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August 29, 2022

What Makes A Strong Password? And Why Do I Need One?

Think about some of your private accounts right now. Chances are that you have an email account, social media accounts, bank account and more that are all password protected. Do you share passwords across different accounts, and are your passwords strong enough to keep cybercriminals away from your private information? If not, it might be time to evaluate.

Passwords offer the first line of defense when someone tries to access your sensitive information. Without passwords, anyone could gain access to your social media account, which could provide them with personal information that could be used to harm you. Even worse, bank accounts would be easily accessible to cybercriminals hoping to rob you of your funds.

While many personal accounts are password-protected, your business accounts also need to be properly secured. But this doesn’t just exclusively apply to you – it needs to be understood on a company-wide level. Every employee needs to use passwords to keep sensitive business information secure. Think about the damage a cybercriminal could do to your business if they gained access. They would permanently damage your business’s reputation while also putting your employees’ and customers’ private information at risk.

However, it’s not enough to simply put a password in place. The passwords you choose need to be complex. But what makes a password complex? A complex password will utilize a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, punctuation and special characters. Additionally, your password should not be related to any personal information, nor should you use dictionary words. Your password should be incredibly difficult for someone to guess, even if they know you well, but you also need to ensure that your password is something you can remember.

But even with a complex password, it’s likely still not enough protection. Each of your accounts and devices should have a unique password that hasn’t been used anywhere else. If you use the same password across all accounts and devices, you’re opening yourself up to a pretty extreme cyber-attack if one of your accounts is compromised. All a cybercriminal needs to do is hack your Facebook page, and they will have the password for your bank accounts and email.

You might think that it’d be impossible to remember so many different complex passwords, but software is available that can help. The best way to keep track of your passwords is to use a password manager. With a password manager, you only have to remember one master password, and the software keeps track of the rest. It will even help you create complex passwords for your different accounts to ensure that your information is as protected as possible.

If you oversee a team of employees, then it’s vital that they understand why creating strong passwords is so important. Your team should have training on cyber security practices, including information on creating passwords. If just one employee fails to create a complex and unique password, it could open you up to a cyber-attack.

Creating strong passwords does not have to be difficult. If you’re struggling to remember or create strong passwords, use a password manager. Strong passwords will help keep your sensitive information protected.

By admin
August 25, 2022

Passkeys Could Improve The Way You Work…Forever

Back in May, we heard there would soon be a successor to the password – the Passkey.

Now, we’re hearing that Apple will start rolling out Passkeys in the next few months in iOS 16. And we’re excited.

Though it’s caused a bit of confusion. Apple is going to great lengths to market the Passkey, and understandably, people have assumed that it’s a feature exclusive to Apple.

That’s not the case.

In fact, Passkeys will be used in a joint effort to boost online security by Apple, Microsoft and Google. The reason Apple is promoting this new feature so hard is to get the message out there.

Microsoft and Google are also keen to spread the word so that people understand how Passkeys work.

The more people take advantage of Passkeys, the safer our businesses are online.

Passkeys – otherwise known as FIDO authentication – work by letting you log into an app or website with just your username and your pre-authenticated device, most probably your phone.

Your device generates a cryptographic token, which makes the second part of a cryptographic key pair. When the pair matches, you’re allowed access to the app or website.

What that means in practice is when you’re logging in, you just use your phone to prove its really you. You’ll just unlock it using your face, fingerprint or PIN.

So long as your phone is within Bluetooth range of your computer it will work.

And without needing a password… bliss…

It’s a far more secure way to access apps and keep your accounts safe from cyber criminals. You never see your cryptographic token, so it takes away a lot of the danger of having your login credentials stolen.

Cyber criminals will be unable to use their normal tactics – such phishing emails, brute force attacks, or key loggers – to steal your credentials.

They’ll need your physical device, making remote hacking much less likely.

If you use Windows Hello, you’ll see that Passkeys are already supported. And it won’t be long until all three tech giants roll out support across their entire product range.

Before then, if you’d like any help or advice on keeping your apps and accounts safer, just give us a call.

By admin
August 23, 2022

5 Ways To Boost Staff Efficiency

Success in any business depends on employee efficiency. When your employees are working efficiently, they can accomplish more tasks faster. In this article, we will discuss the different ways you can improve employee efficiency and, ultimately, improve your business’s bottom line.

Provide regular feedback

Performance reviews, both positive and negative, are key to inspiring your team to change the way they work for the better. After providing feedback, ask your employees what the company can do to help them improve. By doing this, you not only encourage a culture of communication but also gain useful insights into what your employees need to do their tasks effectively.

Offer incentives

Offering incentives is a good way to boost worker efficiency. Obviously, the first thing that springs to mind when we talk about incentives and rewards is a pay raise or some kind of financial bonus. However, managers will tell you that recognizing and appreciating the efforts of an employee goes beyond monetary rewards.

Here are some ways for you to show your team you value them and appreciate their hard work:

  • Offer additional paid vacation and sick leaves.
  • Treat them to lunch or dinner.
  • Praise them publicly so that everyone will recognize one another’s achievements.
  • Send a personalized congratulatory note when they meet a goal or reach a milestone.

Give them the right tools

Having the tools they need to do their tasks will help your team save time and effort doing their tasks. This will free them up to do other things and lead them to be more productive.

Encourage your employees to take breaks

Working long hours and not taking breaks can cause chronic stress, which can be detrimental to an employee’s physical and mental health. According to a study by the World Health Organization, 745,000 deaths worldwide were directly linked to overworked employees.

Taking breaks, whether it’s short, medium, or long, can help reduce stress, improve sleep, and eliminate general health issues like headaches and back pain. When employees feel refreshed and recharged, they’re likely to be more efficient at work.

Provide training sessions

Providing adequate training to employees ensures that ‌they will better understand their roles and how to execute their tasks properly. It’s important to foster continued development through supplemental training sessions covering new skill sets or refreshers on existing ones. This can be done through workshops, one-on-one coaching sessions, conferences, etc.

These are just some ways you can enhance the efficiency of your workers. If you want to know more, call us today.

By admin
August 18, 2022

Safe Surfing: 4 Tips To Improve Your Online Security

For many, the internet is an important part of their everyday lives. They use it for shopping, banking, and keeping in touch with loved ones and friends. A lot of people, however, are not aware of the many cyberthreats that can steal sensitive information or corrupt their data. In this article, we will discuss how to improve your online security to ensure your safety while browsing the internet.

Use a VPN

A VPN, or virtual private network, is software or service that protects your online activities. It encrypts your data and hides your IP address to prevent hackers, your internet service provider, and other third parties from monitoring your online activities and accessing your data.

If you frequently access public Wi-Fi hotspots, you should always use a VPN to ensure your security and privacy.

Enable multifactor authentication

Multifactor authentication (MFA) is a type of access control that requires a user to supply several forms of verification to gain access to an application or online account. This includes what a user knows, like a username or password; what a user has, like a one-time code from an authenticator; and what a user is, such as a fingerprint.

MFA adds another layer of defense, making it harder for cybercriminals to infiltrate your device or network. Even if your password is compromised, the intruder will not be able to access the associated account without providing the other required factors.

Use complex passwords

Passwords are the primary defense against unauthorized entry to your online accounts, computer, and personal information. Using long and complicated passwords makes it harder for cybercriminals to invade your network. Here’s a guide to creating strong passwords:

  • Complex passwords should not be shorter than eight characters. You should use a combination of numbers, upper- and lowercase letters, and special characters.
  • Avoid using names, birthdays, and other personal information.
  • Refrain from using sequential keyboard characters like “12345” or “qwerty.”

Change your passwords at least every six months to ensure the security of your network, accounts, and devices. If you find it hard to create complex passwords, a password manager like Dashlane can automatically generate them for you.

Install antivirus software

Antivirus software can detect and remove viruses and other harmful applications from your computer and mobile devices. Many antivirus software programs today also come with a firewall that monitors all traffic going in and out of your device. A firewall identifies and prevents suspicious data, such as phishing emails, from reaching your computer and mobile devices.

If you want to learn more ways of improving your online security, give our experts a call today.

By admin
August 15, 2022

7 Tips To Reduce PC Power Consumption

In 2021, industrial consumers of electricity in the United States paid an average of $7.26 per kilowatt hour. This amount is a 9% increase from 2020 and the highest figure recorded since 1970. Given the rising electricity rates, it’s now more important to take energy-saving measures, one of which is reducing your PC power consumption. Here’s how to do that.

1. Reduce your computer monitor’s brightness

Most monitors have a built-in sensor that adjusts the screen’s brightness according to the amount of light in the room. You can also manually adjust your PC’s brightness to further reduce its power consumption.

2. Unplug your computer when it’s not in use

Many people leave their computers on all day, even when they’re not using them, to save time powering up. However, this practice wastes a lot of energy.

If you’re not going to be using your computer for a while, it’s best to shut it down and unplug it. That’s because a plugged-in computer — even when it’s switched off — still consumes standby power.

If you’re going to be away from your PC for a few minutes or a couple of hours, you can still save energy without sacrificing too much time by turning off your monitor. If you have a laptop, you can put it into sleep or hibernation mode when you’re not using it.

3. Opt for a laptop instead of a desktop computer

Use a laptop instead of a desktop since laptops are designed to be more energy-efficient than desktops.

4. Keep your laptop plugged in only when it is charging

We tend to forget about our laptops while they’re charging, leaving them plugged in for hours. The bad news is that overcharging causes the battery to deteriorate over time. When left plugged in, the charger still consumes power, even if it’s not connected to your computer. To save energy, unplug your laptop charger once you’re done charging.

5. Detach external devices from your PC when you’re not using them

Any external devices (e.g., printer, scanner, or webcam) connected to your PC continues to draw power even when they’re not in use. So when you’re not using them, make sure to disconnect these external devices from your PC.

6. Use a smart strip, especially for computers you cannot turn off

A smart strip automatically shuts down appliances when they go into standby mode. By connecting your computer and external devices to a smart strip, you won’t have to unplug your equipment when they’re not in use.

7. Pick an Energy Star-certified PC

When buying a new PC, look for an Energy Star-certified model. Products that have the Energy Star symbol are guaranteed to deliver both quality performance and energy savings. The number of stars a product has indicates how energy-efficient it is.

In fact, an Energy Star-certified PC uses about 25%–40% less electricity than conventional models by using the most efficient components and better managing energy use when idle. This can translate to savings between $7 and $52 per year in electricity bills.

Following these tips should help you reduce your electricity costs and make smart hardware choices. If you need help selecting the best hardware for your company’s needs, contact us. We’re ready to assist you.

By admin
August 11, 2022

4 Tips for Safely Browsing The Web

Even if they’re only browsing the internet, your staff members are vulnerable to all sorts of data security threats, especially when they work remotely, use multiple devices, or connect to various networks. As a business owner, you must put browser security measures in place to minimize the risk of data loss.

Install anti-malware software

Browsers are now programmed to block web pages of most malicious sites, i.e., websites that deliver malware to your IT systems. However, even the most advanced browser can’t block every risky site, especially if a site is legitimate but has been turned into an unwitting mule for malware. Since malware infections via web browsing appear to be inevitable, you must install anti-malware software on every device you and your employees use for work. It’ll guard you against known viruses, worms, and other malicious software that are designed to steal your data and wreak havoc on your IT systems.

Have everyone in your organization use a virtual private network (VPN)

Hackers can pry into your internal channels and external communications with your customers and business partners to steal sensitive information, such as account login credentials and banking details. Fortunately, you can use a VPN to encrypt your internet traffic. A VPN will effectively bar any unauthorized party from reading any messages you and your staff send out and receive via a web browser or another medium.

Install ad blockers

While most online ads are benign, some contain widgets that send your data to third parties that can then send you more targeted ads based on the data gleaned about you. Clicking on some of these ads can bring you to malicious sites. Thankfully, you can use ad blockers to keep suspicious pop-up, rollover, and banner ads from showing up on your browsers.

Stop online activity trackers

If you don’t want a third party monitoring your surfing habits, use your browser’s private browsing mode, such as Private Browsing on Safari and Incognito on Chrome. Private browsing also protects you from malware and third-party cookies that track your online activities. You can also use browser extensions that stop social networking sites, such as Facebook and Twitter, from tracking your online behavior and collecting other information about you. Such browser extensions include Privacy Badger and Ghostery.

The simple act of browsing the internet has become fraught with peril. Do you have sufficient defenses to keep your data safe? And would you like a more comprehensive security system for your business? Net Activity’s IT specialists can help you fight off cyber threats. Let’s talk about your business requirements today.

By admin
August 8, 2022

How To Give A Knockout PowerPoint Presentation

It’s not easy to stand in front of a group of people and deliver a PowerPoint presentation. But don’t worry, here are some tips and tricks that will help you give presentations that will impress your audience.

Understand your target audience

Before preparing your presentation, do some research about your target audience. Think about what kind of presentation they would enjoy. What sort of media do they prefer most, and what kinds of images and typefaces should you use to pique their interest?

Doing your homework on your audience will help ensure your PowerPoint presentation receives the full attention of your audience.

Talk about one idea per slide

Never cram several topics into a single slide, as this can overwhelm your audience. Instead, concentrate on one theme or topic per slide. This will help your audience better comprehend the message you’re trying to get across.

Use images instead of bullet points

Using pictures, graphical elements, or other visual components instead of bulleted lists, can help you command more attention during your presentation. Images can help your audience focus more on what you’re saying instead of reading what’s on the screen.

Use white space to enhance readability

White space, also known as negative space, is a design concept that refers to empty spaces in a layout. It isn’t always white; rather, it’s the background of the design, regardless of color or pattern, that doesn’t contain any text or images. When used correctly, white space will draw your audience’s focus to the most essential parts of your presentation.

Practice

Practice delivering your presentation days before a live or recorded event. You can try practicing in front of a mirror or recording yourself to see how well you’re delivering your presentation. Rehearsing several times can help you determine the flow of your presentation and identify areas for improvement.

Keep these tips in mind the next time you’re making a PowerPoint presentation to increase audience engagement. For more detailed information on how to make compelling PowerPoint presentations, give us a call today.

By admin
August 4, 2022

What Does The Global Chip Shortage Mean For Your Business?

For the past couple of years, the tech world has been struggling with a huge shortage of chips.

But it’s not just tech businesses that are feeling the impact.

So many of the things we use every day contain a chip. Laptops and desktops, sure. But also household appliances, even our cars. It’s hard to find an electric device without a chip.

This shortage has the potential to disrupt our modern lives.

Did you know, it’s been ongoing since 2020 (ah, that year really was a gift, wasn’t it)?

It started during the pandemic, as production fell while demand went up.

Other events since have made it worse, including extreme weather, the Ukraine war, and a factory fire.

We’re told that increasing chip production isn’t easy. It can take years to build a new factory because of the unique production demands.

Of course, all of this is someone else’s problem. Let’s make it real to you – what does this actually mean for your business?

Essentially, it means you need to plan ahead more.

Some of the technology you need to run your business may be in short supply.

As an example, getting large numbers of the same laptop might be difficult, compared to getting just 2 or 3.

And some essential devices you rarely think about as they’re in the background, such as network switches, are currently much harder to get.

As you push your business towards increased growth, it means planning ahead more than ever before.

Industry experts expect the shortage to last into next year… and it could be even longer.

Would you like to run your growth plans by us, so we can advise what might need to be ordered, and when? Get in touch.

By admin
August 1, 2022

9 IT Security Terms Everyone Should Know

You’ve probably heard the term “malware” thrown around a lot, but what does it actually mean? In this article, we will define malware and a few other commonly used terms in IT so you can better protect your business. Understanding these basic cybersecurity concepts doesn’t require deep IT expertise, so read on.

Malware

For a long time, the phrase “computer virus” was misused to refer to any type of attack that harmed computers and networks. The more appropriate term for these harmful programs and files is “malicious software,” or “malware.” Whereas a virus is a specific type of malware designed to replicate itself, any software created for the purpose of destroying or accessing networks and data with the intent to steal, corrupt, or encrypt these should be referred to as malware.

Ransomware

Don’t let all other cyberthreats ending in “-ware” confuse you; they are all just subcategories of malware. Currently, one of the most notorious of these is ransomware, which is malware that encrypts valuable data until a ransom is paid for the decryption key. In a ransomware attack, the victim organization may feel compelled to pay the ransom to regain access to their data.

Intrusion prevention system (IPS)

There are several ways to safeguard your network from malware, but an IPS is one of the non-negotiables. An IPS sits behind your company’s firewall and monitors for suspicious and malicious activity that can be halted before it can exploit or take advantage of a known vulnerability.

Social engineering

Not all types of malware rely solely on fancy computer programming. Experts agree that the majority of attacks require some form of social engineering to succeed. Social engineering is the act of tricking people, rather than computers, into revealing sensitive or protected information. For some cybercriminals, it’s less tedious to convince a potential victim to give them the data they need than to create and deploy complicated software to obtain the same information.

Phishing

Phishing is a type of social engineering scheme that involves defrauding people using an app or a website that impersonates a trustworthy or often well-known business in an attempt to obtain confidential information. Just because you received an email that says it’s from the IRS doesn’t mean that it is. Don’t take such emails at face value — always verify the source, especially if the emails are requesting your sensitive data.

Antivirus

Antivirus software is often misunderstood as a way to comprehensively secure your computers and workstations. These applications are just one piece of the cybersecurity puzzle and can only scan the drives on which they are installed for signs of well-known malware variants.

Zero-day attacks

When a vulnerability is found within a piece of software, vendors will release an update to fix the gap in security. However, cyberattackers can release a piece of malware that exploits the security vulnerability before software developers can address it. This is known as a zero-day attack.

Patch

When software developers discover a security vulnerability in their programming, they usually release a small file to update and “patch” this gap. Patches are essential to keeping your network secure from the vultures lurking on the internet. By checking for and installing patches as soon as these become available, you keep your software protected from the latest malware.

Redundant data

When antivirus software, patches, and intrusion prevention fail to keep your information secure, there’s only one thing that will: quarantined off-site storage. Duplicating your data offline and storing it somewhere other than your business’s workspace ensures that even if your systems get infected with malware, you’re equipped with backups to keep your business running.

Net Activity’s cybersecurity professionals are always available to impart more in-depth knowledge of the many kinds of cyber threats. Get in touch with us today and find out how we can help you with your IT security woes.

By admin
July 30, 2022

Protecting Your Microsoft 365 Environment And Data

For many businesses, Microsoft 365 is their go-to productivity suite because it offers powerful features, cost-saving benefits, and world-class security. And while Microsoft continuously looks for ways to address security concerns, the changing threat landscape can put Microsoft 365’s security measures to the test. Here are some of the most common security risks Microsoft 365 users face and how you can protect your business from these.

Infected file synchronization

Like most cloud services, Microsoft 365 allows users to automatically sync files stored on their devices to the cloud, such as in OneDrive. However, this useful feature is not without security risks. If a locally stored file is infected with malware, OneDrive will view the file as changed/updated and trigger a sync to the OneDrive cloud, with the infection going undetected.

Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps is a great tool against malware infection. Part of Microsoft 365 Defender, this app is designed to enhance protections for Office 365 apps. It also provides great visibility into user activity to improve incident response efforts. Make sure your organization’s security administrators set this up on your systems so you can detect and mitigate cyber risks as soon as they arise.

Security risks in dormant applications

Some organizations using Microsoft 365 often don’t use all the tools and services included in the productivity suite. For instance, your organization might use programs like Word, Excel, and SharePoint every day, but rarely use OneDrive. Unfortunately, dormant applications may be prone to attack. To counter this, it’s crucial to identify unused apps and have an administrator tweak user settings to restrict availability on these apps.

Unprotected communication channels

Phishing attacks and malware are two of the most common ways cybercriminals infiltrate a system, but there are other paths of attack that you may not be aware of. Microsoft 365 applications like Microsoft Teams, which can connect to external networks, may serve as a medium for ransomware and other types of cyberattacks.

To fight against such threats, train your staff in identifying potentially malicious files and links. You can also offer guidelines on how to handle and route sensitive files and communications to safe locations.

Vulnerabilities in SharePoint

Businesses typically use SharePoint to store sensitive information like personally identifiable data, so failing to secure SharePoint content against unauthorized users is one way to expose data and your business to cyberthreats. This can be disastrous for companies that are required to comply with stringent data privacy and protection regulations. Failure to comply may result in serious consequences not only for businesses but their customers as well.

To prevent this, limit administrator-level privileges and enable encryption. Additionally, set the necessary security restrictions per user for every application. This ensures that users and hackers who get a hold of user credentials cannot exploit or misuse privileges.

Microsoft 365 provides a powerful and convenient tool for businesses. However, as long as cybercriminals exist, there are always security risks to be aware of. If you have any questions about Microsoft 365 security or would like help in implementing these tips, our team of experts would be happy to assist you. Contact us today!

By admin

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