Cybersecurity Awareness Month is the perfect opportunity for your organization to refresh employees on creating a security awareness culture. Unsure of how to

1. Host a “Phishing Simulation” Challenge

Create a friendly phishing simulation to test employees’ abilities to recognize and report phishing emails. By simulating real-world scenarios, you can assess vulnerabilities and educate your workforce on how to avoid falling for scams.

2. Gamify Cybersecurity Training with Quizzes and Competitions 

Introduce an element of fun by incorporating cybersecurity quizzes or competitions. Gamifying training helps engage employees while reinforcing best practices. Consider offering incentives like gift cards or extra time off for top performers.

3. Create a “Secure Your Devices” Campaign

Encourage employees to update software, enable firewalls, and strengthen their device security by launching a campaign that focuses on securing personal and work devices. Provide a checklist for employees to follow and think of a few fun rewards for completing it.

4. Share a “Daily Cybersecurity Tip” via Email or Slack

Throughout the month, send out daily tips via email or your organization’s communication platforms. Using gifs/cybersecurity memes can be an engaging way to remind employees of remaining secure.

5. Implement a “Clean Desk” Policy Day

Dedicate a day during the month for a clean desk audit, where employees ensure no sensitive information is left unsecured. This helps enforce the importance of physical security in addition to digital security.

Continuing Security Awareness Past October

Cybersecurity Awareness Month offers a valuable opportunity to engage your team in creative ways that can foster a more secure workplace. However, your cybersecurity journey should continue year-round.

To learn about how OptfinITy can empower your organization with Cybersecurity training & testing for employees, email sales@optfinITy.com or call 703-790-0400.

What is Microsoft Copilot?

Microsoft Copilot is an advanced AI assistant designed to work within Microsoft 365 and across platforms like Windows and Bing, as well as with enterprise data via Microsoft Graph.

Copilot brings the capability of large language models (LLMs) to enterprise environments, where it uses your company data to deliver personalized and more accurate responses for your organization.

Versions of Microsoft Copilot

Microsoft has introduced different versions of Copilot to meet the varying needs of businesses and individual users:

Microsoft Copilot (Free Version):

• Designed for individual or SMB users, this version allows users to leverage AI in Windows and Bing to perform tasks like writing, organizing data, and managing calendars.

Copilot for Microsoft 365:

• Integrates Copilot across Microsoft 365 apps like Word, Excel, and Outlook.
• Can tap into company-specific data such as documents, emails, and chat logs, allowing users to solve problems and create more efficiently.
• Available for a subscription fee of $30 per user per month.

Copilot Pro:

• Offers elevated features, such as priority access to GPT-4 Turbo during high-traffic periods and the ability to generate images using Designer from Bing Image Creator. ,
• Enables users to extract deeper insights from their data and apply AI across more complex tasks.
• Available for $20 per user per month

Is Microsoft Copilot Right for Your Business?

For large enterprises, the productivity gains offered by Copilot for Microsoft 365 could outweigh the costs of its $30 per user subscription.

Larger organizations may also already have the resources to train and scale Copilot for a better ROI.

However, for smaller organizations or individual users, Microsoft Copilot’s free version or Copilot Pro may provide sufficient AI-powered enhancements without the need for extensive customization.

Next Steps

Interested in speaking with a professional about what makes the most sense for your organization? Contact OptfinITy today at info@optfinITy.com or 703-790-0400.

A new malware is tricking users to give away their Google account passwords by locking their browser in kiosk mode until they are forced to log in.  

This attack, while simple, is highly effective by exploiting user frustration rather than relying solely on sophisticated technology. 

The Technique: Annoyance in Kiosk Mode 

StealC’s strategy traps users in Chrome’s kiosk mode, a full-screen mode designed for public or limited-use terminals. Victims are then presented with a Google login screen that looks perfectly legitimate. 

What makes the attack effective is that it blocks typical ways to exit kiosk mode, such as pressing F11 or ESC keys. Users who are not tech-savvy may feel trapped, with the only apparent option being to enter their Google account credentials. 

Protecting Yourself from These Attacks 

Although StealC blocks standard exit methods from Chrome’s kiosk mode, there are still ways to escape: 

–  Alt + F4: Attempts to close the current window. 

–  Ctrl + Shift + Esc: Opens the Task Manager, allowing you to force-close Chrome. 

–  Ctrl + Alt + Delete: Provides access to system shutdown or restart options. 

–  Alt + Tab: Cycles through open applications to exit the locked screen. 

–  Win + R: Opens the command prompt to issue commands like `taskkill /IM chrome.exe /F`, which shuts down Chrome. 

If all else fails, you can perform a power button shutdown. On reboot, enter Safe Mode and perform a malware scan to remove any lingering threats. 

Next Steps 

To learn more about how to recognize common threats to your network, contact us at OptfinITy by calling 703-790-0400 or send an email to sales@optfinITy.com today. 

As election season approaches, most of us already feel inundated by fundraising calls and texts.

A recent SMS campaign aimed at increasing voter registration raised significant concerns about phishing scams by informing recipients they were not registered to vote.

The text sought to encourage voter participation but displayed all the telltale signs of a phishing scam, leading to mass confusion and skepticism among recipients.

The Phishing-Like Tactics of a Political Consulting Firm

The controversial SMS message stated, “We have you in our records as not registered to vote,” and invited recipients to check their status through a provided link.

A deeper investigation traced the messages back to Movement Labs, a San Francisco-based political consulting firm. The firm aimed to target underrepresented voter groups to help them register to vote.

However, their approach—informing recipients about their voter status without verification—mimicked phishing techniques and made it difficult for people to trust the messages’ legitimacy.

Protecting Yourself from Similar Phishing Scams

While the controversial text proved legitimate, bad actors will likely exploit the influx of messages this election season. Here are some tips to protect yourself from phishing scams:

1. Verify URLs: Always visit trusted websites directly, like vote.gov, instead of clicking on links in unsolicited messages.

2. Be Cautious with Personal Information: If a site requests sensitive details, ensure its legitimacy by checking its reputation or seeking confirmation from official sources.

3. Watch for Red Flags: New websites with limited contact information, vague messaging, and requests for unnecessary personal data should prompt caution.

Stay Alert as Election Season Approaches

As a rule of thumb, never click random links from unknown numbers. Remember, you can always register to vote or check your registration status through official platforms like [vote.gov](https://vote.gov).

To learn more about recognizing common threats to your network, contact us at OptfinITy by calling 703-790-0400 or emailing sales@optfinITy.com today.

What are the Benefits of Choosing a Local MSP?

In an era where headlines like “Giant IT Company Buys Local MSP” frequently appear, the Managed Service Provider (MSP) landscape experiences rapid shifts.

These mergers and acquisitions often reflect growth for big corporations, but they also create unique challenges for local businesses and non-profit organizations. Amid these changes, partnering with a local MSP offers clear advantages. This “local advantage” can transform your business.

Personalized Service

A local MSP stands out for its personalized service. Unlike large corporations, local MSPs take the time to get to know their clients, building a strong foundation for long-term partnerships. Reliable MSPs often maintain client relationships for 10-20 years, which reflects their dedication to personalized service and mutual trust.

A Tight-Knit Community

Local MSPs go beyond providing services; they become integral parts of the community. Their understanding of local business needs and nuances leads to more relevant and effective IT solutions. This community connection benefits your business by aligning you with a partner who genuinely invests in your success.

Supporting the Local Economy

Choosing a local MSP brings more than great service; it also strengthens the local economy. Every dollar spent with a local MSP re-circulates in the community, creating jobs and fostering economic growth.

Rapid Response Times

Technology emergencies can lead to lost profits and excessive downtime, making rapid response essential. A local MSP’s proximity ensures that help arrives quickly, minimizing your business’s downtime.

Long-Term Partnerships

Local MSPs build long-term relationships with clients and tie their reputation directly to the quality of their service. Accountability and trust define their business model. Partnering with a local MSP means working with a team fully committed to your success.

Navigating Local Regulations and Compliance

For businesses in regulated industries, staying compliant with regional regulations remains essential. Local MSPs bring specialized knowledge of these complexities, helping your business avoid costly compliance issues

Ready to Experience the Local Advantage?

If a giant company recently acquired your MSP, now might be the right time to explore the benefits of a local partner. Contact us today at sales@optfinITy.com for a personalized consultation, and discover how our local expertise can elevate your business.

In a recent large-scale cyberattack, hackers infiltrated over 230 million unique cloud environments hosted on Amazon Web Services (AWS). In this blog, we break down the details of the attack and give your organization tips to strengthen its cloud security.

How the Attack Unfolded

In this attack, the hackers employed automated scanning tools to search for exposed .env files across millions of domains.

Once the attackers gained access to a compromised cloud environment, they used AWS API calls to gather information about the victim’s cloud setup. This reconnaissance phase enabled them to understand the network’s structure and identify key resources they could manipulate.

A particular focus was placed on obtaining Mailgun credentials, which would later be used to launch phishing campaigns.

The ultimate goal? Data exfiltration. Once exfiltrated, they erased everything from the victim’s systems and uploaded ransom notes demanding payment to prevent public data leaks and offered the possibility of restoring the deleted information.

Strengthening Cloud Security

To prevent similar attacks in the future, organizations using cloud platforms like AWS must adopt a multi-layered defense strategy, including:

– Securing .env Files:

– Implementing Strong IAM Policies

– Disabling Unused AWS Regions

– Monitoring Cloud Activities

– Enforcing Logging and Retention Policies

How We Can Help

OptfinITy ensures that our clients are taken care of and can assist you in the proper cloud infrastructure.   Learn more by contacting us at  sales@optfinity.com or 703-790-0400.

Is Your Wi-Fi Router Putting You at Risk of Cyber-Attacks?

In a recent move, U.S. lawmakers raised alarms about the growing threat that Chinese-manufactured TP-Link Wi-Fi routers pose within the United States.

They focus on whether TP-Link, a leading manufacturer of SOHO (small office/home office) routers, threatens national security due to its vulnerabilities and connections to the Chinese government.

The Role of TP-Link in Cybersecurity Threats

Why do lawmakers feel concerned? This isn’t the first time cybersecurity experts and U.S. authorities have flagged TP-Link routers for their vulnerabilities.

Several high-profile cyberattacks have involved these devices, where Chinese Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) groups, such as Volt Typhoon, exploited known vulnerabilities in TP-Link routers to infiltrate networks and launch attacks.

The escalating threat prompted a court-authorized operation to remove malware from TP-Link routers, underscoring the severity of the issue.

Investigators found malware, allegedly planted by Volt Typhoon, on hundreds of routers nationwide, highlighting the potential for these compromised devices to play a role in attacks on critical infrastructure.

Conclusion

If your office currently uses TP-Link routers, stay vigilant about the risks.

If you’d like a no-obligation technology consultation to identify any vulnerabilities in your network, email sales@optfinITy today to find out if you qualify.

Is your information lurking on the dark web?

A recent lawsuit has revealed a massive data breach, allegedly exposing the personal information of billions of individuals. Hackers reportedly gained access to sensitive data, including Social Security numbers, past and present addresses, and family member names.

This breach has the potential to enable identity theft, financial fraud, and even loan applications in the victims’ names.

The National Public Data Breach

The breach, which allegedly occurred in April 2024, was carried out by a hacker group called USDoD. The group is accused of stealing unencrypted data on 2.7 billion records, including individuals’ full names, Social Security numbers, addresses, and phone numbers.

This stolen information was initially put up for sale on the dark web for $3.5 million.

However, tech site Bleeping Computer later reported that the data had been leaked for free on a hacker forum.

How to Protect Yourself

If you believe your personal information may have been exposed in this breach, it’s important to take immediate action to protect yourself from potential identity theft and fraud. Here are a few steps you can take:

1. Freeze Your Credit: Place a freeze on your credit reports with Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. This will prevent anyone from opening new accounts in your name.

2. Monitor Your Financial Accounts: Keep a close eye on your bank and credit card accounts for any suspicious activity.

3. Enable Two-Factor Authentication: Ensure that two-factor authentication is enabled on all your accounts. This adds an extra layer of security by requiring a second form of identification.

4. Consider Identity Protection Services: Identity theft protection services can help you monitor your information and alert you if your data appears on the dark web.

OptfinITy ensures that our clients are ahead of threats.. Learn more at  sales@optfinity.com or 703-790-0400.

Creating team and department sites on SharePoint for your organization is a fantastic way to foster a sense of community, keep up with important news and events, and collaborate on projects in real time. However, ensuring that your site is user friendly and aesthetically pleasing can improve employee engagement and maximize your ROI.

In this blog post, we are going to cover 5 SharePoint features you may not already be aware of that can take your SharePoint site to the next level.

Integrate Forms/Surveys to Increase User Engagement

If you’re not already using forms in your website pages, you are missing out on an opportunity to collect useful feedback from users. Polls/surveys can be implemented to collect valuable data, or can simply be used to generate a conversation within your site.

To locate the Microsoft Forms integration, navigate to Data analysis and find Microsoft Forms. From there, you can customize the survey/form and see it directly on your site page.

Use People Profiles/Organization Charts to Foster a Sense of Community:

People/profiles and organization charts are two ways to highlight members of your organization directly on your site page. Simply locate the Organization/People icons under the News, People, and Events tab and enter the emails of the people you wish to highlight.

The selected individuals will be directly visible on your site page. You can also customize the section with profile photos, role descriptions, and biographies.

Utilize Co-Authoring to Enhance Collaboration:

The Co-Authoring feature allows you and your collaborators to edit documents/files in real time.

To grant co-authoring access to someone within your organization, simply navigate to the file and right click, then select Share.

Recap Webinar: Mastering Microsoft SharePoint

For more SharePoint tips and tricks, download our webinar Mastering Microsoft SharePoint on demand.

If you have a credit score you wish you could change, it may be tempting to take a short cut – which scammers are counting on. The FTC is cracking down on a new fraudulent practice taking advantage of bad credit scores with falsely advertised credit repair services.

The FTC Case Against Fraudulent Credit Repair Services

According to the FTC, groups like the Financial Education Services, Inc. (FES) charged new customers hundreds of dollars in illegal upfront fees and provided them with form letters to send to credit reporting agencies to fix unfavorable credit scores.

Unfortunately, these do not usually lead to any material changes.

Deceptive practices like these give false hope and prey upon the emotions of consumers. Don’t fall victim – if something seems too good to be true, most of the time it is.

Understanding Your Rights and Legal Options

Some people turn to credit repair companies to help them address mistakes on their credit reports. It’s important to know your rights and understand that:

1. Disclosure of Rights and Costs: Credit repair companies must explain your legal rights and provide a detailed contract outlining total costs before they start working on your behalf.

2. No Upfront Fees: It’s illegal for these companies to charge you before they’ve provided any services.

Report Scams and Bad Practices

If you encounter any issues with a credit repair company or spot a scam, fraud, or unfair business practice, don’t ignore it – report it to the FTC at [ReportFraud.ftc.gov](https://reportfraud.ftc.gov).

By staying informed and proactive, you can protect yourself from deceptive practices and take control of your financial health.