Computer users are advised not to click on links or open attachments in uninvited or unexpected emails and be wary about the websites they visit as security researchers identify hazardous new versions of ransomware. They should keep regular backups of important files and store the backups in a location away from a network. Ransomware is a type of malware that …
The Top 5 Reasons Why Your Business Needs a Strong Firewall
In this age of global connectivity, protecting your business’s assets and data is more important than ever. Almost all businesses are connected to the Internet for a wide variety of services. These include email, search, social media, and cloud storage. While much of this traffic is outbound, the fact is that the same Internet connection also allows inbound traffic. That …
How to Avoid Creating Weak Passwords
You have likely heard that using strong passwords is an integral part of protecting a company’s data. But do you know what makes a password strong or weak? To find out, here is a quick weak passwords quiz: Take a look at the list of passwords below. (The quotes are not part of the passwords.) Which of the following are …
5 Ways That Automation Can Save You Time
Automation of routine tasks with applications is more efficient than using manual tools. Yet most companies rely on manual tools, according to a ServiceNow survey. Eighty percent of the 915 surveyed managers reported that their companies still use manual tools and that those tools cause significant delays. On average, the managers said they spend two days every week using them to …
Insider Threats: How to Counter Internal Cybersecurity Risks
If you ask people about cybersecurity, they will probably start talking about hackers breaking into a company’s computers from hundreds of miles away. However, a threat just as destructive could be hiding inside that company’s offices. This is commonly referred to as insider threats. These insider threats typically fall into two groups. The first group consists of careless employees who …
iTunes Scam Text Messages Spreading Malware
The latest iTunes Scam has been reported. Malicious individuals are reportedly sending scam text messages claiming to be from Apple’s music service iTunes to a large number of people. The message is believed to claim the recipient’s iTunes account has been frozen and asks them to click on a link to ‘validate their [iTunes] account’. However, people who click on …
The Advantages and Challenges of Using Wearables in the Workplace
In the past, wearable computing devices, commonly known as wearables, were primarily used for health purposes. Runners, for example, would use them to track their vital signs as well as the distances they ran. Products like Android Wear and Apple Watch, however, have pushed wearables out of the health niche and into popular culture. These devices are not limited to …
4 Reasons to Use a Cloud-based Data Backup Solution
A solid data backup plan can help your company survive catastrophic data loss. Both cloud-based and traditional in-house solutions can be used to back up data. However, cloud-based solutions have several notable advantages. Here are four reasons to use a cloud-based data backup solution: 1. Cost To implement an in-house data backup solution, your company must purchase all the required …
Security Warning For Older Versions of Internet Explorer
If you are using an older version of Microsoft Internet Explorer, there is an important deadline that has just passed: January 13, 2016. From this date, only the most recent version of Internet Explorer available for a supported operating system will receive security updates and technical support. In other words, you will receive security patches only if you are running …
Unified Communications And Making It Work for Your Company
There’s little question that using Unified Communications (UC) has the potential to sharply raise productivity for any company. But companies have to integrate it into their businesses if they are to get the full value from it, experts say. The growing market for Unified Communications shows that companies recognize its potential: That market for Unified Communications will be worth R36.8 …
How Cloud Service Providers Can Prove Their Data Security Claims
Cloud service providers (CSPs) often claim that their customers’ personal data is secure in their clouds. You can now check to see whether that is the case, thanks to a global standard published in 2014. People often refer to the standard as ISO 27018 but its official title is “ISO/IEC 27018:2014 — Information technology — Security techniques — Code of practice …
How to Stay Safe Online in 2016
Now that 2016 is well underway, you should review how well you protect your family and business computers, mobile devices and information in the new year. Being safe online is becoming more critical with more devices connecting online every day. Criminals are likely to redouble their efforts to make money by gaining unauthorised access to online banking details or other …