The Central Texas IT Guy

Web Development Austin, SEO Austin, Austin Search Engine Marketing, Internet Marketing Austin, Web Design Austin, Roundrock Web Design, IT Support Central Texas, Social Media Central Texas

Tag: Cyber Security Page 42 of 48

How To Avoid Security Pitfalls While Staying Constantly Connected

By

On February 15, 2016

In Security

February 15, 2016

In this digital age, staying constantly connected to the internet has become quite important. However, every new technology comes with its own set of security risks. If you do not take the requisite precautionary measures, your device may be targeted by cybercriminals to carry out hacking or malware-based attacks.

Here are some of the tips to avoid security pitfalls while browsing internet on a mobile device:

  • Be Cautious While Using Public Wi-Fi: If you are using a public internet connection or Wi-Fi hotspot, never access any website that requires you to enter sensitive information such as your bank account details, credit card number, password etc. Most hotspots do not use WPA or WPA2 protection, hence, the information you share over these connections is not encrypted. This may lead to session hijacking and all your personal data can be accessed by a cybercriminal.
  • Do Not Follow Links: You should never click on any attachment or link embedded in email from an unknown sender. It may be a malicious code that redirects to a spam site in order to infect your system with a malware or steal your personal information. Instead, manually type in the URL to make sure you are visiting a legitimate website. Also, do not click on ads that appear as pop-ups on websites.
  • Look For HTTPS: If the information shared between your device and the website being browsed is in a plain format, it can be accessed by anyone who manages to breach your internet connection. When you access a website, verify that its URL begins with ‘HTTPS’ instead of ‘HTTP’.  A padlock icon will also be displayed in the address bar which indicates a secure connection.
  • Improve Device Security: Keep all the mobile applications software updated with the latest patches. You can enable automatic updates or regularly check if any upgraded versions have been released. Enable your device’s firewall to monitor incoming and outgoing connections as well as detect any unusual activity. You should also install anti-virus software and frequently update it to stay safe against commonly found malware.
  • Get A VPN: Another way to be safe while on a public internet connection is to use a Virtual Private Network (VPN). It acts as a barrier between your device and the web by routing your traffic in an encrypted format through a secure network. VPN helps to protect your identity and privacy online.

For more cyber security tips, feel free to contact Centex Technologies at (855) 375 – 9654.

Tips For Getting The Most Out Of Your Firewall

By

On January 27, 2016

In Security

January 27, 2016

Firewalls have become a critical component of any organizations’ cyber security program. Though most businesses implement sophisticated security practices, a minor vulnerability at the core can put their sensitive data at risk. In an era of advanced persistent threats (APTs) and other emerging hacking attacks, firewall has continued to be an effective line of defense in most circumstances.

Here are some tips organizations can get the most out of their firewall technologies:

  • Disable Remote Administration: Many routers have the facility of enabling remote administration. This feature allows an external user to administer your firewall settings. Disabling remote administration can make your firewall a lot more secure.
  • Lock Down VPN Access: VPN clients can bring about a lot of security threats as they use unsecure operating systems that are not guarded by firewall. Hence, you must be clear about the data that each VPN user is allowed to access. Avoid giving complete control of the entire internal network to the users. Create a well-defined access-control list to determine different categories of users and the internet services they need to use.
  • Change Default Password: Regardless of how well-configured your firewall is, it can be rendered ineffectual if the hacker is able to crack the password. Therefore, it is important that you change the default password and use a strong one that can’t be easily guessed. The password should be at least 8 to 10 characters long and include a combination of numbers as well as letters. Also, the password should not be used for any other online accounts.
  • Enable Attack Detection: This feature is not available in all network firewalls or may be present with another name, such as Intrusion Detection System (IDS). If possible, ensure that it is enabled so your firewall can detect and prevent common hacking attacks.
  • Keep Settings Consistent: Allowing employees to customize firewall settings can put every computer’s security at risk. When a malware or malicious code breaches the firewall, it becomes difficult to assess where exactly the vulnerability is located. Therefore, the firewall settings should be kept consistent across the company’s network. Even minor changes such as allowing pop-ups or plugins in a single computer system should not be permitted by the firewall administrator.

For more tips on increasing the security of your firewall, feel free to contact Centex Technologies at (855) 375 – 9654.

The Rise Of Cyber Extortion

By

On January 23, 2016

In Security

January 23, 2016

Cyber extortion is a relatively common online crime wherein a hacker demands money to stop or prevent attack on an organization’s website, computer systems/servers or internet network. Since a large number of businesses depend upon internet, cyber extortion has become an increasingly common cybercrime. Most cyber extortionists use malware laden email attachments or spam URLs to infect the target computer systems.

Types Of Cyber Extortion Attacks:

  • Ransomware: This is the most common cyber extortion attack that involves the use of a ransomware to infect an individual’s computer, steal confidential information or encrypt the stored data. The victim needs to pay a certain sum of money in order to retrieve the files. Examples of ransomware Trojans include CryptoLocker, CryptorBit, CryptoWall and CryptoDefense.
  • Denial Of Service: A denial of service attack occurs when a business’ internal network is flooded with unauthenticated traffic that it denies access to the legitimate users. The company’s website may even be shut down for an indefinite period of time. This type of attack primarily targets start-up businesses as they do not have the sophisticated IT infrastructure and security software.
  • Hijacked Accounts: Online account breaches can be quite serious, particularly if they involve financial or social accounts. Cyber criminals are specifically targeting social media accounts as they are not fully protected by the users. In these attacks, the hacker may threaten the victim to erase, alter or leak out the sensitive information until the extortion amount is not paid off.

Tips To Safeguard Your Business Against Cyber Extortion

  • Know Your Data: Understand the type of data your company needs to store and what risks are involved with it. Depending upon the nature and the amount of sensitive information, you should implement cybersecurity practices in your organization.
  • Set Limits: Restrict the administrative privileges for computer systems and corporate network. Limit the number of employees who can access or use the computers containing all the important information.
  • Enforce Strict Password Policies: Educate employees about the importance of creating strong and lengthy passwords for their online accounts. Also, a single password should never be used for more than one account. You can further increase password security by implementing two-factor authentication, wherever applicable.

We, at Centex Technologies, can help you to prevent cyber extortion attacks in your organization. For more information, you can call us at (855) 375 – 9654.

Effective Ways To Prevent Security Leaks In Your Company

By

On January 8, 2016

In Security

January 8, 2016

Your business stores and handles a lot of sensitive data every day. These may include the personal and financial information about your clients, customers or employees. Failure to implement proper security measures can lead to data breaches and have serious implications for your company’s credibility.

Given below are some of the steps you should follow to prevent security leaks in your company:

  • Protect Information: All the information stored on your company’s computer systems should be properly encrypted to avoid unwanted access. Use of removable media should be limited as far as possible. If required, only encrypted data should be allowed to be transferred to these devices. Restrict the number of employees who can view or use the data. Conduct thorough employee background checks and never inadvertently allow temporary or new workers to view confidential information.
  • Good Password Practices: A lot of people make the mistake of creating short and simple passwords, which makes them easy to be hacked by cybercriminals. In order to increase data security at your workplace, set strong passwords for all business accounts. You can also implement two-factor authentication for an added layer of security. This involves the use of a password along with another security element, such as a one-time password, to verify the identity of the user.
  • Outsource Payment Processing: Avoid handling customers’ financial information, credit and debit card details on your own. If you own an ecommerce website or accept online payments, make sure you outsource the task to reputable vendors or payment gateway providers.
  • Keep Security Software Up-To-Date: Keep your computer’s operating system and security software up to date. Use reliable firewall, spyware and anti-virus software and update them regularly. Implement password protection and timeout functions for all the systems. Configure router settings to prevent unauthorized users from accessing company’s internal network.
  • Employee Training: Providing comprehensive security and privacy training to all the employees can considerably bring down the risk of a data breach. Frame a written security policy and make sure the employees adhere to it. Let them know which information is sensitive and what are their responsibilities towards maintaining its confidentiality. Also, restrict the use of computer systems for business purposes only. Do not permit unauthorized downloads and block access to inappropriate websites.

We, at Centex Technologies, can help to optimize cybersecurity practices for your business. For more information, feel free to call us at (855) 375 – 9654.

Cyber Security Trends For 2016

By

On December 28, 2015

In Security

December 28, 2015

The year 2015 was marked by an unexpected increase in both the numbers and methods of carrying out cyberattacks. With an overwhelming move towards mobile and cloud computing, 2016 is also likely to witness certain additional developments in the field of security risks.

Here are some of the predicted cyber security trends for 2016 that need to be watched out by businesses:

Internet Of Things

As more devices become connected to the internet, physical objects continue to be targeted by the hackers. Unpatched security vulnerabilities in smart TVs, cars, wearable devices, refrigerators etc. are likely to be exploited in order to initiate a more sophisticated attack. Manufacturers of Internet of Things (IoT) devices should lay more focus on increasing security instead of including enhanced features.

Attacks Through Apps

Apps have now become the new way to access the internet. A minor security flaw tends to compromise the privacy of the mobile device as well as the entire company network. Also, people store a lot of sensitive information on their phones, such as credit card details, internet banking passwords, social security number etc. Thus, it is important to download apps from credible sources and keep them updated to ensure the safety of your data.

Advertizing And Tracking

Search engines track your search history to personalize your internet browsing experience. Various advertizing networks tend to create a detailed profile of the users which can put their security at risk. Advertizing, a form of cyber-attack, involves disguising spam code into online advertizements that seem to be legitimate and may interest the user. When you click or simply hover above these ads, malicious software may be downloaded to damage data, steal information or take complete control of your device.

UDP Amplification Attacks

This is a relatively new type of DDoS attack that may lead to a large scale security breach in 2016. In a UDP (User Datagram Protocol) based amplification attack, the attacker overwhelms random ports on the targeted host with relatively small requests of hoaxed IP addresses. This causes the host to respond to the victim, which ultimately makes the system overwhelmed and unresponsive to other clients.

Ransomware

There are many malware such as CryptoLocker and CryptoWall that are used to prevent or restrict users from accessing their computer systems. When the malware is installed on a computer, the victim is required to pay a sum of ransom to the hackers in order to restore the data.

We, at Centex Technologies, can help in the implementation of an efficient cybersecurity plan for businesses across Central Texas. For more information, you can call us at (855) 375 – 9654.

© Copyright 2022 The Centex IT Guy. Developed by Centex Technologies
Entries (RSS) and Comments (RSS)