End of Support is quickly approaching for Microsoft’s Windows Server 2008 (and 2008 R2), officially ending on January 14, 2020. When January 14 arrives, Microsoft will end official support with Windows Server 2008, meaning there will no longer be security patches or bug fixes. With the lack of updates and security patches, Windows Server 2008 will become a sitting duck for bad actors to catch up to and establish serious exploits with. End of Support [...]
In modern-day business, maintaining a safe and manageable network connection can be a rather complex task. With Ransomware attacks, OS exploits, and many more vulnerabilities, securing your network requires constant monitoring by trained and proactive professionals to prevent such attacks from being executed. Cybersecurity threats are becoming increasingly complicated and even with trained, professional IT personnel, they can go undetected. With the advent of Endpoint Detection and Response technologies however, the monitoring and countermeasures to [...]
PCI Compliance The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) is a set of security standards designed to ensure that all companies that accept, process, store, or transmit credit card information maintain a secure environment. The security standard consists of 12 requirements that a business needs in order to be PCI compliant. If your company is not compliant then your business may face significant fines, increased transaction fees, and negative publicity. As part of [...]
What is Ransomware? Ransomware is a type of malicious software designed to block access to your company's computer systems until a monetary ransom is paid, usually in the form of BitCoins. There are several different types of ransomware but all of them are designed to prevent you from using your computer until the ransom is paid. In many cases, the ransom demand comes with a timer or deadline and if you do not pay before [...]
Aleksandr Andreevich Panin and Hamza Bendelladj were sentenced last week for developing and selling malware that enabled cybercriminals to steal sensitive data and access bank accounts. Panin received a 9 and a half year sentence and Bendalladj was sentenced to 15 years in prison. SpyEye, the notorious malware that they created, caused $1 billion in losses in the finance industry around the world. Panin and Bendelladj used the aliases Gribodemon and Bx1 online, so you [...]
There have been many data security scares in the headlines over the past year. World companies have been hacked and had customer information stolen. This not only angers customers but breaks their trust in your brand. Even if you already invest in network security, you might need a bit more protection in today's world. Here are five reasons you should take data security for your business seriously: You Could Be Unknowingly Hacked for Years Michael [...]
You may have heard the term "mobile-friendly" a few times if you have your own website. It might seem like another buzzword, but it isn't. The fact is you lose traffic when your website isn't mobile-friendly because users have decreasing patience with ill-fitted sites on their phones and Google penalizes sites in mobile search for not being mobile-friendly. Google's Mobile Algorithm Change During April 2015, Google updated its algorithm to place more importance on whether or [...]
Everywhere you turn, you read about ransomware becoming far too ubiquitous in infecting computer networks worldwide. What's more shocking is when you see the FBI clearly showing exasperation at how to solve the issue. After recently telling victims of ransomware to pay the ransom to get their files back, it shows there isn't any quick fix available. What's more alarming is we're seeing more variations on ransomware developing that use more insidious means to infect [...]
Original release date: July 14, 2015 Systems Affected Microsoft Windows systems with Adobe Flash Player installed. Overview Used in conjunction, recently disclosed vulnerabilities in Adobe Flash and Microsoft Windows may allow a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code with system privileges. Since attackers continue to target and find new vulnerabilities in popular, Internet-facing software, updating is not sufficient, and it is important to use exploit mitigation and other defensive techniques. Description The following vulnerabilities illustrate [...]
Announced today, June 1, 2015, at Microsoft’s Windows blog: “Hello World: Windows 10 Available on July 29” What are the basic facts of the Windows 10 upgrade? Microsoft is making Windows 10 available as free upgrade for qualified Windows 7, Windows 8.1, and Windows Phone 8.1 devices*. It will be available starting July 29, 2015; people can reserve their free upgrade today. As a starting reference, see Microsoft’s Windows 10 Q&A (ß This provides REALLY [...]
