The S.E.C.U.R.E. Method To Stop Phishing E-mails

Phishing attacks are the most common cybercrime attack for one reason…they work. Every day, over 3.4 billion spam e-mails reach unsuspecting users’ inboxes. Phishing e-mails have held the top spot as the most frequent form of attack for years because they’re easy to implement, easy to scale and continue to fool people. AI tools like ChatGPT are now making it even easier for cybercriminals to create e-mails that look and sound like they’re coming from humans instead of bots and scammers. If you’re not careful, the effects of phishing scams can be detrimental.

Since it’s Cybersecurity Awareness Month and phishing e-mails are one of the top causes of attacks, we created this simple guide to help you and your team successfully identify phishing e-mails and understand why it’s so important to do so.

What can happen? Here are 4 significant dangers associated with phishing attacks:

1. Data Breaches
   

Phishing attacks can expose your organization’s sensitive information to cybercriminals. Once your data is exposed, hackers can sell it on the dark web or hold it for ransom, demanding thousands, millions or even more for its return – and they likely won’t return it anyway. This can result in financial and legal repercussions, damage to your reputation and loss of customer trust.

2. Financial Loss
   

Cybercriminals often use phishing e-mails to steal money directly from businesses. Whether it’s through fraudulent invoices or unauthorized transactions, falling victim to phishing can have a direct impact on your bottom line.

3. Malware Infections
   

Phishing e-mails can contain malicious attachments or links that, when clicked, can infect your systems with malware. This can disrupt your operations, lead to data loss and require costly remediation efforts.

4. Compromised Accounts
   

When employees fall for phishing scams, their accounts can be compromised. Attackers can then use these accounts to launch further attacks or gain unauthorized access to sensitive company data.And the list goes on.

However, there are actions you can take to prevent becoming the next victim of a phishing attack.

Here is the S.E.C.U.R.E. Method you and your employees can use to help identify phishing e-mails.

S – Start With The Subject Line: Is it odd? (e.g., “FWD: FWD: FWD: review immediately”)

E – Examine The E-mail Address: Do you recognize the person? Is the e-mail address unusual? (e.g., spelled differently) or unknown (not the one they usually send from)?

C – Consider The Greeting: Is the salutation unusual or generic? (e.g., “Hello Ma’am!”)

U – Unpack The Message: Is there extreme urgency to get you to click a link or download an attachment or act on a too-good-to-be-true offer?

R – Review For Errors: Are there grammatical mistakes or odd misspellings?

E – Evaluate Links And Attachments: Hover over links before you click them to check the address, and do not open attachments from anyone you don’t know or weren’t expecting to receive mail from.

It’s also important to have a cybersecurity expert monitor your network and eliminate e-mail spam before your employees can make a mistake. Make sure you’re taking proper precautions to protect your network. These phishing attacks work and happen all the time. We don’t want YOU to be the next victim.

If you need help training your team on cybersecurity best practices or implementing a robust cybersecurity system, or just want a second set of eyes to examine what you currently have in place and assess if there are any vulnerabilities, we are ready to help. Call us at 626 701 5005 or click here to book a call with our team.

The End Is Almost Here! Windows 10 Will No Longer Be Supported As Of October 2025

Important News: Microsoft will NO LONGER support Windows 10 after October 2025! While these PCs will still work after the official end date of October 14, 2025, Microsoft will no longer provide product key free services that keep your device working properly and securely. These services include:

• Security updates
• Non-security updates
• Technical support

Why Is This Important For Business Owners?

1. Security Risks: Without regular updates, your computer will become more vulnerable to viruses, malware and hackers. This could put your business data at risk, which is why upgrading to a newer version of Windows is crucial.
2. Software Compatibility: Many software programs are updated regularly to work with the latest operating systems. After Windows 10 reaches its end of life, some of your favorite programs might not work as smoothly or could stop working altogether.
3. Compliance Issues: If your business deals with sensitive information or follows strict regulations, using an outdated operating system could lead to compliance issues. It’s important to stay current to avoid potential fines or legal problems.

What Are Your Options?

Microsoft encourages users to migrate to the latest version before the end-of-life date. This can present challenges for some PC owners, as not all devices currently running Windows 10 are compatible with Windows 11. If you try to upgrade one of those PCs to Windows 11, but the device does not meet the stringent hardware requirements of the new software, you’ll encounter an error message.

If your device isn’t compatible with Windows 11, you have a few options. You can:

• Buy a new PC that is compatible
• Pay for Microsoft’s Windows 10 security updates (available for up to three years but no longer free!)
• Switch from the Windows operating system to Linux
• Try to upgrade “incompatible” PCs, using a technical loophole
• Ignore the deadline and put your business at risk (we do NOT recommend this one!)

Whatever you decide, make sure to back up your data! Before making any changes, always back up your important files. This ensures that nothing gets lost during the upgrade process.

Planning Ahead

It’s important to be proactive about the transition. There has been some discussion that Microsoft will extend the deadline, but that’s not a strategy you want to bet your business on. You don’t want to wait to take action until you’re out of options and your business is at risk because you no longer have security protection.

The best step is to work with your IT provider to determine what option makes sense for your organization. If your computers are fairly new, paying for ongoing security updates might make sense. If your devices are older and nearing the end of their life anyway, new PCs could be the way to go. An experienced IT team or a tech consultant can help you with the upgrade process. They can make sure everything runs smoothly and minimize any downtime for your business.

If you’re looking for someone to guide you in making the right decision, get in touch with our team to schedule a FREE 10-Minute Discovery Call. During this quick conversation, we’ll be able to map out the next steps to take to start transitioning to Windows 11 efficiently. To schedule, call us at 626 701 5005  or click here

Microsoft Copilot Techniques To Boost Business Productivity

Even if you’re tired of hearing about AI, the reality is that those who embrace it, find the tools that work and learn how to use them efficiently WILL get ahead of those who refuse to try. However, sorting through the thousands of AI-powered programs on the market can feel like a daunting task, which is why we want to highlight one that we support.

Microsoft Copilot is an advanced AI-driven tool that leverages artificial intelligence to automate routine tasks, analyze data, facilitate collaboration and more. Its chat-like design works seamlessly across commonly used Microsoft applications like Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel and Teams and can significantly boost productivity. Unfortunately, most companies often underutilize it. Today, we’re sharing seven ways you should use Microsoft Copilot to enhance efficiency in your business.

 

1. Automating Routine Tasks – Routine tasks like data entry, scheduling and managing e-mails are time suckers. Microsoft Copilot can handle these for you, freeing your time to focus on more strategic activities. You can start your day with a clear inbox and a well-organized schedule without lifting a finger.
2. Data Analysis And Reporting – Data is crucial for making informed decisions, but analyzing it can be time-consuming and require some level of technical expertise. With Microsoft Copilot, you can effortlessly sift through large datasets and quickly create comprehensive reports. Whether you need insights into sales trends, customer behavior or financial performance, Copilot can provide actionable data in minutes.
3. Improve Customer Support – Quality customer support is crucial to growing a business. Copilot can help you develop scripts for customer service representatives to handle inquiries and complaints, edit e-mails to sound more professional, automate responses to common questions, and even direct more complex issues to the appropriate team member. This means faster response times and happier customers.
4. Content Creation – Creating content for e-mails, presentations and marketing campaigns can take time. Copilot can draft e-mails and blogs, develop creative ad copy for various advertising campaigns, generate sales pitches and presentations and even create social media content, all while ensuring your messaging stays consistent. Whether you’re putting together a newsletter or a social media post, Copilot keeps the engaging content flowing smoothly in half the time it normally takes and without the usual hassle.
5. Financial Management – Microsoft Copilot can help you draft budget proposals; create financial summaries; accurately forecast, create and organize invoices; track expenses; automate data collection; and generate accurate financial reports. This helps you keep track of your finances and make informed decisions based on real-time data. With Copilot, monitoring your financial health and planning for future growth becomes much more manageable.
6. Improve HR And Operations – Copilot can quickly help your human resources department and operations team get more done in less time in various ways. Leverage Copilot to:

• Manage documentation such as employee manuals, policy documents and FAQs, ensuring they are always up-to-date.
• Assist in developing training modules and educational content for new hires or ongoing employee development.
• Generate templates for performance evaluations and feedback forms that can be personalized for each employee.
• Ensure compliance with regulations by using Copilot to stay informed about legal changes and update necessary documentation accordingly.

And more!

1. Streamline Task And Workflow Management – Keeping track of tasks and deadlines can be challenging and overwhelming. Copilot integrates with tools like Microsoft Planner and Project to help you organize tasks, set deadlines and track progress. Using this to your advantage helps projects stay on track and team members remain accountable. By streamlining task and workflow management, you can maintain a productive and organized work environment.

While this list barely scratches the surface of what Microsoft Copilot can do, there is no magic button that will make your business run itself. But leveraging tools like Microsoft Copilot can get you closer to that. From automating routine tasks to enhancing collaboration and financial management, Copilot offers a wide range of benefits that can significantly boost your productivity. By leveraging the power of artificial intelligence, Copilot allows you to focus on what matters most – growing your business.

And remember, no matter how advanced technology gets, nothing replaces the value of good old-fashioned hard work and dedication. So, integrate these tools, but keep pushing forward with the grit and determination that got you here in the first place. If you need help learning how to set up or leverage Microsoft Copilot in your organization, our team of experts is here to help.

Give us a call at 626 701 5005 or book a FREE Network Assessment here.

10 Warning Signs Of Medical Fraud And How To Protect Yourself

Health insurance is designed to provide access to necessary treatments, preventive services and emergency care to individuals and families in need, and, apparently, now it’s also used to hand out paydays to scammers.

In February of this year, Change Healthcare fell victim to a cyber-attack that impacted thousands of health care providers, insurers and policyholders nationwide. Reports from this incident suggest that around 50% of all US medical claims could be at risk! To put that into perspective, if you’re in the waiting room with nine other people, there’s a good chance that five of you could fall victim to medical identity theft within the year. The aftermath of this fraud is staggering, affecting countless individuals and their access to health care. Once your medical information is exposed online, these identity thieves can use it to file false claims, buy expensive prescriptions and more, and it will all be conveniently billed to your account.

The worst part is how some people are finding out they were affected. Some are facing tax or mortgage fraud, but others are going to the doctor to find out if they need a procedure, but instead of getting a surgery date, they’re handed a rejection letter from their insurance provider, claiming the company won’t cover it because they’ve exhausted their benefits from multiple other procedures this year. But the thing is, THEY didn’t have any other procedures this year. Someone stole their medical ID and used it for their own procedures.

And it’s not just individuals you have to worry about. Manipulative organizations can use your medical information for fake billing schemes. What happens is that they submit false claims for medical services you never requested, received or knew anything about, then they collect their payday, and stick you with the bill. In July, 193 defendants, including 76 doctors, nurse practitioners and other licensed medical professionals, were charged for their alleged participation in several different health care fraud schemes that resulted in $2.75 billion in false billings to federal programs. Medical fraud happens!

How Do You Know If You’re A Victim?

Here are 10 signs that your medical ID may have been stolen and is currently being used by cybercriminals:

1. Unexpected Medical Bills: Receiving bills for medical services you didn’t receive is a major red flag.
2. Collection Notices: Being contacted by debt collectors for unpaid medical bills that aren’t yours.
3. Errors In Medical Records: Finding inaccuracies in your medical records, such as treatments you never had, incorrect diagnoses or unfamiliar medical histories.
4. Insurance Issues: Your health insurance claims are denied because your benefits have been maxed out or you’re told you’ve reached your coverage limit, despite not using the services.
5. Notification From Your Insurance Provider: Receiving alerts from your health insurance provider about claims or services you don’t recognize.
6. Unknown Accounts: Discovering new health insurance accounts or medical records under your name that you didn’t create.
7. Discrepancies In Your Explanation Of Benefits (EOB): Your EOB statements from your insurer list medical services you didn’t receive.
8. Being Denied Insurance: Having difficulty obtaining life or health insurance because medical conditions that you don’t have are listed in your records.
9. Calls From Medical Providers: Receiving calls from doctors or medical facilities about appointments or follow-ups for treatments you never had.
10. Unfamiliar Prescriptions: Notices about prescriptions being filled in your name that you did not authorize or receive.

How Can You Prevent Becoming A Victim Of Medical ID Fraud?

Don’t become the next medical ID theft victim. Here are a few steps you can take to protect yourself:

• Check For Health Care Breaches: Use a searchable database, like this one, to find out if your health care information has been compromised.
• Secure Your Records: Store paper copies of medical records in a safe or lockbox to prevent unauthorized access. If your health care organization’s system is compromised and records are lost, altered or unable to be accessed, you will be glad you did this.
• Shred Documents: Shred any documents with personal information before disposing of them.
• Monitor Your Medical Records: Regularly request and review your medical records from your health care providers and look for unfamiliar treatments, diagnoses or other discrepancies.
• Review Insurance Bills: Carefully review explanation of benefits (EOB) statements from your insurance provider for any services you did not receive and question unfamiliar or unclear charges. Contact your insurer immediately if you see any charges or services that you don’t recognize. Afterward, report any billing errors to the credit bureaus at gov.
• Dispose Of Prescription Labels: Remove labels from empty prescription bottles before discarding them! These labels can contain information that, believe it or not, can be used to steal your identity.
• Monitor Your Credit: At com, you are able to get three free reports a year to keep an eye on any suspicious activity.

Health care will always be around and will also always be a target for hackers. Attacks on hospitals, doctors’ offices and other medical facilities will continue. It’s important that you are taking proactive measures to protect yourself. We can help you find out how you’re at risk with our FREE Dark Web Scan. Using this technology, we can quickly find out if your information has been put up for sale on the dark web or if you’ve been a victim of a data breach. To book your Dark Web Scan, call us at 626 701 5005 or click here.

The Hidden Dangers Of Shortcuts In IT Security

The National Cancer Institute in Maryland recently analyzed data from three major US health studies that gathered information on people’s daily multivitamin use. They discovered that people who took daily multivitamins had a 4% higher mortality rate than those who didn’t.

This surprising result echoes a scene from the movie Grumpy Old Men, where a character explains that, despite never exercising and having unhealthy habits, he has outlived many who followed strict health regimens. This highlights a crucial point: shortcuts to achieving meaningful, difficult goals often backfire.

In various aspects of life, including diet, we see that seemingly easy solutions can lead to significant problems. For example, “fat-free” or “sugar-free” labels might encourage over consumption, negating their benefits. The Atkins diet, promising easy weight loss by avoiding carbs, led to various health issues due to an imbalanced intake. Similarly, weight-loss drugs like Ozempic have resulted in serious health complications, reminding us of the dangers of quick fixes, like Fen-Phen in the 1990s.

 

In the IT world, shortcuts are equally perilous. Many businesses attempt to meet compliance requirements or protect themselves from data breaches by taking the easiest, cheapest routes. It’s a common mistake to rely on free antivirus or firewall software found through a quick search, underestimating the risks. Small businesses often believe they are too insignificant to be targeted, but cybercriminals target precisely these businesses, knowing they are less likely to have robust protections in place.

 

Another frequent error is entrusting IT management to an acquaintance or someone with basic tech knowledge but lacking professional expertise. When businesses upgrade to professional IT services, numerous inefficiencies and vulnerabilities are typically discovered. The issue is not the intent but the lack of necessary skills and resources, which significantly increases risk.

 

Not all shortcuts are detrimental, though. Entrusting IT matters to an experienced managed services provider can be the optimal “easy button.” By partnering with professionals who understand your industry and its specific requirements, you can achieve compliance, security and operational efficiency without the associated stress.

 

Choosing the right IT provider is crucial. History shows us that experts can be convincing even when wrong, as demonstrated by past medical practices like lobotomies or financial scams like Madoff’s Ponzi scheme. Therefore, it’s vital to thoroughly vet potential IT partners, ask pertinent questions and seek testimonials from other clients.

When deciding which IT provider to let handle your network, take it seriously and don’t blindly follow anyone’s advice. It’s not your responsibility to know every technical thing that needs to happen with your network, but it is your job to ask questions, request testimonials from other clients and hire someone trustworthy. Your company’s security, reputation and, possibly, future depend on you not letting the wrong person come in and muck up your business. That’s one of the reasons I created a FREE guide that you can get here that lists out 16 questions you need to ask anyone before you let them touch your network. It’s a great resource for every business owner to have.

If you’re ready to hand off your IT to a reliable team of experts, our team of experts is ready to manage your network so you can focus on growing your business while we focus on what we do best: protecting it. (You can even check our website for real client reviews!)

To get started and find out what you need, give us a call at 626 701 5005 or click here  to book your FREE Cyber Security Risk Assessment now.

Vacation Travel Scams Are Up 900%

Summer is a popular time for vacation travel. If you’re looking to squeeze in any last-minute travel, there is a scam circulating that you need to be aware of. As costs for everything from food to travel continue to increase, the logical step is to search for the best deals online to book a memorable trip without breaking your budget. According to Booking.com, cybercriminals have decided to capitalize on this need and are now using one scarily convincing, AI-generated phishing e-mail that can cost victims way more than their vacation fund. Booking.com’s CISO, Marnie Wilking, shared that the organization has seen a 500% to 900% increase in travel-related scams in the past 18 months using this malicious tactic.

How are these scammers doing it? Phishing e-mails have existed since the dawn of the Internet, but AI tools like ChatGPT are making it increasingly easy to create realistic and professional scam e-mails that are more likely to trick readers. In the past, phishing e-mails were riddled with red flags such as spelling and grammatical errors. With the rise of AI, it’s easier for cybercriminals to pump out dozens of seemingly legitimate e-mails that often go undetected by software and readers.

Here’s how they work:

Scammers will use sites like Booking.com or Airbnb.com that allow people to list their places as short-term rentals. The scammers send out e-mails offering incredible rates or time-sensitive deals on nonexistent properties. After someone pays, the cybercriminals will either disappear with the money, leaving the renter without a place to stay, or use follow-up e-mails to collect additional “fees” or “charges” before vanishing.

To be clear, these vacation-focused phishing scams are NOT new. The problem now is that, with AI, more people are falling for them because these e-mails are becoming more convincing.

What can you do?

Vacationers can take several key steps to ensure they’re not being duped.

1. Use two-factor or multi-factor authentication, where applicable. Having a confirmation code sent to your phone every time you log in will help prevent phishing attacks and credential theft.
2. Avoid clicking on e-mail links. If you receive an e-mail promoting a too-good-to-be-true deal, remember, it is likely too good to be true! Go to the website and search for the special. If you can’t find it, there is a chance you will avoid a scam.
3. Before booking ANY property online, make sure contact information and reviews are readily available. Have other verified users stayed at the property? If so, it’s less likely to be a scam.

1. Use credit cards for online purchases. Using debit cards that are linked directly to your bank account is dangerous. When theft occurs from your debit card, it is difficult to get your money back – if you get it back at all. Using a credit card provides an additional layer of protection.

The most important thing is to stay vigilant. Analyze every e-mail offer you receive and follow cyber security best practices. Standard security software can help detect some of these scam e-mails, but often not all of them, so it’s important to be cautious and look for red flags.

Personal scams may ruin a vacation, but business breaches can cost you and your family their livelihood. To keep your network secure, call us at 626 701 5005 or click here to book a FREE 10-minute discovery call with our cyber security experts, who can help you create a plan that protects you. We are here to help! Enjoy a well-deserved break this summer, and remember to be cyber-smart.

Cybercriminals Are Faking Data Breaches: How AI Is Fueling This New Scam

 

Just when you think cybercriminals will run out of new ideas for how to scam people, they find a way to get creative and surprise you. Now they’re faking data breaches, hoping to steal money from unsuspecting business owners and dark web data buyers alike.

Earlier this year, Europcar, an international car rental company from France, discovered a cybercriminal selling private information about its 50 million+ customers on the dark web. The car rental company immediately launched a formal investigation, only to find that the data being sold was fake. The information was falsified, most likely done with the help of generative AI.

How Did They Do It?

With AI-powered tools like ChatGPT, it’s easy for cybercriminals to generate realistic-looking data sets quickly. Smart cybercriminals do their research and design data sets that look complete, with correctly formatted names, addresses and e-mails, and can even include local phone numbers to match. They will also leverage online data generators that can quickly create large, fake data sets designed for software-testing purposes to develop authentic-looking data sets. Once they have these, hackers choose the target they claim to have stolen the data from and post the information on the dark web.

Why Are They Doing It?

Why would a hacker fake a data breach? There are a couple of reasons, besides reaping the same benefits without the work of hacking a network’s security system.

1. Creating Distractions. One of the best ways to get a company to let down its defenses is to focus on something else, like finding a breach in its system. The company will be so intent on finding where a hacker was already able to get into its network that it will likely miss an attack from a different angle.
2. Bolstering Their Reputation. Reputation is highly valued within the hacker community. Targeting a well-known brand publicly is a way for them to earn notoriety and get noticed by other hacker groups.
3. Manipulating Stock Prices. For publicly traded companies, a data breach can cause a rapid 3% to 5% (or more) drop in the stock. This can cause widespread panic, allowing cybercriminals to manipulate stocks for financial gain.
4. Learning Security Systems. Faking a data breach can allow cybercriminals to gain insight into the company’s security processes to prevent, detect and resolve attacks. Knowing threat response time and security capabilities can help them fine-tune their attack strategy.

Why Is This Bad For Businesses If The Data Is Fake?

By the time the public is made aware that the information is fake, the damage is already done. For example, in September 2023, Sony was targeted by a ransomware group that announced it had breached the company’s network and acquired its data. The breach was all over the news, where reporters repeatedly dragged Sony’s brand through the dirt, and by the time the investigation concluded that the hacker’s claim was false, irreparable damage had been done to their name.

What Can You Do To Prevent Fake Data Breaches?

If you want to avoid being the victim of a fake data breach, these are good steps to follow:

1. Actively Monitor The Dark Web. You or your cybersecurity team should routinely monitor the dark web. If you encounter an attacker selling your data, investigate the claim immediately to prevent extensive damage.
2. Have A Disaster Recovery Plan In Place. Don’t let your team wonder what they should say if a data breach occurs. This communication plan needs to be developed in advance and fine-tuned if or when a breach occurs.
3. Work With A Qualified Professional. You are in business to do what you love to do, not deal with IT-related issues. Working with a cybersecurity expert who knows what to look for, how to resolve issues and how to prevent breaches takes tasks off your plate and gives you peace of mind, and will make sure #1 and #2 are taken care of.

Data breaches can create enormous problems for your organization. Get ahead of the issue and have someone proactively monitor your network and the dark web to keep you secure. If you want a no-obligation, third-party opinion on whether or not your network is vulnerable to an attack or properly secured, we’re happy to provide one for FREE. Call us at 626 701 5005 or click here Calendly.com/aebischer to book your FREE Security Risk Assessment with one of our cybersecurity experts.

Outdated Technology Is Costing Your Organization Money

Is your organization currently bleeding money due to its reliance on outdated technology? The answer is likely yes. A recent survey by Deloitte revealed that a staggering 82% of companies failed to meet their cost-reduction targets last year, with an inefficient technology infrastructure being the primary culprit.

The 2024 poll of nearly 300 business leaders on business margin improvement and technology transformation efforts revealed that challenges with their technology infrastructure are the biggest barrier to organizations seeking to improve margins by cutting costs. This same study found that over 50% of the respondents reported that leveraging data and generative AI strategies for improving margins would be their focus for 2024.

What does this tell us? Organizations are looking to adopt new, automated, AI-powered ways of doing business to save money and improve efficiency but are held back by antiquated technology.

Why Should Businesses Upgrade Their Technology?

Legacy systems, typically categorized as technology that’s at least a decade old, can quickly become expensive to maintain. They are slower, need constant updates and patches, and don’t leverage new features as they’re developed. As a result, businesses struggle to keep up with their tech-savvy competitors in every area of the organization, from scaling and cloud usage to human resources and customer service operations.

But that’s not the only issue. Outdated technology increases your risk of cyber-attacks. Old technology typically cannot keep up with the rapidly changing world of cyber security. As new, more malicious threats emerge, older technology eventually becomes incapable of keeping up with the latest updates required to keep your network secure.

So, why do business owners put off updating technology when the data clearly shows that it will positively impact productivity and the bottom line? There are a couple of reasons, the main one being sticker shock. Seeing the price of updating technology infrastructure can feel overwhelming. Smart business leaders run through risk-related questions like “What if something breaks?” or “What if it doesn’t work like they say it will?” However, the data shows that maintaining old technology could be more costly. A separate Deloitte study of CIOs in 2023 found that respondents spent an average of 55% of their technology budget on maintaining their existing systems.

There’s also the cost of switching. What will bringing systems down and transitioning to a new system cost? What will the cost be to train employees to use the software? These are all questions your IT team can help you answer BEFORE you start upgrading your technology. An experienced technician will help you analyze your system to see what needs to be updated and when, and map out a plan to upgrade your system in the most efficient way possible. It’s easier than most business leaders think and pays off in increased productivity and profitability.

If you’re looking to upgrade your technology or are just tired of slow, outdated tech and want to see what the next step could look like, we’ll do a FREE Network Assessment. Our techs will dig into your system and determine what you need to get technology that helps you run your business better. To book your assessment, call us at 866 766 1214 x 5005 or Calendly/AdviseTech to schedule now.

Dangers Of LinkedIn: 4 Security Features To Use TODAY

 

A recent report from Check Point Research revealed a shocking statistic – the Microsoft-owned business platform LinkedIn is impersonated in nearly half of all phishing attacks globally.

One of the ways scammers leverage LinkedIn to deploy their phishing attack is when they zero in on anyone seeking a new job or career change. While e-mails like “You have 1 new invitation” or “Your profile has been viewed by 63 people” can be authentic, it’s critical to verify the e-mail address it’s sent from to ensure that it’s genuinely from LinkedIn. These impersonators will send e-mails that look identical to the real ones, with links to fake LinkedIn pages that will rip off your information as soon as you enter it.

Another way cyber-criminals leverage LinkedIn is by creating fake profiles and messaging people about job opportunities. Once you’re on the hook, they’ll either ask for a small payment upfront to process your application (that you’ll never see again) or send you a link to a form you must fill out that’s actually a phishing link in disguise.

LinkedIn is aware of the problem and is working on developing advanced security features to protect its users. Here are three of the current security features it has already deployed:

1. Suspicious Message Warnings – LinkedIn’s technology can detect messages from people who are attempting to take you off the platform or are saying something potentially inappropriate, and will send you a warning notification.
2. Profile Verification – This feature allows you to verify your page’s authenticity. By submitting an additional form of ID, you can get a verification badge on your profile, so anyone who looks at it knows you are who you say you are. This is a valuable feature since scammers are always looking for fresh targets and have pages that get shut down quickly, so they don’t often bother keeping information up-to-date.
3. Profile Information – This feature allows you to see the details of a person’s profile to help you determine whether or not to respond to a message, accept a connection request, trust an offer, etc. Under your profile, if you click “More” and select “About this profile” from the drop-down menu, you’ll see information like:

• When the profile was created.
• When the profile was last updated.
• Whether the member has verified a phone number.
• Whether the member has a work e-mail associated with their account.

 

1. AI-Generated Profile Picture Detection – Scammers will use AI to generate realistic profile pictures of fake people to create fake profiles used to scam users. Scarily, LinkedIn’s research showed that users were generally unable to visually distinguish real faces from these synthetically generated ones. As a result, LinkedIn partnered with Academia to develop and deploy advanced detection features that allow LinkedIn to detect AI-generated profile pictures and shut down their profiles before they cause problems.

Do you use LinkedIn to find jobs, employees or clients? It’s a great resource for business, but it’s important to stay secure. However, LinkedIn’s features are just the first line of defense. If someone in your organization were to fall for a scam and click a bad link, would your internal security solutions be enough to protect your network?

We can help you find out. We’ll do a FREE Security Risk Assessment to help you determine if your network is vulnerable to any type of attack. To book yours, call us at 626 701 5005 or click here:http://calendly.com/Aebischer to book now.

 

Travel Smart: Essential Cybersecurity Practices For A Hack-Free Vacation

 

Summer is a popular time for business owners and employees to step out of the office and take a well-deserved vacation. Even if their “out of office” e-mail responder is active, many people will periodically check in on work at least once while traveling. Unfortunately, studies show that working outside of the office – whether it’s a few simple check-ins on vacation, connecting to the Internet at a local coffee shop or even business travelers out on work trips – can lead to major cybersecurity issues. If you or your employees will be answering urgent e-mails from the airport or accessing network documents in the hotel lobby, it’s essential to maintain strong cybersecurity best practices to avoid exposing the company’s network to hackers preying nearby.

 

In this blog post, we’ll cover what cybersecurity best practices are necessary for you to take before and during any trip to keep your network secure from hackers.

 

Why Cybersecurity Matters While Traveling

 

Cybersecurity might not be at the top of your vacation checklist, but ignoring it can turn your dream getaway into a horrible nightmare. Cyber-criminals know summer is a prime time to attack because people are more likely to let their guard down while on vacation. For most vacationers, the focus is on enjoying time out of the office instead of ensuring they’re following cybersecurity best practices, making them an easy target for hackers.

 

To minimize the risk of a cyberattack while traveling, here are a few best practices to cover with anyone on your team who might connect to the Internet while on vacation.

 

Before you go:

 

1. Back up your data – If your device gets lost or ruined, you’ll want a copy of your data available to be restored.
2. Update your software – Make sure your operating system software, web browsers and apps have all been updated to the latest version. Outdated software can impact your device’s ability to defend against malware.
3. Protect your devices – You should always lock your device using a PIN, passcode, fingerprint or facial recognition feature, but if you don’t already, set this up before traveling. If you leave your device unattended and someone attempts to access it, they will have full access to your private information if it’s not locked.
4. Enable “Find My Phone” – This feature will allow you to locate your device if you lose it, but it also gives you the power to remotely wipe data or disable the device if it falls into the wrong hands.

While traveling:

 

1. Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) – A VPN encrypts your Internet connection, ensuring your data is secure even when you use public WiFi networks. Before you leave, set up a VPN on your devices and use it whenever you access the Internet.
2. Don’t connect to public WiFi – While public WiFi offers convenience, these networks can be a hotpot for cyber-criminal activity. Avoid unprotected networks whenever possible. (Yes, that means no checking your e-mail on the beach unless you have a VPN!)
3. Manage location services – Location tools are useful for navigating new places but can also expose your location to criminals. Turn off location services when you’re not actively using that feature, and consider limiting how you share your location on social media.
4. Enable Multifactor Authentication (MFA) – MFA adds an extra layer of security to your accounts by requiring a second verification form, such as a text message code, authenticator code or fingerprint scan. This feature should be enabled for all accounts containing sensitive information before leaving your house.
5. Disable auto-connect features – Some devices automatically seek and connect to available wireless networks. These features can give cyber-criminals access to your devices if you connect to the wrong network. Disable this option so you only connect to wireless and Bluetooth networks you know and trust.

 

You should be able to relax on vacation. Taking these simple precautions can help you keep your device secure so you can enjoy your time off and don’t have to worry about dealing with cyber issues when you get back to work.

 

However, it’s important to know that these steps aren’t fail-proof. To truly ensure that your company’s cybersecurity measures are up to standard, it’s important to work with a professional IT team that can monitor your network 24/7, patch any vulnerabilities that pop up (which happens regularly) and alert you if something seems suspicious.

 

To help you prepare for your vacation and have peace of mind knowing your business is secure while you or your employees are working remotely, call us at 626 701 5005 or click here http:calendly.com/Aebischer to schedule a FREE IT Security Risk Assessment with our cybersecurity experts today. We’ll evaluate your current cybersecurity solutions, identify potential vulnerabilities and help you implement a strategic security plan to keep your company safe.