Hackers Tap Into The Big Business Of Social Media

Since its inception, social media has always had this massive potential for business. In recent years, this potential has been realized and businesses are reaping the benefits of having access to a global pool of potential customers. However, it’s not only businesses that are reaping the benefits of social media. There are other entities that are taking a huge chunk of the market, and in a negative way. Which is why businesses should always be on guard and with a team of IT consultant at their disposal.

Hackers are also tapping into the potential of social media and it’s a massive avenue for different schemes such as identity theft and more. Cybercriminals have been making a lot of money with a staggering amount of $3.25 billion annually and the amount keeps on growing. With more people going into social media, businesses have more to cheer upon but so do hackers. Since 2013 to date, the number of cybercrime in social media has grown four folds and it isn’t about to slow down anytime soon.

Cyber-attacks come in a variety of forms, which is quite a problem if your business is reliant or is making use of social media platforms to operate. This is the reason why a lot of businesses hire an IT consultant Fayetteville for their business. This is not only to serve as a line of defense, but also a means of preserving the integrity of the business itself.

Since social media has drawn nearer to ubiquity each day, it is important that businesses take extra measures on information security to ensure that company and user data is preserved and uncompromised. With this in mind, it is also good to develop a habit of limiting the type of information that people are putting on social media platforms as such data could easily be stolen and used in illegal practices.

Are you in need of a complete technology solution to safeguard your business? Call SpartanTec, Inc. today.

SpartanTec, Inc.
517 Owen Dr
Fayetteville, NC 28304
(910) 745-7776
http://manageditservicesfayetteville.com

Cities Served:
Fayetteville, Spring Lake, Hope Mills, Dunn, Aberdeen, Southern Pines, Pinehurst, Sanford, Clinto

Microsoft To Launch Office PWA On Windows 10

Microsoft’s My Office app is getting an upgrade according to a new announcement by the company. A new free Office PWA or progressive web app will be available for download soon on the Microsoft Store. Functionality will be similar to that of the existing Office app but with new features that would excite users and folks at the IT management department.

With the nature of PWAs, the new Microsoft Office app will allow users to work both online and offline without any restrictions. This applies to all file types in the ecosystem which includes, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Excel. The new features will also add productivity value to the new Office. Users of the application will also be able to view locally stored files as well as those that are stored on cloud servers, which means Microsoft’s proprietary OneDrive and SharePoint.

And what’s best is that you can use the PWA Office offline. This means you will still be able to work with different documents without internet access. However, there’s one catch. Users must be have Windows 10 with build number 1803 to be able to use the new capabilities. It will be quite useful for both end users and IT management Fayetteville people since the Office apps still function when an internet connection is not available.

In addition, Microsoft Edge developer, Aaron Gustafson also announced that the new version of Edge will be based on Chromium. This means PWAs can be access and installed from the browser. This move greatly increases the flexibility of Edge, which in turn makes it easier for IT services to work its way around computers that have Windows 10 installed. Not only that, Edge will hopefully gain momentum with this new update which will let it catch up to Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox.

Need a well-rounded IT service provider? Call SpartanTec,  Inc. today.

SpartanTec, Inc.
517 Owen Dr
Fayetteville, NC 28304
(910) 745-7776
http://manageditservicesfayetteville.com

Cities Served:
Fayetteville, Spring Lake, Hope Mills, Dunn, Aberdeen, Southern Pines, Pinehurst, Sanford, Clinto

History Theft Now A Problem On Safari

If you and your staff are using MacOS, there’s a new security flaw in the system that will spark concern. According to Jeff Johnson, the person behind the Underpass app on iOS and Mac, as well as the Safari extension StopTheMadness, the new flaw would put anyone’s browsing history on the Safari browser at risk. This is a huge blow to Safari’s information security protocols if left unattended.

Thankfully, hackers wouldn’t be able to take full advantage of this flaw if they haven’t gained access to a person’s Mac. Hackers would then need to push malicious apps to potential victims, but is a far stretch to get just someone’s browsing data unless it’s really important.

All variants of the macOS Mojave are affected. Mr. Johnson stressed out the fact that there was a way to bypass the security protocols on certain folders on Mojave, which were restricted by default. He said that this flaw opens the entire browsing data on Safari, which could be a possible information security Fayetteville issue.

Since the discovery, Johnson privately reached out to Apple regarding the concern. He refused to make details of his findings public, saying he does not want to endanger MacOS users.

Apple confirmed the security flaw and said it is working on the issue. However, the company is yet to divulge details on how it plans to address the concern and similar incidents. This will include the level of attention the company is putting into such resolutions and a timeline of when they push patches after receiving tips on the flaws.

Although there’s little chance that this flaw could snowball into a large-scale issue, it is still a possible entry point for hackers until it gets resolved. For users you want to secure their personal data, it is best to seek managed IT services, especially if you’re running a company.

Got some IT problems that you want to resolve? Call SpartanTec, Inc. today and have all your worries taken care of.

SpartanTec, Inc.
517 Owen Dr
Fayetteville, NC 28304
(910) 745-7776
http://manageditservicesfayetteville.com

Cities Served:
Fayetteville, Spring Lake, Hope Mills, Dunn, Aberdeen, Southern Pines, Pinehurst, Sanford, Clinto

Google Releases Chrome Extension That Detects Password Theft

Google has released a new extension for its Chrome browser. If you have not installed it, you should consider getting for all your devices in the office and at home. If you are running a business, be sure get managed ITservices to make sure that your computer network is secured at all the time.

The new extension, Password Checkup, is made to serve a single purpose. It securely monitors your logins real time against a possible database breach every time you log in to different websites daily.

The plugin will check the passwords that you key in manually and the passwords that are stored in the password manager of Google Chrome.

It is an excellent feature but it also comes with its own set or risks. Given that it opens the likelihood that during the checking process, your password can be detected by hacker who may be potentially monitoring your device. Even with that, the chances that it would happen is minimal, while the advantages enjoyed through obtaining real time details regarding if your passwords were compromised is too significant to ignore.

The main issue is this: before, a lot of high profile data breaches have been reported and billions of IDs and credentials were exposed and many of them were sold on the Dark Web. To make matters worse, a lot of users were not aware that their personal credentials were compromised. With Google’s new chrome extension, all of this can be changed. It will offer you the opportunity right then and there to alter your password. Of course, it is better if you seek managed IT services to make sure that your company’s confidential information is kept confidential.

Google’s development team is always updating the huge database that the extension is using to check for possibly compromised passwords, and they have plans to extend the utilization of the API’s capabilities later on. They are even open for suggestions from Google users on how this feature can be used in future projects.

Overall, even if the new extension can be abused, the availability of the brand new feature is a great step towards improving information security. So, go ahead and get the extension now.

Call SpartanTec, Inc. if you need help in securing your personal or business data. 

SpartanTec, Inc.
517 Owen Dr
Fayetteville, NC 28304
(910) 745-7776
http://manageditservicesfayetteville.com

Cities Served:
Fayetteville, Spring Lake, Hope Mills, Dunn, Aberdeen, Southern Pines, Pinehurst, Sanford, Clinto

Computer Safety Tips You Need To Know

Making sure that your computer is secure seems like a cumbersome task. The good news is that there are a few simple things you can do like keeping your anti virus software up to date to make sure that you have good computer security.

Update Your Anti-Virus Software

Make sure that you have anti virus software installed on your computer. Don’t forget to check for updates every day. Most software can be set up to get this done automatically. In case you do not know where to begin, you can consult an IT consultant to help you out.

Install Security Patches

New threats to different types of software are being discovered all the time and they do not discriminate by platform or vendor. It is not just a matter of updating the operating system, at least once a month, check for as well as apply updates for all the software you are using. You can check the Microsoft Update Catalog or the Secunia Software inspector for updates.

Use A Firewall

Any internet connection is at risk if there is no firewall. A non-firewalled computer will only have a few minutes before it gets infected. Fortunately, Windows operating systems come with a built-in firewall that is turned on by default.

Never Give Out Personal, Sensitive Information

Unless the website is prefaced with https, never provide personal and sensitive information like your credit card number or social security number. In case you really have to provide any of these personal details, you must do so carefully. When paying for goods or services online, consider using PayPal. You should also be careful about sharing too much information on social media. Identity thieves commonly turn to social media to get access to your personal and even financial information.

Control Your Email

Don’t open any email attachment that you may have received from an unexpected or unknown source. Keep in mind that worms and Trojan filled spam will do their best to spoof the name of the sender. You also need to make sure that your email client doesn't leave you susceptible to infection and any online threat.

Always Treat IM Suspiciously

Trojans and Worms frequently target instant messaging. There are countless scammers who are always working to find ways to gain access to your personal accounts or to get your personal information. Treat IMs just as you treat your email, if not even more cautiously.

Use Strong Passwords

Use a mix of numbers, letters, and special characters for your passwords. The longer and the more complicated it is, the better. Every account you have should have different passwords. You should also use two-factor authentication if it is available. Of course, remembering all of your passwords can be quite difficult so consider using a password manager, which is commonly a browser plugin that will monitor your password entry and save your credentials for all of your accounts. You just have to remember one password and that’s for your password manager app.

Keep An Eye On Internet Scams

Criminals will always find ways to take your hard earned cash away from you. Do not get fooled by emails that tell sad stories, or offering unsolicited jobs. Additionally, you should also be careful of emails that masquerade as security concerns from an eCommerce site or your bank.

Avoid Virus Hoaxes

There are emails that spread uncertainty, fear, and doubt about threats that do not exist will only spread needless alarm and might even cause you to delete legitimate files. Keep in mind that there are a lot of good things than bad things on the internet. Don’t be paranoid. Instead, be aware, cautious, and suspicious as well. By following the tips provided above and being proactive in securing your computer and your information, you will not just protect yourself but also contribute to the betterment and protection of the internet in general.

Call SpartanTec, Inc. if you need professional help in keeping your personal or office computer secure from all kinds of online threat. 

SpartanTec, Inc.
517 Owen Dr
Fayetteville, NC 28304
(910) 745-7776
http://manageditservicesfayetteville.com

Cities Served:
Fayetteville, Spring Lake, Hope Mills, Dunn, Aberdeen, Southern Pines, Pinehurst, Sanford, Clinto

New Android Malware Can Drain Your PayPal Account

Are you among the millions of people who use an Android Device? Do you also use PayPal? If your answers to both questions is Yes, then there is something that you really need to know. It could be one of the many reasons why you need to pay attention to information security.

Hackers have found a new way to steal money from your PayPal accounts. They are using a few versions of an app that is known as “Optimization Battery.” They have embedded a Trojan that can take your hard earned cash in PayPal even if your account is protected by a two factor authentication.

ESET researchers discovered the latest threat. They have conducted an in-depth analysis of its code and they discovered that the threat is well engineered and must be considered as very dangerous. The Trojan inserted in the app will abuse PayPal’s “Accessibility” to replicate screen taps. By doing so, the malware can start a fresh PayPal transfer, put in the information of a certain account that is under the control of the hacker as the receiver, and type in the amount that will be transferred. All of this can take place in as short as five seconds, which is obviously not enough time for the real user to stop the transfer.

To make things worse, the unauthorized transfer is set to happen whenever the victim logs into his or her PayPal account. That means the victim will only have time to check his or her account and after a few seconds, he or she will see his money be transferred to someone else without his approval. It happens so fast that the user might even think that it is only a glitch. Some may even have to suffer more attacks before they find out that there is something wrong going on.

If there is any silver lining to this scenario, it is that the malicious version of the app, Optimization Battery, exists only 3^rd party vendor websites. It does not exist in Google Play Store. What is the best way to protect yourself? You can minimize your risk by limiting your app downloads from Google Play Store.

Also, if you are using an Android device and you are using PayPal as well, and you installed Optimization Batter, then you better keep a close eye on your PayPal account. The hackers might be stealing from you under your nose. Better yet, get in touch with an IT consultant.

Call SpartanTec, Inc. if you need to know more about information security. 

SpartanTec, Inc.
517 Owen Dr
Fayetteville, NC 28304
(910) 745-7776
http://manageditservicesfayetteville.com

Cities Served:
Fayetteville, Spring Lake, Hope Mills, Dunn, Aberdeen, Southern Pines, Pinehurst, Sanford, Clinto