This was an excellent article! I predicted the death of fax in my 20's I was wrong and continue to be surprised at the number of processes still use fax. See the link below.
Why people use fax
Bit by bit helps client networks run smooth and secure.. visit our website at www.bitxbit.com
Thursday, October 31, 2019
Monday, October 28, 2019
Monday, October 21, 2019
Friday, October 18, 2019
Data Breaches Threaten Companies' Financial Viability
Throughout 2019, new research is illuminating the extensive financial consequences of a data breach. Not only are direct costs increasing, but consumers are making sure that business feel financial pain for failing to protect their information.
According to a report by PCI Pal, consumers are prioritizing data security by spending money at companies with demonstrated track records of data security and integrity and declining to shop at companies that have comprised consumer data.
Specifically, 44% of UK customers, 83% of US consumers, 43% of Australian shoppers, and 58% Canadian users claimed that they will stop or reduce spending at companies that experience a data breach.
Moreover, such patterns can inflict future consequences, as consumers will search the competitive landscape for new products and services, making it increasingly difficult for compromised companies to win back old customers.
Since keeping your existing customer base is significantly more affordable than finding new clients, prioritizing data security should be at the top of every company’s to-do list. When internal resources can’t cover the entire responsibility, seek assistance from qualified collaborators (like us!) that can assess your cybersecurity posture while partnering with you to provide the resources necessary to keep customer data safe.
https://securityboulevard.com/2019/09/global-research-shows-poor-data-security-practices-have-serious-consequences-for-businesses-worldwide/
Bit by bit helps client networks run smooth and secure.. visit our website at www.bitxbit.com
Wednesday, October 16, 2019
What We’re Listening to:
Know Tech Talks
Security NowDefensive Security Podcast Small Business, Big Marketing – Australia’s #1 Marketing Show!IT Provider Network – The Podcast for Growing IT Service
TubbTalk – The Podcast for IT Consultants
Risky Business
CHANNELe2e
Security NowDefensive Security Podcast Small Business, Big Marketing – Australia’s #1 Marketing Show!IT Provider Network – The Podcast for Growing IT Service
TubbTalk – The Podcast for IT Consultants
Risky Business
CHANNELe2e
Bit by bit helps client networks run smooth and secure.. visit our website at www.bitxbit.com
Tuesday, October 15, 2019
Monday, October 14, 2019
2019 on Pace to Set Data Breach Record
Anecdotally, many people realize that data breaches are increasingly prevalent and problematic.
Those presumptions are being confirmed by hard data as a new data breach report reveals that 2019 is poised to be the most destructive year yet when it comes to data integrity.
The 2019 Midyear Quickview Data Breach Report found that the number of data breaches that exposed records increased by 54% in the first half of the year. Concurrently, the number of records exposed in these breaches increased 52%.
The business sector is responsible for the vast majority of these compromised records, with nearly 85% originating with companies that collect and store user data.
This reality underscores the challenge of doing business in the digital age. On one hand, big data is the lifeblood of the internet economy, and companies can lose a significant competitive edge if they decline to collect customer information. However, when that data is compromised, it costs companies significant sums that can offset many of the advantages generated by this type of data collection.
Ultimately, it underscores the importance of developing and executing a holistic approach to cybersecurity that adequately accounts for risks and shortcomings to ensure that your business is positioned to flourish, not flounder.
Bit by bit helps client networks run smooth and secure.. visit our website at www.bitxbit.com
Thursday, October 10, 2019
Tuesday, October 8, 2019
Monday, October 7, 2019
Brute Force Attacks are the Preferred Method for Spreading Ransomware
Ransomware attacks are on the rise in 2019, making headlines as they afflict local governments and SMBs with frightening regularity. At the same time, the cost of a ransomware attack is rising precipitously, making these attacks one of the most complicated and feared cybersecurity risks this year.
However, cybersecurity researchers at F-Secure found that brute force attacks are one of the most prevalent methodologies deployed by hackers, occurring in 31% of ransomware attacks. This approach leverages common or weak passwords to access employee email accounts or company networks where malware can be deployed.
Consequently, companies can reduce their exposure to ransomware threats by ensuring that employees maintain strong, unique passwords for all their accounts. This simple cybersecurity standard is just one best practice that employers can instill in their employees through comprehensive awareness training that can help thwart cyberattacks.
https://www.zdnet.com/article/ransomware-attacks-weak-passwords-are-now-your-biggest-risk/
Bit by bit helps client networks run smooth and secure.. visit our website at www.bitxbit.com
Saturday, October 5, 2019
What We’re Listening to:
Know Tech Talks
Security NowDefensive Security Podcast Small Business, Big Marketing – Australia’s #1 Marketing Show!IT Provider Network – The Podcast for Growing IT Service
TubbTalk – The Podcast for IT Consultants
Risky Business
CHANNELe2e
Security NowDefensive Security Podcast Small Business, Big Marketing – Australia’s #1 Marketing Show!IT Provider Network – The Podcast for Growing IT Service
TubbTalk – The Podcast for IT Consultants
Risky Business
CHANNELe2e
Bit by bit helps client networks run smooth and secure.. visit our website at www.bitxbit.com
Friday, October 4, 2019
Data Breaches Put Small Businesses at Risk
Data loss events are a huge risk for any company, but the aftermath of a data breach can be especially problematic for SMBs, a recent study by Bank of America Merchant Services concluded.
The survey, which included 522 small businesses and 409 consumers in the US, questioned consumers and small businesses about the cybersecurity risks underscoring today’s digital environment. In response, one in five SMBs reported a data breach in the past two years, a 17% increase in two years. Moreover, 41% of small businesses endured a data breach that cost the company more than $50,000.
This financial component is especially troubling for SMBs, which don’t have extravagant resources that large corporations can use to hasten their recovery efforts. Making matters worse, 30% of consumers indicated that they would never return to a small business that endured a data breach, a 20% increase year-over-year.
These trends are taking place as SMBs are increasingly moving online. 51% of SMBs run their own websites, and 70% have some form of e-commerce component to their business.
In total, it’s evident that SMBs have every reason to prioritize data security protocols as a foundational element of a successful, sustainable business model.
Bit by bit helps client networks run smooth and secure.. visit our website at www.bitxbit.com
Thursday, October 3, 2019
Wednesday, October 2, 2019
Tuesday, October 1, 2019
How to Deal with Ransomware
Ransomware is a form of online blackmail. It falls into three main categories, but the common denominator is that you are asked to pay a ransom to get rid of the problem. Victims are informed of the ransomware attack via email or by a message displayed on the screen.
As you can see, ransomware can have a disastrous effect on you and your electronic files. The best defense is to make sure you do not get infected in the first place. Do not disable automatic updates for your operating systems and application like firewalls and anti-virus protection, and be very careful when installing downloaded software. Before opening email attachments, always check with the sender to make sure they are genuine.
Robert Blake
877.860.5831 x190
Bit by bit helps client networks run smooth and secure.. visit our website at www.bitxbit.com
Types of Ransomware
1. Email threats
This is not strictly ransomware, since it does not rely on the installation of malicious software on your computer. We include it here because the blackmailer may claim to have installed malicious software.
This type of ransomware is the easiest to deal with, because it does not affect your computer. You receive an email telling you that the sender has some information that could embarrass you if your family, friends or your boss were to know of it. The sender usually claims that he or she has managed to hack your password, and that he or she will still be able to access your password even if you change it. You are asked to send money to the blackmailer to stop this from happening.
In most cases, these ransomware emails have no substance. The claim that the sender holds embarrassing information about you, and that he or she has access to your email and your contact list, is false. If the emails were genuine, they would include something such as your password to show that the email was not a bluff.
Common themes used by these blackmailers include stating that they have proof that you access pornographic websites, or that they have used your computer's camera to record you doing something embarrassing. Even if you have accessed such sites, the chances are that the knowledge claimed in the email is untrue. If you keep your firewall and antivirus software up to date, you guard against malware that can track you, or capture your camera's images, being installed on your computer. Again, if the email does not include something specific about you, you can ignore these emails. They are usually bulk emails sent using leaked lists of email accounts. Even people whose computers do not have cameras may receive them.
A common variation of this scam is where the blackmailer claims to represent a law enforcement agency, even using spoofed copies of official documents to add credibility, and the demand is for payment of a fine for accessing illegal sites. No legitimate law enforcement agency in any country issues fines in this way.
There is, nevertheless, one version of this type of blackmail that you may have to deal with. Its most common form involves meeting someone online and being tricked or cajoled into sharing intimate photos. You then receive messages or phone calls threatening to release these photos if you do not pay a ransom. Needless to say, if you pay up, you will only encourage the blackmailer to keep threatening you. If you don't pay, however, the blackmailer is quite likely to follow through on the threat. If you fall victim to this type of blackmail, you should inform the police immediately and act on their advice.
2. Screen-locking ransomware
This relies on the installation of malicious software on your device. A screen pops up informing you that you cannot access your device without paying a ransom. Sometimes, these pop-ups claim to be security warnings, and a fee is requested to deal with the security issue.
These ransomware attacks to usually easy to deal with. Running a scan with your anti-virus software is often enough to get rid of the malicious software. Reboot into Safe Mode and run the scan. If you are still having problems, check out ransomware removal tools or contact an IT support expert.
3. Encryption ransomware
Encryption ransomware is the most serious kind of ransomware in terms of making your computer unusable. It is a type of malware that encrypts the files on your storage devices. Once files are encrypted, the apps you use will be unable to open them. You will be asked to pay a ransom to be able to regain access to your files. Do not attempt to remove the malware, as this may hinder you in getting your files back. Only when you are happy that all essential files have been recovered should you remove the ransomware.
There are some things you can try to recover from this type of attack, but you may have to pay the ransom to get fully operational again.
a) As soon as you become aware of the attack, disconnect your device from any local network, and disconnect removable storage devices like USB drives or external hard drives. This is to stop the ransomware from spreading.
Encryption software processes original files, writes out encrypted versions of them, and then deletes the originals. Because of the way file operating systems work, deleted files are not physically removed from the storage device, so you may be able to retrieve the original versions of your files using a recovery tool. This can be a complicated process requiring expert help, and it can take a lot of time to verify that all the recovered files are usable. Make sure any recovery tools you try come from reputable sources.
b) Another option is to try a decryption tool. Experts have managed to find out the key used by some versions of ransomware, making it possible to recover files that have been encrypted. This may work for you if the encryption malware is an older program.
c) Your last resort to recover files without paying a fee is to restore them from backups. This will only work if the files on your backup device have not themselves been encrypted.
If none of these options work, your only option is to pay the ransom demanded. You will have to hope that the blackmailer will respond with the information you need to get your files back.
Robert Blake
877.860.5831 x190
Bit by bit helps client networks run smooth and secure.. visit our website at www.bitxbit.com
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