to fix it – but is it too late? According to the WGGB (find the link here), the HeartBleed bug “has been…putting your personal information at risk for years.”

One thing needs to be cleared up, though. The HeartBleed bug is not a virus. According to Tyler Brooks, at tech at GoGeeks Computer Rescue in East Longmeadow, Massachusetts, explains: “It’s not a virus, it’s a glitch in the programming code.” But if it doesn't ruin your computer, why do you need to be worried?

Basically, the HeartBleed virus takes any information from what you’ve done on the website: credit card information, passwords, et cetera. How does it do this? Hackers use a security loophole in the communication program that computers use, called OpenSSL and trick servers into leaking information. So, technically, it was impossible to protect yourself from. But the bug affects secure websites – ones that begin with the web address “https,” such as Gmail or other social networking sites.

How do you protect yourself and your information? The easy way is to change all your passwords, especially ones on this list. Second, make sure to check for credit card statements and identity theft.

Don't forget to stay safe on the internet - you never know what could happen.