On today’s episode we’ll be taking a look at spyware: what it does, where it comes from, and what you can do to defend against it.

Sometimes it’s pretty obvious when you’ve got a malware infection – ransomware lets you know that your files have been encrypted and are being held for ransom, while adware spawns endless popups in your web browser. Spyware operates a bit differently, and unlike other types of malware it prefers to remain hidden on an infected system. It might come as a surprise, but some spyware …

Today’s episode of The Checklist is all about identity theft. With the right information, the wrong people can steal your identity – basically pretend to be you – and do a lot of damage in your name, and to your name.

On today’s Checklist, we’re cracking open the history books! We’ll be looking at the evolution of malware: from the early days of “joke” viruses to the serious threat it poses today.

In the world of security, deception is as big a threat as any malware you might find. From spear phishing to scary sounding phone calls, these threats all fall into the same category: social engineering.

Today’s episode is all about encryption. We’ll look at encryption across time – from ancient history, to encountering it today on the web.

Today’s episode is all about spam! No, not the mystery meat, but rather those mountains of junk email that clog up your inbox and take up your time.

Today, Internet connectivity doesn’t just include computers and phones. It’s lights, cameras, thermostats, and more. It’s called the Internet of Things, and it’s the topic of today’s show! In this episode we’ll be taking a closer look at security concerns that come with all these new IoT devices.

When it comes to online security, there are all sorts of ways to prove we are who we say we are. On this week’s Checklist, we’re talking authentication, authorization, and the difference between the two.

Ransomware, malware, DDoS attacks… Those are the kinds of things we tend to think of when someone says the work “hacker” today. That’s not what the word used to mean, though. We’re doing a bit of hacker history on today’s checklist, looking at Apple’s hacker roots and how that led to the ever growing Apple ecosystem.

Ever wonder how to become a computer security expert? On this edition of The Checklist, we’re looking at ways that anyone with a drive for it can pick up computer security skills and start down the path to becoming a computer security professional.

The world saw one of the largest ransomware attacks conducted so far just a couple of weeks ago. The story has captured public attention for longer than most digital security stories, and for good reason. From its shadowy origins to its very visible effects, the ransomware known as ‘WannaCrypt’ or ‘WannaCry’ is the topic for today’s edition of The Checklist.

There are bad guys out there who want to trick you into giving them your sensitive information. “Phishing,” as this practice of impersonation is known, is nothing new. With so much money flowing online and so much personal data available, more and more people are going phishing, which is the topic for today’s episode!

We are only halfway through Spring 2017 here in the states, and yet the season has already seen a lot of news-making malware. On today’s Checklist, we’ll break down the latest developments and cover what you need to know — and, where possible, how you can protect yourself.

This week we’re talking to you: Part II! It’s been awhile since our last Q&A episode, but the questions haven’t stopped coming in… and on today’s show we’ll answering questions sent in by listeners like you.

Did you know that your Mac has a powerful suite of built-in sharing tools? Some of them are pretty straightforward, but others could used a bit more explanation. On today’s episode, we’ll cover the macOS Sharing Preferences: what you can do with them, and the potential impact they can have on your Mac’s security.

What happens if you forget the password for your Mac? The good news is, your data is safe… the bad news is… you can’t have it. Luckily, there’s a lot you can do to try to get back into your Mac if you’ve forgotten your password. We’ll look at some of those on today’s Checklist.

Most people already have shadow profiles on social media platforms, and they didn’t even set them up… because that’s not how they work. On today’s show, we’ll take a closer look at what Shadow profiles are, how they’re used, and the potential privacy concerns they raise.

Spring is here, and you know what that means… It’s time for some spring cleaning! Over time and with continuous use, your hard drive can end up just as messy and disorganized as a lived-in home after a long winter. On today’s episode we’ll cover steps you can take to clean up and organize your Mac!