A professional computer hacker who works for several Iowa companies testing their security says as technology advances, Iowans are at greater risk for identity theft. Pablos Holman says one primary line of defense is having good email passwords that use a variety of characters, numbers and symbols, making them much harder to hack. “If I can get into your email, then I can go to almost any website and click on ‘I forgot my password’ and they’ll email it to you,” Holman says. “Email is kind of the gatekeeper for everything. Now, people are accessing email from their phones all the time and don’t realize that basically gives an attacker access to everything.”

Holman recommends using what’s known as a “password manager” that allows you to have a different password for each website you use. It will synchronize passwords between your work and home computer, pad and phone and stores all that information in the cloud. Paying for gasoline using a credit card at the pump is convenient, but Holman says that could also be opening you up to a high-tech hacker. “A newer RFID credit card, paypass cards and blink cards — it’s possible to read the credit card number off them wirelessly,” he says. “Attackers can put an extra reader next to the pump and when people come by with their cards, they just collect numbers that way.” Holman says it may be wise to invest in an RFID-blocking wallet or to leave those cards at home and take them with you only when necessary.

Iowans should use passcodes on their smart phones, to keep them safer, longer, in case they’re stolen. He suggests another security precaution for our phones. “I’ve been using a privacy screen protector on my phone,” he says. “It’s really cool because it makes it so whoever is near you can’t see your screen, it just looks black. If someone is looking over your shoulder as you’re texting or checking your email, the person sitting next to me can’t see my screen.” He says 70-percent of mobile phone users don’t password-protect their phones. Also, 43-percent of Americans surveyed admit to glancing at a stranger’s mobile device. That number zooms to 66-percent for those between the ages of 18 and 24.

(Radio Iowa)

The Cass County Board of Supervisors, Wednesday, approved sub-recipient agreements for two housing projects in Woodbine. The County acts as a flow-through agency for the federally funded Walnut Street upper story apartment rehabilitation and Normal Street duplex/tri-plex construction project, administered by SWIPCO (The Southwest Iowa Planning Council).

The Supervisors also voted to approve the allowance or disallowance of Homestead Credit and Military Service Exemption claims for Fiscal Year 2013 taxes collectible in F.Y. 2014, in accordance with Iowa Code. The action is merely a procedural matter that occurs annually. And having received an Application for Disabled Veteran’s Homestead Tax Credit, the Board voted to allow the credit as presented.

The Cass County Board of Supervisor’s next meeting will take place Friday, November 30^th.

A routine traffic stop resulted a rollover accident early this (Thursday) morning, in Montgomery County. Sheriff’s officials say neither the driver, 21-year old Cody K. Blystone, nor his passenger, 20-year old Cody W. Chapin, both of Red Oak, were injured.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, a Red Oak Police officer activated his emergency lights just before 4-a.m., in an attempt to stop a 2006 Chevy Equinox that was traveling east on Bluegrass Road. After he did so, the SUV accelerated and continued east on Bluegrass, through the S-curves where the road becomes 207th Street. The SUV was exiting the curve back to the east when it went out of control near 1961 207th Street. The vehicle crossed the center of the road, entered the north ditch and rolled onto its left side. It continued to overturn as it slid in the ditch, and made contact with a field drive. The SUV finally came to rest after it flipped once more, and landed on its wheels.

After Blystone and Chapin were checked for injuries by Red Oak Fire and Rescue personnel, Blystone was transported to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center, where he was charged with OWI/1st Offense and Reckless Driving. Blystone was being held in the jail on $1,000 bond. The SUV, owned by 20-year old Megan Backstrom, of Red Oak, sustained about $15,000 damage.