Technology Advisor Blog

As I am sure you have heard, this past weekend we experienced perhaps the most extensive cyber-attack yet seen, as computer networks globally, in over 100 countries including the US, were infected by the WannaCry Ransomware.  Hopefully, your company was able to avoid this infection, but don’t relax - additional waves of WannaCry are expected, followed by increasingly more sophisticated ransomware variants.  Ransomware has not only become an increasingly profitable activity, but provides a warped sense of technical accomplishment for the cybercriminals who successfully perpetrate it.  WannaCry is just the beginning, and ransomware infections will continue, becoming increasingly more dangerous and difficult to stop, at the extreme threatening the very survival of your business.  You must now take the steps to protect your business.

A fast moving ransomware variant "WannaCry" has infected tens of thousands of computers in over 100 countries since Friday.  The attack even caused Britain's NHS to cancel surgeries and chemotherapy sessions and left ambulance service in disarray.  

Buying or selling a home can be a very stressful event, but with scammers on the sidelines, things can go to a whole new level.  This past year, Jon and Dorothy Little were all set to close on their new $200,000 home in North Carolina when their Realtor sent an email to the closing attorney asking for wiring instructions to send money to the escrow account prior to closing.  They received detailed instructions in reply, and promptly wired the funds.  At the closing, they were shocked to find that the money was missing.

In a seemingly unprecedented move, Microsoft skipped "Patch Tuesday" this month and announced that patches won't be released until March 14.  Patch Tuesday is the day each month that Microsoft releases their new security patches, typically the second Tuesday of the month.  We kept checking all morning this past Tuesday before sending out our newsletter.  On February 15, Microsoft announced they would not release the patches until March 14.  

It's a New Year - Are you tired of your old phones?

Studies show that text messages get read in minutes, as compared to email messages which may get buried, stuck in spam filters, or just missed.  It's easy to send text messages from your computer.   You'll need the recipients phone number and cell phone carrier (Verizon, AT&T, etc).  Also, make sure you have permission - fees may apply, and your text could also be perceived as spam if its unwanted.

Cybersecurity is a hot topic these days.  We need "strong" passwords, we're not supposed to use the same pasword for multiple applications, and we need to change passwords on a regular basis.  It's hard to remember all the passwords, and especially hard when you don't even know a password exists!   Your email has a password, but its likely you don't remember it because you don't usually need it on a regular basis.

FACT #1: The latest versions of “Ransomware” viruses can sabotage all your data and applications.   In February, Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center in California paid $17,000 in bitcoin to hackers after being hit with a virus.

Data security doesn't stand still!  There were twelve Patch Tuesdays in 2015 and another twelve are planned for 2016.  The updates never stop.  "Patch Tuesday" is the day each month that Microsoft releases their newest security updates, typically the second Tuesday of the month (January 12).  The details change every month, and in January there were six "critical" and three "important" security patches affecting Microsoft Office and Windows. Remember that security patch updates are required for the MA Data Security Law and other industry security compliance standards such as HIPAA.  Also, remember that security is not "set it and forget it".  It's a constantly changing landscape.

We’re proud to support the local community.  The Cameron Senior Center in Westford invited us for a tour and reception last week after donating a digital sign to the center.