Homeland Security Gives SolarWinds Update

By -- 2021-04-10 in Uncategorized

In late 2020, the technology world was shaken by a massive attack involving SolarWinds, the creator of a popular networking software with over three hundred thousand customers worldwide, including 412 of the companies that make up the Fortune 500.  Initially, onlookers believed that the attack was directed at the massive software corporation and their high-profile clients because of malicious code found in SolarWinds networking software and a large initial degree of overlap between SolarWinds clientele and victims of the hack.

However, recent information has revealed that over a third of known victims had no connection to the software company whatsoever, implying that there were multiple, as-of yet unknown, vectors of attack. Even larger government bodies such as the National Telecommunications and Information Administration and the Treasury Department reported that the hackers had limited success in breaching secure data, such as internal government emails.  The full scope of what data was compromised, as well as who launched the attack and how it was initialized, is still unknown.

These types of far-reaching cyberattacks can feel like the stuff of nightmares for everyone involved.  Private citizens may have had sensitive data leaked to malicious third-party actors, the affected corporations lost money and consumer trust, and the full extent of the damage done to United States domestic security is still unknown.  SolarWinds is still currently investigating the root cause of the attack, and allegedly is pointing to Microsoft’s cloud as the potential first attack vector.  Federal law enforcement and Microsoft itself have not yet commented on this possibility.

At this point in early 2021, there’s still a lot we do not know about what was once called the SolarWinds attack.  Everything from a list of affected entities to possible motivations for the hack are still unknown.  In the meantime, all everyone else can do is maintain their cybersecurity standards and keep an eye on the news.  If your company is looking for help designing a cybersecurity plan, reach out to us at info@optfinity.com–we’re always happy to help.

Does Remote Work Impact Security?

By -- 2021-03-30 in Blog

Remote work has become a way of life for so many of us. It makes a lot of things harder. Communication, focus, and task management have all become more difficult. One of the things hardest hit by remote work is our online security. An overall increase in teleworking makes it harder for companies and workers to maintain cybersecurity standard for several reasons. This means that cybercrime has been more effective during the pandemic. Staying safe despite these threats means that decision makers need to make changes to how telework functions at their companies.

Why is cybercrime so effective now? One reason is that the devices that cybercriminals target are more important than ever. It used to be that if a cybercriminal locked an employee out of their computer, they could get a replacement and report the problem easily. Now, that same computer could take days to fix, with critical work halted in the meantime. A second reason is the added complexity that comes from having employees out of the office. Losing the office firewall means more vulnerable employees. Employees don’t have a security team in their house reminding them to change their passcodes or not to click on strange emails. Finally, work-from-home puts stress on remote security teams. With workers operating from changing locations and at changing times, it’s harder to identify irregular behavior.

You can take control of your business’s cybersecurity with a few simple steps.

  1. Regularly remind your employees about your business’s security protocols and cybersecurity best practices.
  2. Keep personal and work devices separate. Opening personal email or going shopping on a work device exposes a business to increased attacks.
  3. Enable multi-factor authentication on your devices. This is an easy way to keep threat actors from accessing any secure account.

These steps are just the beginning. While individuals should do their best to keep their devices secure, they can’t do it alone. Maintaining security for your business is complex. As cyberattacks become harder to identify and prevent, businesses’ security needs increase. If you want to design a security strategy that takes your work-from-home risk into account, email us at info@optfinITY.com or call us at 703 – 790 – 0400.

 

Data Leakage Attacks are Here to Stay

By -- 2021-03-20 in Uncategorized

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 the target’s data.

Some attacks are simply done for hacker clout, like the spade of DDoS attacks done in the 90s and early 00s.  As time goes on, new cyberattack strategies are emerging that may define the rest of the decade.

In 2020, observers noticed an uptick in attacks that focused on securing and/or releasing corporate data.  Attacks that resulted in a data ‘leakage” increased over the past year, and 2021 has continued that trend through January.  On the first day of the year, over nine thousand data leakages occurred, a larger single day number than any day from 2020.  With 2020 already representing a 93% increase in leakages over 2019, any continuation of the trend is threatening.  Without a strong response to this trend from the

What Does a Cyberattack Look Like?

Cyberattacks vary widely in technique, target, and goal. Some align with anti-terrorism campaigns, such as the United States’ Stuxnet attack on Iranian nuclear refineries. Others aim for financial gain, like ransomware attacks that demand Bitcoin payments to unlock a target’s data. Some hackers execute attacks purely for clout, exemplified by the wave of DDoS attacks in the 90s and early 00s. As time progresses, emerging cyberattack strategies could shape the rest of the decade.

The Rise of Data Leakage Attacks

In 2020, attackers ramped up efforts to secure or release corporate data. Data leakage incidents rose dramatically throughout the year, and 2021 continued this trend. On the first day of 2021, attackers caused over 9,000 data leakages, surpassing any single day from 2020. Since 2020 saw a 93% increase in leakages compared to 2019, this escalation poses a severe threat. Without decisive action from public and private sector organizations that handle sensitive consumer data, the trend will likely continue to grow at an alarming rate.

Steps to Minimize Risk
Organizations can take the following steps to reduce their risk of cyberattacks:

– Identify sensitive data and its storage locations.
– Periodically review and delete unnecessary sensitive data.
– Monitor user activity involving sensitive data and restrict non-essential access.

Responding to a Data Breach

When prevention fails and attackers breach data, timing becomes critical. Developing a strategy for security response teams before an attack ensures faster identification, effective containment, and a reduced scope of leakage.

For help in creating a tailored response plan, contact us at info@optfinity.com.

public and private sector actors who work with confidential consumer data, it is likely to continue its astronomic growth.

So what are some of the steps that possible targets of these attacks can take to minimize their risk?

  • identify what sensitive data your company holds and where it is stored
  • periodically review whether the sensitive data your company holds can be deleted
  • monitor user activity as it relates to sensitive data and limit non-essential access

In the case that prevention fails, and your business is affected by a possible data leakage attack, time is essential.  Creating a strategy for security response teams prior to an attack is crucial to properly identifying the attack, quarantining the data, and limiting the scope of the leakage.  If you or your company are looking for assistance in creating that plan, reach out to us at info@optfinity.com.

VoIP: Risk and Reward

By -- 2021-03-10 in Uncategorized

The ways that people communicate at work has evolved over the years, with online messaging services and email becoming more important. However, the office phone has remained a staple of office communication for decades. Recent advancements have changed what that phone system looks like. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone systems have replaced traditional landlines in many offices, allowing workers to make phone calls over an internet connection. With advantages like lower costs, portability, and accessibility, VoIP systems have become more popular for small businesses who have transitioned to working at home.

Hackers have taken notice of that increase in popularity. Over the summer, a hacking campaign has compromised the VoIP systems of over 1000 companies across the globe. Their primary goal was using the system to dial premium numbers that they owned. On top of that, criminals were able to eavesdrop on private calls and use the business network to mine cryptocurrency. While researchers have identified the vulnerability that hackers used to exploit the system, law enforcement has not yet been able to identify the group or groups responsible.  While the benefits of VoIP are great, there is a real risk in using these systems to communicate

So what do you need to do to keep your business safe? First, identify what brand of VoIP system your company is using. These attacks were only possible on Sangoma and Asterisk systems. If you have one of these systems, we highly recommend that you identify whether the flaw has been patched, and patch it if it has not. If you have a VoIP phone system and are concerned about your business’s risk, contact us at info@optfinity.com to learn about how a managed services provider can protect your business from exploits like these.

Confidentiality in the COVID-19 Era

By -- 2021-02-28 in Uncategorized

The coronavirus has changed how we work dramatically.  With new methods of communication, new threats, and less time in the office, some businesses have discovered that remote work is making them more productive.  Many remote workers are reporting higher levels of job satisfaction and even improved mental health after gaining more control over their workday.  However, not all work is equally suited to this new normal.  Some businesses that regularly process confidential information are struggling with how to adapt their in-office privacy standards for home work.

A recent study conducted by Go Shred found that almost two-thirds of home workers admitted to printing out office documents on their home printer.  While some of these materials were not sensitive, others admitted to printing documents that contained confidential client and employee data, ranging from home addresses to personal medical information.  The problems, however, don’t end at the printer.  Disposal methods are also shoddy for many home workers.  24% of those surveyed who had printed confidential information had not disposed of those materials at the time of the survey. Of the 76% who had destroyed the documents, roughly 20% used their home shredder and municipal trash removal to do so–another privacy failure.

It’s understandable why this occurs: convenience is king at the home office.  That doesn’t excuse the practice, which significantly increases business liability and consumer risk. Remote workers need a defined procedure that they can follow, and consequences for failure.  Decision-makers who need to navigate COVID safety protocols and confidentiality best practices to design those guidelines will be the ones who control how secure their data really is.  Maximizing worker safety, data privacy, and ease-of-use will all be crucial components of that process–but creating guidelines to regulate that behavior is the only way we can solve the issue of confidentiality.  Until we’re back in the office, that is!

If you’re interested in learning more about data privacy, check out this article summarizing Go Shred’s findings.  If you’re interested in working to develop a comprehensive compliance plan for your company, or if you’re just looking for everyday IT solutions, you can reach out to us via email at info@optfinity.com, or call us at (703) 790-0400.

OptfinITy Recognized as “Best Mid-Sized Business”

By -- 2021-01-29 in Uncategorized

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 plays an important role in helping companies adopt the technologies they need to stay afloat without straining shrinking budgets. OptfinITy combines efficiency with cost-effectiveness to better serve their clientele, allowing small businesses to make the most of their investments into IT and digital security.

The list of all Mount Vernon-Lee Chamber of Commerce honorees is featured online at https://mountvernonleechamber.org/business-awards/.

Ransomware: Why You Shouldn’t Pay to Get Data Back

By -- 2020-12-28 in Blog

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 workers out of their devices, delete important data and offer to restore it upon payment, or steal data and threaten to release it to the public.  When people are victims of this kind of scam, the hacker offers to delete the data if the victim pays the group.  Some companies take the offer–but the hacker rarely delivers on their end of the deal.

Nearly half of all ransomware attacks include the threat to publish stolen data.  This was not always the case.  Previously, companies with a secure backup of their data could restore their data and ignore the hacker’s threats.  The threat of releasing data removes any leverage the company would have from a backup.  In addition, a company can never have a full guarantee that their data was deleted.  Both sides of the interaction know this, so why do companies pay? Research suggests that fear of the public’s response to a data breach is a major factor.  The backlash against companies who have lost sensitive data to hacks in the past has been severe.  This public pressure combined with hope for a return to before the security breach took place is part of what pushes companies to make deals that are not in their best interest.

So what should you do if a ransomware attack breaches your company’s security? First of all, do not engage with the hackers.  Their goal is to make money, not to help you.  Second, contact a legal expert to understand what liability you might have, and what your options are.  Finally, invest in your security.  Once data has been stolen, it is difficult to get back to ‘normal’.  Prevention is key to keeping you and your data safe.  If you or your company are in need of increased security, you can always reach out to us at info@optfinity.com.

FWD: Hackers Abusing Email Forwarding

By -- 2020-12-23 in Blog

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 gain access to an e-mail network through social engineering, the process of manipulating individuals within an organization to gain access to sensitive information or areas.  Once they have that access, the threat actor observes the organization’s pattern of communication so that they can mimic it.  At that point, the infiltrators will impersonate an employee to redirect payments to fraudulent bank accounts

The FBI sent an alert highlighting the dangers of this e-mail forwarding technique, stating that:

“The web-based client’s forwarding rules often do not sync with the desktop client, limiting the rules’ visibility to cybersecurity administrators. While IT personnel traditionally implement auto-alerts through security monitoring appliances to alert when rule updates appear on their networks, such alerts can miss updates on remote workstations using web-based email.”

We need to internalize how impactful these hacks are.  We also need to contrast those costs with the relative cheapness of how to prevent them. While only 7% of spear-phishing attacks use this technique, it is a remarkably effective one.  The almost 2 billion dollars in losses caused by this type of hack makes it the single costliest kind of attack in the past two years.

If you want to prevent these kinds of attacks at your own business, there are several important steps you can take.

  1.  Ensure that your mobile and desktop version of your email application can synchronize with each other, and have the latest updates.
  2.  Set up your email to flag communications where the sender’s address and addresses from replies do not match.
  3.  Enable multi-factor authentication.

If you need help protecting your company from threat actors, or if you’re just looking for new technology solutions,  consider reaching out to us at info@optfinity.com.

Google’s Blackout: What Caused It?

By -- 2020-12-20 in Uncategorized

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 report from the company shows that the problem was more widespread than initially thought.Google revealed that the root issue was a flaw with the company’s storage management system.  The issues only cascaded from there: limiting the authentication system’s capacity meant that the entire identity-management system was broken.  All users of Google Cloud Platform and Google Workspace at the time of the outage were affected.

So what lessons do this outage teach?

Big Tech Companies Aren’t Infallible

This is the third major failure in as many months, along with the five hours Amazon Web Services was disrupted in November and Microsoft Azure’s outage in October.  It can be tempting to trust blindly when a company has a track record of reliability and success, but track records won’t keep you afloat if a failure occurs.

Diversify and Monitor

If all your tools for support, monitoring, servicing, collaborating, etc. are on the same platform, you’ll be wiped out by those platform’s errors.  While it can be tempting to unify your systems for simplicity’s sake, your monitoring tools should always be separate so that you can be notified in case of an outage.  End-to-end visibility is the goal.

Backups Are Your Friend!

Having independent access to your data is crucial when your cloud host fails.  Backups create overlapping coverage so that no one failure impacts your company.  On top of that need for access, backups remove any worries about losing data that’s stored remotely.

 

In short, these failures should keep us from becoming complacent.  Security isn’t just about preventing attacks, it’s about preventing all disruptions in service. Take care of your technology, be aware of what these outages can do to your business, and take steps to prevent failure before it happens.

If you need more information on preventing service disruptions, leave a comment or email us at info@optfinity.com.

 

TA542: It’s Spear-Phishing Season Again.

By -- 2020-12-10 in Blog

When people think of spam emails, it’s usually phishing that comes to mind. These are the emails that make up your junk folder: a truly frightening combination of poor grammar, bad spelling, and vulgarity that makes you question how anyone can fall for a phishing attack. Spear-phishing has become the new way to create a spam email campaign. By targeting specific demographics and crafting believable ‘lure’ emails, cybercriminals can entice people to click untrustworthy links in their emails. In recent years, the group TA542 has been one of the most prolific criminal entities to use spear-phishing as their primary form of cybercrime, sending almost one million fraudulent messages a day.

Their latest attack was a campaign targeting supporters of the Democratic party in the United States. Their lure emails mimic the language on emails sent from Democratic activist groups like ActBlue, leading people to believe that the sender is trustworthy. Once they click on the link in the email, they unwittingly download TA524’s signature malware, a program called Emotet. This does anything from scanning your computer for personal information to downloading your banking credentials. TA542’s combination of realistic lure emails and sophisticated malware makes them a particularly dangerous group of cybercriminals. However, there are still steps you can and should take to protect your data!

Traditional advice about how to avoid phishing scams is not to open links from people or companies that you aren’t familiar with. However, spear-phishing emails mimic those trusted senders. Some ways to stay safe in this new environment is only to open links or documents that you are expecting to receive. When you receive a link in an email that is unfamiliar or unexpected, go to the sender’s website and navigate to the desired page from there. As cybercriminals become more advanced, having outside tech support becomes increasingly important—if someone from your company falls prey to a spear-phishing attack, having secure data backups and a plan for how to mitigate the damage caused by the malware is crucial. If you’re concerned about spear-phishing, reach out to us at info@optfinity.com to learn more.