In our digital world, we have multiple devices and accounts to our name. This increases the risk of breaches and gives malicious actors access to sensitive information and account credentials. Biometric authentication revolutionizes how we verify ourselves when opening any secure account or device. This guide uncovers the benefits of biometric authentication and how it can help protect your business. What Is Biometric Authentication? Think of how you must verify your identity when logging into any account. These mostly include: Answering security questions Entering passwords and PINs Confirming identity with a one-time verification passcode These outdated measures leave you susceptible to security breaches since the information is only sometimes iron-clad. Biometric authentication offers a much more secure way of logging in since it verifies users through unique physical characteristics. Using facial or fingerprint recognition is a highly secure method of ensuring only the rightful user can access an account. Behavioral biometric authentication adds another layer of security. Devices can identify key characteristics that match someone using knowledge based on their activity, such as swiping or scrolling patterns. Benefits of Biometric Authentication for Businesses Why are experts recommending this technology for business leaders? Adjusting authentication measures can have a tremendous impact on how businesses operate as well as their reputation. Take a look at some of the biggest benefits biometric authentication offers below. Reduced Cyber Threat Risk By doing away with vulnerable passwords and security question answers, your company can minimize the threat of security breaches. Threat actors will have a harder time trying to infiltrate accounts within your network if you utilize unique physical features as the primary form of user verification. Safeguarding accounts with either fingerprint matching or facial recognition scans makes you less prone to experiencing identity theft, ransomware, and other threats. Improved Customer Loyalty Say you operate a major financial institution and have many customers moving their funds elsewhere due to security concerns regarding your mobile banking app. By implementing biometric authentication to your mobile app, customers now have a safe and efficient way to access and monitor their accounts. This is a great way to instill a customer’s confidence in your brand and increase loyalty. Satisfied customers are a boon to your business, allowing you to expand outreach and operations whenever they recommend others to use your services. Money Savings Having a large, loyal customer base that recommends your business to others means you can save on customer acquisition costs. In addition, the lower risk of cyber threats gives you a chance to cut back on expensive cybersecurity programs and software. Just by adding biometric technology, your business can see savings stack up. Boost Your Business Security With Biometric Technology With so many benefits of biometric authentication, why not take advantage of this technology within your business? You can easily reduce the risk of device hacking with one-of-a-kind biometric identifiers. Consider implementing this technology into your daily life to make sure that only sanctioned users can log in to important devices and accounts. Explore a wealth of information on our website https://www.hammett-tech.com/our-blog/ Visit our Socials! https://www.facebook.com/HammettTech http://www.linkedin.com/companies/hammett-technologies Hammett Technologies (@HammettTech) / Twitter
As a modern business owner, you’re well aware of all the ways technology benefits your business while also putting it at risk. If you use Google Chrome as your browser of choice, you should be aware of the latest Google Chrome update malware scam. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about this attack campaign, how to determine whether you have a compromised website, and how to protect yourself against security risks. What Is Update Malware? Update malware is the term for any line of malicious code cyber attacks embedded within an update to your computer system, website, or web browser. When you download the update, the code you install puts hidden files on your computer that grant the attacker access to your private information or critical computer systems. How the Scam Works Cybersecurity experts have identified at least four different fake “update your browser” campaigns that can trick you into installing malware on your device. This scam was first detected in February 2023 and since then has evolved to provide the attackers with multiple ways to invade your system. The first way they accomplish this is by gaining access to legitimate websites, which they do in various ways. Once they have access to the website, they modify it to display a pop-up to every user who visits the website. The pop-up informs the user their browser is out of date and requires them to update to the newest browser version if they want to view the website’s content. Once users click on the pop-up, they’ve compromised their computers. Determining Whether You Have Malware You can determine whether you’re a victim of the Google Chrome update error by looking for the following file types: SocGholish NETSupport RAT Lumma Redline Raccoon v2 These files make you vulnerable to more severe cyberattacks like identity theft. You can use a virus scanner to find these files, or your IT services team can find them easily. How To Protect Yourself From Google Chrome Update Malware How can you protect your business from malware? First, educate your users on the best practices for avoiding malware, which include: Avoid phishing scams by never clicking on a link to an unknown site or from an unknown sender. Learn to identify typical phishing attack behavior, such as generic greetings, asking for financial information, or promotional offers that are too good to be true. Use multi-factor authentication on all devices. Invest in high-quality anti-virus protection software. Regularly back up your data to a secure location. Use strong passwords and change them regularly. You can also protect yourself from the Google Chrome update malware scam by practicing good “cyber hygiene” and learning how developers push out updates. For example, Chrome will never prompt you to update the browser through a pop-up. You should only update the browser through Chrome’s settings, which notify you of new updates in the upper right-hand corner of the browser. You should also enable automatic updates. This allows your computer or browser to download safe and secure updates without requiring you to click on anything. Explore a wealth of information on our website https://www.hammett-tech.com/our-blog/ Visit our Socials! https://www.facebook.com/HammettTech http://www.linkedin.com/companies/hammett-technologies Hammett Technologies (@HammettTech) / Twitter
Data breaches and security vulnerabilities are rising, and not everyone is safe from emerging threats. The NSA and CISA report that many businesses need to follow the best practices. Discover some of the most common business security mistakes and how to stay safe in this helpful guide. Default Login Credentials Pose the Biggest Threat Nearly every application or business program executives use has standard default login credentials. Experts recommend only using these factory settings when you first set everything up. As soon as the programs are ready for use, it’s best to change the account’s credentials. This way, hackers have a lower chance of infiltrating your account. Creating strong passwords for all your accounts is essential to boosting network security, yet reports find that many IT professionals continue to use factory settings. Harmful Business Security Mistakes While using default credentials on applications and software is the most prevalent issue, CISA and the NSA note a few other security mistakes businesses regularly make. Experts recommend business owners make correcting these issues a top priority. Separating User and Admin Privileges Does your IT department grant anyone access to programs as an admin? Doing so can create big problems if they uncover malicious activity. It’s hard to pinpoint where the problem originates if every user has advanced privileges. Hackers can infiltrate the account and have unauthorized access to important data and information. Therefore, it’s critical to only give admin privileges when necessary and give all other users limited access to accounts. Poor Network Monitoring Experts point to a few ways companies need to monitor their networks sufficiently. These include failing to properly set up sensors to collect traffic and end-host logs. Stepping up in this area is essential to improve your business infrastructure and keep your network secure from threats. Importance of Cybersecurity Measures Some business leaders don’t realize they’re dropping the ball on security measures until too late. Falling victim to any cyber attack comes with significant problems, including: Loss of integrity and customer trust Data breaches Financial loss Business interruptions To avoid these costly consequences, technology professionals urge every business owner to emphasize the importance of cybersecurity in their workplace. Making IT staff regularly educate employees on the best practices sets up the entire organization for success. In addition, it’s vital to keep an eye out for emerging threats and take proactive measures. This may include downloading software updates after vulnerability exposure or adjusting security practices at the recommendation of agencies like CISA and the NSA. Explore a wealth of information on our website https://www.hammett-tech.com/our-blog/ Visit our Socials! https://www.facebook.com/HammettTech http://www.linkedin.com/companies/hammett-technologies Hammett Technologies (@HammettTech) / Twitter
You can only make an online account with a username and password. The password manager tool in your web browser has an autocomplete function that quickly fills in your password field. This is handy but also makes you vulnerable to dangerous cyber activity. Learn why cybersecurity experts warn against using autocomplete for passwords and learn tips for protecting your account credentials. Password Manager Programs Are Useful — But Turn Off Autocomplete Websites that need a password to access the autocomplete feature use an embedded password manager program to do this. These apps make it easy to autofill passwords with just one click instead of having to remember a string of letters and numbers. Hackers who infiltrate a vulnerable website can set up an invisible login form. By using the autofill feature, your login credentials will appear on the hidden form, giving hackers your information without you even knowing. Password management programs are worthwhile for many business websites. However, using autocomplete for passwords makes you vulnerable to malicious hackers. Turn off this function on your password manager for heightened cybersecurity. Most Internet Users Lack Password Diversity Think about how many tools and apps your business uses that are online. Each program needs a different login so your staff can access the account. But in the U.S., only 20% of Internet users make different passwords for each account. Hackers can easily get into most of your accounts if you use the same password on different sites. When that happens, most of your private information is no longer safe. Ad Networks Target Your Login Form Fields Avoiding hackers is the main reason to avoid using autocomplete for passwords. However, there’s another group of Internet users you want protection from. Ad networks use the same techniques as hackers to get your information, but instead of doing something bad, they use it to send you more relevant ads. If you type out text instead of using autocomplete, advertisers can’t use tracking tools to see your email address. Even though ad networks say they don’t store your password, there is always a chance that your information could be used in a dangerous way if it gets into the wrong hands. Turn Off Autocomplete for Passwords to Protect Your Information Experts say you don’t have to stop using a password manager in your business, but you should turn off automatic password inputs. Changing a few settings in your computer browser is all it takes. Explore a wealth of information on our website https://www.hammett-tech.com/our-blog/ Visit our Socials! https://www.facebook.com/HammettTech http://www.linkedin.com/companies/hammett-technologies Hammett Technologies (@HammettTech) / Twitter
Modern technology makes it much easier to operate a business. However, it can also cause major issues if you somehow lose access to critical data within your network. That’s why having a backup solution is important so all your data remains safe and readily accessible. Discover the crucial role of data backup and recovery in this helpful guide. Why Data Backup and Recovery Is Important Say a major storm passes through the area and your company’s building floods. The flood ruins all of your computer hardware, and you cannot access necessary data from another location. You can do nothing to stop natural disasters, but you can minimize the business impacts. Backing up all your data securely means you can resume business operations even if you suddenly need to work remotely. Data backup and recovery are also necessary to protect your business from human error. Say you accidentally delete an important file that is a key part of your latest project—having no backup copy available forces you to delay your project and hurts productivity. Performing frequent backups makes recovery times much faster so you can continue routine business operations. Your productivity won’t suffer if you can easily access an external drive or cloud server that contains your files and data. How Often Should You Perform Data Backups? Now that you understand the essential role of data backup and recovery, let’s discuss how often you need to back up your data. Technology experts urge every business leader to perform backups frequently. The longer you go without backing up your data, the longer your recovery time will be if the unexpected happens. Overcoming a natural disaster, accidental deletion, or system failure will be much simpler when you know you can easily access your data. For this reason, professionals recommend performing backups either daily or weekly. You can customize your schedule depending on how frequently your critical data changes. Data Backups Safeguard Your Business From Cyber Attacks One of the most important reasons you need to back up all sensitive data is to protect your business from malicious activity. Cybercriminals can perform data breaches that significantly affect companies and their clients. It’s much easier to mitigate the damage when you have a backup copy of files to deploy. Business leaders and their employees should habitually back up important data if a cyberattack occurs. Other measures that experts recommend include: Using strong encryption methods Regularly updating software programs Using multi-factor authentication to prevent hackers from gaining unauthorized access Teaching employees the best cybersecurity practices By protecting your data, you can avoid the dangers of cyberattacks. Protect Your Business Knowing the role of data backup and recovery can help you safeguard your business from physical and virtual threats. Counting on backup services can give you peace of mind regarding involuntary data loss. Explore a wealth of information on our website https://www.hammett-tech.com/our-blog/ Visit our Socials! https://www.facebook.com/HammettTech http://www.linkedin.com/companies/hammett-technologies Hammett Technologies (@HammettTech) / Twitter
A new phishing campaign is making the rounds in an attempt for hackers to obtain sensitive information from vulnerable users. This campaign, first uncovered by tech researchers at Checkpoint, targets the popular cloud storage platform Dropbox. Learn more about the cybersecurity threat and how you can stay safe. Dangers of Phishing Hackers create ways to trick users into giving out their personal information, such as with deceptive emails or links to fake websites. They use messaging that claims a user needs to act urgently and provide sensitive data, such as credit card numbers or banking information. Once the hackers have this data, they can do with it as they please and wreak havoc on unsuspecting people. The dangers of phishing extend to business owners, their employees, and beyond. Victims must deal with the following issues: Financial loss or identity theft Violation of safety Lack of trust online How the Dropbox Phishing Campaign Works This clever campaign has several parts to it. Let’s review how hackers execute their plans step-by-step. Hackers Host a Document on Dropbox The plan begins with unknown bad actors creating a Dropbox account. They host a benign document that looks like a file from OneDrive and send phishing emails to users. Dropbox users will see a button that says “view document.” If they click, it leads them to malicious links. Hackers can implement the next phase after users end up on this site. Distribution Phase A key part of this Dropbox phishing campaign is getting users to a malicious site to harvest their credentials. Once someone ends up on this page, their information is given to cybercriminals who can use it against them. If you fall for the first part of the plan and have hackers stealing your credentials, it can be challenging to feel secure online again. Why This Attack Is Hard to Recognize Checkpoint reports that thousands of users have fallen victim to this attack. It’s particularly challenging to avoid since hackers use Dropbox’s system to share files and notify other users via email. Since the email comes from a reputable source, hackers can bypass any email scam filters or other protective measures you set up. This ultimately makes you more likely to open malicious links. The best way to keep your information safe from bad actors is to always be on guard. Refrain from assuming every email you receive is secure; report it immediately if something seems a little off. Experts recommend that business owners take the time to educate their employees on safe practices and report any suspicious email to an IT professional. Protect Your Business from Threats Every phishing campaign is different, but the threat remains the same. Keep your business safe from hackers by always staying alert and tracking widespread online campaigns. Explore a wealth of information on our website https://www.hammett-tech.com/our-blog/ Visit our Socials! https://www.facebook.com/HammettTech http://www.linkedin.com/companies/hammett-technologies Hammett Technologies (@HammettTech) / Twitter
The NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) stands as a cornerstone in the ongoing battle to secure our digital landscape. In today’s interconnected and data-centric world, safeguarding sensitive information and shielding organizations from cyber threats is paramount. At its core, the NIST CSF offers a comprehensive and adaptable approach to managing cybersecurity risks. It provides essential principles, best practices, and guidelines that empower organizations of all sizes and sectors to safeguard critical assets and bolster their overall cybersecurity readiness. Let’s delve into the framework’s fundamental components: 1️⃣ Identify: This initial stage revolves around recognizing an organization’s most valuable assets, such as customer data, intellectual property, and financial records. By understanding what needs protection, organizations can strategically prioritize their security efforts. 2️⃣ Protect: In this phase, implementing safeguards, preventive measures, and security controls is crucial. Activities like access control, employee awareness training, and encryption are key components, helping mitigate potential risks and vulnerabilities effectively. 3️⃣ Detect: Given the ever-evolving nature of cyber threats, it’s vital to establish mechanisms for promptly identifying and detecting potential incidents. Investments in advanced monitoring systems, boundary protection, and intrusion detection tools empower organizations to respond swiftly and effectively. 4️⃣ Respond: In the unfortunate event of an incident, having an organized and well-defined response plan is critical. This stage involves establishing communication protocols, incident reporting guidelines, and threat mitigation strategies to minimize damages and reduce downtime. 5️⃣ Recover: Following an incident, the focus shifts to restoring an organization’s systems, data, and processes to normalcy. Incorporating recovery strategies, backups, and continuous monitoring aids in bouncing back stronger and gleaning valuable insights from the experience. By embracing the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, organizations can: ✅ Foster Common Language: The framework enables the creation of a shared vocabulary around cybersecurity, fostering better collaboration between IT departments and executives. ✅ Assess and Improve: Organizations can assess their current security posture, identifying areas for enhancement and improvement. ✅ Enhance Communication: Clear communication of security efforts to clients, partners, and stakeholders builds trust and credibility. ✅ Strategic Alignment: The framework helps organizations prioritize resources, focus investments, and align cybersecurity initiatives with overall business objectives. However, it’s essential to recognize that cybersecurity is not a one-time event. Regular updates, reviews, and continuous improvement are imperative to stay ahead of emerging threats and maintain a robust security posture. Stay vigilant, stay updated, and stay secure. Explore a wealth of information on our website https://www.hammett-tech.com/our-blog/ Visit our Socials! https://www.facebook.com/HammettTech http://www.linkedin.com/companies/hammett-technologies Hammett Technologies (@HammettTech) / Twitter
In the past, companies had to manage extensive computer networks on their own, purchasing servers and networking appliances and allocating physical space for data centers. However, the advent of cloud computing has transformed this landscape significantly. Today, companies can delegate most of their operations to the cloud, retaining only their LANs within their premises. The hybrid approach, where essential parts of the infrastructure remain on-site while other components migrate to the cloud, has gained popularity. Cloud service providers like AWS, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure have played a pivotal role in this shift, offering remarkable agility and flexibility. Cloud computing allows rapid scalability. If a company needs to double its data capacity, a simple adjustment in the subscription plan and some basic configurations can achieve this. Despite these advantages, effective management of cloud assets and cybersecurity remains crucial. Understanding Cloud Asset Management (CAM): When a company transitions its IT assets to cloud networks, these assets, such as hardware, software, and networking entities, become cloud assets. However, ensuring the seamless functioning and security of these cloud-hosted assets require expertise in Cloud Asset Management (CAM). CAM involves meticulous tracking of every aspect of a company’s cloud estate, encompassing maintenance, compliance, upgrading, and disposal of cloud assets. It’s imperative to be aware of the security features offered by cloud service providers and not overlook available security tools, as instances of underutilization have occurred. Challenges and Best Practices in CAM: Visibility into cloud assets presents a unique challenge. You can’t secure what you can’t see, making monitoring a critical practice. Networking monitoring tools become essential for ensuring that cloud providers adhere to Service Level Agreements (SLAs). Monitoring bandwidth and uptime guarantees the reliability of cloud assets, especially when numerous users depend on them simultaneously. Redundancy and automation are key allies in maintaining high uptime. Minimizing single points of failure, having data backups, and employing redundant servers enhance reliability. Automation not only reduces human error but also optimizes efficiency, particularly in repetitive cloud management tasks. A robust risk management plan is vital. Identify potential risks such as natural disasters, cyber attacks, and power outages. Develop specific procedures for each risk and ensure employees are trained accordingly. Security Assurance and Compliance: Critical security measures should be continuously monitored through actionable assessments. Automated systems can rectify vulnerabilities without human intervention, ensuring no security gaps are left unaddressed. Non-compliant cloud resources must be promptly shifted back into compliance, meeting the legal requirements of cloud technology. Incorporating my perspective, effective CAM not only provides security but also offers a strategic advantage. Understanding the nuances of cloud asset management empowers businesses to optimize their cloud usage, control costs, and ensure a seamless migration process. Moreover, it fosters a proactive approach, enabling companies to stay ahead of potential risks and leverage cloud resources to their fullest potential. In conclusion, CAM is pivotal for businesses embracing cloud computing. Remember, your cloud assets deserve the same attention as those behind your firewall. Stay vigilant, stay secure, and leverage the full potential of cloud services for your organization’s growth. Citation: Meena R., Cloud, Luminis India, October 16, 2023, https://luminisindia.com Explore a wealth of information on our website https://www.hammett-tech.com/our-blog/ Visit our Socials! https://www.facebook.com/HammettTech http://www.linkedin.com/companies/hammett-technologies Hammett Technologies (@HammettTech) / Twitter
Social media is used by everyone these days, even hackers. Hackers often try to steal your information from social media sites. Even though social media is a useful tool for businesses, it’s important to know what security risks it poses. We’ll show you how to keep your business safe and use social media in a way that doesn’t hurt your business. Why Hackers Target Social Media Accounts Cybercriminals still use phishing emails with malware to attack users. But comments on social media are much more appealing for several reasons. Think about how many people follow a well-known brand. Hackers want to take over the account because they think they can use it to trick many people. The more people who follow a company, the more likely a hacker will steal information from innocent users. Other malicious reasons hackers target social media accounts include: Attempting to tarnish a brand’s reputation Taking advantage of users who lack security awareness Making money from selling personal information How Cybercriminals Attack Social Media Accounts What do these hackers do when they access a business’s social media account? Account takeover is one of the most common threats. The hacker gets your login information and then uses your account to pretend to be you or spread dangerous content. Social media users who are easy to trick are at risk of phishing scams, malware like NodeStealer that targets social networks, and clickbait posts that lead to dangerous websites. Best Ways To Protect Your Business and Make Social Media Safe for Your Company If you’re careful, you don’t have to worry about hackers getting into the social media accounts of your business. These tips can help you protect your business without giving up your use of social media: Be careful when posting pictures: Hackers don’t care about your privacy online, so be careful when posting to a photo-sharing app. It’s best not to let the photo show where you are and to use filters that hide any private information that might be in the photo. Use multi-factor authentication: Experts recommend turning on multi-factor authentication to stop hackers from getting into your account. This is a great way to verify the account owner’s identity by asking you to answer security questions or enter a one-time verification password. Be aware of strange phone calls: Businesses often post their phone number on social media. If someone calls you and says they are from your bank, tell them you need to check the information and will call them back. To avoid a scam, check to see if the caller’s number is the same as the bank’s. It is important to take steps to make sure your business’s social media accounts are safe from hackers to prevent cyber-attacks. Explore a wealth of information on our website https://www.hammett-tech.com/our-blog/ Visit our Socials! https://www.facebook.com/HammettTech http://www.linkedin.com/companies/hammett-technologies Hammett Technologies (@HammettTech) / Twitter
You check your inbox daily for important emails that help move your business operations forward. But what happens if you’re the target of a distributed spam distraction attack? This common cyber threat floods your inbox with thousands of emails that contain different spam messages. Read on to learn how to fight distributed spam distraction threats and go about your daily routine with greater peace of mind. What Is Distributed Spam Distraction? Distributed spam distraction is an online attack that hackers use to take over your email account. You’ll get tens of thousands of spam emails in a short time. The content of these messages is safe, unlike phishing emails that lead to viruses or the dark web. Your personal information is the main thing that is at risk here. If you start getting strange messages from people you don’t know, someone has hacked into your email account. The tactic of filling your inbox with spam makes it harder for you to see valid emails containing personal information. How To Fight Distributed Spam Distraction Distributed spam distraction is one of the most challenging cyber-attacks to deal with. It requires a multifaceted approach that involves the following tactics. Use Advanced Email Filters Your email already has a spam folder, but when it comes to a distributed spam distraction attack, hackers know how to get around it. Instead, the spam messages will go to your main email, making it hard to find important messages. The problem with this attack is that each email will come from a different sender, so you can’t just block them to stop getting spam. Instead, you should use advanced spam filters with machine-learning algorithms to find trends in spam emails. These filters become more accurate as they adapt and learn new techniques with every message in your inbox. Implement advanced filters throughout your organization to protect your employees from distributed spam distraction, phishing emails, and other cybersecurity threats. Cautiously Share Your Email Be wary of any site that requests your email information. If it doesn’t seem like a safe or reliable source, keep your email address private. Make sure that all of your workers know and follow the best security practices. For example, they shouldn’t open emails from people they don’t know or click on suspicious links or attachments. The following are some practical steps you can take to protect yourself from threats: Regularly update your passwords Set up text or email alerts whenever there’s an online purchase in your name Enable multi-factor authentication for extra security Update your security software Your business can stop distributed spam distraction and other cyber-attacks by updating its security software. If you don’t do this, you leave yourself open to attacks, which could lead to serious security problems and financial loss. Keep your security software updated to give yourself the best chance to fight hackers. Explore a wealth of information on our website https://www.hammett-tech.com/our-blog/ Visit our Socials! https://www.facebook.com/HammettTech http://www.linkedin.com/companies/hammett-technologies Hammett Technologies (@HammettTech) / Twitter