TIO Networks, a cloud-based, multi-channel bill payment platform purchased by Paypal for $233 million in 2017, was breached earlier this year, exposing PII (Personally Identifiable Information) for an estimated 1.6 million of the service's users. TIO Networks primarily does payment processing and accounts receivables for cable, utility, wireless and telecom companies in North America. If you do business with TIO, it's possible that your company or personal information may have been … Read more
Archives for December 2017
Former Employees Pose Serious Risk To Security
The Department of Health and Human Services' Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has reminded those who deal with PHI and PII of the dangers that terminated employees can pose to system security in their monthly cyber security newsletter. Their advice is as timely as it is excellent, and includes the following: "Making sure that user accounts are terminated so that former workforce members don't have access to data is one important way Identity and Access Management can help reduce risks posed by … Read more
How Fast Can You Be “Backup” And Running?
Data Disaster Averted Having appropriate data backup solutions isn't the only concern when it comes to an IT disaster for your business. Depending on what your method of data recovery is, in the event of a data loss event, you could be putting your business on hold as you put the pieces back together. Not all Data Recover is Created Equal While there are multiple methods for data backup solutions, they aren't all a safe choice. While hard copy backup solutions such as flash drives and servers … Read more
Many Consumers Would Withdraw Business From Companies If Data Breached
You've probably heard the phrase "the customer is always right" a thousand times. It's a truism in the business world, except when it isn't. A recent survey released by Gemalto reveals a dismaying dichotomy that's costing businesses around the world big money. Only 27 percent of consumers surveyed feel that businesses do enough to protect customer data, and an overwhelming 70 percent of them say that they'd take their business elsewhere if a company suffered a data breach. Unfortunately, … Read more
Windows 10 Now Installed On Over 600M Machines
When Microsoft first released Windows 10, the company boasted that it would try to get its new OS running on a billion devices by 2018. Time and circumstance have conspired to make that lofty goal unlikely, and the company has since retreated from it. However, according to statistics released at a recent shareholder's meeting, there are now more than 600 million devices utilizing it, including PCs, tablets, HoloLens headsets, Surface Hubs and Xbox One consoles. It's an impressive number, … Read more
Look And Feel May Change In Future Windows 10 Update
Microsoft is experimenting with a new feature that may change the look and feel of Windows 10 in some future update. The new approach is referred to as "Sets," which borrows from the playbook of modern web browsers and groups related applications into tabbed sets, with the groupings defined by project type. The applications you need to make use of on any given project will be grouped together, even if the last time you used a given app was several weeks prior. Essentially, this approach is … Read more
Fake Symantec Blog Post Is Spreading Mac Malware
Sometimes hackers opt for a stealthy approach. Other times, their attempts are downright brazen. That's definitely the case with a newly launched malware campaign that seeks to spread "Proton Mac," a strain of malware designed to steal passwords from Mac users. The hackers registered a domain very similar to Symantec's blog, mirrored its content and then created a fake post about a new version of CoinThief, which was moderately successful back in 2014. After going into a bit of faux … Read more
Bug in macOS Could Allow Hackers Root Access
Do you own a Mac? Is it running Apple's latest macOS, the "High Sierra?" If so, be extra careful with who you allow access to your machine. A security flaw recently discovered by a developer named Lemi Orhan Ergin can easily allow anyone unfettered access to everything on your machine, and by extension, give them an easy "in" to whatever network it's connected to. All they need is physical access. Exploiting this vulnerability is a lesson in simplicity. All a hacker has to do is enter … Read more
A Million Imgur Users Affected By Breach
Do you use the image hosting service, Imgur? If you do, there's a slight chance that you'll be prompted to change your password the next time you log on. That's because the company's servers were breached in 2014, and the hackers made off with 1.7 million usernames and passwords, which represents just a tiny fraction of the company's 150 million users. Although the breach happened a few years ago, the company only found out about it on Thanksgiving Day of this year. Their response was … Read more
Apple Devices Can Get Viruses
Are you under the impression Apple devices are exempt from viruses and hacking? A great deal of Apple users consider Apple systems safer to use than Windows because of the "built-in" security Apple programs into their devices. But Windows operating systems also come with similar existing security to prevent hackers and viruses. So why is there a difference in virus vulnerability? So here's the deal: In their advertising, Apple markets its systems as not needing third-party antivirus … Read more
