Two Very critical vulnerabilities have been found in several Mac related Operating Systems and Products. – ACT NOW!
[Read more…]WordPress 5.8.1 update – fixing several Security Vulnerabilities
WordPress has released the 5.8.1 (Sep 9 2021) security update which fixes 3 major security vulnerabilities and 41 bugs to WordPress core code and 20 bug fixes to the Gutenberg block editor for a total of 60 bug fixes.
[Read more…]Phone Scams – Still on the Attack
Pesky phone scams, we’re all onto them – right?
Maybe not.
A local bank recently contacted us to help one of their clients who had come into their branch to get advice. The client had been convinced to allow a caller into his computer via remote access. Credit card details were requested. Then he realised something was wrong and hung up.
Jim asked him to turn off his computer as he had not yet turned it off.
The bank had already closed his account.
On investigation, Jim found that the scammer had set up a Western Union app and a Remote Control app from the computer’s Google Play Store.
These apps allow for the syphoning of money from the victim’s account into the scammer’s account.
Fortunately no lasting damage was done.
Phone scammers are continually altering the way they approach people.
They especially prey on the elderly and the less tech savvy.
The simplest defence is to never give out personal information on the phone or through email. If it’s sounds too good to be true, it most likely is.
This phone scam is a version of a Voucher Exchange SCAM.
Read more about or report scams at Scamwatch
*Something to Note: If you have been a victim of a scam, your contact phone number is most likely shared around scammers and you will probably receive more calls.
Concerned that you may have been a victim of a scam or a virus placement on your computer? Contact us for help.
If you get sent a bill from someone you Don’t know Don’t click on the link!
One of my customers called this week. He received a link for a bill he was asked to pay immediately.
Malware embedded in a zip file was attached to the email. The message was not Was not flagged as spam in his webmail application.
It is unusual for this type of email content to go undetected, it is possible though, especially when it is a new type of threat.
Spam systems rely on intelligence from previously reported email messages. These applications, use a data bank of previously learned data to check each incoming message, in order to learn and assess threats There is no 100% reliable system. It’s a matter of doing the best it can to combat threats.
At the end of the day, the end user, (you) need to take some responsibility.
The golden rule is always be wary. If you are sent suspicious messages, especially if they contain dodgy links or attachments. You need to assess and not trust the spam / malware filtering. If in doubt delete the message or mark it as spam (or both) Spam detection systems eventually catch up and these messages will go away.
Remember also , if someone is sending you an invoice There is a fair chance you would remember purchasing a product or service from them.
I hope this is useful to you If you nee more information on how to protect yourself, please contact me.
Very quick hack for a faster safer Internet
If you are like me, you are always looking for faster and safer internet connections.
There are several ways to make your internet safer. Virus and malware companies have overlays that examine the traffic coming into your computer to block potential threats. VPN companies protect your privacy, and if you are using a VPN solution such as NordVPN you can get an excellent cyber security layer that will block malware, pop-ups anddramatically increase your privacy.
If you are looking for protection and privacy but do not want to spend more money or run yet another load hogging application, you might wish to look at Cloudflare 1.1.1.1 for families. This is a replacement for your current DNS Servers and boasts greater response speed for DNS requests.
I have been testing the Warp+ product on my Android Phone for a while now and I really like the added security it gives me.
Cloudflare have comprehensive instructions for setting up your Windows or Mac OS computer here. to protect your PC or Mac.
The best part of this little hack is it is so non invasive and requires no additional software. As this is a change to your network settings It won’t interfere with anything else you may be running such as Anti Virus software.