Understanding Ransomware: Protecting Your Data

The Threat of Ransomware

At some point, you’ve likely seen or heard about someone being kidnapped and held for ransom in a Hollywood movie or news story. While the chances of someone you care about being physically kidnapped are slim, the same cannot be said for your computer data. Data kidnapping—commonly known as ransomware—is a growing threat that could impact you or your business.

The Rise of Ransomware Attacks

Ransomware has become one of the most prevalent forms of cyberattacks, with a staggering 231% increase between 2016 and 2017. Despite this alarming growth, a study by AVG reveals that about one in three small business owners are unaware of ransomware or how to protect themselves. Considering the high costs associated with these attacks, this lack of awareness is concerning. Understanding how ransomware attacks are orchestrated and learning effective prevention strategies are crucial for safeguarding your business.

How Do Ransomware Attacks Happen?

Exploiting System Vulnerabilities

Cybercriminals often exploit system vulnerabilities to launch ransomware attacks. These vulnerabilities may include:

• Outdated software
• Error messages related to maintenance and upgrades
• Insecure websites

Prevention Tips:

• Regularly update your software.
• Disable error messages from displaying publicly and access them through your website’s backend or a php.ini file.
• Ensure your company’s website uses HTTPS for secure communication.

Phishing Emails

Phishing emails are another common tactic used by cybercriminals. These emails often contain attachments or links that, when clicked, grant the attackers access to your data.

Prevention Tips:

• Avoid clicking on links or opening attachments in unfamiliar or suspicious emails.
• Train employees to recognize phishing attempts and follow the same precautions.

The Importance of Data Backups

The most effective way to mitigate ransomware threats is by regularly backing up your data. With backed-up data, cybercriminals lose their leverage. For example, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency avoided paying a $73,000 ransom because they had robust data backups, though the attack still cost them millions in other expenses. For small businesses, such costs can be devastating.

Protect Your Organization

If you’re unsure about your organization’s level of protection against ransomware or need guidance on improving your cybersecurity, contact us at 703-790-0400 or visit us at www.optfinity.com. Taking proactive steps today can save you significant trouble and expense in the future.

Streamlining Your Business with CRM Systems: Why Now Is the Time to Make the Switch

Gone are the days of managing your business operations through a maze of separate folders and spreadsheets. According to a recent CNET article, more businesses than ever are embracing Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems to streamline their operations. These tools offer a centralized platform for organizing all your business information, making your processes more efficient and improving customer experiences.

Why Are Some Business Owners Hesitant to Adopt CRM Technology?

With so many undeniable benefits, why are some business owners still hesitant to adopt CRM technology? The hesitation often stems from concerns about implementation and maintenance. Business owners might worry about how to troubleshoot issues or what to do if something goes wrong after the system is in place.

How OptfinITy Can Help You Implement and Manage CRM Systems

At OptfinITy, we understand these concerns and are here to help. If you’re looking to enhance your business operations but feel unsure about where to begin, we’ve got you covered. Not only can we assist in implementing CRM tools tailored to your needs, but we also provide 24/7 support to ensure everything runs smoothly. This allows you to focus on growing your business without the stress of managing the technical side.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

Whether you’re considering implementing a CRM system for the first time or already have one and need expert management, OptfinITy is here to help. Contact us today at 703-790-0400 or visit us online at www.optfinity.com to learn more about how we can support your business.

Work Smarter, Not Harder

Don’t let outdated systems hold you back. Start working smarter with a CRM system backed by reliable support!

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.

Does your business have a spare $2 million around to fix your computer problems when you get the next Ransomware attack? 

As you may have seen in the news, the city of Atlanta, George recently became a victim of the SamSam ransomware, shutting down operational systems. Unlike most ransomware, SamSam indiscriminately searches the internet for vulnerable servers by looking for weak passwords or passwords that rarely get changed and then infecting the system. While Atlanta didn’t pay the ransom, the cost to remediate the issue was calculated at $2,667,328 according to this ZDNET article.

While your business may require less than the city to remediate your problem, there are things you can do today to make sure that Ransomware doesn’t hurt your organization. This includes changing and using complex passwords, updating security patches, installing the proper security equipment and educating your employees.

For more information on some of the things you can do, give us a call and we can provide you with a no-cost, no-obligation assessments. We can be reached at 703-790-0400 or on the web at www.optfinity.com.

According to a recent CNET article, cybercrime is now costing businesses as much as $600 billion.  In fact, the most recent Ransomeware attack costs millions of dollars to the city of Atlanta to recover from that attack.   So what does a small business or non-profit organization do?

The most important thing you can do is to make sure you have a Great backup.  Not just a backup but a backup which automatically checks to make sure that the backup works.  You also should have in place the proper security software and devices and even more importantly, the proper training program for your employees on what to avoid.

If you are unsure of what you are doing to keep you organization safe and would like a free security assessment, please give us a call at 703-790-0400 or on the web at www.optfinity.com. Don’t wait until a threat strikes.

Making sure your website is updated with the latest patches is very important as new vulnerabilities are discovered almost daily – so what happens when the latest update stops your updates from working?

On Monday, WordPress released version 4.9.3. The very next day, WordPress released version 4.9.4. Although version 4.9.3 fixed 34 bugs, it also introduced a new bug that prevents automatic background updates from updating automatically! This bug causes WordPress to encounter an error when attempting to update itself to the latest version.

Four years ago, WordPress added the self-update feature allowing users to keep their website secure and bug-free so users have not had to think about updates. This means that there are millions of unmanaged WordPress sites that expect their site to automatically update itself.

So, if you are an admin of a website running WordPress, make sure to update now or if you need help with your website, give OptfinITy a call at 703-790-0400.

It’s the Holiday Season once again, but remember it is also a holiday for the bad guys as well, but not in the way you might think. Hackers go into scam-overdrive mode during this time of the year to prey on the heavy shopping done by consumers. This time of year is the busiest for on-line shopping and scammers are out to get rich off of your money. So what should you look out for?

There are too-good-to-be-true coupons that offer free or discounted phones, tablets, and countless other cool items all over websites and social media; don’t fall for them! Make sure the offers are from a legitimate company. While you’re at it, watch out for alerts via email or text informing you that you just received a package from FedEx, UPS or the US Mail.  These notifications will then ask you for some personal information; don’t be fooled into giving them anything!

The price of security, especially now, is constant alertness and willingness to fight back. Remember to only use credit cards online, never debit cards, as your liability is limited with a credit card and the money does not come straight out of your bank account. Be super-wary of spam email with crazy good BUY NOW offers and anything which looks slightly “off”.  Remember, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.  And if you’re still wanting to take advantage of that offer, double check with the company directly.

If you think you might have been scammed, stay calm and call your credit card company right away, nix that card, and get a new one.  It is always better to be safe than sorry.