Thursday, June 25, 2020

New Trouble Comes From Users Who Rarely Update Their Passwords

    

Despite years of advocacy and continual advice to update passwords frequently, the majority of victims fail to follow through on this priority. According to research by the Carnegie Mellon University’s CyLap, even after a data breach, users rarely voluntarily update their credentials, and only 13% even did so within three months of a known breach.
Updating passwords consistently is an essential security tool. Part of protecting a company’s data and systems from bad actors requires knowing when that company’s credentials have been compromised – and that compromise isn’t always on them. A third party breach could put corporate passwords at risk unexpectedly. 
Given the high number of compromised credentials available on the Dark Web, updating passwords after a breach is a critical recovery act that can help limit the scope and impact of the breach. Dark Web ID is an essential tool for finding out if company credentials have been compromised in someone else’s breach.    

Bit by bit helps client networks run smooth and secure.. visit our website at www.bitxbit.com/texas 877.860.5863

Wednesday, June 24, 2020

Small Businesses Suffer More Than A Quarter of all Breaches

    

According to Verizon’s 2020 Data Breach Investigations Report, small businesses are increasingly the target of cybercriminals. The report, which analyzed more than 157,000 cybersecurity incidents, found that 28% were directed at small businesses. Previously, cybercriminals have targeted larger organizations as the rate of return was often higher. However, a transition to cloud computing and the use of social engineering attacks, like phishing scams, has increased the risk for small businesses.  
In response, it’s clear that small businesses need to prioritize cybersecurity as a data breach has an outsized effect on smaller organizations. Among other recommendations, the report encourages small businesses to invest in continuous vulnerability management, secure their email infrastructure to protect themselves from the growing threat of phishing attacks. It’s also essential that companies recognize and identify insider threat sources and eliminate them as quickly as possible. 
Knowing that small businesses often lack the in-house cybersecurity resources to implement a 360-degree defensive strategy, MSPs have an opportunity to reach out to small business customers to build a partnership that fills that gap effectively and affordably to provide essential cybersecurity support in this tumultuous time.  .
Using tools and services that support good password hygiene, offering things like single sign-on, two-factor authentication, and other password-oriented enhancements, and enforcing stricter password reuse and sharing policies can help mitigate the risk of password compromise through password reuse and weakness. 

Bit by bit helps client networks run smooth and secure.. visit our website at www.bitxbit.com/texas 877.860.5863

Tuesday, June 23, 2020

Can you spot why this Microsoft email may be a fraoud?

Please leave comments.



Bit by bit helps client networks run smooth and secure.. visit our website at www.bitxbit.com/texas 877.860.5863

Here are your loan documents - SCAM look close

First, I am not doing a loan, however many of you are.. Look close, certainly might make you or one of your staff fall for this.. We have some tools that can help prevent you from falling for this, and in the event you do we can help you recover.. However you need the right tools in place before it happens.

Please leave in the comments what you see wrong with this..






Bit by bit helps client networks run smooth and secure.. visit our website at www.bitxbit.com/texas 877.860.5863

Monday, June 22, 2020

Cyber Insurers Increase Scrutiny of COVID-19 Claims As the Pandemic Increases Their Submission


Businesses hoping to rely on cybersecurity insurance coverage to offset the cost of a data breach may have a more difficult time recouping their losses. According to reporting by The Wall Street Journal, insurers are becoming increasingly critical of cybersecurity-related claims. Specifically, companies are adding questions to surveys used to calculate premiums and assess damages.
Download your FREE Remote Work Cybersecurity Toolkit now to get our “6 Risks to Mitigate to Quickly Secure a Remote Workforce” eBook and checklist.   
In some ways, this change is the result of a rapid shift to remote work. As we’ve covered extensively, remote work comes with many cybersecurity risks, and insurers are hedging their bets, assuming that they could incur an influx of claims as companies fail to grapple with the ramifications of remote work. For businesses, this is a reminder that they shouldn’t rely on cyber insurance to bail them out if they have a cybersecurity incident. Instead, they should invest in the tools that can prevent a cybersecurity incident in the first place.    

Bit by bit helps client networks run smooth and secure.. visit our website at www.bitxbit.com/texas 877.860.5863

Phishing email from survey




Bit by bit helps client networks run smooth and secure.. visit our website at www.bitxbit.com/texas 877.860.5863

Thursday, June 18, 2020

Verizon’s 2020 Data Breach Investigations Report Narrows Down the Threat Landscape

     

Cybersecurity is a known threat that can be hard for non-tech folks to understand and can be seen as too broad to truly prioritize. Giving solid, actionable information about the nature and frequency of today’s threats is helpful when illustrating why cybersecurity matters. Verizon’s 2020 Data Breach Investigations Report shows that threats continue to grow and lays out a few facts that make it easier to quantify the importance of strong security, especially when supporting a remote workforce
More than two-thirds of all data breaches are attributable to just three factors: credential theft, social engineering attacks like phishing scams, and human error.  
Insider threats are a constant problem in the breach landscape, and that hasn’t changed.  While we usually think of threats as coming from outside an organization, malicious insider threats are incredibly devastating and need to be a major concern. 
The listed attack methodologies comprise the most likely vulnerabilities, allowing businesses to respond with more pinpoint precision. Cybersecurity tools are becoming more effective at blocking common malware strains, with human error overtaking malware this time. Some of it still gets through,  though especially as part of a phishing attack. 
Watch 10-minute demo videos of how ID Agent’s solutions like BullPhish ID and Dark Web ID can help you secure your data and your remote workforce quickly without breaking the bank! 
The threat of phishing attacks has never been higher, making updated training and testing essential. Although technology has become more successful at filtering phishing scams, many continue to make their way to employees’ inboxes, which is why the report called for businesses to implement security awareness training programs to combat these attacks.  BullPhish ID contains phishing training materials in 8 languages including COVID-19 phishing kits.
While today’s threat landscape is ominous and expansive, Verizon’s latest report makes it clear that businesses can make significant improvements to their defensive posture by prioritizing the most prescient risks in a comprehensive digital risk protection strategy.  


Bit by bit helps client networks run smooth and secure.. visit our website at www.bitxbit.com/texas 877.860.5863

Tuesday, June 16, 2020

In Other News


Go Inside the Cybersecurity Landscape When You Read Inside the Ink   

Get expert news and analysis of the current breach landscape as you learn how to mitigate the risks you face today and prepare for the threats of tomorrow in our blog Inside the Ink
Catch up on what you need to know now: 


Bit by bit helps client networks run smooth and secure.. visit our website at www.bitxbit.com/texas 877.860.5863

Friday, June 12, 2020

COVID-19 Leads to Record-Breaking Cybercriminal Activity

    

As the world grapples with the far-reaching implications of the COVID-19 pandemic, cybercriminals are capitalizing on the chaos to unleash an unprecedented number of attacks against businesses and individuals. Bad actors have unleashed an onslaught of phishing scams, 30% of which are directly related to COVID-19.  
These malicious messages are joined by 854,411 phishing or counterfeit websites, four million suspicious websites, and an unprecedented surge in corporate cyberespionage, especially in healthcare. In addition, cybercriminals are hawking unproven cures, fraudulent charities, and other troubling trends. For instance, researchers found 1,092 websites pushing hydroxychloroquine as a cure for COVID-19.   
Experts note that cybercriminals are relying on peoples’ desire for insight in an unstable information landscape, concerns about economic instability, and generalized anxiety as prominent factors that make these scams so effective. In response, every organization needs to prepare its employees for this new reality, making employee awareness training an essential defensive strategy in today’s rapidly changing digital ecosystem.    

Bit by bit helps client networks run smooth and secure.. visit our website at www.bitxbit.com/texas 877.860.5863

Thursday, June 11, 2020

2/3 of Consumers Reuse Their Passwords on Multiple Platforms

     

Despite years of advocacy for strong, unique passwords for each digital service, most people continue to reuse their credentials across various online platforms, a risk that is warned against in our password security information package
It looks to be more attributable to a desire for convenience than ignorance – a recent consumer survey found that 91% of consumers recognize the risk of reusing their passwords across multiple platforms, but 66% continue to use the same passwords anyway. 
People are still making weak and easily guessed passwords in popular categories too. At the same time, 53% have not changed their passwords in the past year, leaving multiple platforms vulnerable to the treasure trove of login credentials available on the Dark Web.
Users who reuse passwords are primarily concerned with the hassle of a reset – 60% are worried about forgetting their login credentials, and 52% want more control over their passwords. Today’s businesses need to understand that this trend impacts their employees and their customers, putting their critical IT at risk along the way. 
Using tools and services that support good password hygiene, offering things like single sign-on, two-factor authentication, and other password-oriented enhancements, and enforcing stricter password reuse and sharing policies can help mitigate the risk of password compromise through password reuse and weakness.

Bit by bit helps client networks run smooth and secure.. visit our website at www.bitxbit.com/texas 877.860.5863

Monday, June 8, 2020

Cybercrime Increased by 300% Since COVID-19 Pandemic Began


By now, many organizations are well aware of the increase in cybercrime since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The number of phishing scams have soared, popular virtual meeting platforms (like Zoom) have endured cybersecurity shortcomings and many more.   
A report by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has quantified the increase in cyberattacks, detailing that the number of reported cybersecurity complaints have increased by more than 4,000 since the pandemic began. The information comes as tech platforms have similarly quantified cyber threats related to their platforms. Google says that it’s blocking 18 million COVID-19 phishing scams each day, and the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has recorded 18,257 fraud complaints related to the Coronavirus, collectively causing $13.44 million in losses.y. 
These numbers are a reminder that companies need to remain vigilant about addressing the most pressing threats, especially phishing scams, during the pandemic. However, agencies are also speculating that the significant uptick in cybercrime could be the result of a yet undisclosed data breach, which means that companies need visibility into the Dark Web where stolen credentials or other information could be used in upcoming attacks.  

Bit by bit helps client networks run smooth and secure.. visit our website at www.bitxbit.com/texas 877.860.5863

Friday, June 5, 2020

Consumers Seek New Options After a Cyberattack

    

While many organizations are focused on the bottom line during the COVID-19 downturn, cyber-readiness must be considered as a critical piece of the puzzle. According to a recent consumer survey, today’s customers are placing a high priority on cybersecurity, often requiring it as a prerequisite for doing business. 
For instance, 90% of those surveyed consider a company’s trustworthiness when deciding to purchase a product, and nearly 60% indicated that they would avoid doing business with a company that experienced a cyberattack in the past year. 
When cyberattacks cause a service disruption, 37% of survey participants indicated that they would switch to a competitor, and 66% were prepared to leave if operations weren’t restored within three days. The survey results were especially problematic for financial service providers and communications products, two industries that consumers are readily prepared to abandon in the event of a cybersecurity incident.  
The global survey that included shoppers in North America, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany found that consumers overwhelmingly feel that businesses aren’t doing enough to protect their information. 
80% of respondents noted that they shared negative ransomware-related brand experiences with family, friends, or colleagues, accelerating brand erosion and piling on to the long-lasting implications of a cyberattack. For companies navigating an already harsh business environment, it’s clear that customer retention may be contingent on their ability to defend their networks from an ever-evolving threat landscape. 

Bit by bit helps client networks run smooth and secure.. visit our website at www.bitxbit.com/texas 877.860.5863

Wednesday, June 3, 2020

Join Us for Two Microsoft Teams Virtual Workshops

   

Join Us for Two Virtual Workshops

Chat, Collaborate & Connect

Get Started & Get the Most Out of the Easy-to-Use Microsoft Teams 

   
Are you using Microsoft Teams yet? Want to learn more?

Then, we've got some great virtual workshops for you.

Join us for two online workshops offered by Sean Juryta, Microsoft Teams Product Advisor from the Microsoft Store in Paramus, NJ to learn the what, why, and how of Teams.

You can register for one workshop, or both. Either way, you'll learn hands-on about how you can use Teams to enhance your chat, collaboration, and connection with others, whether working from home or in the office.
    In the Getting Started with Teams workshop, you will experience:
    • Introduction to Teams
    • General overview, navigating the canvas & tabs
    • Explanation of teams & channels 
    • Creating a team from scratch with posting options & file posting/editing
    • Understanding the files tab 
    • Q&A 
    In the Getting the Most Out of Teams workshop, you will experience:
    • Re-Introduction to Teams
    • Taking tabs to a new level
    • Focusing on chats & file sharing with chat & how to have conversations with those who do not have Teams 
    • Utilizing phone calls & adding others to calls
    • Setting up a meeting 
    • Showcasing meet now, recurring meetings & settings 
    • Q&A

    Workshop 1


    Getting Started with Teams

    Wednesday, June 17, 2020

    1:00 - 1:45 p.m.

    Followed by a 15-minute Q&A

    Workshop 2


    Getting the Most Out of Teams

    Wednesday, June 24, 2020

    1:00 - 1:45 p.m.

    Followed by a 15-minute Q&A

    About Our Presenter

       

    Sean Juryta

    Product Advisor 
    Paramus Microsoft Store

    As a Product Advisor, Sean helps  customers see what is possible with technology while  empowering them to achieve more. He serves as a highly knowledgeable resource for all things Microsoft and is an expert in utilizing its platforms in this new normal of the virtual experience.
       

    Feel free to share with colleagues!


    Bit by bit helps client networks run smooth and secure.. visit our website at www.bitxbit.com/texas 877.860.5863