Recently, an internet-connected fish tank at a casino was hacked in an attempt to steal data. This fish tank was web-accessible in order to help automatically feed the fish and keep manage their environment. Once the hacker found the weakness in the tank’s network, they used that to find other vulnerabilities in the casino’s network.

This is just one example of how phishing is not just delivered via a rogue email. Another more common, yet still unusual, attack happened when hackers breached drawing pads connected to unsecured Wi-Fi systems, then using those devices to enact a denial of service attack.

So, if you have any internet connected devices at work or home, often referred to as the Internet of Things, or IOTs, be sure they are as secure as possible to prevent hackers from causing unneeded damage to your systems and data. These can range from your laptop or smartphone, to a smart-fridge or cloud-based doorbell system. If its connected to the internet, it can possibly be hacked.

Not only does Optfinity provide thorough protections for our clients, we also provide no-cost, no-obligation assessments for anyone wanting to understand their systems better and have peace of mind knowing fully where their strengths and weaknesses lie, with regards to their technology.

Do you know if your website is currently in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act? Do you work for an organization where it is required for your website to be accessible to people with disabilities? If you’re unsure of either of these questions, you may want to talk to an expert before it’s too late.

A recent case in Florida against Winn-Dixie deemed that their website did not provide customers with disabilities the “full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations of any place of public accommodation … .” They now must implement an accessibility policy to meet current ADA standards, which not only is more costly to implement after the fact, but could leave them vulnerable to costly lawsuits.

While you may not have a large number of customers/clients with access and functional needs, the few you might have are protected under the law and should have equal access to information provided on your website. Most web creators tackle this issue upfront and there are many resources out there to help ensure you’re currently up-to-date, such as the World Wide Web Consortium.

This may seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be if you know which resources to utilize. Aside from the resources already mentioned, OptfinITy can provide a free, no-obligation assessment to help ensure you’re aware of your ADA standings with regards to all your IT needs. And remember, aside from saving you from possible legal worries, this is the right thing to do for your business and your customers.

Adobe Flash Player is a favorite piece of software for hackers to exploit for various reasons: it’s on a lot of computers, users need it to access Flash-based content, and many users do not keep it updated. Because of these and so many others, hackers love coming up with new ways to invade your devices utilizing this software. There is some good news, however; because of the sheer number of attacks, Adobe releases new security patches quite often.

When was the last time you ensured your Adobe Flash Player was updated? Do you have your global settings set to automatically install updates? Do you not even know what Flash is, if you have it, or know how to check if it is updated?

For many people out there, questions like these fall low on their radar, meaning their systems are constantly vulnerable to attacks. For clients of Optfinity, these are questions they never need to ask or even worry about as we ensure everything is constantly updated. A free assessment could answer many questions you might not even have known to ask in ensuring your systems and devices are properly secured. Contact us today, we’d be glad to help.

Bithumb, which is one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges, was recently hacked, with the criminals making off with approximately 32,000 customers’ user account information. Thankfully, no passwords were obtained.

This hack was different in that instead of going after the exchange’s internal network, the hackers broke into a home PC of an employee of Bithumb. One obvious question is why was this employee allowed to house sensitive information on his personal computer which he had in his home? Once this information was obtained, scammers then phoned some victims, trying to access their accounts by posing as Bithumb employees. One victim lost about $8,700.

If anyone ever calls you saying they are from a company, and you have a feeling it might be a scam, don’t hesitate to let them know you’ll call them back just to ensure they are who they say they are. But be sure not to call back a number they give you, instead, call the customer service number listed on their website. This is just one way to protect yourself from phone scams.

Not only is this a lesson in how to prevent being scammed over the phone and what steps you can take, but also on how to ensure all employees are trained properly so that these hacks don’t occur in the first place. Do you know if employees have access to your company’s data on their personal devices? If so, how confident are you in the security measures protecting said devices?

Optfinity can provide no-cost, no-obligation assessments so that you know how secure or vulnerable your employees, your devices, and your company’s data are. Not only do we provide the know-how, we can also provide the training that your employees may desperately need to ensure they are working just as hard to help keep your business safe from hackers.

A two-year investigation has led to the arrest of two telephone scammers who were preying on vulnerable victims, tricking them into thinking their electronic devices were affected by malware. This investigation was conducted by Microsoft and British police.

One of the ways the scammers tricked their victims into believing their PCs had been infected was by asking them to look for warning or error messages in their Windows Event Viewer’s application logs. While those in the know understand these to be harmless, to someone not very tech savvy, these messages can seem ominous and will more easily pay for someone to help “fix” their computer problems.

It is important to remember no tech company will ever make an unsolicited call to help you fix any problems you might have. So, if you think you may have a problem, or some website or email is convincing you that your computer is at risk, don’t just talk to anyone, call us at OptfinITy anytime and we’ll be glad to assist. Don’t forget, we offer free assessments, so you won’t even need to worry about opening your wallet to get help!