Iowa computer users may be a bit skittish after Russian hackers made international news last week by breaking into the database of a Midwestern securities firm. They reportedly stole one-point-two billion user names and passwords belonging to some 500-million email addresses. Information security expert Mike Masino says Iowans can do something fairly simple to keep their computers safe.

“Honestly, changing your passwords at regular intervals and not using the same log-ins for different sites, that’s your best case scenario,” Masino says. “It’s just a numbers game.” The hacking of Milwaukee-based Hold Securities is said to be the largest-ever security breach. Still, Masino says the big score by Russian hackers isn’t that unusual.

“To be completely honest, this kind of stuff goes on all the time,” Masino says. “I think the thing that’s making this news is the size of the data store that was discovered. It was so many accounts.” The billion-plus stolen passwords and user names reportedly came from more than 420-thousand websites. Masino emphasizes, change your passwords frequently to stay on the safe side.

“If they steal billions of user names and passwords, it’s going to take them a while to go through that list and exploit all those,” Masino says. “If you change your password every two or three months, you’ve just reduced their window that they have to use your information down to that amount of time.” Other tips to stay safe from hackers: update your anti-virus software routinely, don’t click on links you didn’t expect to receive, and keep close tabs on the privacy settings on your social media pages.

(Radio Iowa)

Police in Red Oak report a local man was arrested early this (Thursday) morning on drug charges. 21-year old Jesse Patrick Beaman, of Red Oak, was arrested following a traffic stop near the intersection of Highway 48 and 215th Street, at around 12:30-a.m.

Beaman was found to allegedly be in possession of methamphetamine and prescription pills. He was also wanted on a valid warrant out of Indianola. Beaman was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on $5,000 bond.

Authorities in Montgomery County say only minor injuries were reported following an accident that happened just before 1-p.m., Wednesday. Officials say a 2004 Freightliner semi owned by Ramco Transportation of Roselle, IL and driven by 44-year old Artur Jakala, of Roselle, was traveling west on Highway 34, when for reasons unknown, the vehicle crossed the center line of the road.

The left, side-view mirrors of Jakala’s semi hit the mirrors of a 1997 Freightliner semi tow truck,  passing in the opposite direction. The driver of the tow truck was identified as 46-year old Kenneth Darnold, of Emerson. A 2008 Chrysler Sebring driven by 53-year old Tamera Hawley, of Mount Ayr, and owned by the Mount Ayr Record News, was traveling behind Darnold’s semi, when parts that flew off the semi’s during the collision punched through the grill of the car, causing damage to the air conditioning condenser. Authorities say Jakala suffered lacerations from the broken mirror, but refused medical attention.

Damage from the crash amounted to $400. Jakala was cited for Failure to Yield half the roadway.

(Originally aired during the 5-p.m. 8/13 & overnight 8/13-14 Newscasts)

LE MARS, Iowa (AP) – A 44-year-old northwest Iowa man has pleaded not guilty to a charge that he killed his mother. Jonathan Neunaber, of Akron, made his plea to the murder charge on Wednesday in Plymouth County District Court in Le Mars.

County Attorney Darin Raymond has said Neunaber admitted to causing the death of 80-year-old Esther Grace Neunaber. Her body was found July 9th at her Akron home with the body of her 83-year-old husband, Donald.  The cause of Donald Neunaber’s death has yet to be determined. Authorities have said the couple died violently.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Republican Gov. Terry Branstad and Democratic challenger Jack Hatch are set to face off in their first debate. Branstad and Hatch are scheduled to meet 4-p.m. today (Thursday) at the Iowa State Fair. This will be the first of three debates in the race.

Branstad is running for an unprecedented sixth non-consecutive term and has been touting a record of job creation and tax cuts. Hatch, a longtime state lawmaker, says he could do more to boost incomes and improve services, such as education and health care.

Thus far, Branstad has looked stronger in the race. He remains popular in the polls and had more than $4 million in his campaign account in mid-July. Hatch had less than $200,000 at that time and had loaned personal funds to the campaign.

The Iowa State Patrol has released information about a couple of crashes that occurred Sunday, on Interstate 80 in Cass and Pottawattamie Counties. The first happened in Cass County at around 11:30-a.m., Sunday, near the Elk Horn exit.

Officials say a Recreational Vehicle driven by 33-year old William DeWitt, of Sioux Falls, SD, and a 2012 VW Routan van driven by 19-year old Stevan Dedovic, of Hoffman Estates, IL, were both traveling westbound on I-80, when the van slowed for traffic that had stopped ahead for a backup that was taking place in the construction zone. The RV rear-ended the van, but both vehicles were able to drive from the scene. Damage from the crash amounted to $4,500. Both drivers refused medical attention. DeWitt was cited for Failure to Stop within the assured clear distance.

The second accident happened at around about 75-minutes later, about one-half mile west of the Walnut exit. The Patrol says a 2007 tractor-trailer driven by 49-year old Angela Briggs, of Alger, MI., was traveling eastbound on I-80 and had slowed for traffic ahead that was stopped due to road construction. A 2001 Chevy Venture van driven by 32-year old Jessica Alvarado, of Gilboa, OH., was also eastbound and slowing for the stopped traffic ahead, when she was rear-ended by a 2000 Dodge Ram pickup, that was pulling a trailer. The pickup was driven by 33-year old Jeremy Mangas, of Gilboa, OH.

The impact pushed Alvarado’s van onto the shoulder of the interstate. The pickup and trailer continued forward, and struck the rear of the semi. No injuries were reported. Damaged from the crash amounted to $20,500. Mangas was cited for Failure to Stop in an Assured Distance.

Both accidents caused traffic to be tied up for a good deal of time, while authorities sorted out what happened.