Elexon’s Cyber-Attack Leaves Businesses Wondering If They are Safe

By -- 2020-05-28 in Blog

 

A UK power grid company has been rumored to have suffered a ransomware attack, although electricity supply for their customers did not seem to have been affected.

Elexon administrates a crucial part of the power supply chain, known as the Balancing and Settlement Code (BSC), which includes the country’s suppliers, generators, distributors, traders, and energy importers and exporters.

After the issue came up, a message from Eloxon appeared saying that they have identified the root of the problem and are taking steps to restore the IT systems. It has been mentioned that a cyber-attack has been confirmed.; however, cybersecurity specialists have not been able to identify whether or not the attack was ransomware.

If you would like to learn more about how to keep your business safe from cyberattacks, feel free to call OptfinITy at (703)790-0400 or email us at sales@optfinity.coms

Your Face Mask Selfie Might Have Been Collected for The Future of Facial recognition Technology

By -- 2020-05-27 in Blog

It turns out the selfies you are taking with your facemask on are not just being seen by your family and friends, but researchers are collecting them as well to improve their facial recognition algorithms. A recent report shows that thousands of face-masked selfies are currently present in public data sets filled with photos taken directly from Instagram.

Face mask cover-up is an essential part of facial recognition algorithms and lack of facial recognition data has threatened the future of a multimillion-dollar industry. Since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, individuals have been urged into wearing face masks and facial recognition companies are attempting to keep up in collecting enough data as possible while they still can.

As with any technology, it is important to keep updated on the latest technology and security concerns.  Before you post anything on Instagram, you should look at the ramifications for your company. For more information on how to protect your businesses , feel free to contact OptfinITy at (703)790-0400 or at sales@optfinity.com

Famous Ransomware Gang Gives Victims Keys to Access The Files They Stole.

By -- 2020-05-8 in Uncategorized

Operators of the infamous ransomware Shade have decided to shut down and have released over 750,000 decryption keys to their victims who can now decrypt their files and hopefully regain access. The Shade explained on a message posted in the GitHub Repository that they have decided  to publish all decryption keys back to their victims and hope that antivirus companies will issue their own user-friendly decryption tools – ending their message with an apology for all the victims that were affected by their trojan over the years and hope the keys will be able to recover their data.

The Shade ransomware is one of the oldest ransomware strains out there but they are not the only one and you should still take proper precautions. For more information on ransomware strains or information on how to protect your business, you can contact OptfinITy on (703)-790-0400 or sales@optfinity.com.

Zoom May Be Replaced By This New Video-Conferencing Interface

By -- 2020-05-6 in Blog

As millions of people begin to work from home, it is not surprising that the Zoom application received a spike in sales as the global world turned to it for videoconferencing – although a bumpy road. But is Zoom and other applications like it really good for us?   A design firm called Argodesign has different thoughts and have created a concept called ‘The Square’.

This new  concept offers an artificial window with an LCD screen that will go from your wall to the corner of your desk. When you raise the shade, you will then be given the opportunity to see your coworkers – who will also be using the device – and strike up a conversation, discuss individual work, or hold meetings similar to the environmental essence of a real office.

As social creatures, we tend to miss human connection. What’s interesting about The Square is that it will replicate you in 3D rather than a flat screen, and if done correctly, will feel as though there is only a sheer window between you and the person you’re corresponding with. The architecture will be fixed to present a real office environment when convenient, and when you need a break, you can just lift the screen back up for more privacy. Although Zoom has been beneficial during this transition, The Square may offer an opportunity for more human-connection and productivity.  For more information, click here.

Americans Have So Far Lost US$13 Million From Coronavirus Scams

By -- 2020-05-1 in Blog

As scams related to COVID-19 begin to rise, more and more businesses are finding themselves amidst a phishing scam. The United States Federal Trade Commission has reported that more than 17,000 complaints from US consumers have disclosed a total loss of US$13 million from COVID-19 scams, this is not to mention the many other scams that did not get reported. According to an article written by Welivesecurity, Scams related to online shopping and cancellation of travel has estimated to roughly over $5 million dollars in losses.

The COVID-19 pandemic has evolved into a massive scam epidemic with cybercriminals exploiting the mass public fear of the coronavirus. Scams have included selling non-existing facemasks, and false impersonation of health authorities. The FTC has compiled the data into an infographic which is updated regularly.  The total fraud loss is currently at $13.13 million, with a reported median loss of US$568. They have also presented a webpage with tips for consumers to avoid coronavirus-related scams.

If you are worried that you or your company are not prepared to handle these types of scams and would like to verify if your company is at risk, OptfinITy can help. Feel free to contact us at (703)790-0400 or contact us at info@optfinity.com for a FREE quotation.

What Is The KrØØk Flaw, and Why Should You Be Worried About It?

By -- 2020-03-30 in Blog

 

As you have seen in our previous postings, a cybercriminal will attempt to use any type of flaw which exists.  One of the more recent ones is the KrØØk vulnerability, also known as CVE-2019-15126.  This vulnerability can be found in a specific Cypress and Broadcom Wi-Fi chipset which can be found in millions of  smartphones, tablets, laptops, Wi-Fi- access points and routers.
While this isn’t good news, the one benefit is that the KrØØk flaw needs to be in close proximity with the Wireless connection in order to decrypt and steal sensitive data from your devices.  The only solution is to make sure that your wireless devices are running on the latest updates and have security patches. If you are not sure if you or your organization is capable of handling vulnerable security flaws, contact OptfinITy at (703)790-0400 or sales@optfinity.com and we would be happy to help!

Optfinity’s CEO, Michael Drobnis, Selected for Goldman Sachs Small Business Program

By -- 2020-03-24 in OptfinITy News

OptfinITy is proud to announce that our CEO, Michael Drobnis, has been selected to participate in the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses (10KSB) Program. The program offers continuing business education through Babson College, a network of executive mentors, and access to capital through “mission-driven small business lenders.”

“I am a lifelong learner and understand the importance of networking and learning from others,” says Drobnis. Although his background includes an MBA, and various certifications, Drobnis says the 10KSB opportunity offers something his previous achievements couldn’t.

“All of this education was undertaken before I became CEO of OptfinITy and when you are the owner of a company, you are concerned about the business from different angles, so participating in the 10KSB program is perfect for me to learn more as a business owner.”

Of the 9,000 small businesses that have entered the program so far, more than two-thirds saw an increase in revenue within six months of joining the program, and nearly 80 percent reported revenue growth after 30 months. That’s compared to a national average of 47 percent among U.S. businesses.

Things to Consider when Teleworking

By -- 2020-03-13 in Blog

With the recent declaration by WHO (World Health Organization) we are now dealing with a pandemic, and it is important to consider the following items when preparing for teleworking:

• Making sure the employee has the proper direct communication tools (cell phone, work phone or app to access the phone system)
• Making sure the employees can access their information securely (using VPN, remote desktop applications)
• Making sure the employee has a computer or remote computer access
• Making sure that the employee has the ability to collaborate and communication with their staff (Google Hangouts, Microsoft Teams, Slack)
• Making sure that the employee stays on task and on-track (Rescue time, Focus Time, etc.)

While many organizations have access to tools already if they use Google’s G-Suite or Office-365, there are other applications out there who are making their products available if needed. For more information on those types of apps, see the following link: https://optfinity.com/web-video-conferencing-applications-benefiting-coronavirus-outbreak/

Should your organization need assistance with teleworking or other remote access policies, please give OptfinITy a call and we will be glad to work with you.

This Advanced Android Malware is Stealing Google Authenticator Codes

By -- 2020-03-9 in Blog

Security researchers are now warning Android phone users about a malware strain that can withdraw and obtain one-time passcodes by extracting it from the Google Authenticator app. The Google Authenticator app is a two-factor authentication security layer that creates a 6 to 8 digits long code to enter on various online accounts. The Android malware, Cerberus, has an OTP-stealing capability that steals 2FA codes from Google Authenticator.

When the app is running, the Trojan collects the content of the interface and sends it to the command-and-control server. A feature called RATs on the trojan allows the trojan to bypass the Authenticator, giving access to all types of private accounts including email inboxes, social media accounts, and coding repositories.

If you or your business have any concerns about keeping your systems secure,  feel free to call OptfinITy at 703-790-0400 or email us at sales@optfinity.com

 

500 Google Chrome Extensions Caught Stealing Private Data From Millions of Users

By -- 2020-02-27 in Uncategorized

Google was forced to remove 500 malicious Chrome extensions from its web store after it was discovered that many extensions carried malicious ads which siphoned off browsing data to servers being controlled by attackers.
It’s been reported that the extensions were part of an Ad-fraud campaign that’s been operating since January 2019. However, some evidence shows that the actor may have been operating from as early as 2017.

The extensions posed as promotions and advertising services. Unfortunately, this was not the first time Chrome extensions on chrome were caught stealing data from browsers. For now, individuals are cautioned to continue reviewing extension permission, uninstalling extensions not often used or don’t require access to your browser activity.

If you or your business are unsure on how to handle ad-fraud, OptfinITy can help.  Call us at (703)790-0400 or contact us at info@optfinity.com for  more information.