Security Pointers

A sneak preview of a new regular feature on our blog in 2018. We will be bringing you the latest threats that affect your online security and privacy and the tips to make sure you’re not compromised. So let’s get started.

Christmas Crackers

Starting with a suitably festive theme, there’s a most non-festive undercurrent that resurfaces each year. It’s a time when we’re all expecting parcels – last minute Christmas purchases and maybe a gift or two. Scammers know this, so at this time of year you often receive emails with nasty payloads purporting to be paperwork about your delivery. Other scams can include e-cards which actually click you through to a nasty download or fake stores who take your money but never deliver the goods.

So what can you do?

Start by making sure you have up to date malware and anti-virus software. Never trust an attachment you weren’t expecting or click on an e-card from someone you don’t know or wouldn’t expect to get an e-card from. Always check a link by hovering over it and check the address it’s taking you to is where you’d expect to be going. If you think you may have been compromised, give us a call on 01676 521444 and we can give your computer a clean sweep.

For more information visit Scambusters.

 

When new doesn’t mean safe

If you buy a new laptop you expect it to be safe and secure, nothing nasty already on there. But HP have just announced that 460 models of their laptops have key-logging software pre-installed, which if accessed by a hacker would contain all the passwords and other private data you’ve typed in!

So what can you do?

If you’ve got an HP laptop, make sure you update to the latest drivers which will fix the security flaw. Find out more on the BBC’s website. We also recommend removing any software you don’t need and ensuring that drivers are right up to date before you start using a new computer.

 

Big Data Breaches – are you exposed?

It seems barely a week goes by that another high profile company has a large-scale data breach, exposing everything from email addresses to credit card details and passwords. One of the latest companies breached was Uber, exposing details of 57 million customers and drivers.

So what can you do?

As we’re all at risk of our details being exposed, it’s worth using a service like Have I Been Pwned which will search to see if your email or username has been compromised and provide alerts for future attacks.

Hackers don’t just target big companies, smaller businesses are often easier targets. Have you made sure you’re secure? One of the services we offer clients is reviewing their security and data handling, especially important with the higher fines and more stringent controls arriving in May with GDPR.