Technology Advisor Blog



DMARC Gets Serious: Microsoft Enforces Stricter Email Rules

Posted by Ann Westerheim on 4/30/25 4:47 PM

Starting May 5, 2025, all businesses - regardless of size - must meet Microsoft’s stricter email authentication requirements when sending to Outlook, Hotmail, and Live addresses. These changes are designed to reduce spoofing and impersonation, aligning with similar updates from Google and Yahoo to improve overall email security.

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Tags: eMail, SPF record, Cybersecurity, email scams, cybersecurity, DMARC





Cybercrime Soaring in the 2020s - Businesses and People at Risk

Posted by Sarah Carroll on 4/25/25 12:35 PM

With the development of generative AI becoming more sophisticated for both positive and malicious intent, it’s no surprise there has been an increased surge of cybercrime happening all around the world.
In 2024 alone, we can see these reflect in the 33% increased losses in the US compared to the previous year 2023. According to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), losses from cybercrime in 2024 exceeded $16 billion, with the top three causes of financial loss stemming from phishing, extortion, and personal data breaches. Important note: When it comes to data incidents, the difference in context is that data incidents are suspicious activity occurring across accounts. A data breach refers to the confirmation of systems being given unauthorized access with malicious intent with financial loss.

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Tags: phishing, Cybersecurity, email scams, cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence





If You've Never Thought of Cybersecurity, You're Exactly Who The Cyber Criminals Want

Posted by Ann Westerheim on 4/9/25 9:26 AM

Cybersecurity and AI have become inseparable forces that create immediate risks to local businesses, regardless of size. Small organizations are now prime targets for criminals who use artificial intelligence to automate attacks, making every business vulnerable.

Major corporate breaches grab headlines, yet the silent wave of cyber attacks on local companies goes unreported, leaving many business owners with a dangerous false sense of safety. Your organization needs basic protective steps that could prevent most attacks, along with cost-effective solutions to shield your business from financial losses and reputation damage. The stakes are high - companies that fall victim to these attacks often struggle to keep their doors open.

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Tags: small business technology advice., Cybersecurity, email scams, cybersecurity training





The Cybercriminals' Playground: Navigating the Dangers of Tax Season

Posted by Sarah Carroll on 3/28/25 12:37 PM

As we embrace the Spring season and the promise of April showers bringing May flowers, we also enter the busy and often stressful time of tax season. This period sees a high volume of sensitive financial information being exchanged as individuals file their taxes in hopes of securing refunds. Unfortunately, it’s also a time when scammers are at their most active, tirelessly seeking ways to deceive taxpayers and exploit their financial situations.

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Tags: phishing, Cybersecurity, email scams, cybersecurity





Beware of the Rising EZPass Smishing Scams

Posted by Sarah Carroll on 3/6/25 4:49 PM

Smishing EZPass Text Message Fraud

If you frequently travel for work around the Massachusetts area (or even beyond), you may have noticed an alarming rise in text scams known as smishing pretending to be from E-ZPass. These fraudulent messages claim that you owe unpaid tolls from recent travel, and they often pressure you to make an immediate payment on unpaid toll bills. E-ZPass recently has issued a mass email warning of its customers. These scams are not just isolated to New England, they have spread as far as California, where their toll system is known as FastTrak.

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Tags: Cybersecurity, email scams, Text Scams





Small Business, Big Threats: Why Cybersecurity Awareness Month Matters to You

Posted by Ann Westerheim on 10/7/24 4:44 PM

Cybersecurity threats create unique challenges for small businesses. With smaller budgets and potentially weaker defenses, these companies often struggle to protect themselves against widespread attacks.  October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month and this is a great time to step up your cybersecurity awareness training with your team!

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Tags: Cybersecurity, email scams, cybersecurity, cybersecurity training





Ransomware - Don't Pay the Ransom!

Posted by Ann Westerheim on 10/26/20 1:52 PM

Ransomware threats are on the rise in recent years, and new threats are accelerating.  This type of malware is extremely destructive as it encrypts the files of infected users and locks you out of your own data unless you pay the ransom, typically in the form of Bitcoin cryptocurrency, which enables criminals to hide.  Its a big money maker for criminals, and as long as victims continue to pay the ransom, the threats will continue. 

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Tags: Cybersecurity, email scams, ransomware





Beware!  COVID-19 Safety emails Deliver Malware Instead

Posted by Ann Westerheim on 5/6/20 5:13 PM

Cyber criminals are working overtime to take advantage of the disruption and confusion caused by the pandemic.  The FBI reports a four fold increase in cyber threats recently and its more important than ever to stay alert, and talk to your team about cybersecurity.  The most common attack vector these days is eMail, and an unknowing employee may click on the wrong link thinking they're getting important safety information.  Think before you click!

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Tags: Cybersecurity, email scams, cybersecurity, work from home





Watch Out for Holiday Gift Card eMail Scams

Posted by Ann Westerheim on 11/20/18 5:02 PM

It's the holiday season and people are busy, and it's also a season to beware of scams.  There are many different scams related to gift cards, and here's a new one we just saw locally. 

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Tags: Cybersecurity, email scams, cybersecurity





Cybersecurity is a LOCAL issue - Massachusetts school district pays $10,000 ransom to unlock its files after cyber attack.

Posted by Ann Westerheim on 5/2/18 3:59 PM

This past week a Massachusetts school district paid $10,000 ransom to unlock its files after a cyber attack.  The Police Chief commented that there is no further investigation of this crime because solving this crime is "impossible". This is unfortunately a sign of the times.

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Tags: Cybersecurity, email scams, cybersecurity, ransomware, cybersecurity





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