Whether you like it or not, Google has the ability to track where you are at all times if you are using any of their apps on your smart phone.  Although there are benefits to having your location known, such as the ability to quickly get directions to a restaurant nearby or check the local weather, you may prefer your privacy over these convenient features.

Google offered the option to pause your location history which they said meant your location will no longer be stored, but it turns out that many Google apps such as maps and weather will continue to store time-stamped location data without your permission even while the pause your location history setting is activated.

To prevent the ongoing collection of location data, there is another setting you will need to deactivate that you may have never noticed before which is called “Web & App Activity.” This setting is enabled by default, and you would never know by reading its description that it affects the collection of location data, but rather that it is only related to your search engine results.

By pausing these settings you will miss out on the positive features that come along with them such as personalized web browsing with suggestions based on your current location and browsing history, but you can also feel at ease knowing that Google isn’t creating a time stamp for every move you make on your smart phone.

If you have any questions about how the location services are being used on your mobile device, or want to learn more about network privacy and security, give OptfinITy a call at 703-790-0400 or visit our website at www.optfinity.com.

While you have probably heard about bitcoin, you may not be familiar with a new type of cybercrime on the rise called cryptojacking.

What is Cryptojacking?

Cryptojacking is essentially when a cybercriminal uses someone else’s computer or web browser without their permission to develop cryptocurrency. They usually infiltrate their victim’s system through a phishing email or an infected website and then utilize the infected machine for a long period of time before people notice.

What can you do to protect yourself?

A few recommendations include:

1. Make your employees aware of cryptojacking. Remind them to not open strange or suspicious emails and never open attachments or click on links they aren’t expecting to receive.
2. Install ad blockers, specifically ones that have the capability to block cryptomining scripts.
3. Maintain and monitor browser extensions and keep your web filtering tools up to date.

As mentioned above, it can be difficult to know when a hacker is cryptomining on your computer or website so be sure to keep on the lookout for a variety of red flags including:

1. A sudden high number of help desk complaints regarding slow computer performance.
2. Overheating Systems.
3. File changes on your web server or changes to pages on your website.

This is only the beginning for cryptomining given that the amount of money to be made via illegal cryptomines is extremely high and requires little technical skill. You don’t want your organization to be responsible for exposing visitors to your website to cryptomining script, so if you want to learn more about how to keep yourself and your organization protected, don’t hesitate to give us a call at 703-790-0400 or visit us on the web at www.optfinity.com.

Do you own or manage a small business or organization?

If so, it is important to acknowledge the increasing risk of becoming a cyberattack victim. Data from a recent CNET article shows that since 2011 the percentage of cyberattacks that occurred in small businesses has risen from 20% to almost 50%!

Another troubling statistic is that although 60% of small businesses don’t survive  a cyberattack, only 53% of surveyed small businesses make cybersecurity a priority. Don’t let your organization become a statistic. Make cybersecurity a priority!

A few suggested precautions to take to protect your organization include:

1. Update and backup EVERYTHING regularly. This includes apps that you don’t use or haven’t used in a long time, for these can be the most vulnerable to an attack.
2. Be sure all passwords are strong and never reused. Also, never click on links from strange or suspicious emails and implement better security systems for email
3. Your employees should follow the above-mentioned precautions and your organization should have a cyberattack response plan in the case of a breach.
4. Don’t be afraid to ask for help with your cybersecurity needs. It’s better to be safe than sorry!

If you have any questions or concerns regarding keeping your business secure and safe, feel free to give us a call at 703-790-0400 and ask about our managed IT services and 24 x 7 help desk, or visit us on our website at www.optfinity.com.

In today’s day in age it is imperative that new businesses and organizations start off on the right foot when it comes to intertwining technology with all other aspects of their business.

A recent CNET article gives guidelines to follow while deciding on the type of web hosting provider that will be the best fit for your organization.

Your first course of action will be deciding which type of server best suits your needs. Available options include shared servers, virtual private servers, dedicated servers, and cloud servers.

While mulling over these options, it is important to take into consideration the levels of speed, support, and security that you are looking for, as well as your personal knowledge of server maintenance and management while also considering the cost versus value.

What do the different types of servers offer?

1. Shared Servers– This is the cheapest option but also limits your site’s performance because you may be sharing this server with hundreds of other websites.
2. Virtual Private Servers– These are a step up from shared servers and although they also are shared with other sites, they usually deliver a higher level of performance than base level servers. However, it is recommended you are familiar with basic server maintenance and management if choosing this option or otherwise have a technology company to assist in this process
3. Dedicated Servers– These are a great option if you don’t want to compromise your performance due to sharing with other sites, but require in-depth knowledge of system management.
4. Cloud Servers– What sets these apart from the rest is they have much more flexibility and don’t need to be rebuilt or moved in the case your website all the sudden experiences a high amount of traffic. You simply would need to pay your provider more money to account for the extra traffic and management of the system

As always it is important to beware of offers that appear to be too good to be true such as unlimited storage and bandwidth for a few dollars a month. If you aren’t sure what type of server will best fit your organization’s needs, or would like some help setting it up and maintaining it, give us a call at 703-790-0400 or visit our website at www.optfinity.com.

One of the best ways to achieve success is to set yourself apart from the competition whether online or in general. A great way to achieve that is to have a captivating, user friendly website. A recent News article describes the most important points to keep in mind while creating an ecommerce site or website for your organization.

1. Make sure your site functions well across ALL platforms and is secure so that people can access your website with ease and have peace of mind while inputting personal information if applicable. If someone is trying to view your website from their mobile device and it shows up all discombobulated, or they have their personal information stolen off your site they likely won’t be revisiting.
2. It is important that it is easy to navigate and quickly find what is being searched for to avoid frustration and keep users on your website. Convenience is key, and you want to have as few required clicks as possible for people to find what they’re looking for. A well-functioning search bar is a great option as well.
3. Make it visually captivating with original photos which will make your website stand out among the rest, and incorporate a dedicated section for customer reviews to allow potential clients to be persuaded not just by you but by others who have dealt with your organization in the past.

If you have any doubts about how to successfully set up a smooth-running, visually captivating ecommerce site or website for your organization, OptfinITy is here to assist you. Give us a call at 703-790-0400 or visit us on the web at www.optfinity.com to find out more about our website development services.

You have more than likely at some point, whether it be in a Hollywood movie or in the news, heard or read something about someone being kidnapped and held for ransom. You hear about it, see it in movies, but probably go about your everyday life not worrying too much about it. However, while the likelihood of someone you deeply care for being kidnapped and held for ransom is low, it will most likely happen to computer data at some point or another.

A recent article discusses how ransomware is becoming one of the most prevalent forms of cyberattacks; and that it has increased by 231% between 2016 and 2017. Despite this increase, a study conducted by AVG shows that still roughly 1 out of 3 small business owners have no idea what ransomware is or how to protect themselves. Considering how expensive ransomware attacks can be, this number is alarmingly high. It is very important to understand how these attacks are commonly orchestrated and how to best protect yourself and your business.

How do ransomware attacks happen?

Cybercriminals look for vulnerabilities in your system to execute a ransomware attack such as software that hasn’t been updated, error messages related to maintenance and upgrades, and websites that are not secure.

To combat these vulnerabilities, you should:

1. Be vigilant in updating your software.
2. Disable your error messages and instead access them on your website’s backend or create a php.ini file.
3. Be sure your company’s website is HTTPS secure.

Another common way cybercriminals access data is via email which is referred to as “phishing.” They will send an email with an attachment or link that after being clicked on will give them access to all your data. Therefore, it is important to not click on links or open attachments in emails that you are not familiar with or seem suspicious. It is also important your employees take the same precautions.

Finally, the biggest lifesaver is to make sure you are backing everything up using revisions! If all your data is backed up, cybercriminals have no collateral. It saved the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency $73,000 when they were hit by a ransomware attack although it still cost them millions to weather the problem. That amount of money, especially if you are a small business, can make or break your ability to continue to thrive.

If you aren’t sure how protected your organization is from ransomware or have any questions about how to improve your level of security and keep your data safe, don’t hesitate to give us a call at 703-790-0400 or visit us on the web at www.optfinity.com.

The days of having all aspects of your business in separate folders and spreadsheets are coming to an end. According to this CNET article more and more businesses are implementing CRM (Customer Relationship Management) systems for their business operations. These systems essentially allow businesses to organize all their information into one spot, making them more efficient and customer friendly.

Given the undeniable benefits these systems provide for your business, what’s holding business owners back from using this technology? Perhaps they may not feel confident about dealing with the issues of the CRM once it is in place, or perhaps they are worried if something goes wrong they won’t know how to fix it.

If you are looking to expand your business’ capabilities and don’t know where to start, OptfinITy can help. In addition to implementing CRM tools, we offer 24 x 7 support to make sure things are running smoothly, allowing you to focus on the more important aspects of your business. If you have any questions about implementing a CRM system for your business, or already have one but would like someone else to manage it, give us a call at 703-790-0400 or visit us on the web at www.optfinity.com.

According to a recent TechRepublic article, browsers are more vulnerable to cyber-attacks than any other form of software being used in businesses today. If you want to be sure to keep your data and information protected from hackers, it is advisable to take the following actions:

1. Only allow use of reputable business-related plug-ins and extensions such as Java or Flash, as this will avoid the risk of exposing your browser due to security flaws that are common in less reputable, non-business-related plug-ins.
2. Ensure you have a Java security configuration that works best for your servers and workstations and stay on top of updates.
3. Beware of malicious pop-up ads. These commonly appear in forms of messages that suggest your computer has a virus and prompt you to download antivirus software. An easy solution is to configure your browser to block pop-up ads, but it is recommended to have an option available to display them at will, as they are sometimes needed for legitimate websites to function properly.
4. Be sure to establish all settings and ensure they remain in place from a centralized point of management. This ensures that the settings you have in place will not be changed by employees and put the company’s browser at risk.
5. Since browser-based threats don’t necessarily use files, they often go undetected. Therefore, stay up to date on the latest cybersecurity technology. Be sure to analyze all code in real time and test for suspicious code using a filtered approach that analyzes more than just downloaded files and attachments.

If you are worried you don’t have the expertise to handle these issues, OptfinITy can help. For more information or to get answers to your questions regarding keeping your browser secure and safe, give us a call at 703-790-0400 or visit our website at www.optfinity.com.