Phishing is just one of many tools in a hacker’s repertoire and happens to be one of their most effective.  Through phishing, hackers dangle their bait in front of preoccupied employees who would never dream that their PC could provide an open door for a hacker.  That’s why it is so important that employees understand how phishing works, how costly it can be, and what they can do to avoid letting themselves become an unwitting accomplice to a hacker’s attack on their company.   The Nature of Phishing Phishing involves a malicious entity that sends out emails that look like they are from reputable, well-known companies (maybe even the employee’s own employer) – but these emails are not what they seem. Sometimes the purpose of a phishing email is to trick the recipient into revealing information such as logins, passwords, or personal information. Other times, phishing emails are used to install malware on the recipient’s computer. Once the hacker behind the phishing attack has succeeded in infiltrating the target system via login information or malware, the damage they cause quickly escalates. Phishing Can Be Very Costly So how expensive can phishing be?  Well, consider what happened to a bank in Virginia that fell victim to two phishing attacks in just eight months. Their disaster began when an employee received and opened a phishing email which succeeded in installing malware on company computers.  The malware was able to use the victim’s computer to access the STAR Network, a site used to handle debit card transactions.  Through the STAR Network, the hackers behind the malware were able to steal $569,000 in that one incident alone. But that wasn’t the end of the matter.  Eight months later, even after hiring a cybersecurity forensics firm and following their advice to better secure their system, the same bank was victimized again through another phishing email.  This time, the hackers again gained access to the STAR Network, but then used the bank’s Navigator system.  Through those systems combined, the hackers were able to credit money to various bank accounts and then withdraw the money using hundreds of different ATMs.  Losses from this incident amounted to almost $2 million. To make matters even worse, the bank’s cyber insurance provider denied coverage and the bank is now forced to pursue a lawsuit to recover their losses. The Very Real Dangers Of Phishing Attacks Phishing wouldn’t be so effective if it wasn’t so easy for busy employees to fall victim to seemingly legitimate emails or innocent-looking attachments.  The malware that was used to initiate the first attack on the bank discussed in this article was embedded in a Microsoft Word document.  Most of us have worked with thousands of Word documents during our careers and have never been victimized by one – but it only takes one time to cost a business millions of dollars. In this case, once that document was opened, the malware was installed and the group behind it had access to what they needed. The bank in question hired Verizon to investigate both incidents. It was finally determined that the same group of Russian hackers were likely responsible for both attacks. Common Sense Required Even the most powerful of cyber security systems is still susceptible to attacks that take the form of phishing or social engineering. As long as people continue to subscribe to the view that firewalls, anti-virus, and anti-malware systems provide all the protection against cyberattacks that a company needs, then successful phishing attacks will continue. Education is one of the forgotten keys to foiling phishing attacks. Employees need to be taught how to recognize a suspicious email and be given real-world examples of how convincing phishing emails can appear.  They need to be encouraged to view both emails and attachments with a critical eye.  Employees must also understand that, under no circumstances, is there a legitimate reason for someone to ask for their password. Another aspect of this type of education is making sure that people realize that the targets of phishing are not C-suite executives or IT technicians, but employees from all levels.  Through a connection to the company’s network, any employee’s computer could serve as a launching pad for an industrious hacker’s plan of attack. Conclusion Phishing attacks are a reality that must be addressed if a company wants to avoid becoming a victim.  These attacks often result in very expensive losses that may not be covered by insurance.  While the importance of a rigorous cyber security system is never to be overestimated, neither is the importance of employee education.  Too many employees have unwittingly become accomplices in costly cyberattacks because they didn’t recognize a phishing email and never thought they could be the target of one.  The first line of defense against phishing isn’t a network firewall, but a trained employee who knows how to recognize a suspicious email or a questionable attachment.

Dementia and Alzheimer’s are scary for both patients and caregivers. Right now, there is no cure. Scientists are trying to find ways of prolonging patient’s lives and delaying the onset of the disease. IT Technicians are finding ways to make lives better and caring for patients easier. Some remarkable work is doing things for these individuals that has never been seen or done before. First, A Word About The Disease According to Alzheimer’s International, nearly 44 million people worldwide have Alzheimer’s or related dementia. More than 5 million American’s are living with it, and Between 2017 and 2025 every state is expected to see at least a 14% rise in the prevalence of Alzheimer’s. Those statistics are startling, especially since Alzheimer’s disease is irreversible. Accounting for around 70 perfect of dementia cases, Alzheimer’s Disease is the most common cause of dementia, a group of brain disorders that results in the loss of intellectual and social skills. These changes are severe enough to interfere with day-to-day life. It progressively destroys the brain and ruins memory and thinking skills, and eventually the ability to carry out the simplest tasks. A Few Other Statistics In 2017, Alzheimer’s cost the United States $259 billion. By 2050, costs associated with dementia could be as much as $1.1 trillion. The global cost of Alzheimer’s and dementia is estimated to be $605 billion. Alzheimer’s is the 6th leading cause of death in the United States. Between 2017 and 2025 every state is expected to see at least a 14% rise in the prevalence of Alzheimer’s. By 2050, it’s estimated there will be as many as 16 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s. Every 66 seconds someone in the United States develops Alzheimer’s. 1 in 3 seniors dies with some form of dementia. Technology at its Finest Because of these sad stats and high numbers, IT experts have come up with some amazing devices that use modern technology to aid in the care of people suffering from memory problems. Here’s a look at a few of the latest innovations. Clocks Clocks precisely intended for those with Alzheimer’s and dementia can help ease the stress associated with day to day life. Someone who has dementia may confuse night and day so an easy to read clock can help them to better tell the time. Medication Management Medication management technology created high tech automated pill dispensers which beep and open to remind caregivers and those with dementia to take their medicine. Vibrating alarms on a watch have also been fashioned to remind when it’s time for a pill. This technology serves the busy caregiver well by helping them not to forget medication time as well. Video Monitoring Video monitoring technology supports both care recipient and caregiver, by allowing both people more freedom. The patient doesn’t feel watched constantly because loved one can spend a little time away, and loved ones get the comfort of being able to see their family even when they’re not in the same house. GPS Location and Tracking Devices People with Alzheimer’s or dementia may wander. Tracking devices can be worn by the person in some way and have alert systems that let a caregiver know if their loved one has left a certain area. This type of technology can also alert emergency personnel to aid in a quick recovery. Picture Phones Picture phones are specifically designed for people who cannot remember phone numbers. These phones have large numbers and are pre-programmable with frequently called phone numbers. Some of the phones come with clear buttons where photos can be placed so that the person can just push the button associated with the photos to call their loved one quickly. Electrical Use Monitoring This device monitors a patient’s use of electrical appliances. It plugs into a wall outlet or power strip and will alert caregivers if their commonly used appliances have not been turned on or off. Wearable Cameras Wearable cameras and augmented reality glasses could be the next big thing in helping patients. These devices can take hundreds of pictures every day from the user’s point of view logging their lives in this way. A Village of Care In Kitchener, Ontario, something wonderful is happening. Facilities have been designed to be less institutional-looking, friendlier and homier. “Schlegel Villages” is one of the first of its kind and is improving the quality of life for the people that live there. One problem they deal with though is when at-risk seniors become confused and attempt to leave. According to Schlegel’s IT director, Chris Carde, “Some seniors with certain types of mental illness can remember the door-lock code to get out but can’t remember anything else. A confused senior wandering out into a southern Ontario winter can be a serious, even fatal, incident”. Schlegel Villages is also implementing an e-health system to replace paper charts at its care facilities. Carde states, “Nurses would have to write down a patient’s vital signs, then enter them into a desktop computer some distance away. The new system, which will use iPads and iPad minis to enter health information directly into the database, is being greeted warmly by clinicians”. Thinking Outside of the Box A German senior center applied the idea of using fake bus stops to keep Alzheimer’s disease patients from wandering off. Because their short-term memory is not intact, but their long-term memory works fine, they know what the bus stop sign means, and they stop. It is a huge success in Germany, now they want to bring it to several clinics in North America. A Final Word Thanks to these researchers and IT innovators, the future is much brighter for patients with memory diseases and their families and care providers. This is just the beginning when it comes to making life easier. Information Technology has only just begun to scratch the surface of what can be done to help in the fight against dementia and Alzheimer’s.

We know it’s important to have good habits in many parts of our lives, from our work to our daily hygiene. However, quite a few of us forget that we need to have good computer habits, too. Developing wise practices in connection with our computers and smartphones can make our lives much easier and help us to stay much safer on the internet. Back Up Your Files One thing that many people fail to do is back up their files. All it takes is one catastrophic computer crash and days or even months of work can be lost. Priceless family photos, fun videos with friends, key work files, and important school assignments that were a work in progress can be lost. Backing up your files isn’t that hard nor is it expensive. And, to make things even better and easier, you have many different options from cloud-based backups (such as GoogleDrive, OneDrive, or DropBox), convenient USB thumb drives, portable hard drives, and even specialized backup drives. A good practice is to make sure your files are backed up daily, or at least weekly. Keep Your Software Updated Software updates can be a pain, but they are vital to ensuring that your computer and software runs smoothly. In fact, one of the major reasons that updates are released is to fix bugs and issues that could make your computer vulnerable to cyber threats. Hackers know about these bugs and vulnerabilities. If you don’t allow your system to install the patches and fixes, then you are making yourself a prime target for a cyber attack. Keep in mind that you don’t have to perform updates in the middle of your work anymore. Most software (and smartphones) will give you options for when the update should take place, so you can choose times when you aren’t busy on your computer. Be Smart When Using Public Wi-Fi Public Wi-Fi in places like fast food restaurants and coffee shops can be tempting to use when you need an internet connection, but they can also be dangerous. These public Wi-Fi networks are a common target of hackers, and even hackers with minimal skill can quickly figure out things like your social media credentials and more. If you do have to use public Wi-Fi, take safety precautions such as turning off network discovery, file sharing, and printer sharing and make sure your firewall is turned on. Don’t be an easy target for hackers. Make Use of Antivirus Software and Passwords Would you leave your front door unlocked if you lived in a high-crime neighborhood? Well, the internet is a high-crime neighborhood. Failure to use updated anti-virus software and good passwords is the same as leaving your door unlocked. You can’t afford to make it easy for the wrong people to access your personal and financial information. Your first line of defense lies in the passwords you choose. Don’t use easy to guess passwords, and don’t use the same passwords for everything. Include letters and symbols with your passwords to make them harder to crack, and add some numbers for good measure. Your second line of defense, much like a deadbolt for your front door, is anti-virus and firewall software. They don’t have to be expensive in order to do a good job of protecting your computer. It is also vital that you keep your anti-virus and firewall software updated and don’t ignore alerts they provide. Be Careful with Email Going back to our analogy of living in a high crime area: if your doorbell rang in the middle of the night, would you fling the door open and invite whoever it was inside? You would probably want to make sure who it was, and even check their ID if they claimed to be some kind of official demanding access to your home. Strangely enough, far too often we inadvertently provide access to individuals with malicious intentions when we click on links in emails without making sure where those emails are really from. In short, don’t open an email unless you have a good idea of who it is from, and beware of clicking links in emails even if they seem to be from friends. Be cautious about opening attachments, too. In short, be as careful with your email as you are with your front door. Conclusion You work hard to keep yourself safe from physical dangers such as criminals and disease. It makes sense that you should work just as hard to keep your electronic devices safe, too. Backing up files (including documents, photos, and videos), keeping your software updated, and being smart when on public Wi-Fi is a good start. Add to that antivirus and firewall software, robust passwords, and the careful use of email and you are on the road to developing excellent computer habits that will keep your files, data, and personal information safe.

What Are You Doing for Spreadsheet Day? Spreadsheets: some people love them, some people hate them, and some people are a little afraid of them. No matter which category you may currently fall into, you probably know that spreadsheets are vital to the inner workings of organizations ranging in size from massive Fortune 500 companies to small, locally owned businesses. At this very moment, millions of spreadsheets are probably open all across the world – and it seems fitting that there is a day to celebrate the birth of the modern digital spreadsheet. VisiCalc, the First Spreadsheet Program October was chosen for the month in which Spreadsheet Day would occur for a very simple reason that not many people are aware of: it was October 17 of 1979 when the first spreadsheet program was released. It was called VisiCalc, for those of you who may not have been alive then, and it ran on the Apple II computer. With the release of this software, the often overwhelming task of organizing massive amounts of numerical data not only became streamlined but, for some of us, actually became enjoyable. VisiCalc (whose name means Visible Calculator) was the brainchild of Dan Bricklin of Software Arts. It functioned much like a paper spreadsheet, hence its classification as a spreadsheet program. But unlike a paper spreadsheet, you didn’t need a pencil or an eraser. And the calculations could be performed automatically and with incredible accuracy. By running on the Apple II computer, the power of spreadsheets became accessible not just to corporations and large organizations but too small businesses and homeowners, too. There are other things that set VisiCalc apart from previous attempts to develop electronic spreadsheets, such as the instant recalculation of values when the value in a dependent cell was changed, or it’s interactive WYSIWYG interface that still resembles what we use today. In short, VisiCalc was the starting point for the modern spreadsheet that we know today. The Ubiquity of the Spreadsheet You might be surprised at the multitude of applications there are for spreadsheets. We know spreadsheets are used for tasks such as accounting, sales, business intelligence, and finance. Professors, instructors, and teachers use spreadsheets to track class performance and assign grades. Engineers and scientist alike use them to perform simulations, create complex models, and analyze massive sets of data. Homeowners use them to track expenses and set up budgets. Small business owners use them to keep track of inventory and sales. Large companies use hundreds of different spreadsheets for just about everything imaginable — from simple tasks that require a small portion of a worksheet to massive workbooks with thousands of calculations and complex visualizations. When it comes to data, spreadsheets can model, manipulate, sort, organize, visualize, and process large sets of both numerical and non-numerical data. Spreadsheets can be used to perform what-if analysis, make predictions based on existing data, inform decisions, and perform extremely complex calculations. They can be used for optimization, curve fitting, and solving simultaneous equations. And one of the benefits of spreadsheets, to quote an old professor of the author’s, is that if you can do it once, and do it right, you may never have to do it again. Modern Spreadsheet Packages We aren’t limited to VisiCalc in modern times, however. We’ve got a wide variety of options when it comes to spreadsheet packages, including: Microsoft Office Excel (which is available both as desktop software and online) Google Sheets Corel Quattro Pro LibreOffice Calc OpenOffice.org Calc iWork Numbers There other less well-known options available, too, but Excel is what most people think of when someone says “spreadsheet.” Modern packages offer numerous types of formulas and functions, including those for finance, accounting, mathematics, statistics, probability, and string manipulation, just to name a few. And the visualization capabilities of spreadsheets are constantly evolving to enable users to give even more context and meaning to data. How spreadsheets process massive sets of calculations is also growing, with some packages supporting multi-threaded processing. The types of data that can be processed within a spreadsheet are rapidly expanding beyond floating point numbers and characters, and some packages such as Excel are including aspects of artificial intelligence among new capabilities. How Can You Celebrate Spreadsheet Day? There are quite a few ways to celebrate Spreadsheet Day. One of the best ways is to expand your knowledge of spreadsheets. It’s always a good idea to increase your skill set when it comes to computer applications, but especially so when it comes to spreadsheets. Spreadsheets can make your work much easier if you learn how to make the best use of them. Take our word for it – spreadsheets can do so much more than you realize. That’s why we think the very best way to celebrate the birthday of the modern spreadsheet is to register for free online Excel training at SpreadsheetsTraining.com. Sharpen your existing skills, learn something new, and find out new ways to put spreadsheets to work for you!

Steve Jobs Day Sheds Light On Apple Founder’s Legacy In today’s modern world, the name “Apple” has become synonymous with technology. It’s no wonder then that Steve Jobs, the company’s late co-founder, has become such an influential figure in American history. His contributions are well documented in motion pictures, books and an authorized biography. October 16 is known as Steve Jobs Day, which was declared in 2011 by the Governor of California. The day brings forth the opportunity to reflect on the life of the famed innovator and how his contributions have helped advance the human race. From iPhones to iPads and every single app in between, one could argue that humanity would not be as technologically savvy without the work of Steve Jobs. In August of this year, Apple achieved what no other company in history has done. It became the first publicly traded U.S. company to reach $1 trillion. Not only is this historic in terms of branding, but it brings to light the incredible ingenuity the company has displayed throughout the years. Along with his partner Steve Wozniak, Jobs’ innovations have helped solidify an incredible legacy likely to stand the test of time. The Early Years Jobs grew up in the San Francisco bay area in the 1960s. By the age of 10, he had developed a fascination with electronics, likely due largely in part to time spent with his father building crafts. This hobby paved the way for Jobs’ establishment of Apple in 1976, along with his co-founder Steve Wozniak. Jobs sat at the helm of Apple’s operations until 1985, when he broke ties with the company and established NeXT computers. Apple later purchased NeXT and paved the way for Jobs’ return to the company in 1997. Apple Computers While Jobs can’t be credited for inventing the first computer, his founding of Apple paved the way for its widespread use. The computers that came before Apple was expensive and typically used only for business purposes. The introduction of the Apple II, the brainchild of Jobs and Steve Wozniak, changed this concept forever. Marketed as the world’s first mass-market personal computer, the Apple II meant users could now access the technology from the privacy of their own homes. More than two decades later, in 1998, Apple released the iMac, an all-in-one computer. One of Apple’s lesser-known inventions is the iBook, which was introduced in 1999. The laptop came equipped with Wi-Fi technology and a few upgrades to its design. People today may remember it for its tangerine and blueberry color options and clamshell design. The Apple iPad, introduced in 2010, has made the Internet even further accessible. This tablet computer was built more for entertainment than previous devices, making it a staple in many households, utilized by children and adults alike. The product was deemed so successful that Apple sold more than 15 million of these devices in its first year. The iPhone Of all Apple’s products, none is as influential in the tech world as the iPhone. Apple’s introduction of the iPhone marked a paradigm shift for the traditional mobile phone. Apple’s version, like the majority of its most revolutionary products, boasted a sleek, simple design that helped further uncomplicate technology for the masses. Introduced in 2007, the phone has undergone a radical series of redesigns over the years, each year presenting more opportunities for productivity than the last. Prior to the invention of the iPhone, mobile phones’ primary purpose was to access chatting and emailing. Today’s version is utilized for web-surfing, Facetiming, social media and the utilization of an endless stream of apps available for download at users’ fingertips. Frequent updates and new designs ensure Apple users are getting the best product possible, which has helped the brand amass its own population of loyal followers. The iPod One of Apple’s most significant inventions to date remains the iPod. While mp3 players had been on the market for several years, Apple’s version was seen by many as far superior, and so it began to dominate the market. Able to store thousands of songs, the iPod grew in success with the help of other products, such as Apple iTunes, which was released in 2001. The new technology allowed users to organize their digital library on both their personal computer and through their devices. The iTunes Music Store went live in 2003. Not all of Jobs’ best inventions were technological. The innovator is also credited with inventing the world’s first glass staircase. The design, which was awarded a patent in 2002, has been used across some of Apple’s flagship stores and has since been adopted, in some sense, by both commercial and residential properties the world over. Steve Jobs Day is a day designated for honoring the Jobs legacy, but his impact is seen daily, in the hands of millions. While Apple, as a company, has certainly carried on without him, Jobs is one innovator unlikely to ever be forgotten.

Google+ Social Media App Will Soon Move Off Into The Sunset Google+ has never really been a popular social media network. In fact, most people say they’ve never used it and don’t know how it works. So it’s not too surprising to hear that Google has finally decided to pull the plug. Google just announced a ten-month sunsetting period, which begins now and will end in August of 2019. Besides the site simply not being popular, Google has had serious security issues. Project Strobe discovered a bug in Google+ that may have leaked the personal information of thousands of users. Though Google says the vulnerability was not discovered by hackers and that no profiles were compromised, their senior executives felt that rumors of a breach would likely trigger “immediate regulatory interest.” So they simply didn’t tell anyone. Other Social Media Data Breaches For several years, Facebook has been under scrutiny for allowing the data firm Cambridge Analytica to access their user information. This data was in turn used to create targeted social media ads that eventually swayed the presidential election of 2016. Since that incident, Americans have become much more aware of the effects and dangers of data breaches and social media manipulation. Given the fact that almost no one was using the Google+ app and the high risk for potential data leaks, Google execs said they simply felt that it was best to discontinue Google+. Users will have 10 months to migrate their data before the platform is officially dissolved in August of next year. However, the company has decided to continue supporting the Enterprise version of Google+ so businesses using that app will not be affected. More About the Google+ Security Breach Last March, Google discovered a privacy breach, which allowed third-party apps using their programming interface to access the personal data of users. This data includes usernames, addresses, email addresses, birth dates and other bits of personal information. The Wall Street Journal reported some details about the security breach and said that Google executives had been informed about the breach soon after it occurred. These executives made the decision not to disclose the breach to its users for fear of tarnishing their reputation. Reporting Security Breaches In a blog post, Google said that it decides when and if the organization should notify users of data breaches. They take into consideration the type of data that was leaked, whether there’s evidence of misuse and whether there’s anything that users can do about it. According to security breach laws, any organization that experiences a data breach must inform those affected. And they only have a specific amount of time to do so. This varies by state but there are severe penalties for not correctly reporting a security breach. Executives at Google say that the gap has been fixed and that users do not need to worry about any further data leaks. However, there is ample evidence that Google did not follow the law once they learned of the data breach. This can result not only in penalties from the federal government but also users can file individual lawsuits if they believe their personal info has been compromised. How Data Breach Laws Are Changing With the new European Union GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation), more countries and organizations are implementing stronger security measures. The GDPR affects anyone who does business with an entity that resides within the European Union. This has caused many business owners to revamp the way they collect and store personal information from their users. Once a company has collected an individual’s personal information, they have a legal responsibility to keep that data as secure as possible. In spite of these advances in data security regulations, hackers seem to be one step ahead. Their tactics change, improve and evolve making it necessary for all organizations to be more cautious. Senate and House Committees Get Involved This past year, many social media and technology companies have come under scrutiny due to their data and privacy practices. Executives from Twitter, Facebook and Google have testified before various Senate and House committees. Under fire are their security measures, but also their political biases. The government is considering types of regulations that would prevent these companies from meddling in important things like the elections. Now that everyone is fully aware of how easy it is to sway voters in one direction or the other, there is a very real fear that future elections may be manipulated by these companies. They not only have the knowledge, but they have the resources to influence the way people vote. And this ability holds within it a great deal of potential power to change our society in ways that can only be speculated about at the moment. What Should Google+ Users Do? In the meantime, if you are a Google+ user, it’s best to go ahead and make copies of any content you have on the site, then delete your account. Once it has been deleted, you’ll no longer have to worry about losing it to hackers who have found yet another weakness in the site’s security protocols.

Most homeowners and renters understand the importance of home security. In fact, in today’s world, it’s not uncommon for homeowners to spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars on home protection. But while securing your belongings is considered good common sense, homeowners don’t as often consider the concept of data security. This is understandable, but in reality, it’s just as important to ensure that your data is protected as well. Unbeknownst to many, your home’s security system and its surrounding technology may even leave you susceptible to a data breach. These have the potential to wreak havoc from a personal data standpoint. Paying close attention to the technology you are using to protect your home can help you avoid the ever-growing risk of a cyber breach. Here are a few things homeowners can do to keep their networks protected. Strengthen Your Wireless Security Securing your wireless router is paramount to effective data security. Your wireless networking security will depend heavily on the health of your router. One useful tip? Don’t leave your Wi-Fi on unless it’s necessary. This means that if you and your family are planning a long trip, don’t forget to turn your network off. Other precautions include disabling your Wi-Fi Protected Setup, or WPS. The WPS is intended to make it easier for those within your household to join the central Wi-Fi network. However, it can also be used by hackers to gain unauthorized access. Configuring your Wi-Fi’s signal strength is also important. Casting too wide of a net can leave you susceptible to outside hackers. As a security measure, configure it so Wi-Fi is only accessible to those within your home’s area. You can also disable your network’s remote management, and be on the lookout for any unknown devices or connections showing up on your network. Update Your Software Keeping your security systems up-to-date is important in ensuring nothing falls through the cracks. Applying updates and patches ensure you are running the most recent technology available for your device. Your work doesn’t stop at updates, though. Installing an anti-virus solution built to detect, prevent and clear your system of viruses ensures a strong line of defense against hacking. While antivirus solutions won’t protect your system from, say, zero-day exploits, they can be helpful in preventing malware from entering your devices. Install A Network Firewall Firewalls are extremely useful in maintaining the security of your systems. This type of solution blocks unauthorized users from acquiring access to your private data. Installing a firewall is a solid step toward keeping your data safe. These can be installed via software, hardware or a unique combination of both. Back Up Your Data Computer users understand the frustration that comes with a hardware failure. In the event that this happens to you, it’s best to be prepared. Keeping a solid backup solution will give you peace of mind in the event of an accident. Test your backups thoroughly and regularly by creating dummy files and deleting them, or scheduling a day to unplug and determine how long it takes to get your system up and running. All this can help you form a legit plan of action to help you recover from a hardware failure. Maintain Strong Encryption Configuring your router improperly can pave the way for a data breach. You should use the strongest possible encryption methods for your device. Some of these protocols may include Wi-Fi Protected Access 2 (WPA2), Temporary Key Integrity Protocol (TKIP), and Personal Advanced Encryption Standard (AES). Here are some tips to help you create a strong line of defense against a breach. Update Your Router Password It can be tempting to begin using a new router fresh out of the box, but be cautious. While your router has a set password, it may be easy to guess, or worse, printed right on the router itself. Changing your router’s password to something safe and known only by you is necessary if you’re hoping for optimal protection. The same goes for your Network name. While these typically come standard, you’ll want to change yours, though be careful not to include personal information such as your last name or address. There are some things you can do to ensure a strong password. First, avoid using the same one for all of your accounts. If your password is stolen from one site, all other accounts for which you use it may be put at risk. You also shouldn’t share passwords with anyone or divulge them to anyone. Approach Email With Caution You may have taken all the necessary precautions to keep your home network secure from hackers, but often it’s not the technology that’s to blame for a breach. While it’s true that cyber criminals take advantage of unencrypted data, an inadequate firewall or out-of-date software, they also frequently target individual users. E-mail, for instance, is one of the most frequently used platforms by hackers. And while these attacks can hit suddenly and without warning, there are still things you can do to protect yourself. If you receive an e-mail from someone you don’t know, don’t answer right away. Always first verify the person’s identity before responding. If you suspect an email from an organization may contain malware, first contact the company directly before replying. One giveaway is a misspelling in the URL of a malicious website. Also be sure to never share personal or financial information via e-mail or telephone. Don’t leave your data security up to chance. All of these steps combined can help you form a solid plan for preventing a cyber breach.  

There’s a new Gift Card scam going around that has already cost consumers lots of money, frustration, and headaches. Here’s how it works. You’ll get an email from a friend or relative asking you to go buy them a gift card. The email will say that your friend or relative has been busy or sick and unable to get to the store. Once you get the card for them, they’ll ask you to take a quick photo of the gift card code on the back and send it to them. Once you do this, they can cash out the gift card and you lose your money. It happens just that quickly. Can You Help Out a Friend? This scam has been working well for several reasons. Usually, the email comes from someone you know, maybe a sibling, parent, or aunt. Of course, you want to help them out, right? But one thing many consumers don’t realize is just how simple it is to hijack an email account. This is easy work for any hacker worth his salt. For some reason, people just believe that the email is legit and never take that extra step of calling their friend or relative and just asking them, “Hey, did you send me an email about buying you a gift card?” That’s all it would take to avoid being a victim here. Instead, most people will run down to Walmart or Target, buy the gift card, take the photo of the code on the back and think they’re doing a great favor for someone. After you send the pic of the code back to the hacker, they will move very quickly to cash out the gift card and you’ll lose all your money. Later, of course, you’ll learn that your friend did not make such a request and now you feel silly for not double checking. After all, we should we savvier than that as consumers, right? New Apps Make Scamming Much Easier Unfortunately, these types of scams have been working well for many years. Plus, new apps like Raise make it easy to turn unused gift card balances into money. Though victims do sometimes reach out to local police for help, this is actually not a crime. I know that most people are stunned by that news, but it’s true. Because you were a willing participant and you initiated the action with intent, no fraud was committed. So now you’re out the cost of the gift card and there’s really nothing you can do about it. Just In Time For the Holidays Authorities are warning consumers that this scam will be prolific all throughout the holidays. That’s why it’s so important to spread the word. Let your friends and family know that if they get a request like this from you or anyone, be sure to stop and call the person. Ask them if they really sent the email asking for a gift card. It only takes a couple of minutes to do this and it can save you $50 or $100 bucks. Other Scams to Watch Out for During the Holidays Hackers infamously took over the Rio Summer Olympics a few years back using social engineering to exploit the event. Though some were shocked, social engineering has been around awhile and is used every day to trick business owners. This scam costs Americans millions of dollars each year and hackers find new ways to make their tricks even more effective. Phishing Scams Used more frequently than any other, phishing scams have become so widespread that it’s difficult to get accurate results of the losses incurred. PhishMe is reporting that these scams are growing by at least 65% per year. Kaspersky Labs claims that during the first quarter of 2018, its anti-phishing system prevented more than 107 million attempts to connect users to malicious websites. A Barkly reports shows that 85% of companies have fallen victim to this scheme. How It Works Phishing scams work relatively easily. It’s not rocket science, as they say. You get a legitimate sounding email that seems to be from your bank or credit card company. These emails often use fear and urgency to make victims take action before double checking the legitimacy of the email. Below is an example. This scammer claims to be contacting you from Apple. If you check out the “From” address, you can quickly see that it’s not a legitimate Apple email account. Another big clue is that words are misspelled and the grammar is very poor. You can tell that this email was written by someone (probably from Eastern Europe) who has very bad English skills. NEVER click the link in a suspicious email like this one. Once you do, the cyber thieves can download malware or ransomware to your computer. They may also redirect you to a site where they steal your banking and credit card information. At the very least, they will steal your log-in information for your Apple account and then hijack it. Final Tips In order for consumers to avoid being a victim during the holidays, it’s important to watch out for these types of fraudulent activities. Never click a link in a suspicious email. Instead, open a new browser page and navigate to the website the way you ordinarily would. If there’s something wrong with your Apple account, a bank account or a credit card account, you’ll have a letter in your Inbox explaining what happened and what you need to do. By using a little common sense and double checking when something feels suspicious to you, we can all avoid being victims this holiday season.  

The September update of Office 365 includes some major additions and changes to tools such as Microsoft Teams, PowerPoint, and Excel, just to name a few. It is important to keep up with these developments, so here is a list of the major advancements of which you need to be aware. Microsoft Teams: Skype, Selective Do Not Disturb, Wiki App Many users have been looking forward to the day when Skype is integrated into Microsoft Teams, and that day has finally come. You can now use Microsoft Teams for cloud-based meetings that can have up to 250 participants, powerful messaging features, and some awesome calling features. One of the most practical additions to Microsoft Teams is to set up a selective Do Not Disturb status so that some people can still feel free to reach you (e.g., your supervisor or manager). It’s simple to setup: Click on your avatar, Settings, Privacy, and then select the individuals who you still want to receive notifications from. Another one of the new updates in Microsoft Teams is the Wiki app, which can be accessed through the left-hand navigation panel using the More Apps ellipsis. This app allows you to see the wiki pages you are a part of, keep track of your own private notes, and see the notes you’ve most recently been editing. PowerPoint: Embedded Fonts Have you ever prepared a presentation on one computer and had it looking just perfect, only to open it up on another computer and the fonts looked totally different? There is a way to keep this from happening: embedding the fonts in the PowerPoint deck when you save it. Go to Save As > Browse > and then go to the Tools drop-down box in the bottom corner of the dialog box. In the Tools drop-down, click on Save options. Toward the bottom of the box that pops up, you will see an option to “Embed fonts in the file.” Check that box, then click OK and save as you normally would. This option used to be only available on Windows devices, but the new update of Office 365 also makes it available on Office for Mac for Office Insiders. To access it on a Mac, go to the PowerPoint menu and click on Preferences, then Save. The Font Embedding option will be in the dialog box that appears. Excel: Flow Integration Microsoft Flow has been integrated with Excel, and is accessible via an Excel add-in. This will allow you to connect your data to services like Microsoft Teams, Twitter, SharePoint, Dynamics 365, Office 365, and more. You will be able to create and trigger on-demand flows for selected rows in spreadsheets that are hosted on OneDrive for Business or in SharePoint. With this integration that uses the ‘For a selected row trigger’ and the Flow launch panel, you can create and trigger on-demand flows for selected rows in any Excel table on spreadsheets hosted in SharePoint or OneDrive for Business. Access: Improved Visualization Tools Users have been requesting more visualization tools for their data contained in Access, and that is exactly what Microsoft has provided. Not only have charts been made easier and more intuitive to create, but additional chart types have also been added. For power users who developed their own Active-X solutions to the challenge of creating charts for forms and reports, their solutions will continue to work. Power BI: Export to PDF This is another update that came about as a result of user feedback: the ability to export Power BI reports in PDF format where they can be shared with others. This will only be available in the desktop version of Power BI for right now. Microsoft has also added an “Ask A Question” to the Power BI Desktop which will be globally available in the client. What this means is that you can use natural language queries to explore your data and allow report users to ask their own questions. SharePoint: More Granular Control for IT Admins In previous releases, if a group of users was not allowed to create Office 365 groups, they would be limited to creating Classic SharePoint sites. They could not create modern SharePoint sites. The new release has changed this: the IT administrator determines who can create classic SharePoint sites, who can create modern SharePoint sites, and who can create Office 365 groups. Security Microsoft Cloud App Security is a powerful tool that evaluates every app used in terms of industry-specific standards, compliance, and regulatory certifications. The goal of this is to make sure that your company can make informed decisions on the type of apps that are most appropriate for not only your needs, but your security. This new release also checks for GDPR compliance and can generate a C-level report on critical findings. Conclusion While this isn’t an exhaustive list of all the new features and changes available in the September update of Office 365, it does present the ones that are going to have the greatest impact. However, it’s always a good idea to be cognizant of new developments even if they don’t directly impact your daily work.

Facebook Was Breached Were You Or A Facebook Friend Affected? Facebook has confirmed that more than 50 million user accounts have been breached. They made the announcement today, Friday, September 28th.  However, their engineering team discovered the security breach back on Tuesday, September 25th, 2018. They tell us that the vulnerability has been fixed and the breach was reported to the appropriate authorities. How Did This Happen? Hackers stole users’ access tokens through Facebook’s “view as.” This is a feature that lets you view what your profile looks like to other Facebook users. The flaw in this feature allowed hackers to take over 50 million user accounts. If you’re like me, you may have received notices from some of your Facebook friends this week that someone took control of their accounts.  Perhaps they were affected by this breach. What Are Access Tokens? These are the digital keys that keep us logged in so we don’t need to re-enter our password every time we use Facebook. With this information, hackers can take over our account. Here’s how Facebook explains what happened: “Attackers exploited a vulnerability in Facebook’s code that impacted ‘View As,’ a feature that lets people see what their own profile looks like to someone else. This allowed them to steal Facebook access tokens which they could then use to take over people’s accounts.” What Now? Facebook reset the tokens of all those affected. They also logged off 40 million additional users as a precaution. If you are one of these people, you’ll need to log back in the next time you use Facebook. According to Facebook, their investigators are in the early stages of their investigation. They are temporarily turning off the “View As” feature while they conduct a thorough security review What Should You Do? If you have trouble logging back into Facebook, or you forgot your password, visit Facebook’s Help Center. If you’re like me, you take extra precautions when you hear about breaches like this.  If you want, you can visit the “Security and Login” section in Facebook settings. It lists the places where you’re logged into Facebook with a one-click option. If you choose, you can log out of them all.