Krithi Thiyagarajan
2024: The Year Your Business Gets Smarter with ...

Imagine your coffee machine brewing your perfect cup just as you wake up, your office lights adjusting automatically to optimize productivity, or your delivery truck predicting traffic jams and rerouting for a faster journey. This isn't science fiction; it's the power of the Internet of Things (IoT), and it's poised to explode in 2024.

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LinkedIn Impersonation in Phishing Attacks: A Growing Threat

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LinkedIn Impersonation in Phishing Attacks: A Growing Threat

A recent report from Check Point Research revealed a startling statistic: LinkedIn, the Microsoft-owned business platform, is impersonated in nearly half of all phishing attacks globally.

Common Phishing Tactics on LinkedIn

  1. Phishing Emails: Scammers often target job seekers with emails that mimic LinkedIn notifications, such as "You have 1 new invitation" or "Your profile has been viewed by 63 people." While these messages can appear authentic, it's crucial to verify the sender's email address to ensure it's genuinely from LinkedIn. These fraudulent emails often contain links to fake LinkedIn pages designed to steal your personal information.

  2. Fake Profiles and Job Offers: Cybercriminals create fake LinkedIn profiles to message users about job opportunities. Once engaged, they may ask for a small payment to process the application or direct you to a phishing link disguised as a form to fill out.

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Steps to Take During the CrowdStrike Outage

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As organizations work to remediate affected systems, it's crucial to stay alert to phishing campaigns and spoofed domains set up by threat actors attempting to exploit the outage.

CrowdStrike's Remediation Measures

CrowdStrike has provided a solution utilizing the Falcon sensor’s built-in quarantine functionality to remove the problematic channel file causing Windows systems to crash. According to CrowdStrike, when a Windows system with Falcon installed contacts the CrowdStrike Cloud, a request is issued to quarantine the faulty file, visible in the Falcon UI. If the file does not exist, no quarantine occurs, and systems operate normally. The solution may require two or three reboots to take effect due to a timing issue between the file's quarantine and activation. For best results, CrowdStrike recommends using a wired network connection to minimize latency.

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FTC to Investigate Data Privacy Practices of U.S. Car Dealerships

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FTC to Investigate Data Privacy Practices of U.S. Car Dealerships

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has announced plans to investigate the data privacy practices of car dealerships across the United States. This initiative represents a significant expansion of the FTC's oversight into an industry that has traditionally operated with less regulatory scrutiny compared to others.

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CrowdStrike Update Causes Global IT Outage and Security Concerns

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On July 19, 2024, at approximately 1:00 a.m. ET, a widespread IT outage began due to a defect in a single CrowdStrike content update. This outage affected numerous Windows hosts globally, including critical U.S. State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial (SLTT) government systems. CrowdStrike has since isolated the issue and deployed a fix.

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Recap of the Microsoft Outage on July 19th, 2024: Essential Insights for Businesses

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Recap of the Microsoft Outage on July 19th, 2024: Essential Insights for Businesses

Major Software Outage on July 19th, 2024

On July 19th, 2024, a significant software glitch caused major disruptions for businesses worldwide. This outage affected Microsoft 365 services, including essential applications like Outlook, Teams, and OneDrive, leading to substantial challenges across various industries. As a Managed Service Provider (MSP), we understand the importance of staying informed and prepared for such events. Here’s a detailed look at what happened, who was impacted, and the current status.

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Strengthen Your Business's Cybersecurity with a Virtual CISO

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In today's digital landscape, cyber threats are a significant concern for businesses across all sectors. From financial institutions and manufacturers to healthcare providers and legal firms, safeguarding sensitive data is paramount. A virtual Chief Information Security Officer (vCISO) can be a crucial component of your cybersecurity strategy, offering expertise on a flexible, part-time, or project-based basis. This cost-effective solution is ideal for businesses that do not require a full-time security leader. Here are five key ways a vCISO can help secure your data:

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US Department of Energy Unveils Energy Supply Chain Security Principles

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US Department of Energy Unveils Energy Supply Chain Security Principles

The US Department of Energy (DOE) has released a comprehensive set of Supply Chain Cybersecurity Principles. These guidelines aim to ensure robust cybersecurity measures across the global supply chains involved in constructing energy automation and industrial control systems (ICS).

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The Hidden Costs of Skimping on Security: Protect Your Business

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The Hidden Costs of Skimping on Security: Protect Your Business

As a business leader, you're always looking for ways to increase revenue, cut expenses, and grow your bottom line. Implementing AI tools, optimizing services, and running a more efficient operation are excellent strategies to achieve this. However, one area where you should never cut corners is using free antivirus or firewall software.

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Understanding and Mitigating Business Risks

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Understanding and Mitigating Business Risks

Operating a business inevitably involves facing various risks. The impact of an unexpected incident can be substantial, particularly if you're unprepared. The key to navigating these challenges lies in your preparedness. Timely response, minimizing operational disruption, and managing costs effectively are all critical factors. However, the first step is understanding the types of risks you may encounter. Here, we outline the seven types of business risk and strategies to prepare for them.

The $1.6 Billion Ransomware Attack: Crucial Cybersecurity Lessons for Every Business

The $1.6 Billion Ransomware Attack: Crucial Cybersecurity Lessons for Every Business

In recent months, the alarming cybersecurity breach at Change Healthcare, a healthcare payment-processing company under the UnitedHealth Group, has highlighted a chilling reality: cyber threats can lurk undetected within our networks, ready to unleash chaos at any moment. This breach, executed by the notorious ALPHV/BlackCat hacker group, saw the group lying dormant within the company's environment for nine days before launching a crippling ransomware attack.

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Protect Your Dental Practice and Patients from Cybercriminal Attacks

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Protect Your Dental Practice and Patients from Cybercriminal Attacks

The American Dental Association (ADA) is calling on all dental practices, especially oral and maxillofacial surgeons, to remain vigilant against cyberattacks. On May 6, 2024, the FBI informed the ADA and the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) of a credible cybersecurity threat targeting these practices.

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Enhance Your Compliance Strategy with Cyber Insurance

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Enhance Your Compliance Strategy with Cyber Insurance

In today's digital age, a robust cybersecurity posture is no longer optional—it's a business imperative. Compliance with data security regulations has become a critical concern for business owners across various industries. But what happens when a cyberattack breaches your defenses, exposing sensitive data and potentially jeopardizing your compliance status? This is where cyber insurance steps in as a vital component of your overall compliance strategy.

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10 Essential Practices of Top IT Providers

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10 Essential Practices of Top IT Providers

What distinguishes high-quality, reliable IT support from mediocre or substandard service? Is it lower prices? Flat-fee service? At Vector Choice, we believe that several key factors set great providers apart from the rest. When our clients switch to us, we often hear the same feedback: they didn't realize their previous support was subpar until they experienced excellent service.

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