Recently, an internet-connected fish tank at a casino was hacked in an attempt to steal data. This fish tank was web-accessible in order to help automatically feed the fish and keep manage their environment. Once the hacker found the weakness in the tank’s network, they used that to find other vulnerabilities in the casino’s network.

This is just one example of how phishing is not just delivered via a rogue email. Another more common, yet still unusual, attack happened when hackers breached drawing pads connected to unsecured Wi-Fi systems, then using those devices to enact a denial of service attack.

So, if you have any internet connected devices at work or home, often referred to as the Internet of Things, or IOTs, be sure they are as secure as possible to prevent hackers from causing unneeded damage to your systems and data. These can range from your laptop or smartphone to a smart-fridge or cloud-based doorbell system. If its connected to the internet, it can possibly be hacked.

Not only does Optfinity provide thorough protections for our clients, we also provide no-cost, no-obligation assessments for anyone wanting to understand their systems better and have peace of mind knowing fully where their strengths and weaknesses lie, with regards to their technology.

Do you know if your website is currently in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act? Do you work for an organization where it is required for your website to be accessible to people with disabilities? If you’re unsure of either of these questions, you may want to talk to an expert before it’s too late.

A recent case in Florida against Winn-Dixie deemed that their website did not provide customers with disabilities the “full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations of any place of public accommodation … .” They now must implement an accessibility policy to meet current ADA standards, which not only is more costly to implement after the fact, but could leave them vulnerable to costly lawsuits.

While you may not have a large number of customers/clients with access and functional needs, the few you might have are protected under the law and should have equal access to information provided on your website.

Most web creators tackle this issue upfront and there are many resources out there to help ensure you’re currently up-to-date, such as the World Wide Web Consortium.

This may seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be if you know which resources to utilize. Aside from the resources already mentioned, OptfinITy can provide a free, no-obligation assessment to help ensure you’re aware of your ADA standings with regards to all your IT needs. And remember, aside from saving you from possible legal worries, this is the right thing to do for your business and your customers.

Adobe Flash Player is a favorite piece of software for hackers to exploit for various reasons: it’s on a lot of computers, users need it to access Flash-based content, and many users do not keep it updated. Because of these and so many others, hackers love coming up with new ways to invade your devices utilizing this software. There is some good news, however; because of the sheer number of attacks, Adobe releases new security patches quite often.

When was the last time you ensured your Adobe Flash Player was updated? Do you have your global settings set to automatically install updates? Do you not even know what Flash is, if you have it, or know how to check if it is updated?

For many people out there, questions like these fall low on their radar, meaning their systems are constantly vulnerable to attacks. For clients of Optfinity, these are questions they never need to ask or even worry about as we ensure everything is constantly updated. A free assessment could answer many questions you might not even have known to ask in ensuring your systems and devices are properly secured. Contact us today, we’d be glad to help.

Bithumb Hack Exposes User Information

Bithumb, one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges, recently suffered a security breach. Criminals managed to steal approximately 32,000 customers’ user account information. Thankfully, they did not obtain any passwords.

A Unique Attack Method

This hack stood out because the hackers did not target Bithumb’s internal network. Instead, they broke into the personal computer of a Bithumb employee. This raises significant concerns about why an employee was permitted to store sensitive information on a home PC. Once the hackers acquired this information, they escalated their attack by contacting victims directly.

Scammers Pose as Bithumb Employees

Armed with the stolen data, scammers phoned some victims while pretending to be Bithumb employees. Their goal was to gain access to user accounts. Unfortunately, one victim lost about $8,700 due to this scam.

Tips to Protect Yourself From Phone Scams

If someone calls claiming to represent a company and you suspect it might be a scam, inform them that you will call back to verify their identity. Use the customer service number listed on the company’s official website rather than any number provided by the caller. This simple step can help protect you from falling victim to phone scams.

Lessons for Businesses

This incident highlights the importance of proper employee training and secure data management practices. Companies must ensure that employees do not store sensitive information on personal devices unless those devices are equipped with robust security measures.

Are Your Employees Using Secure Devices?

Do your employees access company data on their personal devices? If so, how confident are you in the security measures protecting these devices? Ensuring the safety of company data requires regular assessments and comprehensive employee training.

Optfinity’s Security Solutions

Optfinity offers no-cost, no-obligation assessments to evaluate the security of your employees, devices, and company data. In addition to identifying vulnerabilities, we provide expert training to help your employees contribute to keeping your business safe from hackers. Contact us today to learn how we can help safeguard your organization.

Protect Your Business from Ransomware Attacks

Ransomware attacks often begin with a simple email that tricks an employee into clicking a link or downloading an attachment. The email might appear harmless, mentioning a resume, tracking number, or another innocuous topic. Once the employee engages, the company’s files become inaccessible, the server stops functioning, and operations come to a screeching halt. These scenarios may sound like science fiction, but they occur daily across thousands of companies worldwide.

Understanding Legal Consequences of Cyber-Attacks

In some U.S. states, businesses face penalties for falling victim to cyber-attacks, depending on how they handle the aftermath. Victims may be legally obligated to notify authorities about data breaches and publicly disclose the incident. This requirement can damage a company’s reputation, alienate clients, and create financial strain with lenders, banks, and other stakeholders.

Prepare with Backups and Insurance

Ensure your business has properly set up and tested backups. Invest in comprehensive insurance that covers losses due to malware, viruses, and other electronic scams. These steps are essential to safeguard your business from potential disasters.

Partner with the Right IT Company

Choose an IT company that prioritizes your best interests. The right partner will help you survive a cyber-attack or, better yet, prevent one from occurring in the first place.

OptfinITy: Your Security Partner

At OptfinITy, we prioritize security at every level. We protect your business by stopping threats at the door, on the network, in the cloud, and, most importantly, through employee training. Our proactive training programs are integrated into our managed services to ensure comprehensive protection.

If you want to evaluate your current security measures, contact us for a free, no-obligation assessment. We will identify vulnerabilities and offer solutions to help you mitigate future threats.

A two-year investigation has led to the arrest of two telephone scammers who were preying on vulnerable victims, tricking them into thinking their electronic devices were affected by malware. This investigation was conducted by Microsoft and British police.

One of the ways the scammers tricked their victims into believing their PCs had been infected was by asking them to look for warning or error messages in their Windows Event Viewer’s application logs. While those in the know understand these to be harmless, to someone not very tech savvy, these messages can seem ominous and will more easily pay for someone to help “fix” their computer problems.

It is important to remember no tech company will ever make an unsolicited call to help you fix any problems you might have. So, if you think you may have a problem, or some website or email is convincing you that your computer is at risk, don’t just talk to anyone, call us at OptfinITy anytime and we’ll be glad to assist. Don’t forget, we offer free assessments, so you won’t even need to worry about opening your wallet to get help!

Just when you thought you were safe from WannaCry, a new bully is on the playground called Fireball. And this malware has already infected over a quarter billion computers worldwide! One of out every five corporate networks have been compromised. Most of these are in other countries as the US, thankfully for now, only accounts for 2.2% of the infected devices.

How does this malware differ from the others? It sneaks its way onto user’s devices through bundling, where it is paired with other freeware products. Once it is installed, it then utilizes the victim’s browser to turn their search engines and home pages into fake ones. It then installs plugins to boost advertisements and generate ad revenue for the hacker who created Fireball.

We recently covered this seemingly benign threat. While it appears the only current downside is a hacker using your computer to blindly help them make money, don’t forget, they have access to your electronic device. So, at any point, they could change their code and do some serious damage to individuals and corporate enterprises! Remember, free is almost never “free”.

If you’re uncertain if you’ve become a victim of this or any other malware, or just want a good assessment of your systems and their structure and security, contact Optfinity and we’ll provide you with a free, no obligation assessment to help give you peace of mind.