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.    

https://www.yahoo.com/gma/pandemic-spawned-record-breaking-cybercriminal-activity-report-110201402–abc-news-topstories.html?&web_view=true

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

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.

https://securityboulevard.com/2020/05/66-percent-of-consumers-recycle-their-account-passwords-do-you/    

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

Catch up on what you need to know now:

• Is Your Biggest Threat Already Inside Your Building? Our Top Tips for Combating Insider Threats 
• 5 Fail-safe Tips for Choosing the Right AIM Platform 
• Is Your Staff Moonlighting on The Dark Web?  
• Hackers Go Phishing at Gilead With New Bait 
• Ransomware is on the Rise: How to Bolster Your Defenses
• Smart Cybercriminals Sell Research Data on the Dark Web 

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

O365 Scam - Beware and dont click.. if concerned call your IT provider or department.

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

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.  

https://www.imcgrupo.com/covid-19-news-fbi-reports-300-increase-in-reported-cybercrimes/

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

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. 

https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2020/05/04/ransomware-related-service-disruption/

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

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

Sign Up Now

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

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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.

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