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Phishing, Credentials, Data, Login, Password, Internet
Cybersecurity

6 Ways to Combat Social Phishing Attacks

Phishing is the number one method of attack delivery for everything from ransomware to credential theft. We are very aware of it coming by email, but other types of phishing have been growing rapidly.In recent years, phishing over social media has skyrocketed by 500%. There has also been a 100% increase in fraudulent social media accounts.Phishing over social media often tricks the victims because people tend to let their guard down when on social platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn. They’re socializing and not looking for phishing scams.However, phishing scammers are out there looking for you and will reach out via friend requests and direct messages. Learn several ways you can secure your social media use to avoid these types of covert attacks.Make Your Profile Private on Social PlatformsPhishing scammers love public profiles on social media because not only can they gather intel on you to strike up a conversation, but they can also clone your profile and put up a fake page for…
Nicholas Salem
June 10, 2022
Upload, Online, Internet, Files, Cloud, Technology
Business ContinuityCloud

4 Interesting Cloud Storage Trends to Watch for in 2022

One area of cloud computing that is used widely, but often isn’t as flashy as the software side is cloud storage. Storing files in the cloud to make them easily accessible and shareable from anywhere was one of the very first uses of the cloud that was adopted widely by many users.As advances like automation and AI come to other types of cloud services, like team communications and business apps, cloud storage is not being left behind. The industry also continues to evolve to make storing data in the cloudless complex, more reliable, and better secured.It’s estimated that in 2021, 50% of all company data was stored in the cloud. This is an increase of 15% from just five years earlier. With today’s hybrid teams that may be working from home and be hundreds or thousands of miles away from co-workers, it’s important to centrally locate files in cloud systems that can be accessed by everyone.What can you expect to see in the cloud storage…
Nicholas Salem
June 5, 2022
person using laptop
Cybersecurity

5 Things You Should Never Do on a Work Computer

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…
Nicholas Salem
May 31, 2022
Hacking, Data Theft, Online Fraud, Cyber Crime, Hacker
Cybersecurity

Alarming Phishing Attack Trends to Beware of in 2022

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…
Nicholas Salem
May 25, 2022
From above view of faceless person holding mobile phone with white screen and green recycle logo above marble surface
Cybersecurity

Important Steps to Take Before You Recycle a Mobile Phone Number 

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…
Nicholas Salem
May 20, 2022
IT SupportMicrosoft

May 2022 Windows updates cause AD authentication failures

By Sergiu Gatlan - Microsoft: May Windows updates cause AD authentication failures (bleepingcomputer.com) Microsoft is investigating a known issue causing authentication failures for some Windows services after installing updates released during the May 2022 Patch Tuesday. This comes after Windows admins started sharing reports of some policies failing after installing this month's security updates with "Authentication failed due to a user credentials mismatch. Either the user name provided does not map to an existing account or the password was incorrect." errors. The issue impacts client and server Windows platforms and systems running all Windows versions, including the latest available releases (Windows 11 and Windows Server 2022). Microsoft says the known issue is only triggered after installing the updates on servers used as domain controllers. The updates will not negatively impact when deployed on client Windows devices and non-domain controller Windows Servers. "After installing updates released May 10, 2022 on your domain controllers, you might see authentication failures on the server or client for services such as Network Policy Server…
Nicholas Salem
May 12, 2022
Computer, Circuit Board, Cpu, Security, Digital
Cybersecurity

Top 5 Cybersecurity Mistakes That Leave Your Data at Risk

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…
Nicholas Salem
May 10, 2022
person using Windows 11 computer on lap
Microsoft

What Are the Most Helpful Features of Windows 11?

Windows 11 has been out for a few months now, beginning rollout in October of 2021. It has been largely well-received and seen as stable with very few bugs noted.One of the reasons that Windows 11 has been welcomed with open arms for both home and business computer upgrades is that it isn’t a dramatic experience difference from Windows 10. This upgrade is mainly focused on helping users do tasks faster and find things more easily.If you’ve been on the fence about whether or not to upgrade to Windows 11, we’ll go through several of the most helpful features below that might make you want to upgrade sooner rather than later.And if you have already upgraded your machine to Windows 11 or purchased a new PC with the OS installed, you’ll want to look over these features to make sure you haven’t been missing out on some productivity enhancers.Snap LayoutsImage CreditOne challenge that tends to be universal across multiple users is the struggle with trying…
Nicholas Salem
May 5, 2022
Communication, Digital, Computer, Technology, Internet
Business

Lead Your Business More Effectively by Implementing Unified Communications

Unified communications are a go-to solution for business owners looking to streamline their businesses and increase employee productivity in the long term. See how it benefits your business.Providing high-quality communication channels is crucial for any company. After all, it promotes cross-department collaboration and faster exchange of ideas. Since phones often don’t suffice for this, many business owners turn to unified communications. But what exactly is unified communication?This article explains just that. Read on to discover the main concepts of this approach and how you can use it to help your business achieve success. What Is Unified Communications?Image CreditUnified communications is an all-in-one platform that unifies phone, video, screen sharing, chat, and file management into a single space. It’s a ready-to-use system that allows for seamless communication in numerous ways. The system operates as a cloud, making it easily accessible to all team members with access to the internet. But why should anyone consider switching to unified communications?There are several reasons, but this is the most crucial: Business leaders who adopt it…
Nicholas Salem
April 30, 2022