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Windows 10 is getting a new update schedule

If you’ve ever had a problem with how Microsoft Windows updates are rolled out, we have some good news. In a recent announcement, the team behind the world’s most popular operating system promised to make updates more consistent and user friendly.

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11 May, 2017 / by Complete Technology Resources / in Windows category
Windows 10 is getting a new update schedule

If you’ve ever had a problem with how Microsoft Windows updates are rolled out, we have some good news. In a recent announcement, the team behind the world’s most popular operating system promised to make updates more consistent and user friendly. Read on to find out what that means for your business.

Windows 10 updates in 2017

In the summer of 2016, Microsoft announced that Windows would receive two large-scale feature updates in 2017. The first of these was released in April and is referred to as the Creators Update. Although many of the new features are far too advanced for the average user, the Creators Update included huge boosts to data security, user administration, and mobile device management integrations.

The next big update is due in September, and is rumored to come with several consumer-level features such as the People integration that was originally slated for the Creators Update. People would allow you to pin contact icons to your start bar to consolidate shared cloud storage, messaging platforms and calendars for individuals in one convenient location.

The future of Windows OS updates

From 2017 onward, Microsoft has committed to sticking to this “predictable twice-per-year” schedule. Along with more reliable releases, the Windows team is also committing to a more reliable support lifecycle. As long as you are running a version of Windows 10 that has been released sometime within the last 18 months, you can be sure that Microsoft engineers are keeping it current and secure.

This is great news for businesses that struggle to keep their servers and workstations updated. Out-of-date operating systems are one of the biggest risks to data security for small businesses, and promising this level of reliability makes it much easier for IT teams to plan ahead.

As trivial as it may seem, keeping all your software and hardware updated is a huge benefit of outsourced IT management. From productivity improvements to security patches, most businesses are missing out on vital features in a number of their services and platforms. To ensure that every solution you’ve invested in is working at its peak, call us today.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

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Warning: Do not install “Google Defender”

With as much as we write about sophisticated malware and security breaches, sometimes the most effective attacks are the ones that prey on human error. In the most recent case, all it took was an email with a perfect imitation of one of Google’s security screens.

The post Warning: Do not install “Google Defender” appeared first on Complete Technology Resources, Inc..

10 May, 2017 / by Complete Technology Resources / in Security category
Warning: Do not install “Google Defender”

With as much as we write about sophisticated malware and security breaches, sometimes the most effective attacks are the ones that prey on human error. In the most recent case, all it took was an email with a perfect imitation of one of Google’s security screens. If you use Gmail, you need to know how to avoid this.

Broadly defined, “phishing” is any form of fraud in which an attacker tries to learn information such as login credentials or account information by masquerading as a reputable entity or person in email, IM or other communication channels.

These messages prey on users who click links, images and buttons without thoroughly investigating where they lead to. Sometimes the scam is as simple as an image with a government emblem on it that links to a website containing malware. Just hovering your mouse over the image would be enough to see through it. But some phishing schemes are far more difficult to recognize.

The Google Defender scam

Recently, an email spread to millions of Gmail accounts that almost perfectly imitated a message from Google. The text read:

“Our security system detected several unexpected sign-in attempts on your account. To improve your account safety use our new official application “Google Defender”.

Below that was a button to “Install Google Defender”. What made this scheme so hard to detect is that the button actually links to a totally legitimate site...within Google’s own framework. When third-party app developers create Gmail integrations, Google directs users to an in-house security page that essentially says, “By clicking this you are giving Google Defender access to your entire inbox. Are you sure you want to do this?”

Even to wary users, the original message looks like it came from Google. And the link took them to a legitimate Google security page -- anyone could have fallen for it. The Gmail team immediately began assuring users that they were aware of the scam and working on eradicating it and any potential copycats.

There’s no happy ending to this story. Although vendors and cybersecurity experts were able to respond to the crisis on the same day it was released, millions of accounts were still affected. The best way to prepare your business is with thorough employee training and disaster recovery plans that are prepared to respond to a breach. To find out how we can protect your business, call today.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

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Mac Malware finds a new way to attack

MacOS has a reputation for being one of the most secure operating systems. But in 2016, its susceptibility to malware grew by an astounding 744% according to one security report. Recently, a new strain of malware was found to infiltrate Macs by bypassing all of its security features.

The post Mac Malware finds a new way to attack appeared first on Complete Technology Resources, Inc..

09 May, 2017 / by Complete Technology Resources / in category
Mac Malware finds a new way to attack

MacOS has a reputation for being one of the most secure operating systems. But in 2016, its susceptibility to malware grew by an astounding 744% according to one security report. Recently, a new strain of malware was found to infiltrate Macs by bypassing all of its security features. Despite having one of the highest price points in the market, Macs’ reputation for being the safest computers remains untarnished, but will the new malware change that?

How the new malware attacks Macs

The new strain of malware targeted at Macs is called OSX/Dok, which was first discovered in April 2017. OSX/Dok infiltrates Macs through phishing attacks, whereby users receive a suspicious email with a zip file attachment. Like all phishing attacks, it contains a message that tricks the recipient into opening the attachment purportedly about tax returns.

Mayhem ensues once the malware is in the system, gains administrator privileges, takes over encrypted communications, changes network settings, and performs other system tweaks that put the users at its mercy.

What the malware does

The malware targets mostly European networks, but it’s expected to spread into other regions. Even more alarming is its ability to bypass Gatekeeper, a security feature in the MacOS designed to fend off malware. This is because its developers were able to obtain a valid Apple developer certificate, which makes the attachment appear totally legitimate. Although Apple has addressed the issue by revoking the developer’s certificate of the earliest versions of the malware, the attackers remain persistent and now use a new developer ID.

How to avoid the mayhem

The Mac-targeted OSX/Dok malware is easy to avoid if you keep your wits about you when receiving zip files from unknown senders -- these files should be treated as high-risk and be reported to your IT team, quarantined, or junked. Whether you’re using a Mac or a Windows computer, clicking on suspicious ads can download and install apps from third-party sources that put your system at risk.

Mac users are not completely safe, and complacency with security could only result in compromised and irreparable systems, ruined reputation, and lost profits for businesses. For this particular malware, a simple act of vigilance may be all it takes to avoid having your Apple computer bitten by bugs. If you want to double the layer of protection for your business’s Mac computers, call us for robust security solutions.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

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Boost your SMB’s social media presence

Many small- and medium-sized businesses utilize some type of social media or content marketing strategy. But since your competitors are possibly using similar platforms, you have to constantly find new ways to make your company stand out. Here are some tips to leverage the power of social media and content marketing to your business’s advantage:

Come up with and implement a media crisis management plan
It’s normal for businesses to go through a crisis or two.

The post Boost your SMB’s social media presence appeared first on Complete Technology Resources, Inc..

08 May, 2017 / by Complete Technology Resources / in Social Media, Tips category
Boost your SMB’s social media presence

Many small- and medium-sized businesses utilize some type of social media or content marketing strategy. But since your competitors are possibly using similar platforms, you have to constantly find new ways to make your company stand out. Here are some tips to leverage the power of social media and content marketing to your business’s advantage:

Come up with and implement a media crisis management plan
It’s normal for businesses to go through a crisis or two. Avoid embarrassing public relations nightmares by having a social media crisis management plan in place and ready for implementation.

Create buyer personas
Social media data is a great tool to gather information about your potential customers, and in doing so, create buyer personas. Buyer personas are comprised of generalized characters that help build an ideal picture of your business in the market. Key demographic information includes age, location, and even reasons for buying and product-related concerns.

Track the impact of your content marketing
When it comes to content marketing efforts like blogging and social media, it’s essential to have a system to measure results. You can measure how these efforts impact your brand awareness by using metrics such as social media reach, brand mentions, media mentions, and branded searches.

Integrate user-generated content on social media
Businesses can utilize social media as a way to interact with consumers. This includes sharing some of their content on your own channels. Not only are user-generated content more cost-efficient, they also shorten the customer’s path to purchase.

Use Hootsuite to manage Twitter chats
A Twitter Chat happens when you use Twitter to talk about a common interest with others during a preset time. It's like an online chatroom where you add to the discussion by tweeting. Efficiently managing tweets and responses is integral. Fortunately, applications like Hootsuite simplifies the whole process. It easily monitors, searches, and saves Twitter Chats onto the Hootsuite dashboard for future reference.

Create better live broadcasts
Livestreaming on social media platforms such as Facebook, Periscope, and Instagram is quickly gaining popularity. Before starting a livestream for your business, take time out to practice and prepare an outline before you roll the cameras. Don’t forget to promote it prior to the broadcast, and make sure you come up with a short and catchy video description.

All small- and medium-sized businesses are fighting for the same thing: the consumer’s attention. Business owners can’t afford to just blend into the background; if you don’t make a good, lasting impression, you might lose out on an opportunity to make money. And if you’re relying on social media and content marketing strategies to help you, make sure you are doing it right. If you have further questions, feel free to contact us!

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

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