If your trusty home PC has started showing its age, with more issues cropping up lately, you may wonder if it’s finally time to say goodbye to your old friend. Or could some TLC in the form of repairs get it back in the game?
We are often asked to help clients make this decision. Several important factors must be considered when determining the best path forward. [Read more…]
So you’ve got an exciting new announcement for your clients – a new service launch, a big sale – and you want to spread the word.
You load up your email client, mass-add everyone in your address book, and get ready to press the Send button.
Hold up for a minute! You may not want to do this.
There are some significant downsides to consider before blasting emails from your inbox. [Read more…]
Casual Social Media Posts and Hidden DangersSocial media is a powerful marketing tool for small businesses, allowing you to share updates and engage with customers easily. However, what you share on platforms such as Facebook and Instagram could put your company at risk of a cyberattack. [Read more…]
Protecting Kids in the Evolving Digital LandscapeFrom online bullying to inappropriate content, the internet poses unique risks to children that didn’t exist just a decade ago. While basic safety measures such as avoiding suspicious links and keeping personal details private are still necessary, today’s kids face a more complex threat landscape that demands continuous vigilance from parents. [Read more…]
With Deepfakes becoming increasingly sophisticated, it’s a legitimate question. But what exactly is a Deepfake exactly?
Deepfakes are videos or images manipulated using artificial intelligence (AI).
Deepfake AI has the ability to train itself on lots of real photos and videos, learn how to move people’s faces, and emulate their voices to make it seem like they are saying or doing something they really are not.
AI is very good at emulating people because it’s seen many real examples.
A recent incident at a large multinational company shows how convincing these deceptions can be.
The incident began when an employee in the company’s Hong Kong office received an email, supposedly from their Chief Financial Officer (CFO) in the UK headquarters. The CFO requested an immediate and sizable money transfer to an offshore account, citing an urgent acquisition deal.
As the request lacked important details and was highly atypical, the savvy employee grew suspicious that it could be a phishing attempt. However, the scammers had a more devious plan to sell the deception.
The scammers scheduled a video call with the employee. Through Deepfake technology and previously captured sources, they generated remarkably life-like digital imitations of the CFO and other executives.
During the brief call, the fake participants did just enough to confirm the money transfer request and add pressure due to the supposedly sensitive deal. Faced with what seemed an authentic interaction, the employee’s doubts were eased.
Believing he had verified the request through a live video call, the employee initiated the large, fraudulent money movement. It wasn’t until double-checking with head office that the deception was uncovered.
This incident serves as a sobering reminder that even conscientious employees can fall victim to a well-planned Deepfake scam. While live video interaction was once considered an ironclad way to verify identities, the latest Deepfake techniques mean any communication channel is now vulnerable to sophisticated spoofing.
Businesses can take steps to prevent such a costly deception.
Companies should implement multiple-level approval processes for money transfers, regardless of the sender’s apparent seniority.
Additionally, questioning aspects of interactions and observing participants could help uncover anomalies that indicate Deepfakes.
To learn more about Deepfakes and how to protect your organization, reach out to one of our security experts. We’d be happy to assess your security posture and policies to recommend tailored improvements.
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As a business owner, your top priority is keeping costs low while still supporting growth. When your managed service provider recommends investing in a robust stack of cybersecurity software, it’s natural to wonder whether we really need all those solutions. [Read more…]
We’ve all been there: an unexpected tech glitch throws a wrench in your works at the worst possible moment. As annoying as it is, staying calm and providing full transparency with your IT friends will have you back up and running in no time.
In this article, we’ll share what essential details to include in a help ticket to get you up and running quickly. [Read more…]
Do You Really Need to “Safely Eject” USB Drives Anymore?We’ve all been there: rushing to grab your USB drive only to be stopped in your tracks by an ominous warning about “safely removing” it first. But does this advice from the days of yore still apply in the era of Windows 10 and 11?
As your organization grows, so does the trove of valuable information flowing through employee inboxes daily. Proposals, contracts, intellectual property, customer records: your business lives and breathes through email. But are you really in complete control of this sensitive data?
For many large companies, lack of oversight over how staff access and manage work communications has become an Achilles’ heel. Why? Many employees find it convenient to use personal Gmail, Outlook, or Yahoo accounts rather than their official company address. [Read more…]
If you’ve been swamped with spam lately, you’re not alone. Unwanted marketing messages clogging up our inboxes seem to be part of everyday digital life. But have you ever stopped to wonder how on earth all those spammers acquired your email address? [Read more…]
