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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
man in gray crew neck long sleeve shirt holding black smartphone
Cybersecurity

Making Your VoIP Network Bulletproof (Six Tips to Protect Your VoIP from Cyberattacks)

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…
Nicholas Salem
April 25, 2022
Matrix movie still
Business Continuity

The Critical Importance of Virtualized Infrastructure Security (And 4 Ways to Enhance It)

A torn-down virtual infrastructure creates risks for any business. And it can have a significant impact on how quickly you can retrieve your data and resume operations following an attack.These days, many businesses use virtualized infrastructure for more straightforward data storage. It’s because this approach is superior to physical solutions due to enhanced flexibility, straightforward provisioning, and affordable pricing. However, this model also requires a comprehensive approach to security. There’s a much greater risk of data loss, as many tools and practices for physical data protection are nearly useless in the virtual setting. Virtual threats are different, that’s why you need to think beyond traditional perimeter protection. So, if you’re using a virtualized infrastructure for data storage, keep reading. This article discusses the risks of improper virtualized infrastructure security and talks about ways you can improve it. Don’t Leave Your Virtualized Infrastructure to ChanceVirtualization security is crucial for every business’s security strategy. After all, we now live in a world of virtualized environments and need to apply security to all…
Nicholas Salem
April 20, 2022