Category: Social Media

National Public Data confirmed in September 2024 that a hacker has compromised the personal records of millions of individuals. The information exposed includes the names, e-mail addresses, mailing addresses, phone numbers and even Social Security numbers of up to 2.9 billion people. Here’s what you need to know.

What happened?

National Public Data, a consumer data broker that specializes in providing criminal records, background checks and other forms of data to private investigators, consumer public record sites, human resources, staffing agencies, the government and more, was hacked. The incident is believed to have started in December 2023 when a third-party bad actor attempted to gain access.

In April, a cybercriminal named “USDoD” posted the stolen data online in a popular criminal community. On August 6, the stolen dataset resurfaced, this time posted for free to several breach forums for anyone to access and download.

The sensitive, personally identifiable information released included names, addresses, phone numbers, e-mail addresses and Social Security numbers for millions of people, some of whom are deceased. The data also contained previous addresses and, in some instances, alternate names.

The official data breach notice that was filed in Maine indicated that 1.3 million records may have been breached; however, some lawsuits are suggesting as many as 2.9 billion records have been exposed.

As the investigation continues, many cyber experts are finding that some of the data released was inaccurate, and aside from the Social Security numbers, most of it is already public and easy to find online.

So why is this breach dangerous if the information can be found with a quick Google search?

There are several reasons to be concerned. Having all this critical information in one place makes it easy for criminals to use the information needed to apply for credit cards and loans or open new bank accounts.

The information included, such as childhood street names or the last four digits of your Social Security number, are often answers to security questions and can help hackers bypass authentication and access your private accounts.

Some cyber experts are suggesting watching for a surge in phishing and smishing (phishing over SMS) attacks as well.

Can you be affected even if you’ve never heard of National Public Data or purchased data from them?

Yes! Just because you haven’t interacted with them doesn’t mean other organizations, businesses, landlords, etc., haven’t leveraged their resources to dig up information on you.

What should you do to protect yourself?

Step 1: Check to see if your data has been exposed. You can use tools like https://npd.pentester.com/ to find out if your information has been compromised. If so, it’s important to take immediate action.

Step 2: Request a copy of your credit report and then freeze your credit. One of the best ways to protect your identity is to freeze your credit and set up alerts. This prevents criminals from opening up new lines of credit in your name. To do this, contact all three major credit bureaus – Equifax, TransUnion and Experian – and request a freeze.

The process is free and should take you less than 10 minutes per site to complete. If there are others in your house over the age of 18, it’s a good idea to freeze their credit too. Anyone with a Social Security number is vulnerable following a breach of this size.

Once you have a copy of your free credit report, review it for anything that you didn’t authorize. Don’t forget to set up alerts and review your credit regularly.

Step 3: Watch out for phishing scams. As mentioned, many cybercriminals will try to leverage this information to scam you through phone calls, text messages, e-mails and even social media sites. Be cautious!

A data breach is devastating for everyone involved – the business hacked and the customers or employees whose data is leaked. As a business owner, it is your responsibility to make sure you are taking the highest precautions to protect your business and its data. If you want to do a full assessment and find out if any of your information has been leaked or if your network is vulnerable to a breach, we’ll do a FREE Security Risk Assessment. This deep dive into your network will provide you with a blueprint for security steps to take. To book yours, call our office at 480-464-0202.

Software updates can feel like a nuisance, but skipping them is one of the easiest ways to leave your systems vulnerable to cyber-attacks. Hackers are constantly looking for weaknesses, and outdated software is like an open door to your network.
But how do you know when it’s time to update, and should you always trust your computer to tell you? Here are five clear signs it’s time to update, plus tips on how to handle updates safely.

1. Your Software Is No Longer Supported
If the software provider has stopped releasing updates for your current version, it’s a major red flag. Unsupported software often has known vulnerabilities that cybercriminals can easily exploit. Check for announcements from your software providers about end-of-life support and upgrade as soon as possible.
Tip: Don’t wait for the software to “break” before updating. Plan ahead and migrate to newer versions while you still have full support.

2. You Notice Slower Performance
A sudden slowdown in your software’s performance can be a sign that it’s out-of-date. Newer versions of software are optimized to run more efficiently, and skipping updates might leave you with buggy, sluggish software.
Tip: If you notice performance drops, check the settings for pending updates or visit the provider’s website to manually download the latest version.

3. You Receive Security Alerts
Has your antivirus or security software flagged vulnerabilities in an application you use? If so, an update is likely overdue. Cybercriminals thrive on exploiting security gaps in outdated software. Always pay attention to security alerts and take them seriously.
Tip: Use a trusted antivirus tool that can integrate with your software and alert you when updates are needed. Make sure you verify the authenticity of any update alerts before clicking.

4. You Haven’t Updated In Over 6 Months
If it’s been more than six months since your last software update, you’re probably due for one. Many providers release updates on a regular schedule to patch vulnerabilities and enhance features.
Tip: Set a reminder to check for updates regularly, rather than waiting for the computer to alert you. This is especially important for critical software, like operating systems and antivirus programs.

5. New Features Have Been Announced
Sometimes updates come with more than just security patches – they also bring new features. If you hear about exciting new functionality that you don’t have, it’s a sign you’re behind on updates.
Tip: Keep an eye on announcements from your software providers. Follow their blogs or sign up for notifications so you’re always aware of improvements.
How To Update Safely

While updating software is crucial, you should always be cautious about how you do it. Here’s how to ensure your updates are safe:

• Verify The Source: Always download updates directly from the provider’s official website or trusted app store. Avoid third-party sites or suspicious links.
• Back Up Your Data: Before any major update, back up important data to an external location. This ensures that if something goes wrong, you won’t lose critical files.
• Restart Your Device: Once the update is complete, restart your computer to ensure that the new features and patches are properly installed.
  By staying on top of software updates, you’re not only improving performance but also protecting your systems from potential threats. Don’t wait until it’s too late
• keep your software up-to-date and ensure your network stays secure.

Need help managing your software updates? Call us at 480-464-0202.

Phishing attacks are the most common cybercrime attack for one reason…they work. Every day, over 3.4 billion spam e-mails reach unsuspecting users’ inboxes. Phishing e-mails have held the top spot as the most frequent form of attack for years because they’re easy to implement, easy to scale and continue to fool people. AI tools like ChatGPT are now making it even easier for cybercriminals to create e-mails that look and sound like they’re coming from humans instead of bots and scammers. If you’re not careful, the effects of phishing scams can be detrimental.

Since it’s Cybersecurity Awareness Month and phishing e-mails are one of the top causes of attacks, we created this simple guide to help you and your team successfully identify phishing e-mails and understand why it’s so important to do so.

What can happen? Here are 4 significant dangers associated with phishing attacks:

1. Data Breaches

Phishing attacks can expose your organization’s sensitive information to cybercriminals. Once your data is exposed, hackers can sell it on the dark web or hold it for ransom, demanding thousands, millions or even more for its return – and they likely won’t return it anyway. This can result in financial and legal repercussions, damage to your reputation and loss of customer trust.

2. Financial Loss

Cybercriminals often use phishing e-mails to steal money directly from businesses. Whether it’s through fraudulent invoices or unauthorized transactions, falling victim to phishing can have a direct impact on your bottom line.

3. Malware Infections

Phishing e-mails can contain malicious attachments or links that, when clicked, can infect your systems with malware. This can disrupt your operations, lead to data loss and require costly remediation efforts.

4. Compromised Accounts

When employees fall for phishing scams, their accounts can be compromised. Attackers can then use these accounts to launch further attacks or gain unauthorized access to sensitive company data.

And the list goes on. However, there are actions you can take to prevent becoming the next victim of a phishing attack.

Here is the S.E.C.U.R.E. Method you and your employees can use to help identify phishing e-mails.

S – Start With The Subject Line: Is it odd? (e.g., “FWD: FWD: FWD: review immediately”)

E – Examine The E-mail Address: Do you recognize the person? Is the e-mail address unusual? (e.g., spelled differently) or unknown (not the one they usually send from)?

C – Consider The Greeting: Is the salutation unusual or generic? (e.g., “Hello Ma’am!”)

U – Unpack The Message: Is there extreme urgency to get you to click a link or download an attachment or act on a too-good-to-be-true offer?

R – Review For Errors: Are there grammatical mistakes or odd misspellings?

E – Evaluate Links And Attachments: Hover over links before you click them to check the address, and do not open attachments from anyone you don’t know or weren’t expecting to receive mail from.

It’s also important to have a cybersecurity expert monitor your network and eliminate e-mail spam before your employees can make a mistake. Make sure you’re taking proper precautions to protect your network. These phishing attacks work and happen all the time. We don’t want YOU to be the next victim.

If you need help training your team on cybersecurity best practices or implementing a robust cybersecurity system, or just want a second set of eyes to examine what you currently have in place and assess if there are any vulnerabilities, we are ready to help. Call us at 480-464-0202.

Important News: Microsoft will NO LONGER support Windows 10 after October 2025! While these PCs will still work after the official end date of October 14, 2025, Microsoft will no longer provide product key free services that keep your device working properly and securely. These services include:

• Security updates
• Non-security updates
• Technical support

Why Is This Important For Business Owners?

1. Security Risks: Without regular updates, your computer will become more vulnerable to viruses, malware and hackers. This could put your business data at risk, which is why upgrading to a newer version of Windows is crucial.
2. Software Compatibility: Many software programs are updated regularly to work with the latest operating systems. After Windows 10 reaches its end of life, some of your favorite programs might not work as smoothly or could stop working altogether.
3. Compliance Issues: If your business deals with sensitive information or follows strict regulations, using an outdated operating system could lead to compliance issues. It’s important to stay current to avoid potential fines or legal problems.

What Are Your Options?

Microsoft encourages users to migrate to the latest version before the end-of-life date. This can present challenges for some PC owners, as not all devices currently running Windows 10 are compatible with Windows 11. If you try to upgrade one of those PCs to Windows 11, but the device does not meet the stringent hardware requirements of the new software, you’ll encounter an error message.

If your device isn’t compatible with Windows 11, you have a few options. You can:

• Buy a new PC that is compatible
• Pay for Microsoft’s Windows 10 security updates (available for up to three years but no longer free!)
• Switch from the Windows operating system to Linux
• Try to upgrade “incompatible” PCs, using a technical loophole
• Ignore the deadline and put your business at risk (we do NOT recommend this one!)

Whatever you decide, make sure to back up your data! Before making any changes, always back up your important files. This ensures that nothing gets lost during the upgrade process.

Planning Ahead

It’s important to be proactive about the transition. There has been some discussion that Microsoft will extend the deadline, but that’s not a strategy you want to bet your business on. You don’t want to wait to take action until you’re out of options and your business is at risk because you no longer have security protection.

The best step is to work with your IT provider to determine what option makes sense for your organization. If your computers are fairly new, paying for ongoing security updates might make sense. If your devices are older and nearing the end of their life anyway, new PCs could be the way to go. An experienced IT team or a tech consultant can help you with the upgrade process. They can make sure everything runs smoothly and minimize any downtime for your business.

If you’re looking for someone to guide you in making the right decision, get in touch with our team. During this quick conversation, we’ll be able to map out the next steps to take to start transitioning to Windows 11 efficiently. To schedule, call us at 480-464-0202.

Even if you’re tired of hearing about AI, the reality is that those who embrace it, find the tools that work and learn how to use them efficiently WILL get ahead of those who refuse to try. However, sorting through the thousands of AI-powered programs on the market can feel like a daunting task, which is why we want to highlight one that we support.

Microsoft Copilot is an advanced AI-driven tool that leverages artificial intelligence to automate routine tasks, analyze data, facilitate collaboration and more. Its chat-like design works seamlessly across commonly used Microsoft applications like Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel and Teams and can significantly boost productivity. Unfortunately, most companies often underutilize it. Today, we’re sharing seven ways you should use Microsoft Copilot to enhance efficiency in your business.

1. Automating Routine Tasks – Routine tasks like data entry, scheduling and managing e-mails are time suckers. Microsoft Copilot can handle these for you, freeing your time to focus on more strategic activities. You can start your day with a clear inbox and a well-organized schedule without lifting a finger.
2. Data Analysis And Reporting – Data is crucial for making informed decisions, but analyzing it can be time-consuming and require some level of technical expertise. With Microsoft Copilot, you can effortlessly sift through large datasets and quickly create comprehensive reports. Whether you need insights into sales trends, customer behavior or financial performance, Copilot can provide actionable data in minutes.
3. Improve Customer Support – Quality customer support is crucial to growing a business. Copilot can help you develop scripts for customer service representatives to handle inquiries and complaints, edit e-mails to sound more professional, automate responses to common questions, and even direct more complex issues to the appropriate team member. This means faster response times and happier customers.
4. Content Creation – Creating content for e-mails, presentations and marketing campaigns can take time. Copilot can draft e-mails and blogs, develop creative ad copy for various advertising campaigns, generate sales pitches and presentations and even create social media content, all while ensuring your messaging stays consistent. Whether you’re putting together a newsletter or a social media post, Copilot keeps the engaging content flowing smoothly in half the time it normally takes and without the usual hassle.
5. Financial Management – Microsoft Copilot can help you draft budget proposals; create financial summaries; accurately forecast, create and organize invoices; track expenses; automate data collection; and generate accurate financial reports. This helps you keep track of your finances and make informed decisions based on real-time data. With Copilot, monitoring your financial health and planning for future growth becomes much more manageable.
6. Improve HR And Operations – Copilot can quickly help your human resources department and operations team get more done in less time in various ways. Leverage Copilot to:
   ● Manage documentation such as employee manuals, policy documents and FAQs, ensuring they are always up-to-date.
   ● Assist in developing training modules and educational content for new hires or ongoing employee development.
   ● Generate templates for performance evaluations and feedback forms that can be personalized for each employee.
   ● Ensure compliance with regulations by using Copilot to stay informed about legal changes and update necessary documentation accordingly.
   And more!
7. Streamline Task And Workflow Management – Keeping track of tasks and deadlines can be challenging and overwhelming. Copilot integrates with tools like Microsoft Planner and Project to help you organize tasks, set deadlines and track progress. Using this to your advantage helps projects stay on track and team members remain accountable. By streamlining task and workflow management, you can maintain a productive and organized work environment.

While this list barely scratches the surface of what Microsoft Copilot can do, there is no magic button that will make your business run itself. But leveraging tools like Microsoft Copilot can get you closer to that. From automating routine tasks to enhancing collaboration and financial management, Copilot offers a wide range of benefits that can significantly boost your productivity. By leveraging the power of artificial intelligence, Copilot allows you to focus on what matters most – growing your business.

And remember, no matter how advanced technology gets, nothing replaces the value of good old-fashioned hard work and dedication. So, integrate these tools, but keep pushing forward with the grit and determination that got you here in the first place. If you need help learning how to set up or leverage Microsoft Copilot in your organization, our team of experts is here to help.
Give us a call at 480-464-0202 or book a FREE Network Assessment here.

When 8.5 million Windows devices, including those at airlines, banks and hospitals, suddenly displayed the “Blue Screen of Death,” people began to panic. “We are under a cyber-attack!” most speculated. Fortunately, that was not the case, but the real reason behind the outage is alarming and something every business owner should be concerned about.

So, What Happened?

On July 19, 2024, millions of Windows devices crashed, triggering an endless reboot cycle and an unresolvable blue screen. This issue caused massive global disruptions. Airlines had to ground flights, leaving thousands of passengers stranded in airports and unable to book new routes home. Electronic health record software was knocked offline, forcing providers to cancel or delay nonemergency procedures, surgeries and medical visits. Several major banks also went offline, leaving customers unable to access their accounts. These were just some of the significant issues caused by what is now labeled the largest IT outage in history. Almost brings back those Y2K fears, doesn’t it?

If It Wasn’t A Cyber-Attack, What Caused It?

Many worried that the outage was due to a cybersecurity attack, but the source of the problem was a botched software update from CrowdStrike, a leading cybersecurity company. The team behind their endpoint detection and response (EDR) platform, Falcon, configured what should have been a routine sensor update. This update, specifically for Microsoft Windows, unknowingly had a flaw, and due to its tight integration with Windows OS, it resulted in widespread system crashes when it was pushed through.

How could a multibillion-dollar organization release an update with such a serious flaw? Representatives for the company later explained that it was due to a gap in their testing software. The issue stemmed from a flaw in the content validator tool, which failed to detect the problem in the update, leading engineers to believe everything was ready for release. As a result, the update forced Windows systems to enter an endless reboot cycle, displaying the infamous Blue Screen of Death.

As the situation unfolded, CrowdStrike immediately acted to fix the issue, but the damage was already done. Reports from insurers now estimate the outage will cost US Fortune 500 companies upward of $5.4 billion.

Why Should This Concern You?

This event reinforces how integrated technology is in our lives and underscores the significant impact a single software flaw can have on global IT infrastructure. When it comes to your company’s technology management, there is no substitute for having three things:

1. A reliable, knowledgeable IT professional managing your network. Accidents happen even in large organizations, as seen with CrowdStrike, but you can reduce your odds of being caught up in an issue like this by working with an experienced IT team. Their expertise and knowledge in updates, backups and constant awareness keep your operations running smoothly and prevent minor hiccups from escalating into full-blown disasters.

2. Rigorous software testing. If you have a reliable IT team, they should handle this for you.

3. A robust disaster recovery plan. Mistakes will happen, and you need to be prepared to take action quickly so you can continue doing business and mitigate damage quickly. Many organizations affected by this outage had to pause business because they had no action plan for a disaster like this. Don’t be caught without plan B if something like this happens in your organization.

Don’t wait until you’re hit with a crisis to take action. Ensure your business is prepared by partnering with an experienced IT team. We offer a FREE, no-obligation Network Assessment where our team of experts will evaluate your current systems, identify potential vulnerabilities and develop a comprehensive plan to safeguard your business against future outages. Your company’s security and continuity depend on it.

Call us at 480-464-0202 or click here to book your FREE Network Assessment today!

If the software your organization used to close deals and pay employees unexpectedly went down and you had no idea when it would be fixed, what would you do? Could you continue doing business? How much money would you lose? Unfortunately, in June, this happened to over 15,000 US- and Canada-based car dealerships when two cyber-attacks occurred on the popular industry software provider, CDK Global.
This software attack shut down the sales, financing and payroll systems for thousands of dealers, forcing them to either stop business or revert to the old-fashioned pen-and-paper method. This incident should be a wake-up call for all small business owners, highlighting the importance of robust cybersecurity measures.

What Happened?

The initial attack occurred on the evening of Tuesday, June 18. Once it was detected, CDK Global immediately took the correct action, bringing the entire system offline to investigate the issue. The system was up and running again the following day until a second incident occurred, which resulted in the company bringing the system back offline. It’s thought the system was brought back online prematurely, before all compromised areas were discovered, resulting in a second attack. Cybersecurity experts are saying it could be weeks before the system is back to being fully operational.

While some businesses were able to revert to manual processes, this incident highlights the vulnerabilities that come with relying on digital systems. In our ever-advancing digital world, where most transactions are a couple of clicks away, significant issues arise when systems go offline. Critical parts of the business process, such as completing transactions, managing payroll and interacting with financial institutions, can come to a standstill. This means that until the systems are back online, many business operations cannot be fully completed, leading to delays and potential financial losses. Business owners know that there is no sale until the check clears the bank!

So, What’s Next?

CDK Global didn’t disclose the exact cause of the attack. Whether that was intentional or they are still unsure remains to be seen. Their security team will need to meticulously comb over every area of the business to determine exactly what was compromised. It’s often difficult for large companies to get the details about cyber-attacks 100% correct after the first review because they may not be able to determine the extent of an attack’s network penetration if there are multiple points of vulnerability.

In the meantime, businesses need to take a hard look at their systems for selling and operational continuity. Will they be prepared to continue doing business if and when this happens again?

This incident should serve as a wake-up call for all business leaders. If you don’t have a business recovery and continuity plan in place, you’re putting yourself at risk. And if you do, you need to ask yourself if it is high-quality, tested often and able to handle a large-scale attack where multiple operational systems are disabled. If the answer is no, it’s time to do something about it.

We’ll do a FREE Security Risk Assessment that will achieve two important things:

1. We’ll analyze your network for vulnerabilities. This will show you if and where an attack can occur, and we’ll offer solutions to patch it so you’re not actively setting yourself up to be the next cyber-attack victim.

2. We’ll help you determine what continuity or recovery plan makes sense for your organization. Cybersecurity is an essential and necessary element of doing business, but even the most robust security solutions are not 100% foolproof. This means you must have a plan to bounce back and continue doing business if something should happen to your network or to a third-party piece of software you rely on, like CDK.

To get started, call our office at 480-464-0202 or click here to book your FREE Security Risk Assessment now.

Summer is a popular time for vacation travel. If you’re looking to squeeze in any last-minute travel, there is a scam circulating that you need to be aware of. As costs for everything from food to travel continue to increase, the logical step is to search for the best deals online to book a memorable trip without breaking your budget. According to Booking.com, cybercriminals have decided to capitalize on this need and are now using one scarily convincing, AI-generated phishing e-mail that can cost victims way more than their vacation fund. Booking.com’s CISO, Marnie Wilking, shared that the organization has seen a 500% to 900% increase in travel-related scams in the past 18 months using this malicious tactic.

How are these scammers doing it? Phishing e-mails have existed since the dawn of the Internet, but AI tools like ChatGPT are making it increasingly easy to create realistic and professional scam e-mails that are more likely to trick readers. In the past, phishing e-mails were riddled with red flags such as spelling and grammatical errors. With the rise of AI, it’s easier for cybercriminals to pump out dozens of seemingly legitimate e-mails that often go undetected by software and readers.

Here’s how they work:

Scammers will use sites like Booking.com or Airbnb.com that allow people to list their places as short-term rentals. The scammers send out e-mails offering incredible rates or time-sensitive deals on nonexistent properties. After someone pays, the cybercriminals will either disappear with the money, leaving the renter without a place to stay, or use follow-up e-mails to collect additional “fees” or “charges” before vanishing.

To be clear, these vacation-focused phishing scams are NOT new. The problem now is that, with AI, more people are falling for them because these e-mails are becoming more convincing.

What can you do?

Vacationers can take several key steps to ensure they’re not being duped.

1. Use two-factor or multifactor authentication, where applicable. Having a confirmation code sent to your phone every time you log in will help prevent phishing attacks and credential theft.

2. Avoid clicking on e-mail links. If you receive an e-mail promoting a too-good-to-be-true deal, remember, it is likely too good to be true! Go to the website and search for the special. If you can’t find it, there is a chance you will avoid a scam.

3. Before booking ANY property online, make sure contact information and reviews are readily available. Have other verified users stayed at the property? If so, it’s less likely to be a scam.

4. Use credit cards for online purchases. Using debit cards that are linked directly to your bank account is dangerous. When theft occurs from your debit card, it is difficult to get your money back – if you get it back at all. Using a credit card provides an additional layer of protection.

The most important thing is to stay vigilant. Analyze every e-mail offer you receive and follow cyber security best practices. Standard security software can help detect some of these scam e-mails, but often not all of them, so it’s important to be cautious and look for red flags.

Personal scams may ruin a vacation, but business breaches can cost you and your family their livelihood. To keep your network secure, call us at 480-464-0202 or click here to book a FREE 10-minute discovery call with our cyber security experts, who can help you create a plan that protects you. We are here to help! Enjoy a well-deserved break this summer, and remember to be cybersmart.

Is your organization currently bleeding money due to its reliance on outdated technology? The answer is likely yes. A recent survey by Deloitte revealed that a staggering 82% of companies failed to meet their cost-reduction targets last year, with an inefficient technology infrastructure being the primary culprit.

The 2024 poll of nearly 300 business leaders on business margin improvement and technology transformation efforts revealed that challenges with their technology infrastructure are the biggest barrier to organizations seeking to improve margins by cutting costs. This same study found that over 50% of the respondents reported that leveraging data and generative AI strategies for improving margins would be their focus for 2024.

What does this tell us? Organizations are looking to adopt new, automated, AI-powered ways of doing business to save money and improve efficiency but are held back by antiquated technology.

Why Should Businesses Upgrade Their Technology?

Legacy systems, typically categorized as technology that’s at least a decade old, can quickly become expensive to maintain. They are slower, need constant updates and patches, and don’t leverage new features as they’re developed. As a result, businesses struggle to keep up with their tech-savvy competitors in every area of the organization, from scaling and cloud usage to human resources and customer service operations.

But that’s not the only issue. Outdated technology increases your risk of cyber-attacks. Old technology typically cannot keep up with the rapidly changing world of cyber security. As new, more malicious threats emerge, older technology eventually becomes incapable of keeping up with the latest updates required to keep your network secure.

So, why do business owners put off updating technology when the data clearly shows that it will positively impact productivity and the bottom line? There are a couple of reasons, the main one being sticker shock. Seeing the price of updating technology infrastructure can feel overwhelming. Smart business leaders run through risk-related questions like “What if something breaks?” or “What if it doesn’t work like they say it will?” However, the data shows that maintaining old technology could be more costly. A separate Deloitte study of CIOs in 2023 found that respondents spent an average of 55% of their technology budget on maintaining their existing systems.

There’s also the cost of switching. What will bringing systems down and transitioning to a new system cost? What will the cost be to train employees to use the software? These are all questions your IT team can help you answer BEFORE you start upgrading your technology. An experienced technician will help you analyze your system to see what needs to be updated and when, and map out a plan to upgrade your system in the most efficient way possible. It’s easier than most business leaders think and pays off in increased productivity and profitability.

If you’re looking to upgrade your technology or are just tired of slow, outdated tech and want to see what the next step could look like, we’ll do a FREE Network Assessment. Our techs will dig into your system and determine what you need to get technology that helps you run your business better. To book your assessment, call us at 480-464-0202.

A recent report from Check Point Research revealed a shocking statistic – the Microsoft-owned business platform LinkedIn is impersonated in nearly half of all phishing attacks globally.

One of the ways scammers leverage LinkedIn to deploy their phishing attack is when they zero in on anyone seeking a new job or career change. While e-mails like “You have 1 new invitation” or “Your profile has been viewed by 63 people” can be authentic, it’s critical to verify the e-mail address it’s sent from to ensure that it’s genuinely from LinkedIn. These impersonators will send e-mails that look identical to the real ones, with links to fake LinkedIn pages that will rip off your information as soon as you enter it.

Another way cybercriminals leverage LinkedIn is by creating fake profiles and messaging people about job opportunities. Once you’re on the hook, they’ll either ask for a small payment upfront to process your application (that you’ll never see again) or send you a link to a form you must fill out that’s actually a phishing link in disguise.

LinkedIn is aware of the problem and is working on developing advanced security features to protect its users. Here are three of the current security features it has already deployed:

1. Suspicious Message Warnings – LinkedIn’s technology can detect messages from people who are attempting to take you off the platform or are saying something potentially inappropriate, and will send you a warning notification.

2. Profile Verification – This feature allows you to verify your page’s authenticity. By submitting an additional form of ID, you can get a verification badge on your profile, so anyone who looks at it knows you are who you say you are. This is a valuable feature since scammers are always looking for fresh targets and have pages that get shut down quickly, so they don’t often bother keeping information up-to-date.

3. Profile Information – This feature allows you to see the details of a person’s profile to help you determine whether or not to respond to a message, accept a connection request, trust an offer, etc. Under your profile, if you click “More” and select “About this profile” from the drop-down menu, you’ll see information like:

● When the profile was created.
● When the profile was last updated.
● Whether the member has verified a phone number.
● Whether the member has a work e-mail associated with their account.

4. AI-Generated Profile Picture Detection – Scammers will use AI to generate realistic profile pictures of fake people to create fake profiles used to scam users. Scarily, LinkedIn’s research showed that users were generally unable to visually distinguish real faces from these synthetically generated ones. As a result, LinkedIn partnered with Academia to develop and deploy advanced detection features that allow LinkedIn to detect AI-generated profile pictures and shut down their profiles before they cause problems.

Do you use LinkedIn to find jobs, employees or clients? It’s a great resource for business, but it’s important to stay secure. However, LinkedIn’s features are just the first line of defense. If someone in your organization were to fall for a scam and click a bad link, would your internal security solutions be enough to protect your network?

We can help you find out. We’ll do a FREE Security Risk Assessment to help you determine if your network is vulnerable to any type of attack. To book yours, call us at 480-464-0202