Security
Simple Steps for Protecting Your Online Privacy
Do you worry about your online privacy? Most of us have gotten use to the fact that the conveniences of the Internet come at a price, usually in the form of huge companies collecting data about us that they then resell to marketers. Still, it can be a bit disconcerting to see an ad pop…
Read MoreFearsome Amex Phishing Scam
We know this horror story: A trusted character is not who (or what) others think he is. Typically, movie audiences get to see the creature’s eyes glow or go all black when the onscreen victim isn’t looking. Devils behind a recent phishing scam that targeted American Express accounts, however, were fiendishly clever about hiding their…
Read MoreIf IT Threats Were Cast as Star Trek Villains …
The United Federation of Planets had a lot of enemies, and if you run a business, you also face some substantial threats to your operation. So in recognition of Star Trek’s 50th anniversary, we decided to cast IT’s most infamous bad actors as notable villains from the Trek shows and movies. Ransomware and Viruses as…
Read MoreWho Does Ransomware Target?
Another popular enterprise for Russian cybercriminals is organizing ransomware campaigns that target Western companies and individuals. Click on a ransomware-infected link or email attachment and you’ll be helping these thieves “earn” a salary that is—on average—13 times that of average Russian wages. (In case you need a refresher, ransomware is malicious software designed to block…
Read MoreПривет из России. Вы были взломаны. (“Greetings from Russia. You’ve Been Hacked.”)
Sometimes a theme asserts itself. We didn’t start out to make Russia a focal point of this newsletter but once we selected our topics, we couldn’t help but notice a commonality. We’ll begin with something you may have heard about — the hacking of Democratic Party emails by an organization known as Guccifer 2.0. US…
Read MoreAre You Insured Against Cyber-Security Breaches?
Last month, we dedicated a newsletter article to insurance … specifically Cyber Insurance. Because this is such a complicated topic, we wanted to first remind you that no insurance policy covers everything … we’re all still responsible for taking common-sense precautions. But, as criminals grow ever more sophisticated, insurance riders like Cyber Insurance are no…
Read MoreAbout those New Credit Cards with the Chips …
Sometime in the past year, your credit card company probably sent you a new card — one with an obvious chip installed on the front. (If you have not received one, don’t worry, you will.) The new cards are rolling out to help improve security against fraud by encrypting customer data and by creating a…
Read MorePrevention is Better than Insurance
If you deal with sensitive customer data and information, you may have considered purchasing “cyber insurance.” For those unfamiliar with the term, the International Risk Management Institute explains, “Cyber and privacy policies cover a business’ liability for a data breach in which the firm’s customers’ personal information, such as Social Security or credit card numbers,…
Read MoreWords of Wisdom about Data Security
Your friends at SynchroNet are always available to help you with your data security issues … especially as they pertain to financial information. Since the proverbial ‘ounce of prevention’ is always preferable to the ‘pound of cure,’ here are a a few security measures that will go a long way toward keeping your business data…
Read MorePCI DSS Compliance? … It Actually is Your Business
Handing your credit card to a cashier, repeating your credit card information over the phone to a customer service representative, or entering your information online … these moments require your trust and confidence that any charges arising from the transaction will be legitimate. Correspondingly, as a merchant, you have a duty to ensure that consumers’…
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