Technology Advisor Blog

You did it. You upgraded to that big, beautiful, high-resolution monitor. Maybe it’s 27 inches. Maybe it’s 4K. Maybe it looked absolutely stunning in the store.

By the end of January, you likely have received your tax return documents with a deadline completion set for April 15, 2026.
With the current time frame of 8-10 weeks to completion, some will leave their taxes to the last minute or engage an accountant for their services. What if we told you that the longer you wait to do your taxes, the more at risk your information falls into the hands of a hacker? In turn causing the big headache that goes along with identity theft and tax fraud.
Hackers have found intricate loopholes to steal your personal and tax information for malicious and financial gain. At Ekaru, our goal isn’t to instill fear when it comes to cybersecurity threats.  It’s essential to understand that anyone can become an unsuspecting victim of a scam. Our intent is to provide you and your business with the essential tools to defend your personal data with peace of mind. In today’s blog, we will discuss why it’s better to get your taxes done proactively.

In January, multiple updates for Windows 11 affected millions of users. These mostly consisted of security patches, bug fixes, AI implementation and a new feature in the mix to improve the user experience for Microsoft users. As we enter a new month, Microsoft has another wave of updates for users that can help improve their security posture, enhance some features and discontinued others.

Just because it is January, does not mean hackers are ceasing their cyber attacks on businesses and unsuspecting victims. This month, we have noticed scams such as stealing debit card information at local stores hitting close to home, sophisticated phishing attempts across social media accounts, particularly Instagram, and Windows 11 updates we’ve observed for users. At Ekaru, our goals are to provide users with the most up-to-date news for cybersecurity locally and across the US, while also providing tips to keeping you and businesses safe.

Have you been in the middle of a significant deadline with complete focus, then all a sudden your desktop shuts down abruptly causing your focus and productivity to cease? It happens to the best of us.

If your email isn’t working today, you’re not alone.

Security updates aren’t the most exciting topic—but they are one of the most important parts of keeping your business protected.

Right now, we’re seeing something that surprises a lot of people: about 13% of the systems in our community need a reboot.  That means critical security updates are downloaded… but not fully protecting those computers yet.

Why reboots matter more than most people realize

Each month, Microsoft releases security fixes (often called “Patch Tuesday”). Behind the scenes, we carefully test critical patches within 24 hours, then roll out additional updates over the following week. This testing and deployment process is a core part of a healthy security program.

Here’s the catch: many of those security patches don’t actually take effect until you reboot.  And we're seeing too many computers in our community that haven't been rebooted in too long.

Even more important, some patches are sequential. If the first update doesn’t fully install because the

Most of us barely notice CAPTCHA checks anymore.

You know the ones - the little box that says “I am not a robot”, or the quick image puzzle before you can move on. The little puzzle may ask you to select the images that contain traffic lights, bicycles, or crosswalks.  We see them so often that clicking through has become second nature. In fact, many people associate CAPTCHAs with extra security, not risk.

But wait - there's more!  While we had a blog discussing Windows shortcuts to boost your productivity throughout the week, we also want to inform you of what’s to come for January 2026 updates regarding Windows 11. To provide an understanding of what’s coming your way, what you can expect for patch security updates, AI powered Copilot, PC features to devices, and more. Our intentions here at Ekaru are to provide our clients, and those searching for their next MSP, with the most up-to-date knowledge on all things cybersecurity and windows applications to ensure you are proactive and aware in the world of cybersecurity.

Though it may be the beginning of a new year, the holiday remnants are evident when it comes to relentless cybercriminal activity. During the holidays, you had to be extra vigilant in managing your finances, buying gifts for friends/family, monitoring any unauthorized transactions, maintaining subscriptions, ensuring purchases came from legitimate websites and gift cards that were not tampered with. It’s understandable to feel fatigued in attempts to avoid being a potential target for cyber criminals. As hackers become more proficient with using AI tools and understanding your fears to enhance their phishing campaigns, the Ekaru team is here to help spread awareness of their evolving tactics, to prevent you from becoming their next victim.