PODCAST: Optimum makes a call for smart consumer online data habits

With most people being distracted during the holidays, online scammers are ready to pounce on consumers. According to Optimum, the most common online scams identified by Optimum’s cybersecurity team this season include phishing websites, smishing scams, non-delivery schemes, charity fraud and travel scams. The company shared these insights in October during the worldwide Cybersecurity Awareness Month. Today, Optimum’s network blocks thousands of malicious attack attempts daily for its customers, ranging from phishing, smishing, spam, malware and other scams. 

Optimum is in an interesting position to help consumers. Consider that over the last three years, the cable MSO has been transforming its business, which includes investing heavily in its network to expand service across its 21-state footprint. This year, the company has surpassed 3 million Fiber passings and has seen 50% fewer network outages.

In this episode, we talked to Ben Smith, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer at Optimum, about the top security threats consumers face and how to avoid potential traps.

Here is a timeline of the episode:

0:03    Opening       

0:40    Optimum’s celebration of Cybersecurity Awareness Month      
How scam artists and hackers ramp up their attacks on consumers during the holiday season.

6:54    Scammers leveraging AI.            
Using AI to conduct phishing to spoof the look and feel of an email that might come directly from a company.

8:09    Optimum’s cybersecurity efforts
The service provider is scaling its security controls, visibility and governance.

10:31 Bundling security with broadband  
Optimum is developing an advanced security offering that will allow consumers to manage their own Internet security.

12:09 Regulatory compliance and resilience
Optimum continues to hold operational testing of its cybersecurity operations.

14:09 Final thoughts/wrap up