Tony Anscombe

Tony Anscombe

Chief Security Evangelist


Education: Cobol and Fortran programming, it was a long time ago.

Highlights of your career: Appearing on the BBC News, the live appearance was regarding an article about a hacker that was 12 years old and stealing game data. The cool part was that it remained the number one article on the BBC News app for four days, it seemed that just about everyone I know saw it! The only thing that could top this is to be on Good Morning America or on the BBC Breakfast sofa.

What malware do you hate the most: Potentially unwanted applications, deceiving consumers and destroying their computer is wrong.

Favorite activities: Motorbikes, cycling, concerts and family (not in that order).

What is your golden rule for cyberspace: Don’t get sucked in and addicted to the world of social media, and never post pictures of food.

When did you get your first computer, favorite computer game/activity: My first computer was a Sinclair ZX81 Spectrum, back around 1983/4. It was my first introduction to programming and inspired me to go to college and learn how to code. As for a favorite game, my son and I play two games frequently, Driver (Xbox) and Fifa (PS4), it is a very competitive pastime and not good for my blood pressure.


85 articles by Tony Anscombe

Privacy

Questions linger after IRS’s about-face on facial recognition

Questions linger after IRS’s about-face on facial recognition

Privacy

Questions linger after IRS’s about-face on facial recognition

Why would a tax agency contractor’s privacy policy mention collecting information about my Facebook friends?

Tony Anscombe15 Feb 20225 min. read


Privacy

Beyond the tick box: What to consider before agreeing to a privacy policy

Beyond the tick box: What to consider before agreeing to a privacy policy

Privacy

Beyond the tick box: What to consider before agreeing to a privacy policy

The trade-off between using a free service and giving up our personal data becomes much less palatable when we think about the wider ramifications of the collection and use of our personal data

Tony Anscombe27 Jan 20224 min. read


Digital Security

2021 in review: The biggest cybersecurity stories of the year

2021 in review: The biggest cybersecurity stories of the year

Digital Security

2021 in review: The biggest cybersecurity stories of the year

As we close out another year like no other, let's look back at some of the most notable cybersecurity stories that shaped 2021

Tony Anscombe27 Dec 20211 min. read


Kids Online

This holiday season, give your children the gift of cybersecurity awareness

This holiday season, give your children the gift of cybersecurity awareness

Kids Online

This holiday season, give your children the gift of cybersecurity awareness

Don't leave your kids to their own devices – give them a head start with staying safe online instead

Tony Anscombe22 Dec 20211 min. read


Digital Security

Don’t forget to unplug your devices before you leave for the holidays!

Don’t forget to unplug your devices before you leave for the holidays!

Digital Security

Don’t forget to unplug your devices before you leave for the holidays!

As you down tools for the holiday season, be sure to also switch off the standby lights – it’s both cost effective and better for the environment

Tony Anscombe20 Dec 20213 min. read


Scams

The triangle of holiday shopping: Scams, social media and supply chain woes

The triangle of holiday shopping: Scams, social media and supply chain woes

Scams

The triangle of holiday shopping: Scams, social media and supply chain woes

‘Tis the season to avoid getting played by scammers hijacking Twitter accounts and promoting fake offers for PlayStation 5 consoles and other red-hot products

Tony Anscombe25 Nov 20216 min. read


Scams

Don't get phished! How to be the one that got away

Don't get phished! How to be the one that got away

Scams

Don't get phished! How to be the one that got away

If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it's probably a duck. Now, how do you apply the duck test to defend against phishing?

Tony Anscombe13 Oct 20215 min. read


COVID-19

Vaccine passports: Is your personal data in safe hands?

Vaccine passports: Is your personal data in safe hands?

COVID-19

Vaccine passports: Is your personal data in safe hands?

Vaccination passports may facilitate the return to normalcy, but there are also concerns about what kinds of personal data they collect and how well they protect it. Here’s what you should know.

Tony Anscombe31 Aug 20219 min. read


Ransomware

Are you, the customer, the one paying the ransomware demand?

Are you, the customer, the one paying the ransomware demand?

Ransomware

Are you, the customer, the one paying the ransomware demand?

Ransomware payments may have greater implications than you thought – and not just for the companies that paid up

Tony Anscombe19 Aug 20212 min. read