How Can Small Businesses Embrace the Cashless Revolution? 

When it happens, you feel powerless. You get an email or letter from a business saying someone breached your data. It happens all too often today. Data breaches happen at banks, online sites like Facebook, and ecommerce stores. Not only that, but governments are also victims. This leaves things like your address, SSN, and credit card details exposed to thieves.  A business getting hacked is something you have little control over. But you can take important steps afterwards. We’ve outlined the most important things to do below. These steps can help you mitigate the financial losses. Change Your Passwords The very first thing you should do is change your passwords. Change the password for the service that sent you the breach notification first. Then, change it for any logins using the same password.  This is one of the reasons it’s a best practice to use unique logins for every site. Many people get in the habit of using the same password in several places. This leaves more than the single breached login at risk. Use a password manager to help you create strong passwords. You only need to remember one to access all the others. Enable Multifactor Authentication (MFA) Multifactor authentication can keep accounts secure, even if a hacker stole the password. Enable it for the breached service. Then, ensure you have MFA activated for all other logins, where possible. MFA is also called two-factor authentication or two-step verification. Common forms of MFA are: Check Your Bank Accounts If payment card details were breached, check bank accounts. You’ll want to watch these for several weeks for fraudulent charges. Report the breach to your bank to have them issue you a new card, if needed. Notify your bank about the 3rd party data breach. This can help keep you from being held responsible for fraudulent charges. It’s good to get out ahead of it. Your bank can then help you with appropriate steps to avoid fraud. Freeze Your Credit Online criminals will often sell breached personal details. These details can enable someone to take out credit in your name. Contact the three credit agencies. They each have ways to freeze your credit to protect you. You can do this right on their websites. The three credit agencies are:  Carefully Review the Breach Notification It’s important to understand exactly how the data breach may impact you. Review the notice you received. Additionally, look for updates on the company website. These are the things you should be looking for: Regularly check the company’s website. Often, they don’t immediately know how far reaching the breach is. You may check back later and find out other types of sensitive data were exposed. Get Good Cybersecurity Protections Make sure you protect your device and network. There are some simple tools you can use to beef up personal device security. These include: Another good protection you can use is a VPN. This helps mask your traffic. It is especially helpful if you’re using a public Wi-Fi. VPNs are easy to use. You can use VPNs for both computers and mobile devices. Be On the Lookout for Phishing Scams Emails are often exposed in data breaches. This means you may receive an uptick in phishing emails. Phishing is very convincing since criminals have AI at their disposal. Phishing emails often are hard to spot from the real thing. Stay ultra-aware of any unexpected emails. Follow best practices to avoid becoming a phishing victim: Make Sure to Update Software & Systems Hackers often exploit unpatched vulnerabilities. How do you get unpatched vulnerabilities? Most times it’s from failing to keep software updated. Make sure to update your device operating system. Update all apps or software on your devices. Update firmware for routers and printers. Update firmware for smart devices.  There are so many updates we need to do with our electronics. Automating your updates is a good way to stay protected. Managed Security Services You Can Count On Managed services can keep you protected at work and home. Need help improving device security? We’ll be happy to discuss our options. Contact us today to schedule a chat about device security. — Featured Image Credit This Article has been Republished with Permission from The Technology Press.

There are many types of malware. One of the most common is called “malvertising.” It crops up everywhere. Including social media sites and websites. You can also see these malicious ads on Google searches. Two things are making malvertising even more dangerous. One is that hackers use AI to make it very believable. The other is that it’s on the rise, according to Malwarebytes. In the fall of 2023, malvertising increased by 42% (month over month). It’s important to inform yourself about this online threat. Knowledge is the power to protect yourself. Especially when it comes to malicious cybercriminals. Below, we’ll help you understand malvertising. We’ll also give you tips on identifying and avoiding it. What Is “Malvertising?” Malvertising is the use of online ads for malicious activities. One example is when the PlayStation 5 was first released. It was very hard to get, which created the perfect environment for hackers. Several malicious ads cropped up on Google searches. The ads made it look like someone was going to an official site. But instead, they went to copycat sites. Criminals design these sites to steal user credentials and credit card details. Google attempts to police its ads. But hackers can often have their ads running for hours or days before they’re caught. These ads appear just as any other sponsored search ad on Google. Google is not the only site where malvertising appears. It can appear on well-known sites that have been hacked. It can also appear on social media feeds. Tips for Protecting Yourself from Malicious Online Ads Review URLs Carefully You might see a slight misspelling in an online ad’s URL. Just like phishing, malvertising often relies on copycat websites. Carefully review any links for things that look off. Visit Websites Directly A foolproof way to protect yourself is not to click any ads. Instead, go to the brand’s website directly. If they truly are having a “big sale,” you should see it there. This tip is useful for all types of phishing. Just don’t click those links and go to the source directly. Use a DNS Filter A DNS filter protects you from mistaken clicks. It will redirect your browser to a warning page if it detects danger. DNS filters look for warning signs. They, then block dangerous sites. This can keep you safe even if you accidentally click a malvertising link. Do Not Log in After Clicking an Ad Malvertising will often land you on a copycat site. The login page may look identical to the real thing. One of the things phishers are trying to steal is login credentials. They can get big money for logins to sites like Netflix, banks, and more. If you click an ad, do not input your login credentials on the site. Even if the site looks legitimate. Go to the brand’s site in a different browser tab. Don’t Call Ad Phone Numbers Phishing can also happen offline. Some malicious ads include phone numbers to call. Unsuspecting victims may not realize fake representatives are part of these scams. Seniors are often targeted with malvertising scams. They call and reveal personal information to the person on the other end of the line. Just say no to calling numbers in online ads. If you find yourself on a call, do not reveal any personal data. Just hang up. Remember, this is an elaborate scam. These people prey on triggers like fear. They also work to gain your trust. Don’t Download from Ads “Get a free copy of MS Word” or “Get a Free PC Cleaner.” These are common malvertising scams. They try to entice you into clicking a download link. It’s often for a popular program or freebie. The link actually injects your system with malware. The hacker can then do further damage. Never click to download anything from an online ad. If you see an ad with a direct download link, it’s often a scam. Warn Others When You See Malvertising If you see a suspicious ad, warn others. This helps keep your colleagues, friends, and family more secure. If you’re unsure, try a Google search on the ad. You’ll often run across scam alerts confirming your suspicion.  It’s important to be smart and arm yourself with knowledge. You can then share this with others. Foster this type of cyber-aware community. It helps everyone ensure better online security as well as get alerted of new scams cropping up. Improve Your Online Security Today Is your device up to date with security patches? Do you have a good anti-malware solution? Is DNS filtering installed to block dangerous websites? If you’re not sure of any of those questions, contact us. Our cybersecurity experts are here. We’ll help you find affordable solutions to secure your online world. Give us a call or email to schedule a chat about online security. — Featured Image Credit This Article has been Republished with Permission from The Technology Press.