With work-from-home becoming the new normal, companies are scrambling to adapt their security practices. Some are hiring an outside firm to handle their transition, while others are trying to cobble together an in-house solution. Security is difficult to maintain at the best of times, and 2020 is most definitely not the best of times. Security… Read more »
Posts By: Michael
Homeland Security Gives SolarWinds Update
The SolarWinds Cyberattack: A Wake-Up Call for the Tech Industry In late 2020, a massive cyberattack targeted SolarWinds, a creator of popular networking software used by over 300,000 customers worldwide, including 412 Fortune 500 companies. Initially, many believed the attack focused on the software corporation and its high-profile clients due to malicious code embedded in… Read more »
Data Leakage Attacks are Here to Stay
What does a cyberattack look like? There’s no specific technique, target, or goal to unite them. They can be part of an anti-terrorism campaign, like the United States’ Stuxnet attack on Iranian nuclear refineries. They can be motivated by financial gain, like the recent trend of ransomware attacks that demand payment in Bitcoin before unlocking… Read more »
VoIP: Risk and Reward
The Evolution of Workplace CommunicationWorkplace communication has changed significantly over the years. Online messaging services and email have become vital tools. However, the office phone has remained an essential part of communication for decades. Advancements in technology have transformed traditional phone systems, with Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) replacing landlines in many offices. VoIP systems… Read more »
Confidentiality in the COVID-19 Era
The Impact of Remote Work on Productivity and Mental Health The coronavirus has dramatically changed how we work. With new methods of communication, emerging threats, and less time in the office, some businesses have discovered that remote work is boosting productivity. Many remote workers report higher levels of job satisfaction and improved mental health due… Read more »
OptfinITy Recognized as “Best Mid-Sized Business”
As a leading managed server in the Mid-Atlantic region, we are pleased to announce today that the Mount Vernon-Lee Chamber of Commerce has named OptfinITy as its Best Mid-Sized Business of 2020. This award recognizes exemplary local businesses who best embody the values of the Chamber. In today’s new and often uncertain business environment, OptfinITy… Read more »
Ransomware: Why You Shouldn’t Pay to Get Data Back
Ransomware attacks have been on the rise for years. The software necessary for these attacks are more sophisticated, anonymous currencies like Bitcoin are more prevalent, and companies are collecting more data, creating a perfect storm for bad actors looking to make money off of security lapses. These scams take several forms. The group could lock… Read more »
FWD: Hackers Abusing Email Forwarding
We’ve written a lot of posts about how hackers are infiltrating corporate data and systems, but we haven’t spent much time discussing how they monetize that access. A recent article discusses how a group of hackers used their access to their victim’s email services to the tune of $1.7 billion in losses. Threat actors first… Read more »
Google’s Blackout: What Caused It?
For 45 minutes on Monday morning, a variety of Google services were inaccessible across Europe and North America. Google Search, Gmail, and a variety of Drive programs were all down. Google’s physical devices also reported critical errors during the outage. Initial reports blamed this on an error in the service’s authentication system, but a new… Read more »
