Ransomware could become a nonissue.
We survived last month's WannaCry Ransomware attack. WannaCry struck folks who avoided the most recent Microsoft security updates. They also previously clicked a phishing link. WannaCry encrypted files and demanded $300US in BitCoin to make them readable. Proactive users avoided this nonsense.
Avoiding WannaCry.
WannaCry struck none of my ... Read More
Microsoft certified technicians help keep your business in business.
As you review candidates to be your outsourced IT support company, ask for those who are Microsoft Certified. Why? Because they make great consultants. They drive fast time-to-value, onboard quickly and responding to challenges confidently.
Microsoft certified techs usually have been in the business for ... Read More
Wannacry, the worst ransomware in history, is preventable.
Last week, the Wannacry ransomware infected 200,000 computers. It started infecting Britain's hospitals. We soon learned it was international. A client asked me about it.
How to get infected.
Here's what I wrote:
For a company to be victimized by the Wannacry ransomware, they needed:
At least ... Read More
Ransomware strikes British hospitals.
Friday's ransomware attack infected computer networks of at least 40 British National Health System hospitals. Administrators suspended non-emergency operations. They also are diverting ambulances.
Mikko Hypponen, chief research officer at the Helsinki-based cybersecurity company F-Secure, called the attack "the biggest ransomware outbreak in history." This is a cyber ... Read More
Malware Malware Everywhere.
Malware attacks are on the rise. According to Wikipedia, "Malware, short for malicious software, is any software used to disrupt computer or mobile operations, gather sensitive information, gain access to private computer systems, or display unwanted advertising."
Data breaches are all but inevitable. You've heard about the recent attacks ... Read More
Yesterday's phishing atack.
Yesterday, someone included me in a phishing attack. According to Wikipedia, “phishing is the attempt to obtain sensitive information such as usernames, passwords, and credit card details (and, indirectly, money), often for malicious reasons, by disguising as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication.” My spidey sense triggered. I ... Read More
Yesterday's phishing attempt.
Yesterday morning, someone sent me a phishing attempt. According to Wikipedia, “phishing is the attempt to obtain sensitive information such as usernames, passwords, and credit card details (and, indirectly, money), often for malicious reasons, by disguising as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication.” My spidey sense triggered. ... Read More
BitLocker = ?
I am glad you asked. BitLocker is Microsoft's hard drive encrypting tool. You enable it on the hard drives residing in your computer or on external drives you attach with a USB cable. This is included in Microsoft Windows 7 and Windows 10 Professional. There is no cost.
I am ... Read More
Test your backups.
You're running a business. You have mission-critical data on your server and workstations. This includes trade secrets, client data and financial information. You backup your data to protect you in case an emergency struck. You know the backups work and your mission-critical data is safe, offsite.
Or do you?
This ... Read More