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An Arizona family was recently in the news warning others about how they were the target of a ransom call in which scammers used AI (artificial intelligence) to clone their daughter’s voice to convince the parents they had kidnapped their daughter, with the apparent goal of extorting money.  

DeLynne Bock, the mother of Payton Bock and target of the con, said she feels she can easily spot a fake scam call, but this was on a whole other level. 

According to the news story, the scammers called their home, where DeLynne’s husband answered the call. A man on the other end of the line was screaming and using foul language, saying his daughter had caused an accident, hitting his car, and couldn’t find her insurance. From there, he started making threats, saying he had her tied up in the back of his truck.  

What made the call so convincing was the deep fake of her daughter’s voice on the other end of the line – pleading for help, crying. Unable to reach her daughter by phone, DeLynne called the police while her husband kept the man on the phone. “I called the police, and they’re saying, ‘This is possibly a scam situation.’ I said, ‘There is no way this is a scam. This is my daughter’s voice,’” DeLynne said. “This wasn’t just some person pretending. As a mother, you know your daughter’s voice, and this was my daughter.” 

Apparently, this wasn’t the first time this happened which is how the police were able to suggest it could be a scam. This is just the latest iteration of how hackers are using AI to produce deep fakes to extort money. AI and ChatGPT have been in the news recently for a reason – AI is an extremely powerful tool that, if put in the wrong hands, can do a lot of harm.  

It’s not a stretch to imagine the use of AI to fake a CEO’s voice, signature or writing style in an e-mail, text, call or instant messaging to trick an employee into sending money or doing things that would severely harm the organization, such as providing a login or access to the company’s network, data or critical applications. Or similarly use this same type of approach to scam clients or patients into giving up confidential information or payments.  

A report released by security experts at Home Security Heroes showed that 51% of common passwords could be cracked in less than one minute using an AI. Both the length and complexity of the passwords factored into the speed of successfully cracking the password, but even a complex password with seven characters using both uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols took just minutes to crack. 

This means it’s hypercritical for all business owners to no longer rely on strong passwords and simple antivirus to protect their organization.  

Today, all businesses should have some type of security awareness training for their employees. For example, simply sharing this article and others we publish like them with them can go a long way toward making sure they’re always on high alert for scams; but sharing the occasional article is not enough. You should have some type of ongoing reminders and formal training so that it’s always top of mind. Employees AREN’T “too smart” to fall for these scams. If someone can trick a mother into believing her daughter has been kidnapped by duping her daughter’s voice, they can trick an employee into clicking on a link, giving them access or transferring funds – and it’s happening right now to a lot of businesses. 

Second, you need to work with your IT company to ensure they have implemented robust cyber security tools and protections, as well as disaster recovery protocols so if you are ransomed, you can be sure to recover your data. This is not an area to be cheap about. Most people stubbornly believe it won’t happen to them, or that it will be a minor inconvenience, not the costly, business-crippling and devastating disaster that a cyber or ransomware attack can have. An ounce of prevention goes a long, long way toward minimizing your risk.   

If you want to make sure your IT services provider is protecting you properly, click here to request a FREE IT Security Risk Assessment. This assessment is not time-consuming, invasive or difficult to do, but will give you the unvarnished truth about your current security and whether or not you will be properly and brilliantly prepared for a cyber-attack. 

How To Apply For Your Share Of Facebook’s Recent $725 Million Privacy Lawsuit 

Here’s a shocker: Facebook is being forced to pay a whopping $725 million in a settlement following a number of lawsuits claiming they violated users’ privacy. This is in addition to another class action lawsuit for $650 million for storing and collecting the biometric data of nearly 1.3 million Illinois residents without their knowledge or consent.  

The lawsuits allege that Facebook shared data from users and their friends with third parties without the users’ knowledge or consent and then failed to monitor or direct how these third parties accessed the data or what they did with it. 

The plaintiffs’ lawyers estimate about 250 to 280 million people may be eligible for payments as part of this suit. 

The money being paid to each person depends on how long they’ve had a Facebook account and how many people actually file claims. Users will get “points” for every month they’ve had an account between May 24, 2007, and December 22, 2022. The money will be split (after lawyers’ fees are paid, of course) based on those numbers, so don’t expect a financial windfall that will allow you to move to Beverly Hills. The only people getting rich here are the lawyers. 

If you had a Facebook account during the dates above, you’re automatically part of the settlement, but you must submit a claim by August 25 of this year using this website. If you do nothing, you won’t get paid and you’ll give up the right to sue or be part of another lawsuit against Facebook related to these claims. 

However, if you’re feeling ambitious (and have deep pockets to pay the legal fees), you can choose to opt out of this lawsuit and attempt to sue Facebook separately, under your own initiative.  

We should all be happy that big tech companies accessing, selling and sharing our data without our knowledge or consent are being held accountable; but it’s not enough to depend on lawyers or our government to protect our identity and personal information. Companies like Meta make far too much money from our data to turn away from selling it and using it. For example, Meta made over $116 billion last year from a FREE app. That money is coming from selling access and data. This lawsuit, while sizeable, only represents just 0.62% of the company’s total revenue – a rounding error. 

The entire dark web and the rise of hacking demonstrate how much money there is to be made from gaining access to personally identifiable information, so you need to be careful you don’t end up a victim of your data being stolen, shared and sold.  

One of the ways to prevent your information from being shared is by going into the privacy settings on Facebook and finding “Your Facebook information.” From there, click “Off-Facebook activity” and “Recent activity” to clear your history. 

You can also click “Manage future activity” and choose “Disconnect future activity” to disable this feature. Of course, if you like the ads you get from Facebook this will (should?) make all of that go away.  

Another suggestion is to check the privacy settings on your phone to ensure apps installed aren’t getting free access to your camera and microphone unless specifically given permission by you to perform those functions. Many apps will install with that access feature turned on and require you to opt out.  

Of course, as a business owner, YOU have to also think about how you are storing and using your clients’ data. As this lawsuit proves, the government is taking data privacy and protection seriously, which is why you’re seeing more regulatory compliance for data security and privacy hitting all industry sectors. 

If you want to make sure you’re not accidentally exposing your clients’ data and violating data protection laws, schedule a quick call with us to discuss your concerns and see if there are ways we can help you avoid exposing your clients’ and employees’ data by accident.  

Every business needs the right tools to get the job done and to keep your team on track. But juggling multiple apps and software can be a nightmare when trying to keep information streamlined and easily accessible. That’s where Microsoft Teams for small businesses comes into play.

In this article, we’ll explore the 10 best Microsoft Teams hacks so everyone in your company has everything they need at their fingertips.

The 10 Best Microsoft Teams Hacks For Small Businesses

1) Share And Co-Edit Files

The demand for coworking capabilities has risen in recent years. And while modern working conventions have dictated the need for more collaborative software, there are real statistics to back up the benefits of co-editing.

According to a study from Deloitte, “When workers collaborate, 73% do better work, 60% are more innovative, 56% feel more satisfied, and 15% work faster.”

Microsoft Teams understands this and has continued to develop its ability to share and co-edit files. With 10 GB of cloud storage per user, it’s easier than ever to work on documents with others no matter where you are.

You can also quickly share document files by attaching them to a chat within Microsoft Teams so there’s no need for extra emails to share information.

2) Filter Messages

Along with our previous point, running an efficient business often means having messaging software that can keep up. However, it can be overwhelming when you have a sea of messages and no way to mark or find what you’re looking for.

Not anymore. With Microsoft Teams, you’re able to filter messages and find exactly what you need. This replaces the need to use an additional messaging service, such as Slack, and keeps everything within one comprehensive platform.

This eliminates the headache of switching back and forth between platforms and having to have multiple windows open all the time to get work done.

3) Host Meetings

Hosting meetings is another huge capability of Microsoft Teams. The software allows you to schedule virtual meetings with hundreds of participants at a time. That means you have everything you and your team need, no matter the size of your business.

Recent updates have also expanded the ability for co-hosting breakout rooms as well. More features mean more ways for your team to connect!

4) Live Translated Captions

2023 updates for Microsoft Teams have increased accessibility as well. For example, there’s a new setting you can toggle on and off that will allow for live translated captions to appear during meetings.

The system will save your settings for every meeting, or you can simply toggle it off when you no longer need it. The choice is ultimately yours.

You can also get the meeting transcripts when done to quickly review just the one part you were looking for!

5) Chat Features

One of the best features of the Microsoft Teams experience is the chat. With unlimited chats and the ability to filter through them, as we mentioned earlier, your team can have important conversations while also getting work done in the same place.

New this year, the platform now allows you to delete chats on your end while leaving them open on the other person’s when you no longer need the information. In addition, you can easily add people to existing conversations, and AI technology can suggest who you might want to talk to next.

These features make it easier than ever to collaborate with others and keep everyone on the same page.

6) Picture-In-Picture Functionality

Not every meeting needs your full attention. Teams has picture-in-picture functionality that allows you to have a meeting playing while you are doing other things.

That means you don’t have to put down other work while you’re on less important calls and can multitask.

7) Do Not Disturb

In addition to picture-in-picture display options, there are other ways you can value your time with Microsoft Teams settings.

This platform allows you to toggle on “do not disturb” when you need to step away from your desk, are taking a vacation, or going home/logging off at the end of the day.

There are plenty of things that can wait until tomorrow, and you deserve to set healthy boundaries when it comes to getting work done and taking time for yourself and your family.

8) Data Encryption

When you’re using an all-in-one comprehensive platform, a lot of information is exchanged. Between attaching important documents to chat threads to day-to-day communications, you need to know that all your information and your clients’ information is safe.

Microsoft Teams has you covered. With data encryption, you don’t have to worry about private information leaking on the internet. That means peace of mind for you and everything you work with.

9) Multi-Question Polls

The last feature we’ll mention that’s new in 2023 is the ability to have multi-question polls within a meeting. This gives you more flexibility to ask the questions you need and gives you an easy place to collect that data.

It’s never been easier to run a meeting and gather information.

10) Save MONEY (Thousands a month!)

Most businesses already have Microsoft Teams included in their current software package and can save a lot of money by eliminating redundant services.

Paying for dozens (or hundreds) of employee licenses for Slack, Zoom, Monday, Basecamp and more may be a thing of the past using the features already included in Microsoft Teams.

Many companies we look at are needlessly spending tens of thousands or more on these other services and that money goes straight to the bottom line.

Microsoft Teams For The Win

 

Whether you’re looking for a solution to messaging, collaborative working, video calls, document sharing or accessibility features within your organization, Microsoft Teams can help your small business accomplish exactly what you need.

With these 10 features — and many more — you will be better equipped to work together as a team and won’t have to waste time cobbling together multiple apps along the way.

Compushooter specializes in working with small businesses to make them more productive and profitable, while keeping their data and business protected. To see what we can do for you, click here or go to: https://www.compushooter.com/discoverycall/  to schedule a quick discovery call.

They say, “You get what you tolerate” and now more than ever, we’ve been conditioned to tolerate worse service at higher prices. Companies get a ‘free pass’ simply by saying phrases like “the labor shortage,” “because COVID,” or “inflation.”

But it doesn’t have to be that way.

While you may be able to still do business even with some less-than-stellar vendors in some areas, if all your computers were to suddenly stop working, your network go down, your files gone, chances are you’d be dead in the water.

Your business depends on technology, and you need to make sure everything is up and running RIGHT and you’re protected ALL the time.

Here’s a list of ten common problems, complaints and just downright failures in service we hear of all the time…and I’ll show you how to eliminate them in your business.

1. When you call your IT company, your message goes to voice mail and you’re stuck waiting hours (or even days) for a call back so your problem gets resolved.
2. You often must reach out multiple times to get a problem resolved and you need to check back to see what the status is and get a time frame.
3. Your IT company doesn’t proactively monitor, patch and update your computer network’s critical security settings daily (or at least weekly) leaving your entire business vulnerable to attacks.
4. Your IT company doesn’t offer proof that they are backing up ALL your data, laptops and devices.
5. Your IT company doesn’t meet with you regularly (at least once a quarter) to report what they’ve been doing, review projects and offer new ways to improve your network’s performance instead of waiting until you have a problem to make recommendations.
6. Your IT company doesn’t provide detailed invoices that clearly explain what you are paying for.
7. Your IT company doesn’t explain what they are doing and answer your questions in terms that you can understand, NOT in “geek speak” and they don’t routinely ask if there’s anything else they can help with, no matter how small.
8. Your IT company doesn’t proactively discuss cybersecurity with you or make recommendations for protecting your network from ransomware and offer employee training videos, so they don’t fall victim to a scam.
9. Your IT company hasn’t provided you complete network documentation, and they hold the “keys to the kingdom” refusing to give you admin passwords so you’re totally helpless if something goes wrong and you can’t get a hold of them.
10. Techs arrive late and dressed like they just got out of bed, and you cringe every time you need to make that call because they’ll make you feel dumb or like they are ‘doing you a favor’ even though you’re paying them!

 

If you’re tolerating any of these common problems, know that you don’t have to! You could be paying for substandard support and worse, not be keeping your company protected.

This could jeopardize your data and your network’s security and cost you thousands in lost productivity because you and your employees are spending time dealing with problems that shouldn’t exist.

If that’s the case, then it’s time you see what else is out there and make sure you’re getting what you pay for.

To schedule a free 10-minute discovery call to see how we can get rid of your tech issues, go to www.compushooter.com/aspirin or call us at 480-464-0202.

Compushooter is a trusted IT Support provider in Arizona that specializes in Veterinary Hospitals & Clinics, Dental Hospitals & Clinics, CPA & Financial Firms, Construction, Non-Profit Organizations and Small and Medium Sized Businesses.

 

When you open a bank account, you can do so on behalf of yourself or your business.

This keeps your personal and professional finances separate, so that any company liability doesn’t fall back on your personal accounts.

Company bank accounts also offer unique benefits, such as enabling someone else to take care of transactions and accounting, which is common as businesses expand.

These accounts do, however, have unique risks.

For instance, if you’ve ever had money scammed or stolen from any of your personal credit or debit cards, or even your bank account itself, then the bank or card company will usually reimburse you those lost funds.

Company accounts don’t get that luxury!

It’s one of the risks associated with running a business.

So, not only should you take care of the business side of your enterprise… you need to take care of your business bank accounts, too.

We recommend that before you open a company account, don’t just focus on the perks – take care to check all the small print and the new risks of fraud that you could be facing.

Check your email inbox next week for another video short on security threats, breaking news and tips for staying cyber-secure!

Get your FREE DARK WEB SCAN or call 480-464-0202

“The biggest risk is the one you don’t take” is a mantra you’ll hear motivational speakers deliver in their presentations to make the argument that you should throw all caution to the wind and go for it (whatever “it” is).  

And while that may be a good piece of advice to get someone to take action on an idea (and get the speaker applause at the end of their presentation), truly smart, experienced entrepreneurs and business executives NEVER throw “caution to the wind” and take wild risks. They take calculated risks, weighing consequences and putting buffers, hedges and checks in place to reduce the risk and potential losses. They look for the risk because they know unchecked optimism is not only foolish, but dangerous, and Murphy is always standing by with a big wrench in hand, ready to throw it into your best-laid plans. 

If you follow Warren Buffett’s two rules of investing, you’ll see this same caution: Rule #1 – Never lose money. Rule #2 – Never forget Rule #1. 

A good question to ask yourself is where are YOU putting your business and your money at undue risk? While you cannot prepare for and prevent EVERY risk in your business, one area where we see a lot of businesses taking huge, unmitigated risks is with their data and cyber security. 

Despite the overwhelming evidence that the risk and the financial consequences of cyber-attacks are enormous, we still hear, “Nobody is going to hack us…we don’t have anything they want,” or “We can’t get hacked because _____,” with the blank being things like “we use cloud applications” or “we have a good firewall,” “our people are too smart to click on bad links in e-mails,” or other similar “reasons” for their false sense of security. They explain it away. 

Candidly, it’s our belief that this is not founded in confidence and logical thought but based in a willful neglect and a desire to avoid spending the funds necessary to truly secure their data, their business, their finances. And while I completely understand that nobody wants to spend a lot of money on IT, the risk doesn’t cease to exist just because you choose to ignore it.  

One of the smartest investors in the world, Howard Marks, CEO of Oaktree Financial, said, paraphrased, the less risk you perceive, the more risk there is. For example, if I don’t think there’s any chance I can die in a car wreck on my way to the store, I’ll fail to put on my seat belt, text while I drive and be a lot less cautious about paying attention to the road than if I thought there was a very high chance I could be in a fatal crash. The lower the risk perceived, the higher the risk actually is, because we lower our guard and don’t protect against it.  

That’s exactly why small businesses are the #1 target for hackers. They’re EASY prey. Sure, they don’t get the bragging rights of bringing down a company like Dole or hacking into Microsoft Azure, but hacking millions of small businesses for a few thousand dollars each in ransomware pays. You just don’t hear about these attacks because they don’t make the evening news, just like you don’t hear about the 6 MILLION car wrecks that happen every year. Only the big ones – or the ones that seriously impact rush hour traffic – get noticed.  

If you are not all that certain that you are truly and fully protected against such hacks, click here to schedule a brief discovery call with us. We can conduct a quick and easy cyber security risk assessment and tell you for sure if your current IT company is protecting you, and what level of risk you’re at for a cyber-attack. It’s free and comes with no expectations or cost.  

Remember, not all successes are measured in gains secured. Sometimes success is defined as losses avoided. If you were given the chance to go back in time and unwind 2 or 3 financial, business or life decisions you’ve made, knowing what you know now, I’m sure everyone would take that opportunity. Most likely, you’d go back and warn yourself about dumb mistakes you made and put protections in place to avoid losses you incurred. Sadly, there’s no genie in a bottle to make that happen, so an ounce of prevention against cyber-attack IS, without a doubt, worth a pound of cure. Call us today for your FREE Cyber Security Risk Assessment. 

 

 

 

Once upon a time, you could install antivirus software and go about your merry way online and in your inbox, opening, clicking and downloading files without a care. 

Today, antivirus alone cannot and will not protect you, especially if you INVITE the hack by downloading a file that is infected with a piece of code designed to circumvent your security protocols. Whether it’s a personal computer, phone or a laptop you use for business, here are 5 things you need to STOP doing now to ensure you don’t get hacked. 

1. STOP downloading apps from unknown sources. There are thousands of free apps available online that are very tempting to download. Hackers are masters at curiosity and “clickbait” designed to nail you in a moment of weakness. To prevent rogue apps and programs from installing, configure your devices to disallow the installation of programs from unauthorized sources. On your phone, ONLY download apps from your device’s respective app store that are tested and forced to meet the store’s security and privacy requirements. Business owners: while I’m sure all of your employees are trusting souls, it IS possible (and recommended) to have business machines locked down, preventing your employees from downloading any applications (or files) that could harm you and compromise your security.
    

1. STOP surfing the web unprotected, particularly when accessing downloads. This is particularly true if you are on public WiFi. Starbucks is not going to guarantee your Internet connection is safe, nor is any other business, restaurant or location offering free Internet access. Talk to your IT company (that’s US!) about installing more than just antivirus, but endpoint protection solutions, like a VPN, that will “hide” you from cyber criminals and filter out nefarious websites and attacks so you CAN use public WiFi without the fear of inviting a hack.
    

1. STOP opening and downloading files e-mailed to you without extreme caution. Phishing attacks via e-mail are still the #1 way hackers gain access to a network. It’s very common for an attacker to hack into someone’s e-mail and get their list of friends, colleagues, coworkers and their boss to send e-mails that appear legitimate on “their” behalf, even using their actual e-mail – these are are highly sophisticated phishing attacks. So, before you open or download ANY file e-mailed to you, make sure it was one you were expecting. It’s far safer to use IT-managed file sharing like OneDrive, SharePoint or Citrix ShareFile to send attachments. But bottom line, if ANY file “feels” wrong or suspicious about a file download, including a weird extension or suspicious file name, CALL the person who sent it to verify. If it’s important, they can send it again. 
    

1. STOP downloading “bloatware.” It’s common for legitimate, reputable apps to sneak in other applications or toolbars you don’t need. They sell this as a sponsorship to make more money every time one of their users downloads an app. The best way to spot these is to look for check-boxes when installing that automatically opt you into services by default. So, before you hit “Next” and keep rolling to get your app installed, take a second to really read and review what you’re agreeing to when installing that new app.
    

1. STOP downloading music, software, games, movies and the like from websites like BitTorrent, RARBG, 1337x and similar peer-to-peer file-sharing sites. It’s very common for file-sharing networks to be breeding grounds for hackers who post files infected with malicious software for people to download. Some of the ads on these sites are malicious as well. Don’t feel “safe” just because you have antivirus – because you’re not.  

Business owners: after showing this to your team for both their work and personal devices, click here to schedule a quick 10-minute call to find out how we can implement security systems that will give you stronger protections against hackers and against employees who accidentally click on or download a malicious file.  

 

What an experience!

COMPUSHOOTER was one of the exhibitors at the Academy of Osseointegration at the Phoenix Convention Center.

The convention brought together over 2,000 attendees from around the world, including dentists, oral surgeons, periodontists, and implantologists. As a service provider, I had the chance to showcase my business and connect with potential clients.

In addition to exhibiting our services, attending the conference also provided an opportunity to learn about the latest trends and technologies in the industry. This knowledge will enable us to offer better services to our clients and stay ahead of the competition.

As a business owner, I understand that marketing plays a vital role in our success. Events like this not only provide a networking opportunity but also serve as a marketing platform for our business.

Our IT solutions are specifically designed to meet the needs of dental practices. From services such as cloud computing, cybersecurity, data backup, and disaster recovery to name a few. We help dental clinics streamline their technology to improve patient care, stable practice operations, and enhance overall productivity.  

 Here at COMPUSHOOTER, we take care of your IT so you can focus on providing quality care for your patients. 

Are you participating at the Academy of Osseointegration Annual Meeting at the Phoenix Convention Center?

Join us at Booth 248. We’d love to meet you!

I am thrilled to be part of this Annual Meeting. It is such an exciting opportunity for us to connect with dental clinic owners and dental care professionals.

Visit us at our booth and get your FREE DARKWEB SCAN. It’s our way to give back to the community. This FREE scan will search for any instances of stolen credentials or sensitive information belonging to the clinic. If any information is found, our team will provide recommendations on how to mitigate the risk and protect against potential future attacks.

We understand that cyber threats are a growing concern for dental clinics, and we want to help you proactively protect your business and your patients’ information. Our IT solutions are tailored to the unique needs of dental clinics, and we are committed to providing exceptional service and support.

Visit the COMPUSHOOTER booth, you will also get the chance to receive a FREE IT consultation. Our team will take the time to get to know your business and understand its unique needs.

We know that attending a conference can be overwhelming, with so many booths and vendors vying for your attention. That’s why we’re committed to providing you with a stress-free, no-pressure environment. We’re here to answer your questions, provide you with valuable insights, and help you make informed decisions about your IT needs.

We’re looking forward to meeting you and learning more about your business!