Whether you work remotely or in an office, the line between personal and work tasks can become blurred when working on your company computer. If you’re in front of a computer for most of your time during work, then it’s not unusual to get attached to your desktop PC.Over time, this can lead to doing personal things on a work computer. At first, it might just be checking personal email while on a lunch break. But as the line continues to get crossed, it can end up with someone using their work computer just as much for personal reasons as work tasks.In a survey of over 900 employees, it was found that only 30% said they never used their work PC for personal activities. The other 70% admitted to using their work computer for various personal reasons.Some of the non-work-related things that people do on a work computer include:Reading and sending personal emailScanning news headlinesShopping onlineOnline bankingChecking social mediaStreaming musicStreaming videos/moviesIt’s a bad idea to…

In 2020, 75% of companies around the world experienced a phishing attack. Phishing remains one of the biggest dangers to your business's health and wellbeing because it’s the main delivery method for all types of cyberattacks.One phishing email can be responsible for a company succumbing to ransomware and having to face costly downtime. It can also lead a user to unknowingly hand over the credentials to a company email account that the hacker then uses to send targeted attacks to customers.Phishing takes advantage of human error, and some phishing emails use sophisticated tactics to fool the recipient into divulging information or infecting a network with malware.Mobile phishing threats skyrocketed by 161% in 2021.Your best safeguards against the continuous onslaught of phishing include:Email filteringDNS filteringNext-gen antivirus/anti-malwareOngoing employee cybersecurity awareness trainingTo properly train your employees and ensure your IT security is being upgraded to meet the newest threats you need to know what new phishing dangers are headed your way.Here are some of the latest phishing trends…

It’s not unusual to change a mobile number from time to time. For example, when you move, you may want a number that is local to the area you just moved to. Companies also may end up recycling mobile numbers throughout their staff as people come and go.If you don’t properly detach your mobile phone number from all the accounts it’s used with, you can leave yourself open to identity theft, credit card fraud, and other crimes.In a 2021 Princeton University study, it was found that 66% of mobile numbers listed as available by major mobile service providers were still connected to accounts on popular sites (Amazon, PayPal, etc.).  So, after the former owners had turned in the number, it was available for someone else to use when signing up for mobile service. And that number was still being used on the former owner’s cloud accounts, allowing those accounts to easily be breached.Princeton University study on the risk of recycling mobile numbers.Because our mobile numbers are…

The global damage of cybercrime has risen to an average of $11 million USD per minute, which is a cost of $190,000 each second.60% of small and mid-sized companies that have a data breach end up closing their doors within six months because they can’t afford the costs. The costs of falling victim to a cyberattack can include loss of business, downtime/productivity losses, reparation costs for customers that have had data stolen, and more.You may think that this means investing more in cybersecurity, and it is true that you need to have appropriate IT security safeguards in place (anti-malware, firewall, etc.). However, many of the most damaging breaches are due to common cybersecurity mistakes that companies and their employees make.The 2021 Sophos Threat Report, which looked at thousands of global data breaches, found that what it termed “everyday threats” were some of the most dangerous. The report stated, “A lack of attention to one or more aspects of basic security hygiene has been found to…

Hardly any phone call system in a business beats VoIP when it comes to efficiency and flexibility. However, it’s not immune to cyberattacks. Discover how you can secure your VoIP ASAP.What kind of communication system are you using for your business?I asked because many modern-day businesses have now switched to the Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP). This technology allows employees to perform voice calls using only their internet connection. It’s often a wise choice considering that using VoIP comes with several benefits to a business.Among its benefits include lower operating costs, greater convenience than traditional services, increased accessibility, higher scalability, and the ability to multitask. VoIP also comes with advanced features for teams of all sizes, is completely portable, and offers superior voice quality. However, VoIP systems also have limitations, with cyberattacks being their number one downside. The good news is that it’s possible to protect a business’s VoIP system from hackers. And if you already implemented this in your business, it’s not too late to secure it.Read…

Printing devices are often overlooked when it comes to security. But the reality is, cybercriminals can hack your printer to get confidential information. Your printer is probably the last piece of computer equipment you thought needed protection from cybercriminals. But the truth is very different. Attackers actively try to locate the weakest links in security to gain access to and exploit valuable data. And among the weakest links is the printer.The thing with printers nowadays is that they have access to your devices, network, and the internet. This new open-access functionality makes them an ideal target for cyberattacks. Unfortunately, many business owners overlook the importance of securing their printers and mainly focus on computers and mobile phones. Most people still perceive printers as internal devices that serve basic functions. For this very reason, they are an easy target for cybercriminals.Other than performing unauthorized print jobs, hackers can access confidential information as well as all connected computers and networks all through a printer. You may also not be aware of the…

Your data is pivotal to running a successful company. If you don’t have proper security measures in place, hackers can easily steal your data and take you out of business.Cybercriminals might be the biggest threat facing your company. Besides gaining access to your money and accounts, they can also take over critical software, preventing you from collaborating with clients. Any organization can fall victim to hacking. However, small and medium businesses are particularly at risk. Why?Too often, their owners don’t always address cybersecurity when launching their company. Sometimes, they even just hire the first IT service provider they see. They also don’t know how to shield themselves from online attackers, making them low-risk targets. As a result, these organizations often go under due to the loss of sensitive data. It isn’t a risk you can take. To help mitigate it, this article will introduce you to the various types of hackers and explain how to protect your business from them.The 5 Types of Hackers to Watch Out For Here’s…

Making the most of your Microsoft 365 apps requires you to adopt appropriate security measures.Microsoft 365 is one of the best collaboration and productivity tools around. It provides users with seamless communication, scalability and supports remote work with various features. The security is also solid due to a wide array of defense mechanisms. But this doesn't mean you're impervious to cyberattacks. Data leakage, unauthorized access, and malware can still jeopardize your system and offer ideal entry points for hackers. Should your business fall victim, the consequences can be dire, ranging from operational disruptions to severe reputational damage. The only way to fend off hackers is to take your Microsoft 365 data protection to the next level. And this article will list the 11 most effective security measures to help shield your data in Microsoft 365.The 11 Effective Security MeasuresSecurity Measure #1 - Activate Multi-Factor AuthenticationMicrosoft 365 users have just one method of verifying their identity when using a username and password. Unfortunately, many people don't follow robust password…