Last month I alerted my readers about a rash of websites that had been infected with a virus which infects computers when someone browses the infected website. The infection on the computer pops up a Fake Antivirus or Security Software Warning that hijacks the browser. http://www.technicalactiongroup.com/beware-of-fake-antivirus-software-and-fake-security-alerts/ There is now similar antivirus malware that is targeting the MacIntosh operating system. If you or anyone in your office has a MAC computer, please read on to learn how to … [Read more...]
Top 5 Network Security Mistakes Made By Businesses
12 May
1. Weak Passwords. “password” is still the #1 password used by computer users. For maximum security, your password should contain numbers and letters, both upper and lowercase combined. 2. Lack of Education. Most viruses / spyware are invited by the user; if you want to make sure your employees don’t download viruses, take time to educate them on what new viruses are circulating and about common scams. 3. Lack of Maintenance. No software is perfect, which means security loop holes are exploited by hackers the minute they are discovered. That’s why … [Read more...]
Why Am I Getting Viruses???
28 Apr
You are paying for computer support. You have anti-virus software. And yet you are STILL getting viruses that slow down (or crash!) your computer, impede you from getting your work done and in general create a HUGE pain in the you-know-what situation. Why? Here are 4 possible reasons: (1) You are on the Internet. Yes, I know you HAVE to be online to run your business. But the reality is that NOTHING is 100% perfect in completely blocking every single harmful virus, hacker, worm, Trojan, malware, or spyware that tries to meander onto your system while you … [Read more...]
Beware of Fake Antivirus Software and Fake Security Alerts!
5 Apr
Currently there is a rash of websites that have been infected with a virus which infects computers when someone browses the infected website. The infection on the computer pops up a Fake Antivirus or Security Software Warning that hijacks the browser. Once this software is installed, it prevents most other business relevant software applications from running. While this (or any) virus can’t be 100% prevented, occurrences can be minimized by keeping internet use restricted to reputable websites, and keeping your antivirus software current. Following are … [Read more...]
The Shocking State Of Data Security In Small Business: Are YOU Making These Terrible Mistakes?
28 Feb
According to a survey of 2,100 US businesses conducted by Applied Research and commissioned by Symantec, the vast majority of businesses are frequent victims of cyber attacks, data loss and non-existent backup and recovery systems. Here are just a few of the shocking facts discovered: 74% of the businesses surveyed were affected by cyber attacks – including hackers, viruses, worms, etc. – in the past 12 months. 62% had lost at least one mobile device in the last 12 months, and 100% admitted they had no password protection on these devices. Less … [Read more...]
The Top 5 Worst Technology Habits to Break in 2011
31 Jan
Admit it; some of you have some bad habits when it comes to maintaining the security and “health” of the high-tech tools you dearly depend on. Since it’s a fresh, new year, I thought it would be appropriate to point out the top 5 bad habits you should work on fixing in 2011. 1. Not backing up your data. Funny how most people start their confession of not backing up their data with the words, “I know it’s bad, but…” If you know, then why are you still doing it? There’s absolutely no good reason to let this one continue. 2. Relying on tape … [Read more...]
Unified Threat Management: The “Swiss Army Knife” of Security
17 Jan
With all my lecturing about security in this blog, I wanted to let my readers know about a new, more effective and lower-cost way to have a complete “do it all” security system for their networks. The techie term is “UTM” or “unified threat management.” That’s simply a fancy word for an all-in-one security device that does the work of your firewall, anti-virus, spam filtering and web content filter. There are several advantages to going this route. First, simplification. Instead of having to monitor and maintain several different types of security … [Read more...]
The Single Biggest Cause Of Computer Crashes, Data Loss, Hacker Attacks, Viruses, And Other Computer Problems
30 Dec
Want to know how to eliminate close to 80% of the computer problems you experience AND get more life, faster speed, and better overall performance from your PC? The answer is simple… The vast majority of computer problems can be solved with one simple step: regular maintenance. That’s right; nearly 80% of all computer problems stem from neglecting to perform routine maintenance such as cleaning your registry, installing security updates, and monitoring performance. Why Do PCs Have So Many Problems? Your computer is not a simple appliance like … [Read more...]
How One Small Business Incurred a $73,000 Phone Bill Without Making the Calls. Learn How To Prevent This in Your Business
9 Dec
A short time ago one of my technicians was speaking with a client who one Monday morning came in to the office to find they weren’t able to place long distance calls. After speaking with their long distance provider, they were told their long distance service was suspended because of suspicious long distance activities that occurred over the weekend. After further discussions with their provider they learned that $73,000 (yep, you read that right—$73K)of long distance calls were made overseas over the weekend from their offices. Naturally, they didn’t … [Read more...]
SECURITY ALERT! Ads for Fake Anti-Virus & Anti-Spyware Programs Are Multiplying
4 Oct
Not long ago one of our clients was browsing the web when a warning popped up on his computer screen, alerting him that his PC had been infected with a virus. Although the alert looked real, he was skeptical and closed the alert by clicking on the “X” in the upper right hand corner of the notice. Can you guess what happened next? His browser was hijacked, pop up ads started sprouting up everywhere, and he couldn’t get any of his programs to work even though he rebooted his machine. Although this is an extreme example, the number of fake anti-virus software … [Read more...]
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