Tag Archive for: phishing

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Think you can spot a phishing email?

This new trick is harder to catch.

Many people are getting better at spotting phishing attacks from outside sources. But what if the attack appears to come from within your own company? A recently discovered vulnerability in Microsoft 365 is being used to bypass traditional security, making it easier than ever for hackers to send you convincing fake emails that slip past your defenses.

The sneaky trick, explained

At the heart of this new threat is a Microsoft 365 feature called Direct Send. It was created for a simple, helpful reason: to allow internal office devices, such as printers and scanners, to send you emails — such as a scanned document — without needing to log in with a password. This feature is designed for convenience and is intended only for internal use.

However, this convenience has created a security loophole. Because Direct Send doesn’t require authentication, hackers have found a way to exploit it to send phishing emails without needing to steal a single password or compromise any accounts. All they need is a few publicly available details and some guesswork to figure out your company’s email address format.

Once an attacker has a valid internal email address, they can use the Direct Send system to send emails that look like they’re from someone inside your organization. And because these emails are routed through Microsoft’s own infrastructure and appear to be internal, they often bypass the very security filters designed to catch suspicious messages.

In a recent campaign that affected over 70 organizations, attackers used this method to send fake voicemail notifications containing malicious QR codes, which tricked users into visiting websites that stole their Microsoft 365 credentials.

What you can do: Stay alert

While the technical fix is up to your IT team, everyone can help prevent these attacks by being cautious.

  • Be suspicious of the sender – Even if an email looks like it’s from a coworker, be wary if the request is unusual.
  • Question internal notifications – Employees are used to seeing notifications from scanners and printers, so they rarely question their authenticity. Think twice before opening attachments or clicking links in automated messages.
  • Beware of QR codes – Be very careful about scanning QR codes you receive in emails, as they may lead you to malicious websites.
  • Report, don’t reply – If you see a suspicious email, report it to your IT department immediately.

For your IT department: The technical fix

This attack exploits a misconfiguration, not an impossible-to-stop, zero-day threat. Your technical team can take several steps to shut this vulnerability down.

  • Implement strict policies – Enforce strict DMARC and anti-spoofing policies to make it harder for fakes to get through. You should also enable “SPF hardfail” in Exchange Online Protection.
  • Disable or reject Direct Send – Microsoft is working to disable Direct Send by default. In the meantime, you can enable the “Reject Direct Send” setting in the Exchange Admin Center to block this type of attack.
  • Flag unauthenticated mail – Set up rules to flag any unauthenticated internal emails for review.
  • Secure your devices – Treat all network-connected devices, such as printers and scanners, as fully fledged endpoints. This means putting them on segmented networks, monitoring their activity, and restricting what they are allowed to do.

Don’t wait for an attack to test your defenses. Contact our cybersecurity experts today for help securing your email systems and for more information on how to protect your organization.

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What if the “unsubscribe” button was a trick?

Experts warn clicking “unsubscribe” on that boring email could actually be a security risk – here’s why

If you’ve received a spam email with an “unsubscribe here” button at the bottom, don’t press it – it could do more harm than good.

This is according to TK Keanini, CTO of DNSFilter, who recently revealed pressing such a button sends the recipient away from the safety of the email client and into the open internet, where potentially malicious landing pages are lurking.

In fact, Keanini claims that one in every 644 clicks can lead to a malicious website.

How to unsubscribe, then?

Even if clicking the button doesn’t lead directly to a phishing page, other, more subtle, risks, are lurking as well.

Keanini says that hackers would often place that button just to see who clicks – which would also help them determine which email addresses are active and thus worth targeting further.

The general rule of thumb seems to be – if you don’t trust the company that sent the email, don’t trust the unsubscribe process, either.

So, what’s the alternative? The alternative is to unsubscribe through the email client itself, rather than through the email’s body.

Most email clients have “list-unsubscribe headers”, which appear as built-in buttons and thus don’t include source code, Tom’s Guide explained. “If your email header doesn’t contain a link, you can reply on your spam filters, or try blacklisting the sender instead,” the publication further explained.

Those who don’t have these options can use disposable email addresses when signing up for different services. Most email service providers allow users to create throwaway email addresses, as well. For example, Gmail has a feature called “plus addressing” or “Gmail aliases”, which allow users to modify their address by adding a + and a tag before the @gmail.com address.

That way, the email address used during registration could be yourname+shopping@gmail.com. Messages will still arrive in the inbox, but they can be easily tracked or filtered.

Still not sure where to start? Contact our cybersecurity experts for personalized advice.

If you are looking for an expert to help you find the best solutions for your business talk to GCInfotech about a free technology assessment

Published with consideration from The Wall Street Journal  SOURCE

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SLAM Method: What It Stands For (And How It Can Save You From Hackers)

The internet became a thing just over four decades ago, and has now transformed into an essential service that connects billions of people worldwide. Every major industry, including healthcare, banking, and entertainment, relies heavily on digital communication. As convenient as instant access to millions of websites and apps has become, it has also opened the door for bad actors that find vulnerabilities to exploit users’ personal information. According to the U.S. Department of State, cyber criminals caused over $4 billion worth of financial losses in 2020 alone.

Top-rated antivirus programs like ESET and McAfee protect against various kinds of malware, which are usually beyond the control of the user once the malicious files have made their way into the system. Despite the clever advancements in the delivery mechanisms and execution strategies of malware, phishing remains a widely adopted method among cyber criminals. This is largely thanks to phishing being an easy yet persistent form of social engineering — often with a high success rate. 

With phishing, cyber criminals send fraudulent emails or messages to users, and these victims, who often don’t know any better, end up clicking on malicious links or downloading attachments. An effective defense against falling victim to phishing attacks is adopting the SLAM method. It’s a quick, four-step checklist that encourages users to briefly pause and examine potentially dangerous emails or text messages. It’s an acronym that stands for Sender, Links, Attachments, and Messages — four variables to look out for in any new emails.

Using The SLAM Method

Breakdown of the SLAM acronym

The SLAM method advises all internet users to check for the following four key aspects in any suspicious emails or messages they receive:

  1. Sender: Carefully examine the sender’s email address or phone number, in the case of a text message. Look for spelling errors or cleverly masked domains. For example, an email from “xyz@apple.com” is legit, whereas one from “xyz@apple-support.com” should raise immediate suspicion. 
  2. Links: Many phishing attacks depend on the victim clicking on fraudulent links. Before you click on a link in an email, hover your cursor over it to preview the URL. Most browsers show the destination URL at the bottom of the screen, and you can also long-press on a mobile to view a preview of the webpage. This can help you identify scam websites that disguise themselves as legitimate login portals.
  3. Attachments: Only download attachments from trusted senders. With document-based malware, PDFs or Microsoft Office files are laced with malicious macros that execute when they are launched. 
  4. Messages: Sometimes carefully going through the contents of an email or a text message is enough to spot an attempted phishing attack. Look for inconsistencies in the font and color, in addition to poor grammar or spelling mistakes.

It only takes a few intentional applications of using the SLAM method before it develops into habitual instinct. Not to mention, it’s a fast and effective measure against phishing attacks that doesn’t require any fancy apps or browser extensions.

What To Do If You Receive A Phishing Email

The safest way to deal with a phishing email is by not interacting with any links or attachments it contains. If, after a quick SLAM analysis, you determine that an email you’ve received is potentially fraudulent, you should delete it. You can also report an email before you send it to the trash. Flagging a suspicious email will help train the systems of email providers, which eventually would reduce the likelihood of phishing emails landing in the inbox of users.

You can report an email for phishing on most major services like Gmail and Outlook. For example, on Gmail, click on the three-dotted menu icon located on top of the email message, and click the “Report phishing” button. You can also directly forward a suspected phishing email to reportphishing@apwg.org, which is an address that belongs to the Anti-Phishing Working Group of the FTC.

If you have unfortunately fallen prey to a phishing attack and have entered your credentials on a fake website, immediately change your passwords. Preventing hackers from easily accessing your accounts is also why you should always enable two-factor authentication.

If you are looking for an expert to help you find the best solutions for your business talk to GCInfotech about a free technology assessment

Published with consideration from Slashgear.com SOURCE

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Use These 5 Rules to Block Phishing Emails From Your Inbox

Your email inbox is likely rammed full of suspicious emails. Despite your best efforts, at some point, you’re bound to click on one; don’t worry, we all do it. However, you can try to keep your inbox phishing-free with a few simple tips and rules.

– Hover Over Links Before Clicking

One of the easiest ways to protect yourself from phishing attempts is to hover over any links before clicking them. This simple action can reveal the actual URL behind the anchor text, giving you a better idea of where it will take you.

When you hover over a link, make sure the URL matches the expected destination. If you expect to go to your bank’s website, but the URL looks unfamiliar or suspicious, it’s best to avoid clicking on it altogether.

Be particularly cautious of shortened links, as they can easily mask the true destination. Scammers often use link shorteners to hide malicious URLs behind seemingly innocuous ones. If you must click on a shortened link, consider using a URL checker to scan for potential threats.

URL checkers, such as VirusTotal or URLVoid, can help you determine whether a shortened link leads to a fraudulent or malicious site. So, just by taking a moment to verify the safety of a link, you can save yourself from potential headaches down the road.

– Set Up Email Rules and Filters

Another effective way to keep phishing emails at bay is to set up rules and filters within Outlook or another email client. These tools allow you to automatically sort incoming messages based on specific criteria, helping you separate legitimate emails from potential threats.

Start by creating rules based on the sender. Suppose you consistently receive phishing attempts from a particular email address or domain. In that case, you can create a rule that automatically moves these messages to a separate folder or marks them as spam.

Implementing language-based filters can also be helpful. Many phishing emails contain poor grammar, spelling errors, or unusual phrasing. By setting up filters that flag emails containing these red flags, you can easily identify and avoid potential scams.

Other filtering criteria might include subject lines containing urgent or threatening language, emails with attachments from unknown senders, or messages from countries where you don’t typically receive correspondence.

– Block Suspicious Email Addresses

If you spot phishing emails from the same sender, it may be time to take a more proactive approach. Most email clients offer the option to block specific email addresses, preventing future messages from reaching your inbox.

Blocking suspicious email addresses can provide extra protection against persistent scammers. Once blocked, these senders can no longer contact you, reducing the risk of accidentally falling for one of their schemes.

However, scammers may try to circumvent these blocks by creating new email addresses. Therefore, you need to consistently block suspicious senders and stay vigilant.

– Report Phishing Emails as Spam

When you come across a phishing email in your inbox, don’t just delete it—besides blocking the sender, take a moment to report it as spam. This simple action can have far-reaching benefits for both you and other email users.

When you report phishing emails as spam, it helps train your email client to recognize and filter out similar messages in the future. Over time, this can significantly reduce the number of phishing attempts that make it to your inbox.

Moreover, reporting an email as spam contributes to improving collective spam detection. Email providers use this feedback to update their algorithms, making identifying and blocking phishing attempts easier for all users.

– Regularly Update Your Email Client

One often overlooked aspect of protecting yourself from phishing emails is keeping your email client up-to-date. Software updates usually include important security patches and improvements that can help detect and prevent the latest phishing techniques.

Just regularly update your email client to ensure you have access to the most recent security features and spam detection algorithms. These updates can be the difference between falling victim to a phishing scam and avoiding it altogether.

Most email clients offer automatic updates. So, it gets easy to stay protected without much effort on your part. However, if you’re prompted to install an update manually, don’t put it off—take a few minutes to complete the process and give yourself that extra peace of mind.

So, by following these simple rules—hovering over links, setting up filters, blocking suspicious senders, reporting spam, and keeping your email client updated—you can significantly reduce your risk of falling for a phishing scam. And if you do slip up, don’t panic; you can still mitigate the phishing damage.

If you are looking for an expert to help you find the best solutions for your business talk to GCInfotech about a free technology assessment

Published with consideration from MakeUseOf.com SOURCE

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Decryptors
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You’re Not Imagining It: Phishing Attacks Are Rampant

Does it feel like your inbox is constantly bombarded by phishing scams? You’re not imagining it; phishing emails saw a dramatic uptick in the first half of 2024, a trend expected to be matched in the second half of the year.

Phishing Emails Are Laying Siege to Your Inbox

A report from security research firm Egress found a massive 28 percent increase in phishing emails between April 1st and June 30th, 2024, compared to January 1st and March 31st, with millennials being the most targeted demographic.

The constant rise in phishing emails is likely not a surprise to you, even considering seasonal phishing trends that attempt to use specific events to trick us. But what might be more of a surprise is that in some phishing campaigns, a malicious attachment is no longer the preferred method of catching you out.

Egress found that the number of phishing emails using a malicious attachment dropped by around 30 percent from 2021 to 2024 while phishing hyperlinks grew to become the most popular phishing method. The research puts this change down to a few key changes in security practices, but in short, most folks know about malicious attachments, and organizations have gone to great lengths to block them. Whereas it’s easier to mask a malicious hyperlink and slip through malware and phishing detection tools.

Impersonation Phishing Scams Are Also Rampant

My inbox receives its fair share of faceless, nameless phishing attempts, but there are also slightly better-quality impersonation phishing attempts. Egress calls these impersonation phishing attacks “commodity” attacks, but it’s just a new name for the same threat: “mass-produced, malicious campaigns that typically mimic spam by impersonating brands on a large scale.”

Between January 1st and August 31st, 2024, over a quarter of phishing emails impersonated brands, with a further 16 percent attempting to impersonate the recipient’s company (as part of spear phishing campaigns). As you might expect, the most impersonated brands are the biggest in the world, with Adobe, Microsoft, DHL, and others topping the lists.

But scammers are taking impersonation phishing to the next level, too. Instead of firing out millions of emails and hoping for a hit, some use multi-channel attacks to create a stronger illusion. In one example, Egress found scammers sending a phishing email impersonating Evri (a UK courier service), then following up the email with a malicious SMS (known as a smishing attack). The combination of messaging from a single source using related terms, tracking numbers, and so on is much harder to ignore than a random phishing email or SMS.

How to Spot Phishing Emails and Keep Your Inbox Safe

Egress’ findings are backed up separate research from Abnormal Security, who’s H2 2024 Email Threat Report saw a bonkers 350 percent increase in phishing attacks from 2023 to 2024.

And with the majority of these phishing scams attempting to exploit legitimate domains and email services and impersonate global businesses, it’s important to take a moment to familiarize yourself with how to spot a phishing email.

  • Unofficial Email Addresses That Look Legitimate: Phishers often use email addresses that closely resemble those of reputable organizations. For example, they might use “support@yourbank-secure.com” instead of the official “support@yourbank.com.” Always verify the sender’s address carefully.
  • Generic Greetings and Lack of Personalization: Legitimate companies usually address you by name. Phishing emails often use generic salutations like “Dear Customer,” indicating they don’t have your personal details.
  • Urgent or Threatening Language: Scammers create a sense of urgency to prompt immediate action, such as claiming your account will be suspended unless you verify the information. Be cautious of emails pressuring you to act quickly.
  • Suspicious Links or Attachments: Phishing emails may contain links that appear legitimate but direct you to fraudulent websites. Hover over links to see the actual URL before clicking, and avoid downloading unexpected attachments.
  • Poor Grammar and Spelling Errors: Many phishing emails contain noticeable grammatical mistakes or awkward phrasing, which can be a red flag. Professional organizations typically proofread their communications.
  • Unsolicited Attachments: Be wary of unexpected email attachments, especially if they prompt you to enable macros or contain executable files, as they may install malware on your device.
  • Mismatched URLs: Ensure that the URL in the email matches the legitimate website’s address. Phishers often use URLs with slight misspellings or additional words to deceive users.

With these tips, you’ll spot heaps more phishing emails and boost your security.

If you are looking for an expert to help you find the best solutions for your business talk to GCInfotech about a free technology assessment

Published with consideration from MakeUseOf.com SOURCE

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5 ways to improve email security

With email being the biggest business productivity tool out there, it’s no surprise that it’s also the main vehicle for cybercrime. Email phishing is the most common type of online exploitation, which grew by 173% in Q3 of 2023 compared to the previous quarter of the same year!

Google blocks about 100 million phishing emails every single day. That’s a huge number for just one platform. Most of us suffer from email overload, but it’s also the medium which feels safe and secure. There’s something about email that feels personal, it’s addressed to us and is now in our virtual – and physical – space. Which is probably why it’s such a successful tool for phishing.

Often we’re responding or taking action on an email in a rush. A quick email reply before lunch break, or rushing to a meeting. It’s those that catch us unawares. Various recent studies have looked into what causes the bulk of data breaches, and unfortunately, it’s us, users. Some say it’s about 88%, whereas others put the number closer to 95% of data breaches are caused by human error.

Here are five tactics and tools to help strengthen your organization’s IT security on the email front:

1. Employee education

Most of us are generally overwhelmed with emails. And often we respond in a rush, trusting that the email is from a reliable source, bearing honest information. Taking that for granted is exactly what cyber-criminals rely on. This is why an employee education and awareness program is absolutely crucial when it comes to internet security. Even the most savvy technology users get caught out, because criminals have one job, and that’s to catch us in a brief moment of unawareness or to make victims of the ignorant.

While it seems insignificant, it’s things like checking sender email addresses, opening attachments with caution, or checking links before, that could halt a data breach. Seemingly obvious, it’s those things that are at the heart of email phishing scams.

2. The wolf in CEO’s clothing

More and more, the Chief Executive of a company is targeted by hackers. Often, the CEO’s IT profile has access to all data systems, so it’s the most valuable access point. When executives are used for phishing, it’s known as ‘whaling’. Impersonating the CEO or top brass is also a brilliantly simple method to trick employees into providing information and access. Who’s going to say no to the CEO? Hackers will create a fake email account and request information from appropriate staff members.

Making employees aware of this sort of thing should form part of an education program, but it’s also a good idea to grant limited access to key systems. Creating silos of users who use a particular system is recommended, or allowing system access for a limited period. Allowing one profile (or more) complete access to all systems all the time is creating a massive platform for risk. Limited access protects the user and the organization. 

3. Cyber threat intelligence in cybersecurity

In cybersecurity, the evolution of algorithmic approaches and the integration of cyber threat intelligence have become essential in combating sophisticated hacker tactics. Modern algorithms now focus on core characteristics rather than just content, employing AI to identify impersonations in writing style and language. This is combined with pattern analysis to block malicious emails. Concurrently, cyber threat intelligence, which analyses the motives, targets, and methods of attackers, has become a crucial defense layer. 

As attackers use advanced methods like legitimate domain emails and clean IP addresses, it’s vital to have robust security systems that blend advanced algorithmic analysis with continuous threat intelligence, and human experts still play a huge role here, to effectively detect and counter hacker activities.

4. View email as just one piece of the security puzzle

While email is a useful tool to access an organization’s assets, it’s not the only one. But it’s important to ensure that all avenues are coordinated to block threats, from cloud applications, to websites accessed by employees. And technology systems are also only one aspect of cybersecurity. Much of an organization’s protection lies in ensuring staff is vigilant and educated. Email security should not be a silo, but rather it should be integrated into the bigger picture of the entire technology environment, which should be integrated into the company culture.

5. A multi-layered approach with emphasis on attachment scanning

In enhancing email security, a multi-layered approach is paramount, with a significant emphasis on the vigilant scanning of attachments. These attachments are often the carriers of malware and other cyber threats. Advanced scanning techniques are crucial, utilizing not only traditional malware signature detection but also heuristic analysis to identify new, unknown threats. This involves examining attachments in a controlled environment, or ‘sandboxing’, to detect any malicious behavior.

Additionally, this multi-layered strategy should integrate robust phishing detection, continuous cyber threat intelligence updates, and stringent access controls, ensuring a comprehensive defense against the diverse and evolving nature of email-based threats. 

Attackers excel in presenting an innocent front in a phishing email, and it requires not only smart systems in place, but human smarts at every level to keep a company’s data assets secure. Cybersecurity walks the fine line between maintaining efficiency and avoiding user frustration, while also keeping an organization’s key assets safe.

Contact our team of experts to learn more about developing a comprehensive cybersecurity training program for your business.

If you are looking for an expert to help you find the best solutions for your business talk to GCInfotech about a free technology assessment

Published with consideration from TechRadar.org SOURCE

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Common cyberthreats every small business should know about

Cyberthreats are on the rise, and no business is immune. In fact, small businesses are often targeted because they often do not have the same robust cybersecurity measures that bigger companies have in place. However, by knowing what to look out for, you can take proactive steps to defend your business from these attacks. Below, we’ll discuss common cyberthreats and how you can defend against them.

Malware

Malware refers to any malicious software designed to steal data, disrupt operations, or damage computer systems. This umbrella term covers various cyberthreats such as:

  • Viruses – self-replicating programs that spread from computer to computer
  • Spyware – software that secretly monitors and collects personal information
  • Adware – programs that display unwanted advertisements
  • Trojan horses – malicious software disguised as legitimate programs
  • Ransomware – software that blocks access to your data until you pay a ransom

To safeguard your business from malware, you should have top-notch anti-malware protection in place. You also need to educate your team about common malware and emphasize the importance of avoiding suspicious links, websites, and files to prevent infection. You can implement these and other security measures yourself, or you can team up with a managed IT services provider (MSP) who can handle all this for you, easing the burden of managing your cybersecurity and giving you peace of mind.

Phishing

Phishing is a deceptive practice where cybercriminals send fraudulent messages that appear to come from trustworthy entities to trick victims into revealing personal or financial information. Such scams often lead to identity theft, financial loss, and data breaches.

You can protect your business against phishing scams by conducting employee security awareness training where you can teach them to spot common phishing signs, including:

  • Urgent requests for personal information – Legitimate businesses rarely ask for sensitive data through email.
  • Suspicious links or attachments – Hover over links to check the actual URL before clicking. Avoid opening attachments from unknown senders.
  • Poor grammar and spelling – Phishing emails often contain grammatical or spelling errors.
  • Generic greetings – Emails addressed to “Dear Customer” or “Dear User” are likely phishing attempts.
  • Imitation of trusted brands – Cybercriminals often mimic well-known companies to gain trust.

By teaching your employees to recognize these red flags, you can significantly reduce the risk of falling victim to a phishing attack.

Distributed denial-of-service (DDoS)

A DDoS attack happens when cybercriminals bombard your servers with overwhelming amounts of traffic, causing these to crash or become inaccessible. This disruption can significantly impact your business operations, making it difficult for customers to access your services and employees to do their jobs.

DDoS attacks can be difficult to defend against because they can come from multiple sources at the same time. The effects can be long-lasting, with recovery sometimes taking days or even weeks. An MSP can help protect your business from DDoS attacks. They can continuously monitor your servers, swiftly identify and counteract malicious traffic, and create a detailed response plan to minimize downtime if an attack occurs.

Password attacks

In a password attack, cybercriminals try to break into your systems by stealing or cracking passwords. They may use brute force methods (i.e., trying countless password combinations) or use social engineering tactics to get people to reveal their passwords. Using weak or repetitive passwords makes your business an easy target for these attacks. Once in your systems, cybercriminals can steal data, install harmful software, or cause other damage.

To protect against password attacks, require your employees to use strong, unique passwords. Enable multifactor authentication (MFA) whenever possible. MFA requires users to provide more than just their password to access systems. This means even if a cybercriminal gets hold of an employee’s password, they’ll still need another form of identification to get in.

Understanding these common cyberthreats is the first step to safeguarding your business. To better boost your company’s security posture, partner with GCInfotech. We can provide expert guidance, implement security measures, and respond to incidents effectively.

Contact our team of experts to learn more about developing a comprehensive cybersecurity training program for your business.

If you are looking for an expert to help you find the best solutions for your business talk to GCInfotech about a free technology assessment

Published with consideration from TechAdvisory.org SOURCE

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Combat phishing with Microsoft 365 Defender

Phishing might sound complicated, but the basic concept is simple: deception. Criminals try to trick you into revealing personal information or clicking on dangerous links. This blog will equip you with the knowledge to recognize phishing attempts and leverage Microsoft 365 Defender’s advanced protection to stay safe online.

The rising tide of phishing attacks

Phishing attacks have evolved far beyond questionable emails from foreign princes. Today, they are meticulously crafted to mimic legitimate communications from trusted entities, making them all the more dangerous. For small businesses, especially, the stakes are incredibly high. With limited resources and often less stringent cybersecurity measures, they are particularly vulnerable targets. The consequences of falling prey to these attacks can be devastating, ranging from financial ruin to irreversible reputational damage.

Unveiling the shield: Microsoft 365 Defender

Recognizing the critical need for advanced protection, Microsoft has engineered the 365 Defender suite, a comprehensive security solution tailored to thwart the attempts of even the most devious cybercriminals. Here’s how its key features stand guard at the gates of your digital domain:

Anti-malware

At the frontline of defense, Microsoft 365 Defender’s anti-malware layer scrutinizes incoming emails for malicious content. Leveraging state-of-the-art algorithms and vast threat intelligence databases, it ensures that harmful attachments and links are neutralized before they can inflict damage.

Anti-spam

An unsung hero in the battle against phishing, the anti-spam component efficiently filters out unsolicited emails, significantly reducing the clutter in inboxes and minimizing the odds of employees encountering deceitful messages.

Sandbox

Some threats are too sophisticated for conventional detection methods, and that’s why Microsoft 365 Defender employs a sandboxing technique. Suspicious attachments are isolated and executed in a secure, virtual environment, away from critical systems, to assess their behavior without risk.

Safe Links

In a clever twist on real-time protection, Safe Links technology scrutinizes URLs at the moment of click, steering users away from harmful sites. This proactive approach is invaluable in defending against the increasingly common tactic of using short-lived, malicious websites in phishing campaigns.

Fortifying your business’s cyber defenses

The menace of phishing cannot be underestimated, nor can it be ignored. Microsoft 365 Defender emerges not just as a shield but as a vital ally for small businesses determined to safeguard their digital frontiers. By integrating this robust suite into your cybersecurity strategy, you can significantly mitigate the risk of phishing attacks and focus on what matters most: growing your business.

Get in touch with one of our experts today and ensure that your business stands resilient in the face of cyberthreats.

If you are looking for an expert to help you find the best solutions for your business talk to GCInfotech about a free technology assessment

Published with consideration from TechAdvisory.org SOURCE

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Key tips for boosting online security

The digital landscape is riddled with threats: malware attacks, phishing scams, and data breaches are just a few. But by taking a proactive approach to cybersecurity, you can significantly reduce your risk and keep your business safe. Here’s a guide to fortifying your online defenses.

Create strong, unique passwords

Passwords are your first line of defense against unauthorized access to your accounts and sensitive information. This is why you should avoid using easily guessable passwords such as “123456” or “password.” Instead, create strong passphrases. A passphrase is a string of four or more random words. This extra length and randomness make them much harder for cybercriminals to crack but still easier for you to remember than a jumbled mess of characters.

For maximum security, use a different passphrase for each of your accounts. This way, if one account gets compromised, your other accounts are still safe.

Tip: Remembering multiple complex passphrases can be a challenge. Consider using a password manager, which stores all your passphrases in one place. This makes your passphrases easily accessible while keeping them safe from prying eyes.

Implement multifactor authentication (MFA)

MFA adds an extra layer of security to your online accounts by requiring additional verification beyond just a password, such as a one-time code sent to your phone or a fingerprint scan. By enabling MFA, even if someone obtains your password, they won’t be able to access your account without fulfilling the additional verification requirements.

Tip: Whenever possible, enable MFA on your important accounts, including email, banking, and cloud services.

Keep software and systems updated

Cybercriminals often exploit weaknesses in outdated software to gain unauthorized access to systems. To stay protected, regularly update your software, operating systems, and applications because these updates often include essential security patches that fix those vulnerabilities.

Tip: Set up automatic updates on all your devices so you don’t have to remember to update manually, and your devices stay continuously protected without any extra effort from you.

Use secure Wi-Fi networks

When accessing the internet, it’s important to use secure Wi-Fi networks. Public Wi-Fi in airports or coffee shops can be targeted by cybercriminals. Instead, use encrypted Wi-Fi connections, which require a password and scramble your data, making it unintelligible even if intercepted.

For an extra layer of security, consider using a virtual private network (VPN). A VPN encrypts all your internet traffic, creating a secure tunnel between your device and the internet, regardless of the Wi-Fi network you’re on.

Tip: Configure your devices to automatically connect only to trusted Wi-Fi networks that you know and use. Additionally, disable the option to connect to open networks to avoid accidental connections to unsecured Wi-Fi.

Conduct security awareness training for employees

Employees are often the weakest link in an organization’s cyber defense, as they may inadvertently fall victim to phishing scams or unknowingly compromise sensitive information. However, regular training sessions can empower your employees to recognize and respond to cyberthreats effectively.

Tip: Simulate phishing attacks to test your employees’ preparedness and reinforce training.

By following these simple yet effective tips, you can significantly enhance the online security posture of your business and minimize the risk of falling victim to cyberthreats. Remember, investing in online security is not just about protecting your data — it’s also about safeguarding the reputation and integrity of your business in an increasingly digital world.

If you are looking for an expert to help you find the best solutions for your business talk to GCInfotech about a free technology assessment

Published with consideration from TechAdvisory.org SOURCE

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Take control of your identity: 5 proven strategies to prevent identity theft

While all types of fraud pose serious challenges, identity fraud is one of the most potent, and consumers must take extra care to detect and avoid it. People need to educate themselves on protecting their personal information, but many might feel they don’t know where to begin. Five main steps can be taken to guard against identity fraud and stop fraudsters and scammers from obtaining personal information or accessing accounts.

Beware of phishing

Phishing emails are a vital tactic for scammers and have developed beyond the clumsy, poorly written-efforts of the past. However, many still contain tell-tale signs of a scam, such as lousy formatting and unofficial email addresses. Phishing emails are designed to convince consumers to click on a malicious link, so consumers should avoid following links they do not recognize. Pay extra attention to an email that calls for immediate action, such as requiring payment to keep your energy on; scammers know that consumers are more likely to make a mistake if there’s urgency.

The best way to root out the fakes is to independently check the information by logging into personal accounts on the company website—companies will often post a warning on their website if they are aware of the scam email. Smishing, where phishing is conducted via a text message, isn’t a new threat but has evolved during the COVID-19 pandemic and represents another avenue where consumers need to be hyper-vigilant.

Activate two-factor authentication

Many online accounts offer two-factor authentication, which can help to prevent online account takeover. Text messaging is the most popular second factor, but this is also vulnerable to takeover, so individuals should choose an alternative factor if one is available.

Sign up for activity alerts from financial institutions

Signing up for activity alerts with bank or credit card companies can alert consumers to any suspicious activity associated with their accounts. People are notified straight away, and this can prevent any further fraudulent charges or withdrawals. Do not delay reporting suspected fraud to your bank, and ask about the possibility of closing the account in question.

Set up identity and credit monitoring

Individuals can sign up for an identity and credit monitoring service that will warn them if their data is at risk. Due to personal information being traded on the dark web, monitoring services focus on places where data is known to be bought and sold and will send alerts if personal data is identified. Credit monitoring services will notify individuals of any changes to their credit profile, such as new trade lines or hard credit inquiries. If individuals suspect fraudulent use of their information, a professional can assess the extent of the fraud and assist with identity restoration.

Follow password security best practices

There is a lot of advice available on how to create strong, unique passwords for every account. However, with the average person having 70-80 accounts, it can be difficult to remember them all, leading many people to reuse passwords. Installing a password manager can help you generate and store passwords for all your accounts on your devices. Although using common passwords like “QWERTY” or your pet’s name is not safe, it can suggest a nearly impossible alternative to guess.

The most important thing to remember is that there is no single solution to ensure complete protection against identity theft. The best thing you can do is to stay vigilant and use caution. By adopting the layers of security discussed above, you can give yourself the highest level of protection against a threat that is certain to become increasingly dangerous in the future.

If you are looking for an expert to help you find the best solutions for your business talk to GCInfotech about a free technology assessment

Published with consideration from TechRadar SOURCE

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