Benefits of Monitoring the Dark Web

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The Dark Web is a hub for criminal activity. Even if your business is legitimate, you can’t ignore the Dark Web entirely. This article will explain the Dark Web and the benefits of monitoring its thousands of pages.

The US government created the Dark Web in the mid-1990s for spies to exchange information. It is still visited today by journalists and law enforcement agencies. People in countries prohibiting open communication might also use the Dark Web.

Yet the Dark Web is also home to illegal activity. This is where users can find weapons, child pornography, and counterfeit money. Criminals can also access malware, leaked data, and stolen information (including access credentials).

Bad actors like the Dark Web because it isn’t something you can find on your typical browser. The Dark Web is hidden from standard search engines, and you need specific software, configurations, or authorization to access it. Users also hide their IP addresses and use encryption to mask their identities.

Why Monitor the Dark Web?

There’s a real threat of your business suffering cyber assault. This could result in brand damage, significant financial losses, and intellectual property theft. If your business isn’t monitoring the Dark Web, you won’t know what is on there that could harm your business.

Dark Web monitoring can help you find:

  • compromised usernames and passwords;
  • proprietary company information available online;
  • stolen customer lists;
  • evidence of employee identity theft.

With Dark Web monitoring, you can limit damage to your bottom line and brand reputation. Surveillance can also help you find weaknesses and plan to prevent future attacks.

How Does Dark Web Monitoring Work?

Dark Web monitoring checks chat rooms, blogs, forums, private networks, and other sites that criminals visit. Using human and artificial intelligence, scans search for stolen customer lists or data, staff login passwords, and business email domains and IP addresses. You’re notified if there are any issues. Awareness can reduce the time it takes to discover a breach and address weaknesses.

Protecting Your Business from the Dark Web

Monitoring is the only way to shore up your cybersecurity. Obviously, it’s better if the scans find nothing from your business. So, it’s a good idea to strengthen your cyber hygiene. You can do so by:

  • educating employees about secure passwords and how to spot a phishing scam;
  • investing in password managers and antivirus and anti-malware software;
  • keeping all hardware and software up to date.

Monitoring the Dark Web is not something every business can handle solo. Even though the Dark web is far smaller than the Web you’re on every day, there are thousands of pages to scan.

Our experts can boost your cybersecurity protections and set up Dark Web monitoring. Contact us today at (515)422-1995 to lower your risk profile.

What is SIM Jacking, and Why Should You Care?

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If you play the popular SIMS life-simulation video game, you could think SIM jacking means someone takes over your characters, but the reality is even worse. SIM jacking is a type of identity theft targeting your real-life identity via your phone.

In SIM jacking a bad actor uses the subscriber identity module (SIM) card associated with your cellphone number to make calls, send texts, and use data. This has several potential negative outcomes:

  • Your phone bill goes off the charts with international calling and data usage fees.
  • They might impersonate you by sending texts to scam your friends and family.
  • They can sign up for new email and social media accounts using your phone number.

Most importantly? They can use your phone number and SIM card to sign into your personal accounts. Many of us use text messaging for authentication. That’s when a site, say your bank, sends a code to your phone to confirm it’s you.

Now, imagine the criminal has access to your bank account through a leaked password. Whereas they couldn’t get in before because of two-factor authentication, they now have your SIM card, too. That means the SMS to authenticate your account also goes to them. They’re in, and you’re out.

How Does SIM Jacking Work?

Typically it starts, as so many cyberattacks do, with phishing. You might get a text or email that looks like it is from the cellphone carrier that asks you to click on a link. It might tell you there’s been suspicious activity on your account or that your bill is past due. It’s usually something that will make you anxious and feel the need to act urgently.

You’re taken to a fake website where you provide your name, address, cell phone number, and date of birth. With the right information, the scammer contacts your phone carrier and asks for a new SIM card. Once they have that in hand, they access your account and take over your cellphone. If they pair that with leaked credentials, they can really do damage.

If you’ve been SIM jacked, you’ll find out after the fact. You will no longer have a signal connection, so you won’t be able to send texts or make or receive calls. You may also have difficulty signing into the hacked accounts.

If you do think you’ve been SIM jacked, contact your carrier ASAP. Also, change your passwords and let your friends and family know. Otherwise, they might fall victim to a malware attack that appears to come from you.

Protect Yourself from SIM Jacking

Be careful with your personal information. Be wary of any requests to share your sensitive information online. Avoid taking action based on text messages or emails from people you don’t know and trust.

Protect yourself by using an authentication app such as Google Authenticator or Authy. Do this instead of using text messages to authenticate yourself online.

Always update the applications on your smartphone. Yes, it seems like there are constantly new updates, but they can be protecting you from vulnerabilities.

You might also get a request to restart your phone. This is a common sign your SIM card has been hacked. If you do it, you’ll lose control of your SIM card. So, call your carrier first.

It’s also a good idea to regularly review your phone bills for any charges that you don’t recognize.

Want to protect your online activity? Our IT experts can help update your applications and identify any vulnerabilities. Contact us today at (515)422-1995.

What Does a Data Breach Look Like

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Part of the problem with a data breach is that your business doesn’t know about it until it’s already happened – sometimes well after. Knowing the signs of a data breach can help you mitigate the damage.

Don’t get complacent about cybersecurity. There are many things competing for your attention. But cyber vulnerabilities can mean unexpected downtime, as well as loss of data or money, and more.

Of course, you’re already installing firewalls and securing all remote entry points. You’re updating your antivirus tools and software regularly. Plus, you’re keeping strong passwords and educating employees about social engineering.

Still, bad actors can attack. Be vigilant about looking for these common signs of a potential breach.

Computer slows down

If your computer appears to be taking longer than usual to do what you ask, pay attention. You may not be imagining it. This, or frequent crashes or screen freezes, could be a sign of malware. Unwanted viruses may be monitoring your activities, corrupting files, and consuming device resources.

A slow network is another indicator of compromise, as is losing control of your computer’s mouse or keyboard. Malware takes substantial network bandwidth and can slow computers and connected devices.

Passwords don’t work

You have set passwords or you’re working with passphrases. You know what you set as your access credential, but it’s no longer working. This could mean cybercriminals have taken control of your accounts and changed the passwords.

Emails back from contacts

If you’re getting emails from your vendors or customers responding to messages you didn’t send, that’s a bad sign. Either you’re overworked and forgetting what you sent, or hackers have taken over your inbox and are using your address to send messages. They might masquerade as you to send fake invoices or request access credentials.

Unknown files appear

It is not a good sign when files that you don’t recognize appear on your screen or in Task Manager. Installing malware often downloads extra files onto the target machine. So, new files you didn’t add could mean an attack has occurred.

Also, be wary if file names change or the desktop icons look different. Monitoring for changes can help you react before a large amount of data is compromised.

Ransomware request

This one’s obvious, but we can’t fail to mention it. If your accounts are locked or you face a screen you can’t get past, you may be a ransomware victim. When someone offers you an encryption key to access your accounts or files, it’s definite.

Help prevent a ransomware infection by keeping your operating system up to date. Also, avoid installing any software without knowing exactly what it is or what it does. Additionally, you’ll want to regularly back up your files. That way, if attacked, the damage may be less significant.

With 90% of small businesses impacted by cyberattacks, you can’t afford to ignore any of these symptoms. The best protection is to prevent any infiltration in the first place. Ensure you have the necessary protection in place. Contact us today at (515)422-1995!

What You Need to Know About Browser Extension Risks

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With “Googling it” now a common expression, it’s safe to say you do a lot online. To do it all you’re using a Web browser (such as Chrome, Edge, Firefox, etc.). To do it all more efficiently or effectively, you could be using browser extensions, but this article is going to warn you against doing so.

To clarify, browser extensions are code add-ons that you connect to your browser. You can use them to personalize your surfing experience, and they accomplish many different things, including:

  • saving time (e.g. Scribe, Evernote, StayFocusd);
  • checking your grammar (e.g. Grammarly);
  • managing your passwords (e.g. Keeper, LastPass);
  • securing your online activity (e.g. DuckDuckGo, Ghostery)

Even though we’ve just said they can help secure your online activity and manage your passwords, the problem is that they are also risky.

Consider the fact that we said this represents added code. Now, how much coding do you know? Most will say “not a lot.” That means you’re blindly trusting that browser extension.

If you download a malicious one, that code can wreak havoc. Suddenly, your default search engine gets changed, or you get redirected to a start page with malware on it. You might face an onslaught of pop-ups or ads. They can also track your browsing history without you knowing it.

That’s just the beginning

Many browsers today want to keep you safe from malevolent extensions. They’ll have permissions in place before allowing access. Yet you still end up giving that extension a lot of access. For example, an extension modifying google.com needs access to all your Google activity. That means your Gmail, too.

Browser extensions access everything you’re doing online. So, a malicious extension could also function as a keylogger capturing passwords or credit card details.

A browser extension can also be sold to or hijacked by a bad actor. Then, it’s easy enough for them to push out an update that turns your trusted extension into malware.

What to do about this issue

Does this mean you should do without browser extensions? There are even browser extensions out there to block other browser extensions, but abstinence from extensions is not your only solution.

Instead, we’d recommend reviewing the safety and credibility of that extension. This means you should:

  • Check to see who published the extension.
  • Look at the reviews. A high number of positive reviews is a good sign. Thousands of people are unlikely to give five stars to a malicious extension.
  • Pay attention to the permissions required. If an extension claims to modify only one website, check that it accesses that site only.
  • Protect yourself with a good antivirus solution.
  • Keep your antivirus solution and other software updated.

It’s also easier to stay safe by limiting the number of installed extensions you use. If you have browser extensions that you aren’t using, uninstall them. This can cut your exposure to potential threats.

Another way to secure your online activity? Work with our IT experts. We can check permissions and review your extensions. We’ll also ensure your antivirus and software are up to date. Contact us today at (515)422-1995.

Improve Your IT budget Forecasting

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As the year comes to a close, you have to write the IT budget and spending benchmarks. You must understand the current IT infrastructure and forecast technology needs. This article shares three key areas to improve forecasting and maybe save budget too.

#1 Unexpected IT expenses

First, it helps to identify where you are blowing your IT budget. Often IT budget inaccuracies can be traced back to unexpected tech expenses. Repairs, replacements, and unanticipated upgrades can all throw your budget out of whack. Unfortunately, emergency repairs and last-minute technology improvements are the most costly.

But without a crystal ball, you can’t predict what’s going to happen, right? Still, you can make a plan that allows you to avoid wasting money on the break-fix model. Partnering with a managed service provider (MSP), you will typically pay a set monthly fee. Then, if something does go wrong, you have IT experts at the ready to address the issue.

Plus, a good MSP will work to determine the expected life cycles of your tech assets. That way, you can anticipate hardware or software upgrades and budget accordingly. Further, your MSP should work proactively to prevent unexpected downtime. They can help protect you from cyberattacks and keep software and hardware updated and patched.

#2 Bloated IT infrastructure

Overlapping and wasted resources are another big IT budget drain. You could be paying for many devices that do the same thing, or you may be continuing to license software that your team no longer uses. Or it may be software that everyone uses, and you could be getting a much better deal. You might also be paying for tech you haven’t upgraded, so you aren’t getting the full return on your investment.

An MSP can help identify these kinds of issues. Bringing in an IT expert provides an objective view of your infrastructure. They can suggest performance improvements and streamline processes. They may also suggest subscriptions or other packages that can help you save funds.

#3 IT and business misalignment

The plan is always to build a budget for an IT strategy that helps achieve business goals. Yep, doing so depends on your tech know-how and good communication.

Further, tech-business alignment has grown more difficult as infrastructure has changed, plus, the workforce is now more distributed. The business could have on-premises technology as well as cloud-based software. Employees could be bringing in their own devices and/or working remotely. As a result, business tech needs to be doing more. Plus, it needs to keep up with rapid evolutions and cybersecurity threats.

Yet investing in IT-business alignment improves budgets, and benefits workers and customers. Potential advantages include:

  • reduced digital friction;
  • improved user experience;
  • greater customer engagement;
  • cutting costs;
  • improving productivity;
  • gaining visibility of business processes;
  • faster delivery times and speed to market;
  • growing your competitive advantage;
  • driving innovation.

Work with an MSP to bridge business acumen and IT expertise. Then, you can better calculate the financial impacts (costs and ROIs) of your IT plan.

Need help understanding IT budget pitfalls and spending benchmarks? We can help plan for tech spending supporting your business objectives going forward. Contact us at (515)422-1995.

Avoid Holiday Hoodwinks

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The holidays are busy. We’re trying to get work done to have some fun, and we’re hosting family and friends. Plus, parents that have the holiday Elf tradition must remember to move the doll every night. It’s a lot, and it can make us more likely to fall for scams that can lead to data theft.

Hackers like to take the path of least resistance. Why work harder than they have to for their ill-gotten gains? Instead, they’ll use social engineering to get you to give them your data or download their malware. Look out for these top holiday scams.

Parcel delivery scams

More people are expecting packages this time of year. Bad actors take advantage of this with what’s called a smishing scam. It’s a particular type of scam using text/SMS messaging. You get a message from a known service telling you a delivery needs rescheduling, or that there’s an outstanding fee that needs to be paid.

Recipients, who are already expecting a package, are quick to fall for the request. Clicking on the message link, they enter personal information or download malicious software.

Tip: Go to the source of the package you’re expecting and see what they’re saying about your package delivery.

E-card scams

Another common holiday season scam takes advantage of our enthusiasm for money. Scammers send e-cards to your email. When you click on the link, you’ll download a virus or other malware (e.g. ransomware).

Tip: Check the credibility of any e-card sender before downloading the “gift.”

Christmas hamper scams

Everyone wants to be a winner, but don’t fall for the scammer calling or emailing to say you’ve won a Christmas hamper. They’ll claim to be from a legit organization and have some of your personal information already. That helps them make it all seem genuine. Then, they’ll ask for you to provide more personal details to collect your prize or gift.

They may ask only for your full name, address, and phone number (if the request was emailed). They’ll be collecting this information for a more focused attack in the future.

Tip: Use strong passwords and be careful about what personal details you put on social media.

Fake websites

Many people shop sites that are unfamiliar to them at this time of year. Grandparents (even parents) know nothing about that latest trendy shop! Bad actors will set up fake sites offering gifts and services. They’re looking to get your personal details and money.

Tip: Prefer secure website addresses starting with “https” and displaying a locked padlock.

Shopping scams

Every season has its in-demand items. Scammers take advantage of this and set up ads for amazing deals on those items. Desperate to get this year’s toy for your toddler, you might be hooked. Or they’ll ensure people click on their ads by offering ridiculous deals. If you do get the item purchased via these ads, it’s likely to be a sub-par counterfeit.

Tip: Shop with retailers you know and trust.

Bank scams

This scam operates year-round, but bad actors have an edge in the holiday season when people spend more. Fraudsters typically call, text, or email as your bank having noticed suspicious activity. They get you feeling anxious and then urge you to take action (e.g. click a link or share personal details) to address the issue.

Tip: Remember that banks never use unsolicited calls to ask for personal details, pressure you to give information, or tell you to move your money to a safe account.

Protecting yourself this season

The tips shared throughout this article will help. At the same time, setting up password managers and antivirus software can also be useful. We can help you secure your online activity year-round. Contact us today at (515)422-1995.

5 Questions Execs Need to Ask about Cybersecurity

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Cybersecurity is a constantly changing field. A new technology is developed to keep criminals at bay, but soon after, bad actors find a way around it. As a business leader, you have a lot to manage, but don’t overlook the importance of managing cybersecurity risks, too. Asking these five questions prioritizes keeping data and systems protected.

You already know the importance of protecting data. Leaked or stolen personal information can be devastating for your business reputation, but there’s so much more involved with cybersecurity. Your employees may be working from home more, which means you have remote equipment to manage. You could have Internet of Things endpoints, and automatic ordering and fulfillment adds more points of entry to secure.

Execs need to know what is being done to identify, protect, and detect. Plus, they should have a good idea of how the business is set up to respond and recover. These five questions can help you manage cybersecurity efforts.

#1 What assets and entry points do we have that need protection?

You need to have a full inventory of what you have to protect; otherwise, you can’t expect your cybersecurity to be effective. Determine what needs monitoring and management, as well as your priorities.

Asset inventory management helps ensure all licensing and manufacturer upgrades are current. This keeps your tech patched against the latest known threats.

#2 How are we securing our technology?

Taking a multi-layered approach is best. Besides antivirus software, your business also needs firewalls (even many firewalls). Still, it doesn’t stop there. You can also take advantage of:

  • identity and access management tools;
  • encryption;
  • vulnerability scans;
  • penetration testing;
  • employee training in defending against cyberthreats.

#3 How do we detect problems?

Be proactive about detecting incidents. Many breaches are not immediately detected, which makes the damage worse. Build capabilities to identify any vulnerabilities before the bad guys do.

Most antivirus software detects malware, spyware, ransomware, and more. You’ll get an alert of a risk and be able to cut the risk. You can also collect and analyze security logs to help identify potential threats.

#4 What is our plan in the event of an incident?

Few of us think at our best in crisis situations. It’s much better to anticipate the worst and think ahead. Leadership can make a plan to respond to ransomware, establish a disaster plan, and consider business continuity. You can also determine everyone’s roles and responsibilities. Learn who needs to be alerted, and decide who will do so. It all helps you get back to business as usual more effectively.

Once you have business recovery plans in place, test them. For instance, you don’t want to wait until a cyber incident to learn that your data backup wasn’t working.

#5 What are we doing to create a cybersecurity culture?

You may think about company culture as mission and values. That influences hiring, employee engagement, and business success. Yet you can also encourage an environment that motivates cybersecurity behaviors. Help your team members understand they have a role to play in championing security.

You might establish a cybersecurity culture by:

  • asking these five questions;
  • encouraging regular backups;
  • discouraging people from downloading software without prior approval;
  • establishing a bring-your-own-device policy;
  • educating employees about threats;
  • communicating who employees can contact if they suspect malware or phishing.

The more you know

Learning more about cybersecurity can only help your business. A managed service provider is a great resource for answers to these questions. Partner with us today by calling us at (515)422-1995.

Boss Level: Cybersecurity and Online Gaming

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Do you remember Pong? Or Galaga? Games such as these are now the stuff of old-school arcades. The graphics may have been a far cry from what you’ll see today, but there’s one advantage those games had: there were no cybersecurity worries when playing them. After all, they weren’t online like today’s gaming.

Online video gaming is meant to be fun. Yet, regrettably, there are risks once you connect to the internet. Your gaming account has value to cybercriminals. They might target your account to:

  • use your connected real-world money account to make in-game purchases;
  • steal virtual valuables which have real-world cash value;
  • trade your in-game items to their accounts;
  • sell your account to others;
  • scam others using your legitimate account.

These are not hypotheticals. One cybersecurity firm researching gaming found that the typical gamer has experienced an average of almost five cyberattacks. Worse, they didn’t detect it.

It doesn’t help that the games themselves make it easier for hackers. Take Fortnite. There are 100 players in one wave. Their usernames display right there on the screen when Scammer72 goes for the kill shot. In other games, bad actors might access usernames by going to the game’s high-score listings. Plus, this gives them an idea of who might have the most valuable account inventory.

Level up your gaming security

There are several steps you can take to game more safely. One is going to be familiar: use strong passwords. As with any of your online accounts, set up complex passwords or use a passphrase that’s difficult to hack.

Also, don’t reuse a password you’re using elsewhere. That amplifies the risk of account breach when another account’s credentials leak.

You can also enable multi-factor authentication. Many gaming platforms allow you to set up layers of protection. For instance, you would enter not only your username and password but also a code sent to your personal device or your email. This makes it more difficult for a hacker to get in. They need access to your physical technology or more than one of your accounts at once.

Finally, be wary of malware and phishing attempts. This could be an official-looking communication apparently from the game manufacturer or support. Or you might fall prey to a scammer via in-game messaging or chat. You might think it’s a user you know, but their account may be hacked. Or you make a new “friend” online who does not have good intentions. Keep best practices for any online activity in mind. Don’t click on links without first verifying the source.

We want you to be able to escape into video gaming for fun without worry. Ask our IT experts to review your security. We can check you’re not going to become the victim of a heist because you wanted to play Grand Theft Auto. Contact us today at (515)422-1995.

How to Improve Your Data Management

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Data drives business today and losing it can be disastrous. Yet there are so many data risks challenging your efforts. These tips to improve your data management can help.

Anyone can accidentally delete data. There are many other ways you might also lose business data:

  • loss or theft of a USB drive or other portable device;
  • hardware failure;
  • a ransomware attack;
  • a data breach.

Proper storage and protection of your data needs to be an ongoing, daily practice. You can’t just set up a process and trust that it works. Effective management of how and where you save your files can help you use data to boost your business.

Know what data you have

Data management begins with understanding what data your business generates. Identify what kind of data you collect to ensure you are effectively storing and securing it. This way, you’ll also be able to use data to identify opportunities and improve efficiency.

Have a process for storing data

Consistency matters. Establish strong storage practices to better manage the quintillion bytes of data your business generates daily.

You might develop a naming format using the YYYY-MM-DD system. Standardization is especially important if international clients use a different date system.

Create a folder for currently active projects and another for archiving dormant projects. This not only helps with clutter but can help streamline your data backup. Ongoing work can be backed up by the hour, whereas archived data might be checked to see if it’s changed every two weeks.

Follow best practices for securing data

Your business likely has firewalls in place to secure on-premises infrastructure, but data is increasingly mobile. Employees might move data on thumb drives or have it on their mobile phones or laptops. This isn’t safe from loss, damage, or theft without encryption, password protection, and data backup.

Consider using the cloud to store data. A solution such as Microsoft365 allows teams to access and collaborate on files online. At the same time, you don’t have to worry about having multiple versions of the same file. You also don’t need to move data on portable devices. Your people can access the cloud data from wherever they are, on any device.

Make sure you are compliant

Data management regulations in your country may differ from countries where you do business. For example, if you sell to companies in Europe, you need to comply with its Global Data Privacy Regulations (GDPR). In the United States, rules can vary across states. Research data privacy and data protection regulations everywhere you operate.

Build in accountability for data management

Put someone in charge of data management. You need trained and experienced staff to manage data (compliant with privacy practices). The person or team responsible needs to know data quality and protection essentials.

Work with data management experts

As the volume of data grows, its management can get more complicated. Our experts have the skills to manage data and ensure the best data-handling practices. Contact us at (515)422-1995.

Common Cybersecurity Myths Debunked

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In many areas of our lives, there are myths that we accept as fact. Some of these are actually quite dangerous: believing that lightning never strikes in the same place twice could be fatal. Similarly, there are cybersecurity myths that demand debunking to keep your business safe.

#1 “I’m too small to be attacked.”

Any size of business, in any industry, can be the target of a cyberattack. In fact, hackers often hit smaller businesses because they lack the necessary protection. Also, a small business is more likely to pay a ransom, because it can’t recover otherwise.

Plus, small businesses can be the first stepping stone in a supply-chain attack. After getting into your systems, they might send a fake invoice from you to the larger target. The enterprise client, trusting your credibility, opens the attacker’s malware. Or hackers can use your vendor credentials to gain access to the enterprise network.

#2 “Antivirus software is all I need.”

If only it were that easy. You need antivirus software, but you can’t protect all your IT infrastructure with one tool. To detect and defend, you’ll need a comprehensive cybersecurity plan. Combine employee security awareness training with physical security measures, and put in place many layers of network and device defense, too.

Then, keep everything patched and updated. That makes sure you’re leveraging what experts know about the evolving threat environment.

#3 “Cybersecurity is IT’s job, not mine.”

You may have an internal IT department you count on to handle cybersecurity. Many businesses also contract with a managed service provider (MSP) to keep them safe. These IT teams will work to secure your infrastructure and protect your data. They will put systems in place to detect threats and identify vulnerabilities. They can ensure appropriate data backup and do disaster recovery planning.

Still, IT experts (whether internal or external) are only one player in the battle. Your employees remain a weak link. They are the ones that may inadvertently download malware, fall for social engineering scams, or use easily guessed access credentials.

Your business needs to educate all employees about online safety and cybersecurity threats. Then, it’s everyone’s job to be aware and work to reduce risks to your business.

#4 “Too much cybersecurity will hurt our productivity”

This won’t be true if you set up effective security policies and protocols. Add regular monitoring and authentication tools that provide security without adding friction for employees.

In fact, enhanced cybersecurity can actually help your productivity. It frees people up to work on other important business with less worry.

Avoid a false sense of security

Trusting any of these myths can leave your business vulnerable to attack. A data breach or IT downtime can be devastating. Don’t risk the worst. Instead, work with IT experts to handle your cybersecurity, backups, compliance, and more. Contact us today at (515)422-1995.

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