This is a fascinating article on artificial intelligence, where its been and where its going, and how we got there; but moreover, have you thought about how AI may affect your business years down the road?  Are you prepared for the changes and challenges that such technology might present?

The article talks about three waves of AI, the first including such technology as Google Maps, smart phones, and traffic lights.  Do you think every business which made maps for your car is still in business?  How about encyclopedia companies, pagers, or crossing guards?  Future AI technology is anticipated to replace most human workers in many fields.  What are you doing to anticipate and prepare for this new technology tidal wave to ensure your business does not go under?

A first step in all this is to ensure you have a fully-functioning and knowledgeable IT component within your organization looking out for your best interests.  There are many basic steps companies fail at, such as fully integrated websites, mobile apps, cloud storage, and disaster recovery systems.  Once you’ve read the article and watched the fascinating video, contact Optfinity today for a free assessment and take your first step in putting your company on the right path to navigating the technology maze just ahead.

As a company or organization, you have a legal requirement to retain information and communication.  Studies show that most employees have no idea what these policies are, and chances are, neither do you.  Read the full article to see what the actual statistics are.

These policies should not only include what to retain and for how long, but also your company’s policies on personal computer usage, personal emails, and social media.  Not only can these issues pose problems for the company and its data retention, but it can also pose privacy problems of which most employees are not aware.

Don’t forget, if you’re using your company’s WiFi on your personal device, that data is not private and your company now has access to it.  Likewise, when you use your company email to contact your doctor, financial advisor, or lawyer, your private information is now the property of your company. 

Do you have your elevator pitch ready?  You know, those 90 second speeches you have prepared to give at networking events and run-ins with colleagues.  Did you know, even if you haven’t given one professionally, you’ve probably already given them when trying to explain to your family and friends what you do for a living? 

There are four simple things to include to help you perfect these pitches.  Capturing your audience’s attention by talking about how great your company is doing, who your customers are and what problem you’re solving, how the problem is currently being solved and how you’ll do it differently, and explaining how your solution is the best.  There are a few more steps if you’re trying to attract venture capitalists, but the concept is the same.

Not sure how a strong IT services support fits into all this?  Well, you won’t have a functioning business if all your systems go down due to hacking, or you will lose your customers if your phone systems and website go down, you also won’t have a good presentation to give if you’re staff are not up to date on their software knowledge to put it all together.  Not to mention that most businesses run entirely online, in the cloud, or behind software.  Optfinity offers free assessments to help every business truly understand their demands, needs, and wants to function at peak capacity.

Recently, a terrorist used WhatsApp to send and receive encrypted messages to help plan an attack, and there have been demands by some that there should be a weakening or banning of this type of encryption.  Would this help prevent this type of terrorist communication?  Absolutely not.

Some have also called for backdoor systems to allow our politicians and law enforcement agencies access to this data.  The danger therein is a surrender of our personal liberties and right to privacy.  Not to mention that criminals would just find other ways around these channels, like compiling their own end-to-end encryption messaging system.

We must remember that encryption protects everyone, which unfortunately includes the “bad guys”, and prevents hackers from gaining access to our sensitive data which abounds on the internet.  Every time you make an online purchase or access your bank account, these encryptions are ensuring your safety and security.  Be wary of those fighting to weaken your privacy rights and ensure your systems are set up accordingly, and don’t forget, Optfinity provides free assessments to make your business life a little easier.

There is a new phish in town, and now its targeting iTunes users trying to access their personal information.  This attack is emailed in the form of a receipt which appears to come from your iTunes account listing movies the victim supposedly purchased.

There is a link at the bottom which, when clicked, directs the victim to a page asking for personal information in order to obtain a full refund including credit card numbers, social insurance numbers, and even mother’s maiden name.  It is quite obvious what they can then do with all this sensitive data once it is stolen.

To stay ahead of the curve, be sure you are always reviewing the source of the email, sender’s email address, and the actual URLs of the links being suggested, among other things.  And of course, double check your credit card and bank accounts to see if these charges are, in fact, real.  Once you realize these charges are not even listed on your accounts, it is more obvious that this potentially is a scam.

While this current scam is aimed at our Canadian neighbors up north, it won’t be long till it makes its way down to the lower 48.  Always be suspect of any email asking for you to click on a link.  If you’re not sure all your employees are properly trained on how to look out for these types of scams, Optfinity provides training and testing for you and your staff to prevent security breaches by victimized employees.

WordPress recently released a new version of their software which also included an update that fixed a previously undisclosed critical vulnerability.   If left unpatched, hackers could possibly modify the content of any post or page on a WordPress website.

Initially this vulnerability was not made public in the hopes of staving off hackers; however, it didn’t take long for hackers to strike after the news broke, and it seems over 100,000 webpages may have been the victim of defacement.

You should always ensure you and your company are running the most current version of any software and are constantly downloading the updates provided.  If you can, automatic updates will help alleviate the need to manually check for these. 

Optfinity provides this level of support for all our clients, so they never have to worry about using an old version of any software or not being up-to-date on any security patches.  If you’re not sure of how robust your systems are or whether or not auto-updates are configured, Optfinity can provide you with a free assessment to help you determine how susceptible your data may be.

How to Stay Safe on Public Wi-Fi: Protecting Your Personal Data

Have you ever stopped to think about the safety of the free Wi-Fi network you’re connecting to at your local coffee shop? If you’re like most people, you probably haven’t. But here’s something you might not know—scammers often set up fake Wi-Fi hotspots to steal your personal data. The next time you’re sipping your latte, take a moment to verify that the network you’re joining is actually from the store, not a malicious hacker sitting nearby.

Why Should You Worry About Public Wi-Fi?

Public Wi-Fi networks are a convenient way to browse the web, check your email, or catch up on social media while on the go. However, they come with significant risks. If you’re connecting to a network set up by a scammer (also known as a “honeypot” Wi-Fi), any data you send over that network could be intercepted. This includes sensitive information like passwords, credit card details, and addresses. If the hacker gains access to your private data, it could lead to identity theft, financial loss, and much more.

How to Protect Your Personal Information

Here are a few essential steps you can take to stay safe while using public Wi-Fi:

1. Verify the Network: Always confirm the Wi-Fi network name with the staff before connecting. Don’t just assume the free network in a coffee shop is the legitimate one. Scammers are skilled at creating networks with similar names to confuse unsuspecting users.
2. Look for HTTPS: When visiting websites that require you to input sensitive information—such as passwords or credit card details—make sure the website URL starts with “HTTPS” rather than “HTTP.” HTTPS means the site is using encryption to protect your data, even if you’re on a potentially risky Wi-Fi network. If you don’t see HTTPS, don’t enter any personal information.
3. Use a VPN (Virtual Private Network): A VPN encrypts your internet connection, making it much harder for anyone to intercept your data. This is particularly useful when using public Wi-Fi.
4. Turn Off Sharing: Disable file sharing and Bluetooth on your device when using public Wi-Fi. This reduces the chances of someone accessing your files or connecting to your device remotely.
5. Keep Your Device Updated: Ensure your device’s software is up-to-date with the latest security patches. Regular updates protect you from known vulnerabilities that hackers may exploit.

Unsure About Public Wi-Fi Safety? Contact Optfinity

If you’re still uncertain about using public Wi-Fi or want additional tips on securing your personal data, contact us at Optfinity. Our experts are ready to provide you with advice on how to stay safe online and offer your business a free security assessment. Don’t let hackers steal your data—take the steps necessary to protect yourself today!

By staying vigilant and following these simple precautions, you can enjoy public Wi-Fi without putting your personal information at risk. Stay safe, and always make security a top priority!

Arkansas police are hoping they can use an Echo found at a murder scene, and its recordings, to help with the investigation of a murder.  Echoes only begin recording after hearing the wake word, but background noise/chatter could have activated the device. 

Amazon stores all the voice recordings from its devices on its servers.  As a user, you can delete your personal voice data, but there’s no way to prevent Amazon from saving that data on their servers.  Amazon has said they do not release customer information without a “valid and binding legal demand”.

While this might all not sound like much for the average user, just remember that the Echo could possibly be picking up any background conversations you might be having, including you talking about personal information such as credit card numbers, addresses, social security numbers, or any other self-identifying data.

Be aware of the cache on your Echo and frequently delete those files.  While there have been no cases yet of mass hacking of these devices, you do not want to make things easier for criminals to have access to your personal data by leaving the information on your Echo.  This is especially true if you utilize one at your place of business.