There have been many allegations over the years regarding Facebook listening to user conversations. The idea is that after hearing you mention a certain product or service, Facebook will advertise it towards you. Sometimes it seems there must be some truth to the rumors, as an ad for the latest athletic wear pops up right… Read more »
Posts By: Michael
Google Cracks Down on Chinese Malware
Google has flagged multiple apps created by Pinduoduo, a Chinese e-commerce giant, as malware. In the past few weeks, several Chinese security researchers have accused Pinduoduo of making apps for Android that contain malware designed to monitor users. Google has set Google Play Protect, an Android security mechanism, to prevent users from installing these malicious… Read more »
Dish Confirms Ransomware Attack
Dish, the US television provider, confirmed a ransomware attack in which intruders exfiltrated data from its systems. The multiday outage happened in late February 2023 and affected Dish’s main website, apps, customer support systems, and streaming services. Dish determined the outage was due to a “cyber security incident” and that they were looking to “contain,… Read more »
ChatGPT Could Have Major Impact on Cybersecurity
ChatGPT is an AI driven natural language processing tool and has been the talk of the town since its release in November. The web-based chatbot has already been utilized for everything from crafting college level essays to writing computer code. Concerns have arisen in the academic realm due to the possibility of cheating, while many… Read more »
Cyber Insurance for Small to Medium Sized Businesses
46% of all cyber-attacks impact businesses with under 1,000 employees. Couple this with IBM’s report stating 60% of those businesses end up closing their doors within 6 months of a cyber-attack, and it becomes easy to see how important cyber insurance is becoming. Yet, many at risk businesses do little or nothing at all to… Read more »
OptfinITy Recognized on CRN’s 2023 MSP 500 List
Springfield, Virginia, February 13th, 2023 — It was announced today that CRN®, a brand of The Channel Company, has named OptfinITy to its Managed Service Provider (MSP) 500 list in the Pioneer 250 category for 2023. CRN’s annual MSP 500 list identifies the industry-leading service providers in North America who are driving a new wave… Read more »
Why an orange dot may indicate your phone is spying on you
The orange and green dots that you may now see on the top of your iPhone screen (for devices with iOS 14 or later) are part of an enhanced privacy and security update. When an orange dot appears right above your cellular bars, it means an app is using your iPhone’s microphone. It can be… Read more »
Password Management Recommendations for 2023
It’s National Change Your Password Day, so it’s a great time for a refresher on creating good passwords and why you should use a secure password manager. These steps are easy to follow and don’t take much time but are essential to keeping your personal information safe on the internet. Best Password Practices Passwords should… Read more »
Making Use of the iPhone Safety Check Feature
Apple announced Safety Check in 2022, an iOS security feature designed to view the information you’re sharing with others, such as your location or credentials. The feature allows you to instantly revoke those permissions, with the intention to help protect against domestic abuse. However, Safety Check can be useful for anyone with an iPhone that’s… Read more »
Should you be worried about Apple’s Data Collection?
Apple has positioned itself as a company that cares about consumer privacy over the past decade. However, a shift in Apple’s business model towards services such as Apple Music, iCloud, and Apple TV has led to more in-app advertising than ever before. Apple has always collected data about its customers but increases in their service… Read more »
