Suffolk Computer Consultants, Inc. Blog

While a technology exploit or vulnerability is never a good thing, hearing one described as “zero-day” adds another level of sinister malice to the term. However, it is still important to understand what is meant by zero-day, which is why we are going to review that term below.

Microsoft’s Windows 10 is a great operating system that many users are finding to be extremely helpful for their everyday needs, but even the most rabid Windows fan will tell you that the constant updates are irritating and disruptive at best. While they do bring with them new features and updates--particularly the large updates that happen twice a year--they do take some time to install. The upcoming update they are releasing in October, however, poses a problem for businesses and users alike.

Nobody likes being delayed at the airport, forced to sit in uncomfortable chairs as the minutes slowly pass, each signifying that an important event or deadline is that much closer to being missed. Events that cause such delays cause headaches for passengers and airlines alike, just ask Delta, who recently suffered from such an event when a power outage struck Atlanta, GA, and with it, Delta’s computer system.

It appears that the Department of Homeland Security is stepping in after one of the Ghostbusters had her personal information leaked online after falling victim to a cyber attack. Leslie Jones, who played Patty Tolan in the recent reboot, had not only photos of her passport and driver’s license but also nude images of herself--allegedly taken from the comedian’s iCloud account--posted on her website by hackers. Less than a day after her website was taken down, Homeland Security began an investigation into the hack.

You may be aware of the risks associated with utilizing Wi-Fi, like a potential hack attack. However, you may not know about a new risk where the Wi-Fi signals may be remotely checked for distortion in order to track human motion as they move through the signal.

In light of the recent spat of data breaches leading to login credentials from accounts for Myspace, Dropbox, and other online services, Spotify has taken measures to preserve their user security--despite not being victimized in a recent attack.

In a recent finding, assorted large hotels owned and operated by HEI Hotel & Resorts have been victims of malware since 2015. 20 of the company’s hotels were affected, with customer financial data being exposed in a real-time, point-of-sale malware attack. Have you recently stayed at one of these hotels?

We all understand that there are things we need to lock up in order to protect them. Houses, cars, businesses, all are protected with locks to keep those who shouldn’t be in them, out. Shouldn’t your network receive the same consideration?

Executive Order 13694 will be around for another year, as the current administration has elected to extend it. This document provides the government with the power necessary to retaliate against cyber attacks of various kinds through the use of sanctions. Let’s take a look at what this means.

The oldest retailer in the United States disclosed that they had malware installed in their point-of-sale systems that was stealing their customer’s data for a year. 223 Brooks Brothers locations in the United States and its territories were affected by this attack.

After the WannaCry attack, it would seem that the hacking group known as the Shadow Brokers (or TheShadowBrokers) is in possession of some extremely potent information. This makes it all the more disconcerting that the group has announced the start of their own subscription service.

Managing a business is difficult enough without technology issues getting in the way of operations. Therefore, when an issue does pop up in a company’s IT, it can be a very frustrating experience for everyone involved. Here are a few common issues that have been known to trip up businesses more than they should.

Looking back over the events of 2016, one thing was made very clear by cybercriminals: ransomware is a rising star in their arsenal. In order to continue to remain protected against these threats, it is critical to have a clear understanding of them.

If you’re a fan of the spectacle put on by World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc., you may find yourself pinned thanks to an error made in some of their databases. This error allowed personal information from three million users to be accessed by anyone who knew where to look.

As with all innovative technology, there is only a certain amount of time you’ll have until someone inevitably finds ways to exploit it. One such exploitation of a common technology that has flown under the radar and avoided widespread knowledge by users is VoIP fraud. VoIP fraud is no different than other cybercrime - the exploitation of a network or data to procure ill-gotten gains.

We talk about network security a lot, and for good reason. The majority of today’s businesses rely heavily on their information systems and there is plenty of danger presented by Internet-based threats. However, some organizations spend so much time worrying about cyber threats that they forget that physical threats exist outside the technology plane. Your organization needs to take steps toward securing its on-site premise, as well as the digital space in which your business exists.

We are never shy about insisting that certain standards are met when devising passwords, but many major companies are seemingly far less worried about password security than we are. A recent study conducted by the password manager developer Dashlane paints a troubling picture of the state of password security, providing anecdotal evidence in the form of some very well-known and trusted companies scoring at the low end of the password security spectrum.

When it comes to hacking and cybercrime, it can literally be a few seconds that will ruin your business. One single chink in your network’s armor is all it takes for your data to be compromised. Modern SMBs need to take every opportunity to ensure they’re using best practices to help keep their network safe and secure. Here’s a look at four network security bad habits that you and your team can fix today.

Too often, the desire to share an exciting travel destination with the world overrides any security or safety concerns one might have. Even people who are traveling for business will use social media to document their trip as a method of promoting their attendance at the event over social media. This includes photographing and sharing proprietary documents, like boarding passes and passports.

We live in an era where the term “fake news” makes up a significant portion of the headlines. The Internet makes it very easy to misinform others and spread false rumors or news, as you can do so relatively anonymously with little fear of consequence. This has become a problem on social media sites like Facebook, which recently shut down a major “troll farm” in response to continued complaints.