Ongoing Malware Epidemic Infects CCleaner App

by Felicien | Sep 19, 2017 | Education

As malware continues to adapt and overcome conventional IT security, it’s more important than ever to have powerful cybersecurity support.

Malware remains among the top cyber threats that businesses face today. As malware becomes more prevalent and evolves, it’s more important than ever for businesses of all sizes to be aware of what threats are out there, and which specific threats they need to be the most concerned about. However, trying to do this on your own, without cybersecurity support in {city}, can be difficult given how effective cybercriminals are.
Case in point – Cisco Talos has recently discovered that the download servers used by Avast Piriform have been penetrated in order to distribute dangerous malware through the popular maintenance app, CCleaner. The app in question is designed to remove cookies and offer further security features and has been downloaded more than 2 billion times. It is estimated that more than 2.27 million users have been affected by the attack so far, but according to Avast Piriform, any harm to users has been prevented.
“Piriform believes that these users are safe now as its investigation indicates it was able to disarm the threat before it was able to do any harm,” said a spokesperson from Avast Piriform.
Whether the incident harms any users in the end or not, the precedent set by this attack is clear: there is a malware epidemic going on in the world today – but just how bad is it? Or in other words, just how necessary is the right cybersecurity support in {city}?
For an accurate diagnosis, turn to the researchers at Malwarebytes, who spent six months collecting detailed statistics on a wide range of malware threats. Their findings covered more than 200 countries, with data from over 100 million Windows and Android devices and nearly 1 billion malware detections.
The focus of the study was on six major threat categories – ransomware, ad fraud malware, android malware, botnets, banking Trojans, and adware. The results make a convincing case for investing in cybersecurity support in {city}.
Unsurprisingly, ransomware topped the threat list as the favorite method of attack against businesses, with just under 400 different variants cataloged in the fourth quarter of 2016 alone. Between June and November of that year, the rate of ransomware incidents went up a staggering 267%. Worldwide, 12.3% of all businesses targeted by cyber threats were hit with ransomware.
Across the pond, Asia and Europe saw a spike in botnet activity. The rate of Kelihos botnet attacks went up by 960% in October 2016 alone. The IRCBot went up 667% in August 2016, and the Qbot went up 261% in November 2016. Germany seems to be the most affected by this trend, with overall botnet activity in the country going up 550% between 2015 and 2016. Europe as a whole is the most malware-riddled continent, averaging 20% more infections than North America, and 49% of all ransomware infections globally happened in Europe.
So what do these statistics mean for your business? For starters, they paint a very clear picture of just how dangerous ransomware is. It’s all but inevitable that your business will be targeted by some form of malware if it hasn’t been already.
This doesn’t mean your business has to become a victim. There are many security precautions you can put in place to reduce or even eliminate the chances of malware finding its way inside your systems successfully, and steps you can take to minimize the damage done if you do become infected.
Next-gen firewalls, antivirus and antimalware software are getting better and better at keeping up with the latest malware variants and can create a layered security that can stop an infection dead in its tracks. This kind of robust cybersecurity defense is even easier to equip at your business when you have comprehensive cybersecurity support in {city}.
A solid Business Continuity plan that involves thorough data backups stored in a secure, offsite location can act as your last line of defense against threats like ransomware, giving you the option to wipe your systems clean of the infection, and restore vital data and applications in less time than it would take to rebuild your systems from scratch.
The good news is that you don’t have to handle any of this on your own – {company} is proud to provide tried and tested cybersecurity support in {city} that will ensure your business is more than prepared to deal with the ongoing threat of malware, no matter what shape it takes.
Without the necessary protections and precautions in place, a business hit by a malware infection will likely never fully recover. Lost productivity, lost profits, and the damage to your business’ reputation are huge hurdles to overcome. Preparing today in anticipation of tomorrow’s disaster might be the only thing that makes it possible to keep your doors open – but only if you keep up with the ever-evolving threat of malware.
Want to learn more about the steps you can take to protect your business against threats like the many common types of malware? Contact us {company} at {email} or {phone} right away to connect with the best cybersecurity support in {city}.

Do You Love Your IT Staff?

by Felicien | Sep 19, 2017 | Education

“Share the Love”— With Your IT Staff
Your IT department is crucial part of your business, but, sometimes tech experts don’t get the appreciation they deserve.   How would your business survive if your technology suddenly stopped working? If this doesn’t concern you it should.

It takes a lot of skill and dedication to keep your servers, networks, and other technology working as it should. IT workers are the backbone of today’s business, and they should be recognized for providing other departments the tools they need.
You know you’re going to have technology problems at some point. It’s time to own this, and the fact that your high-tech repair skills are limited.  You turn off your computer, wait 30 seconds, turn it back on, and make sure all the cords are plugged in.  That’s all you can probably do.
These are the facts: Computers will break, technology will fail, and you won’t have a clue what to do. Calling your IT expert is the only option. Whether you need help to find lost files, or figure out how to connect your printer wirelessly, your IT person will be there to help.
Celebrate National IT Professionals Day on September 19th.
Did you know that the third Tuesday of September is National IT Professionals Day? Why not take some time to show your IT staff how important they are to the continuing success of your business?
When was the last time you did this? Has it been a while? You’re not alone. Today’s IT professionals are often under appreciated by their coworkers and business owners. This continues to be so, even as their roles expand and the complexity of their responsibilities increase.
Four Reasons to Love Your IT Department  

Your data is your business. Think about it. Without the ability to store, collect, and access information, where would your business be? The truth is you’d likely be out of business. Data, whether it’s the latest sales figures, or customer information, is crucial to keeping your business running smoothly. Your IT staff keeps data flowing where it needs to go by maintaining your network and protecting it from cybercriminals who want to steal your data.
They keep your communications connected. Your IT department does a lot more than just connecting wires, it connects employees with coworkers and customers. With peak-performing email, cloud PBX, online meeting platforms, your website, Internet and Intranet, your IT department keeps everyone connected so tasks can be handled quickly and efficiently. Whether you need help setting up a conference call, or you want a complete overhaul of your online ordering system, your IT department is always there to help.
They provide technology based solutions.Do you need to do something better, faster or cheaper, but you’re having a difficult time finding a solution on your own? There’s a good chance that a technological advancement is already available, but you don’t know it. It’s not your fault. New technology becomes available every day. It would be a full-time job to stay up to date. Luckily, your company already has people whose job it is to keep up with new tech developments: Your IT staff.
They provide IT strategies to help your company grow. You may not realize it, but your IT team is continually thinking about what lies ahead for your company. More than almost any other department, your IT staff must accurately prepare for the future needs of your business and envision where it’s going. You can harness this forward-thinking expertise by consulting with your IT department regularly to discuss new opportunities.

After thinking about everything your IT department does for you, don’t you think you should show them a little love? September 19 will be here soon— It’s the perfect time to acknowledge their importance. Take them out for lunch, bake them a cake, or. at the very least, say “thank you.” You know they deserve it.
If your IT staff needs help at any time, contact {company} in {city} at {phone} or {email}.  We can fill in as needed, or be your complete outsourced IT Department. 

Want to Lower Your Labor Costs?

by Felicien | Sep 19, 2017 | Education

Are you looking for new ways to cut your business expenses? Have you thought about how using AI to lower your labor costs? Maybe you should.  

In today’s economy, business owners need to find new ways to cut their expenses. Labor costs account for a growing percentage of the ongoing monthly expenses for many companies. Therefore, it makes sense for businesses to save money by eliminating unnecessary positions. Luckily, there are many computer applications that can streamline everyday tasks and automate the grunt work that used to require multiple workers.
Here are five applications that may lower labor costs for your small business.
Reduce Hiring Costs with Recruitment Software.
Recruiting software simplifies the entire hiring process including posting job listings on the most popular recruiting sites, managing multiple resumes, automating the selection process, scheduling interviews, and much more.
Studies show that a third of all job openings in the U.S. remain open for at least three months, and cost over $160 billion in productivity losses every year.  Besides the expense of lost productivity, the process of finding and hiring the right person for a job is expensive. Businesses spend an average of between 30 and 400 percent of the position’s annual salary during the hiring process.
But when businesses use a dedicated recruitment software package, like Zoho Recruit, they can significantly reduce hiring costs by handling everything in-house, without the need to hire outside recruiters.
Cull Your Support Staff with a Chatbot
80% of businesses say they provide superior support service to their customers.  However, only 8 percent of customers agree. Customers value quick and competent service. Yet in 2011, 86 % of U.S. consumers stopped doing business with at least one company due to dissatisfaction with its support team.
Small businesses can reduce the size of their support staff, and please their customers by taking advantage of chatbots to answer the most common questions. A chatbot is a computer program that can interact through text and voice. The use of chatbots in the U.S. is growing, and they’re widely used in Asia.
Chatbots can handle many customer service needs via social media, email, telephone, and websites. A company can reap the benefits of using chatbots even if it no one in the business is a technical wizard. Companies like ChattyPeople offer platforms for businesses to build their own chatbots without programming knowledge.
Let Tech Take Care of Your Social Media
Social media is huge when it comes to marketing. Hubspot revealed that 92 percent of marketers say social media marketing is an important part of their promotional campaigns. To stay competitive, small businesses must have a strong presence on social media like Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. The problem is that content creation, its distribution, and engaging the public takes time. In fact, most companies spend a minimum of 6 hours a week dealing with their social media accounts. This forces companies to either hire more employees or pull current staff off other projects to ensure social media accounts stay up-to-date.
When companies use AI to manage the day-to-day activities of their social media accounts, they can continue to enjoy the benefits of promotion without breaking the budget. Small businesses that use Twitter should check out Meshfire which bills itself as the only AI for Twitter. Meshfire provides customers with an automated analysis of their accounts and suggests new users and meaningful content to share. Meshfire delves deep into the Twitter-sphere to uncover the next trending topics to keep a business one step ahead of the competition.
Big Data Offers Big Savings on Repair Bills.
Every time a machine breaks down, it winds up costing a company money. It’s not only the cost to repair the machinery, but the income lost from decreased productivity. To prevent unexpected breakages, most companies run preventative servicing programs. This can prevent machines from requiring unexpected repairs.  Plus, using big data to analyze and predict when a piece of machinery requires service can save businesses money.
Companies like Augury offer businesses cost-cutting predictive maintenance tools. These tools can cut maintenance costs up to 30 percent, eliminate almost half of unexpected breakdowns, and helps to get machines back online in 1/4th the time. Businesses using it save an average of 8 to 12 percent of their operating budget.
Let AI Handle the Paperwork.
Businesses have tons of data stuck inside their servers, and getting it out of the network and onto a page used to require an employee. It doesn’t anymore. Instead of wasting time analyzing data and then writing a report, employees can now let modern technology do it for them.
Software like Quill from Narrative Science can help a business unlock the full potential of their data. Quill does this by not only conducting the analysis of enormous amounts of information, but by using its built-in Natural Language Generation program to create highly readable, focused, and natural-sounding language (or what Quill calls Intelligent Narratives).
Companies from a wide variety of industries will benefit from using this technology to automate time-consuming and tedious tasks.
Although we’re a long way from technology taking over and running a business, it’s clear that this is where we may end up one day. We recommend that our clients look for ways to control labor costs with AI solutions.
Would you like more information or assistance with AI solutions?  Contact the IT Experts at {company} at {phone} or {email}.  We’ll be happy to pay a visit to your business in {city}. 

WARNING: Researchers Detect LinkedIn-Based Phishing Scam

by Felicien | Sep 18, 2017 | Education

Phishing scams like this one are more common than ever – without the right cybersecurity services in {city}, your business will be left vulnerable.

You and I know that effective communication with co-workers and clients is crucial, but are you sure your employees are practicing safe email and messaging conduct? If you don’t already have the best cybersecurity services in {city}, your answer is probably,
“I’m not sure”, right?
Cybercriminals are smart – they adapt quickly and continually come up with new ways to take advantage of businesses like yours. A popular tactic among hackers today is “phishing”, a method in which they send fraudulent emails that appear to be from reputable sources in order to get recipients to reveal sensitive information and execute significant financial transfers. With only a surprisingly small amount of information, cybercriminals can convincingly pose as business members and superiors in order to persuade employees to give them money, data or crucial information.
At this point, phishing attempts are nothing new, but without the right cybersecurity services in {city}, you can still fall victim to a common phishing scam. A new scam has just been brought to our attention, so we’re sharing the specifics with you so that you and your team can avoid it.
Researchers from Malwarebytes have recently discovered a number of fraudulent messages coming from hacked Premium LinkedIn accounts that ask the recipient to enter their email credentials on phishing site for their respective email provider. The deceptive link may not appear as such, given that the messages abuse the popular link shortening service ow.ly to send message recipients to the phishing page.
Once the user’s email, password, and other information have been entered into the fraudulent website, the damage is done. The hacker can then take the information and do even more damage with it. It’s the new and constantly evolving cybercrime threats like these that make cybersecurity services in {city} so vital.
The key to phishing methodology is that it doesn’t rely on digital security vulnerabilities or cutting edge hacking technology; phishing targets the user, who, without the right training, will always be a security risk, regardless of the IT measures set in place. The reality is that small and medium-sized businesses like yours are put at great risk if you don’t have cybersecurity services in {city}.
So what’s the answer? What can the average business member do to keep themselves and their company safe when criminals are employing such deceitful methods? In addition to equipping your business with the best cybersecurity services in {city}, you should also:

Never give out private information: The trusted institutions with which you do business will not ask you for your private information. They already have your account numbers, social security number, and your passwords. They won’t have any good reason to ask for it again, right? If an email from a superior or external contact asks for that info, it is likely a scam, so be sure to confirm the request by phone or in person.
Never click on a link before you hover over it with your mouse: If you hover over a link with your mouse, your computer will show you where that link is actually taking you. Many times, criminals will give you what looks like the right link (such as www.YourBank.com) but when you hover over the link with your mouse it actually will show something different (such as www.YourBank/2340937fvt5.com). If the link is not as advertised, then don’t click.
Always check up on unexpected email attachments. If you get an email from someone you know with an attachment that you weren’t expecting, give them a call or send them an email to confirm that the attachment is from them and is legitimate before you open it.

The fact is that phishing attacks continue to happen on a regular basis; new variations on the same old trick that pop up over and over again points to a bigger problem than the scams themselves. Cybercriminals keep doing the same old thing because users keep falling for the exact same tactics without ever seeming to learn from the experience. That’s what makes ongoing cybersecurity training, and further support that comes from cybersecurity services in {city} such a crucial part of business today.
Waiting for another major cyberattack to start making the rounds is not the time to start looking at training your staff. Making cybersecurity education a routine for your entire team – management included – is the most effective way to stop a phishing attempt. Allow {company} to help – we’ve been providing cybersecurity services in {city} to a number of businesses like yours for years, and we will do the same for you.
Want to learn more about the steps you can take to protect your business against phishing? Contact {company} at {email} or {phone} for proven cybersecurity services in {city}.