Computerease

Category: Blog

Hollywood Hacker Myth Exposed: All Hackers Are Bad

Hollywood Hacker Myth Exposed: All Hackers Are Bad

When you imagine a hacker, what is the first picture that comes to mind? If you have imagined a dark figure in a hoodie, surrounded by computer screens and week-old pizza, you have been sold a fantasy. Hollywood is the source of stories that keep us on the edge of our seats. It leaves much to be desired when it comes to the truth behind cybercriminals. The hackers we see portrayed in media are unlike the ones who exist in the real world. In reality, some hackers pose a serious threat to individuals, businesses, and organizations and others on the side of the “good guys.” One thing is true for all hackers: their motivations aren’t nearly as thrilling as Hollywood depicts. Fact vs Hollywood: What Do Hackers Want? Hollywood Hacker Myth: Every hacker has bad intentions Malicious attacks have a clear goal: disrupt your business. By breaching your networks, cybercriminals gain access to your personal data and accounts, allowing them to steal money and cost you valuable time. For many hackers, there is no need to strong-arm their way into a secure vault to steal $640 million in bearer bonds. The cybercriminals you encounter every day aren’t led by the likes of Hans Gruber, and you don’t need John McClain to heroically smash through a window to save the business you’ve worked hard to build. There are millions of hackers throughout the world targeting your business and personal devices, but they don’t all belong to the “dark side.” Truth: Every hacker has a different goal One of the most important things to remember about cybercriminals is why they engage in these types of behaviors. Even on the screen, there are hackers working for the good guys. To simplify things, the term “hacker” refers to an individual who uses computers, networking, or other technology and related skills to accomplish a particular goal. For business owners, the goal is what matters most. As cybercriminals have crafted their trade, there is a class of “good” hackers working to prevent the bad guys from succeeding. They are the soldiers on the front lines of this digital war. These IT security professionals are trained to anticipate and respond accordingly to cyber-attacks and breaches. Implementing new protocols, performing regular updates, and ordering penetration tests are a few ways we ensure that you never lose a moment of productivity. As an IT Managed Service Provider, we partner with enterprise-level cybersecurity companies that have learned lessons from good hackers. Industry experts keep up with the latest trends and threats in the hacking world, allowing us to stay up-to-date and to keep your business safe. Don’t fret! This is not a challenge you must face alone. Technology has become a permanent fixture in our world, requiring businesses to invest time and money into securing their infrastructures. As experts, the role of an IT Managed Services Provider is to give businesses the tools and resources to protect themselves against cybercriminals. The first step is knowledge. Don’t let the media and popular culture’s portrayal of hackers fool you. It’s much more involved than a lone operative working from a basement a world away. Working with a leading IT Managed Services Provider helps your business gain the wisdom and protection of the “good hackers” while protecting you from the “bad hackers.”

Read More
Multi-Factor Authentication as A Critical Tool for Cyber Security

Multi-Factor Authentication as A Critical Tool for Cyber Security

We’re often asked, “How can we have a remote meeting?” As an IT Support company, our top priority is always ensuring your tech needs are running smoothly. Through the rapid flurry of companies swiftly restructuring to a digital office scape, it becomes crucial in optimizing your communication skills. A remote work meeting in a virtual medium can greatly benefit your business. The Computerease team knows how incredibly important a virtual work meeting can be for business continuity. We have been strategizing with our community to provide you the means for your regularly scheduled office meetings to be safely arranged in a digital work environment. Where to Start Your Virtual Meetings It can be difficult in assessing the multiple remote conference tools. The choices can lead to wasting precious time comparing what is best for your team. While our team uses Zoom, Google Hangouts, & Microsoft Teams, here are some other notable platforms to hold your virtual meetings: Zoom Google Hangouts GoToMeetings Slack Office365: Skype for Business Microsoft Teams Strengthening & Building Your Team One of the benefits to having a virtual meeting is the chance for developing your team building skills. It’s an important time for businesses that hasn’t regularly explored the realm of remote conferencing. For a small business owner this may be a challenge. Follow this guide for a successful virtual meeting. Your Local IT Support Company Is Here to Help Sometimes connectivity issues can arise. Maybe you’re not quite sure which program to utilize that best suits your needs. Don’t worry. You can reach us at (314) 310-0578 (MO) or (618) 352-5144 (IL) and we will walk you through every step. We’re here to help yo

Read More
Security Alert: Update All Apple Devices Due To Security Vulnerability

Security Alert: Update All Apple Devices Due To Security Vulnerability

Apple has recently published information about two security vulnerabilities that should leave consumers of their iOS and macOS products concerned. Thankfully, updating your Apple devices is a simple way to address this security concern (details below). While the company hasn’t offered many details about the incident, they have reported that WebKit, used to power Safari, Mail, and other iOS applications, is the source of both vulnerabilities. In the first report, Apple notes that the vulnerability could allow hackers to completely access a user’s device, giving them the power to impersonate the device owner. The next vulnerability within WebKit might allow hackers access to download malware onto devices. They recommend high profile users, such as journalists and activists, to be more vigilant following this report. The credit for exposing this vulnerability goes to an anonymous researcher. Users can stay ahead of the security reports by ensuring their devices and software are regularly updated. Currently, 18% of devices globally aren’t up to date, leaving users exposed to a threat that is often difficult to detect. An update is available to iPhones released after 2015, iPads released after 2014, and Mac computers running macOS Monterey. This security patch, and any others that appear in the future, are incredibly important to keeping your devices and data secure. Here’s how to update your devices: For an iPhone or iPad: Open Settings Tap General Tap Software Update If you haven’t done so, you will be prompted to install iOS 15.6.1 For a Mac: Click the Apple logo in the top-left corner of your screen Click System Settings Click Software Updates If you haven’t done so, you will be prompted on install update Monterey 12.5.1 If your devices are programmed to update automatically, these should already be installed. Thus far, there haven’t been any reports confirming that this vulnerability has been exploited, but now isn’t the time to be lackadaisical with our security. These types of flaws, especially when coming from data giants like Apple, are extremely valuable to hackers and other cybercriminals.

Read More
A Password Manager Is Essential for Small Business IT Support

A Password Manager Is Essential for Small Business IT Support

While your employees might think their passwords are unhackable, an entire company’s future can rest on a single compromised password. Underestimating hackers leads to a loss in productivity and can cost a company thousands of dollars, maybe even millions. In the age of social media, hackers have many ways to access your network through your employees. This includes the seemingly secure passwords you and your employees use. Passwords are bought and sold on the dark web every day in a thriving marketplace for hackers. These days, passwords need to be more complex than the street you lived on and the name of your childhood pet. Throwing a “1” or your birth year at the end is not secure enough. The average person has over 150+ passwords, and while it may be easier to use a common password across multiple sites and accounts, one that’s easy to remember, hackers rely on you to do this. Remember, human error is the leading cause for cyber security breaches. The Importance of Security for Small Businesses Every day, there are new reports of Fortune 500 companies being hacked. Businesses like Facebook and Google struggle against hackers as much as small and medium businesses. They lose time and money trying to repair their systems and prevent future attacks. Since these are companies that handle massive amounts of personal data, there are often fines to be paid when user information is compromised. From a distance, it seems like everyone is dealing with the same headache. However, the reality is that these companies have an incredibly different experience from small- and medium-sized business owners. They have dedicated IT departments and a bigger budget for cybersecurity. An absence of these two things makes smaller businesses a prime target for hackers. With the support of an IT managed service provider, small- and medium-sized business owners can rest easy knowing their passwords and networks are safe. The Six Benefits of Using a Password Manager The coronavirus pandemic has changed many things about our world, including the way that businesses operate. Working From Home has been the norm for many employees in recent years, and while this has seen increases in productivity, there are still challenges to hurdle. With many companies considering the pros and cons of permanently working from home, it’s become increasingly necessary for them to utilize various methods to keep their networks secure. Did you know that 47% of individuals fall for a phishing scam while working at home? For hackers, the pandemic is an opportunity to take advantage of your employees. Don’t give them the chance! One way to prevent hackers from gaining access to your employees’ passwords is utilizing a password manager. Here are the six benefits of using a secure password manager: Centralized, encrypted, and secure password storage Organize and categorize passwords with folders Ability to manage all employees’ access rights Automated password rotation Google Chrome browser extension to streamline login Auditing and reporting tools for full password management It’s not hard to see the reasons people become lax with their password security. There are so many tasks and responsibilities during a person’s day; imagine finding the time to remember three, four, or even five unique passwords, each with a minimum of eleven characters. Nearly 81% of cyber security breaches for small- to medium-sized businesses are caused by compromised passwords. Fortunately, with the support of an IT managed service provider and a password manager, your employees and your business are safe from cybercriminals.

Read More

Contact Us Today To
Schedule Your Discovery Call