It's official, the first macOS malware of 2018 is here. Discovered by an independent security researcher and dubbed "OSX/MaMi," the code is functionally similar to DNSChanger malware. The researcher posted his findings on the Malwarebytes forum and none other than Patrick Wardle (an ex-NSA hacker) analyzed it, having this to say: "OSX/MaMi isn't particularly advanced - but does alter infected systems in rather nasty and persistent ways. By installing a new root certificate and hijacking … Read more
Google Will Get Tougher On Websites Not Using HTTPS
Google is poised to make an important change to its Chrome browser beginning in July 2018. Here's the summary from Emily Schechter, the Google Chrome Security Product Manager: "For the past several years, we've moved toward a more secure web by strongly advocating that sites adopt HTTPS encryption, and within the last year, we've also helped users understand that HTTP sites are not secure by gradually marking a larger subset of HTTP pages as 'not secure.' Beginning in July 2018 with the … Read more
Use Of Bots Has Increased Fake Account Creations
The ThreatMetrix Cybercrime Report 2017 is out, and is a troubling read for anyone who has anything to do with data security. As a fraud prevention company protecting nearly a billion and a half users around the world, they're uniquely positioned to know, and their insights on the threat landscape is invaluable. Their main finding is that hackers, scammers and fraudsters are moving away from using stolen debit and credit cards, given that these things have such a short shelf life. On the … Read more
Intel Chips Face Another Possible Vulnerability
Intel's year isn't getting off to a very good start. Just after the discovery of a pair of critical vulnerabilities that have been in their chipsets for more than a decade comes the discovery of yet another serious flaw that could impact millions of laptops around the world. A Finnish data security firm called "F-Secure" just reported an issue with Intel's Active Management Technology (AMT) that could allow a hacker to completely bypass the machine's normal login procedure and take control … Read more
Must Know Info For Backup, Security and Disaster Recovery
The Importance of a Proactive, NOT Reactive Approach With the major role information technology plays in the way business is conducted in today's world, it's crucial that every business owner, both large and small, be able to see the big picture of protecting client and company data from disaster. Data backup disaster comes in many forms, from hackers to employee sabotage, to viruses and natural disaster, it's critical to your business operation that you understand the scenarios and solutions … Read more
Is Working on Personal Devices Risky Business?
It's natural and common for your employees to want to conduct some of their work at home or on the road, and often the most convenient way is to do so on their personal devices. However, this could be putting your business at risk, and thus allowing your employees to conduct their work on personal devices could be risky business. The Risk of Not Being Regulated Since your employees personal devices aren't the property of the company, they aren't being properly protected and regulated. And … Read more
Is Your BYOD Policy HIPAA Compliant?
Bring Your Own Device or BYOD policies are a great tools for employees and a money saver for companies, but it can also be a risky policy if not conducted properly. Mobile devices and a BYOD policy in the health care field can allow professionals to easily transition workflows, boost productivity and improve communication. The major issue with a BYOD policy in this field is the risk of security breaches leaking personal information and medical records of the patients. This is not only a concern … Read more
Data Backup: Are You Hoping For The Best?
Consider the "What If" Factor Secure data backup for your business is an absolute must, but the real question is, what methods are you using? Although you may think you are taking extreme caution, such as saving data on multiple computers and physical drives, the scary truth is these items are still at risk for failing and leaving you helpless. While it may seem unlikely that your data backup computers and thumb drives would all fail or become lost at the same time, it has happened to many … Read more
Protect Yourself and Your Business Against Identity Theft
Identity theft can happen to anyone, at any time. It is a common crime in today's hyper-technology world. Hackers are coming up with new ways to steal your information at a rapid pace. You could be the average Joe on the street who accidentally gives your credit card information to a cloned PayPal, or someone steals your driver license's number and applies for credit cards under your name. Identity theft has become much more prevalent in the world than many would guess. Approximately 10 MILLION … Read more
Tips to Sink ATM Skimming
Today's world is far from the wild west, but bank robbers are still rampant and constantly after your money. The only difference is there tactics are far more technologically advanced. Criminals gain access to your bank account via ATM machines and some sneaky skimming of your money. These criminals use a combination of advanced card readers attached to the machine to capture your card information and small hidden cameras to snag your pin number. These cyber criminals then sell your … Read more
