508-909-5961 [email protected]

3 Reasons to accept Windows 11’s TPM requirementWindows 11 made a lot of buzz not just because of its new features but also because of its hardware requirements. For one, it requires supported devices to have Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0 chips, otherwise, the new OS cannot be installed. In comparison, Windows 10 ran on TPM 1.2. If your business uses computers […]

The post 3 Reasons to accept Windows 11’s TPM requirement appeared first on Complete Technology Resources, Inc..

3 Reasons to accept Windows 11’s TPM requirement

Windows 11 made a lot of buzz not just because of its new features but also because of its hardware requirements. For one, it requires supported devices to have Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0 chips, otherwise, the new OS cannot be installed. In comparison, Windows 10 ran on TPM 1.2. If your business uses computers and other devices that do not have the appropriate chips, then you may be considering ways to bypass Windows 11’s minimum requirements. In this article, we discuss why that’s dangerous for your business.

What is a TPM chip anyway?

A TPM is a security chip embedded in modern systems that provides a hardware-based tamper-resistant environment to generate, store, and protect encryption keys. Commonly found in the latest smartphones and PCs, these chips supply the cryptographic key that unlocks your machine and permits you to access your data. Should a hacker or any unauthorized party gain access to your device and try to tamper with your encrypted drives, then the chip will prevent the device from booting up.

TPMs are also used by some apps and web services. For instance, Outlook uses a TPM for handling encrypted emails. Web browsers, on the other hand, utilize it for maintaining SSL certificates used to authenticate and create encrypted connections with websites.

Why shouldn’t you circumvent Windows 11’s TPM requirement?

Some users felt that requiring TPM 2.0 on devices running Windows 11 was too restrictive. From their point of view, Windows 10 ran with just TPM 1.2 and it has remained fairly secure. As such, some users have been searching for ways to run Microsoft’s newest OS even on devices without the required TPM 2.0 chip. But even if such methods are eventually found, here’s why you’d be wise to avoid them:

TPM 2.0 is more advanced than TPM 1.2
As is the case with most types of tech, iterations with higher numbers aren’t just newer, but they come with better features too. In particular, TPM 2.0 supports more and newer cryptographic algorithms than its predecessors. This means it can generate keys that are harder to break, making devices that use it more difficult for hackers to infiltrate.

Compatibility issues may arise
Like any software manufacturer worth their salt, Microsoft tested Windows 11 extensively prior to the product’s release and they very likely did so on supported devices. Therefore, running the new OS on devices that don’t meet hardware specifications may result in compatibility issues that can lead to various problems, ranging from glitches to outright failure. In any case, addressing these issues may prove to be more expensive than investing in supported hardware from the get-go.

Microsoft won’t release updates for unsupported devices
The software giant temporarily relaxed some of its restrictions and allowed unsupported devices to run Windows 11 for some time. They made it clear, however, that unsupported devices won’t be receiving any future updates.

Updates are extremely crucial. Apart from helping improve user experience through new features and quality-of-life upgrades, updates also bolster your OS’s defenses against the most recent threats. Not receiving future updates will leave your IT systems and your business vulnerable to cyberattacks.

When it comes to bypassing Windows 11’s hardware requirements, especially if these have something to do with security, just remember this adage: “Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.” If you have any other questions about Windows 11 and how you can make the most out of its features, just give us a call.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

The post 3 Reasons to accept Windows 11’s TPM requirement appeared first on Complete Technology Resources, Inc..

Read More

Learn about distributed spam distraction schemes to protect your businessDistributed spam distraction (DSD) attacks are on the rise, as cybercriminals are banking on the busyness of the holidays to conduct cyberattacks in plain sight. These attacks aim to bury legitimate email alerts such as password change emails and the like. What is DSD? DSD is a type of attack wherein cybercriminals bombard email inboxes […]

The post Learn about distributed spam distraction schemes to protect your business appeared first on Complete Technology Resources, Inc..

Learn about distributed spam distraction schemes to protect your business

Distributed spam distraction (DSD) attacks are on the rise, as cybercriminals are banking on the busyness of the holidays to conduct cyberattacks in plain sight. These attacks aim to bury legitimate email alerts such as password change emails and the like.

What is DSD?

DSD is a type of attack wherein cybercriminals bombard email inboxes with tens of thousands of emails in a short span of time, typically between 12 and 24 hours. These emails don’t contain dangerous links, ads, or attachments, just random excerpts of text taken from books and websites. But because of the sheer volume of these emails, deleting and blocking each one of them can be overwhelming. Worse, the email and IP addresses used to send them are all different, so victims can’t simply block a specific sender.

While these spam messages may seem like harmless annoyances, their true purpose is to draw victims’ attention away from what attackers are doing behind the scenes, which is stealing and using personally identifiable information to conduct a raft of illegal activities. These include stealing money from the victims’ bank accounts or making unauthorized purchases in their name. In a DSD attack, the thousands of spam emails serve as a smokescreen that hides payment confirmation messages.

In other words, if you are receiving an unusually large volume of emails from legitimate-looking accounts, you should act very quickly because the attackers likely already have access to your login credentials.

What signs should users look out for?

Over the years, attackers have developed new DSD tactics. Several reports show that instead of nonsensical emails, these crooks are using automated software to trick their targets into signing up for thousands of free accounts and newsletters to distract them with authentic messages. This allows DSD blasts to slip past spam filters that weed out the email text used in traditional DSD attacks.

Also, anyone can go on the dark web and pay for DSD services. For as little as $40, you can get an attacker to send out 20,000 spam emails to a specific target. All you need to do is provide the attacker with your target’s name, email address, and credit card number — all of which can also be purchased on the dark web.

What to do if you’re experiencing a DSD attack

DSD is a clear sign that your account has been hijacked, so if you receive dozens of emails in quick succession, contact your bank to cancel any unfamiliar transactions and change your login credentials as soon as possible. Also, you should install anti-spam software, or update your existing software if you already have one to protect your inbox from future DSD attacks.

Attackers only initiate DSD attacks after they’ve obtained their target’s email address and personal information, so make sure your accounts and identity are well protected online. Regularly change your passwords and PINs, enable multifactor authentication, set up SMS and/or email alerts for whenever online purchases are made in your name, and be careful about sharing personal information with others.

DSD is just one of many cyberthreats out there. For expert advice on how to ensure your safety and security online, get in touch with our team of IT professionals.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

The post Learn about distributed spam distraction schemes to protect your business appeared first on Complete Technology Resources, Inc..

Read More

How MTD can enhance business securityCybercriminals will stop at nothing to steal business data, and one of their go-to tactics is exploiting the vulnerabilities in employees’ mobile devices. So if you’re looking for a way to beef up your cybersecurity strategy in the age of remote and hybrid working, implementing mobile threat detection (MTD) solutions is a good place to […]

The post How MTD can enhance business security appeared first on Complete Technology Resources, Inc..

How MTD can enhance business security

Cybercriminals will stop at nothing to steal business data, and one of their go-to tactics is exploiting the vulnerabilities in employees’ mobile devices. So if you’re looking for a way to beef up your cybersecurity strategy in the age of remote and hybrid working, implementing mobile threat detection (MTD) solutions is a good place to start.

MTD and malware detection

Mobile threat detection solutions prevent network-based attacks and malware infections on mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops. Since most malware programs are cleverly disguised as legitimate apps, the key to finding and defending against them is to recognize irregular patterns in user behavior and device function — something that MTD tools excel at.

When applied to business networks, MTD solutions can monitor network traffic for suspicious activity, such as invalid or spoofed certificates, in order to stop man-in-the-middle attacks. This enables them to respond to threats in real time while providing insight on the risk level of all devices connected to the network.

MTD and machine learning

All MTD tools are supported by a machine learning mechanism, which allows them to recognize usage patterns and flag any behavioral outliers. MTD solutions are also very scalable, and they are able to monitor dozens of Android mobile devices simultaneously. When one of these devices starts functioning in a way that deviates from the rest, machine learning helps the MTD tool log the anomaly and notify IT administrators.

Implementing an MTD solution

Integrating an MTD solution into your mobile security strategy requires a thorough evaluation of various critical factors, including industry regulations and the sensitivity of the data stored and/or exchanged on your mobile devices. Ideally, your MTD solution should be part of a larger security strategy that allows you to block harmful network traffic and strengthen the business’s overall cybersecurity posture.

Developing strong defenses for mobile devices is fast becoming a critical component in many businesses’ cybersecurity strategies. And although mobile threat detection remains an imperfect means to detect malware, it is far more powerful than traditional anti-malware solutions.

Other benefits of using MTD tools

Rolling out an MTD solution comes with several benefits essential to today’s remote or hybrid work environments. For one, it gives a company confidence in implementing a bring your own device policy. Not only is an MTD solution able to thwart cyberattacks before they become serious problems, it also gives IT administrators critical visibility into the risk level of the company’s mobile workforce. What’s more, deploying MTD solutions makes regulatory compliance a breeze, as it ensures that the organization’s sensitive data is safe regardless of where it’s stored.

Businesses like yours need comprehensive security solutions to fend off cyberattacks, whether on your PCs, laptops, or smartphones. For expert IT security recommendations, call our experts today.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

The post How MTD can enhance business security appeared first on Complete Technology Resources, Inc..

Read More

Migrating a large amount of data to a new device can be quite troublesome, especially if you’re switching from a PC to a Mac. Fortunately, you can do it easily with Apple’s Windows Migration Assistant. Seamlessly transfer your data and get your Mac set up and ready to go by following these steps. Preparing to […]

The post Migrate your files seamlessly from a Windows PC to a Mac appeared first on Complete Technology Resources, Inc..

Migrating a large amount of data to a new device can be quite troublesome, especially if you’re switching from a PC to a Mac. Fortunately, you can do it easily with Apple’s Windows Migration Assistant. Seamlessly transfer your data and get your Mac set up and ready to go by following these steps.

Preparing to migrate data

Both the PC and the Mac need to be connected to the same Wi-Fi network, or if you prefer, you can run an Ethernet cable between the ports on the PC and the Mac for a direct connection. Since newer Mac models do not have an Ethernet port, you may need to purchase an Ethernet adapter, such as the Belkin USB-C to Gigabit Ethernet Adapter or Apple Thunderbolt to Gigabit Ethernet Adapter.

Next, you’ll want to make sure that your PC drive doesn’t have any issues. You can check for issues by following these steps.

  1. Type “Run” in the search bar. You can also press the Windows key + R on your keyboard to open the Run field.
  2. In the window that opens, type “cmd” and press Enter.
  3. In the command prompt, type “chkdsk” and press Enter.
  4. The check disk utility may report that it found problems. In that case, type “chkdsk drive: /F” and press Enter. Note that drive is the letter that represents your Windows startup disk, such as C: or D:.
  5. At the prompt that appears, press the Y key, then restart your PC.

This process might need to be repeated until the check disk utility reports no issues. If you can’t clear these issues, you may need to have your PC serviced before you migrate data to your Mac.

Migrating data from PC to Mac

You’ll need to download and install the Windows Migration Assistant on your PC based on the version of macOS on your Mac:

Once the Windows Migration Assistant is installed on your PC, you can start the migration process.

  1. Quit any open Windows apps.
  2. Launch Windows Migration Assistant.
  3. Click Continue to begin the process. If Windows updates are configured to install automatically on your PC, you may be asked to disable this feature. When you're ready to proceed, click Continue.
  4. Start up your Mac, if it’s not already up and running. If it’s a brand new Mac and has never been booted up before, Setup Assistant automatically launches. If you’ve already set it up, go to Applications > Utilities and launch Migration Assistant.
  5. In Migration Assistant on the Mac, go through the on-screen prompts until you reach the prompt asking how you want to transfer your information. Select From a Windows PC, then click Continue.
  6. When prompted, enter the administrator name and password. Then, click Continue and all other open apps will be closed.
  7. In the migration window on the Mac, a list of available computers will appear. Select your PC from the list, then wait for the PC to display a passcode. That same passcode should show up on the Mac as well. Once it does, you can click Continue on both the Mac and PC.
  8. The Mac will scan the drives of the PC and create a list of information you may wish to migrate. When the scan is complete, select the data you want to transfer, then click Continue. If you’re transferring a large volume of data, the process might take several hours to finish.
  9. When the migration is complete, quit Windows Migration Assistant on the PC, then log in to the new user account on your Mac. You’ll be asked to set a password for your new Mac account.

What types of data can you transfer?

A surprising amount of the data on a PC can be transferred to a Mac. For many business PC users, it’s important to know that transfers from Outlook are only supported for 32-bit versions of the program, as Migration Assistant doesn’t support the 64-bit versions. Outlook users can also run the app on Mac (as part of Microsoft Office for Mac) and connect to the same servers for access to their contacts, calendar, and so on.

Photos show up in your Mac’s Home folder, which is the one in the Users folder with your name. A good way to import all of those photos is to launch the Photos app on your Mac, select File > Import, and then choose your Home folder. The Photos app scans that folder for all photo files and presents them for review before being imported.

If you use either Windows Live Mail or Windows Mail on your PC, both your IMAP and POP settings and messages move to the Mac Mail app. For Windows Mail, People moves to the Mac Contacts app.

Any bookmark you had saved for Internet Explorer, the old Safari for Windows, and Firefox on the PC is transferred to Safari on your Mac. iTunes content like music, movies, and other files stored in the Windows version of iTunes are transferred to iTunes on the Mac. Finally, some system settings from the PC — language and location settings, web browser home page, and custom desktop pictures — are also moved to System Preferences.

Changing hardware and operating systems, as well as updating applications, can be a burden, especially if you have hundreds of workstations to manage. These tasks, however, are vital for growing businesses. If done right, scaling hardware and software can be secure, efficient, and cost-effective. Consult with a certified IT support expert today.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

The post Migrate your files seamlessly from a Windows PC to a Mac appeared first on Complete Technology Resources, Inc..

Read More