IPM Computers

https://www.ipmcomputers.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/BSN-Black-Friday-1024x597.png ‘Tis the Season The unofficial official shopping season starts this week, and if there is a sale, there might be a scam close by. As the prices go down, so does our guard. We fear losing out on a deal and can act without thinking. A few quick reminders to stay cyber-safe. Fraudulent Websites Don’t be quick to click when you get that email or text announcing the “biggest savings of the year!”. If you are interested in the promotion that you see, go to the retailer’s home page and look for the sale there. In this age of phishing scams, companies are unlikely to make it a ‘click only’ access knowing that is often the way that cybercriminals work. If it is indeed only accessible via the link, call the store first and verify its legitimacy. Do not call the phone number provided in the message (if there is one). Again, always go to the store or company directly. Socially Safe Secret Santa or oth...

https://www.ipmcomputers.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/BSN-11.15.2022-Healthcare-1024x597.png When it comes to needing a strong cybersecurity program, don’t overlook the opportunity that the healthcare industry presents. There is a market here that MSPs should be focused on as a way to grow their business. Why Focus Here? Healthcare continually remains one of the largest targeted industries for cybercriminals. The payoff for a data breach in healthcare is high given the value of patient health data. The difference between responding to a hacker can mean life and death – not to mention the hefty HIPAA fines that can go along with a data breach. Is HIPAA the Same as Cybersecurity? There may be confusion around the difference in what a HIPAA program is, and how it relates to cybersecurity. Compliance with HIPAA rules and regulations is heavily dependent on a strong cybersecurity program. But they are not the same thing. If a healthcare business is not adhereing to a strong cyber...

https://www.ipmcomputers.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/BSN-Social-Media-1024x597.png Sloppy social media habits can lead to a compromise that extends beyond an individual’s personal account. Many people don’t realize that their login credentials tie them together with an invisible thread in the dark web. A hacked social account could lead to access to business credentials or more. Hackers 101 Being in IT, you’re familiar with the various ways that hackers work to gain trust. That trust innocently leads to providing information that an individual deems irrelevant, but is not. It could be the one missing answer to a question that provides access to a password. Let’s take a quick look at the different ways that data can be unsuspectingly compromised. Impersonation Many of us have been ‘friended’ by someone who appears to be hacked. The victim has provided enough information to have their online profile duplicated. This provides cyber criminals with a chance to connect to you with...

https://www.ipmcomputers.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/BSN-Mobile-Phone-Malware-1024x597.png Can your mobile phone be infected with malware? It sure can. You’re holding a small computer in your hand, and it can be susceptible to malicious software just like your laptop or desktop. Nuisanceware can be problematic when it is downloaded with other applications. Spyware can lead to stolen data, and one step up is stalkerware, which is often the most unethical and malicious of the spyware varieties. How Does My Phone Get Malware? If you notice that your mobile phone is getting unusual messages , has modified settings that you didn’t adjust, or is not running optimally, it may be infected. App Downloads Hackers spread malware via apps and downloads to your devices. An easy way to do that is via an app that you download. While official app stores usually ensure legitimacy, there are pirated versions that are easier to manipulate. They can appear legitimate but can contain spyware or ...

https://www.ipmcomputers.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BSN-10.24-Deep-Fake-1-1024x597.png A deepfake is a portmanteau (more on that in a moment) of “deep learning” and “fake”. What is a portmanteau ? It is when you take multiple words and combine them into a new word. For example, smog is a portmanteau of smoke and fog . So how exactly could deepfake affect you and your business? If you take a photo, audio, or video and replace one person in it with someone else’s image, you’ve created a deepfake. If you create an audio file with a voice that impersonates someone else, you’ve created deepfake content. With today’s technology, this goes beyond cropping your face over someone else’s in a photograph. Current technology allows very realistic and believable content to be created. Content that never actually existed or happened . Why is it Dangerous? The dangers and risks of deepfake content are simple. False narratives are created. That means that misinformation is spread, and t...

https://www.ipmcomputers.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/BSN-10.10-See-Yourself-In-Cyber-1024x597.png This month we celebrate National Cybersecurity Awareness Month . The year’s campaign theme of “See Yourself in Cyber” focuses on the individual. This collaborative effort is done to raise awareness between government and industry. It is overseen by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the National Cybersecurity Alliance (NCA) working together. The theme this year aligns with that of our own here at Breach Secure Now . Humans are the key element in cybersecurity. CISA simplifies this by saying that ‘while cybersecurity may seem like a complex subject, ultimately, it’s really all about people.’ Working Together Your cyber community extends as far and wide as your cyber presence does. The invisible barriers that you want to imagine between what you do online in your private life, and what you do at work, are relatively nonexistent. If you have poor cybe...