Tag | data security
Microsoft Shows Us Why Automatic Updates Arn’t A Good Idea
Oh, don’t get us wrong.. We love being able to update systems at the click of a mouse! But, having systems updates just “happen” is rarely a good idea. And Microsoft has shown us all why in a big way.
This past “Patch Tuesday” update from Microsoft is causing Windows7, Windows8, and Server2013 systems to BSOD (blue screen of death). It’s widespread enough that Microsoft has withdrawn the update! For Microsoft, this is a huge deal. But, not quite as huge as all the people whose computers were “bricked” by an Automatic Update!
Microsoft Patch Tuesday Update Creates BSOD
This is why you should NEVER have updates happen automatically. And why businesses should have a company like OPENRSM do the updates for them. Why? Because their tested before being accepted. Will that Java update break that required program your suppliers make you use? Does that security update declare that your anti-virus program is a virus? Will a general “patch fix” from Microsoft render your machine useless? Well, if your simply accepting automatic updates for Windows, OSX, Java, Adobe, etc., you could have a very bad day. Best to let people who test these things with the software you already use update your systems for you. Only, after they are tested!
Change Your Passwords and UserNames Now
It appears that the “Russian Mob” has pulled off something big… Stealing 1.2 Billion (yes, with a B) usernames and passwords from a wide range of sites.
Anytime something like this happens, OPENRSM suggests you change everything. Including usernames, passwords, on all accounts and computers.
The New York Times has the story….
Just How Much Personal Info Are You Giving Away?
It’s pretty well known that many websites make an effort to track you online. Even when your not on their site! But, just how much tracking is going on?
We decided to do a “quick and dirty” look at a few popular websites to see just how many different trackers are deployed. And, it’s not pretty. In fact, it’s pretty ugly.
- Drudgereport.com is by far the worst offender with at least 37 different cookies, trackers, advertising preference systems, etc. looking at you.
- The Kansas City Star’s website, KansasCity.com has 13 peeking at what your doing.
- KCTV5.com weighs in with 16.
- The popular humerous headline site Fark.com is a heavyweight with 19 different trackers.
- And last, but not least, on our list is the popular fact checking site Snopes.com. Which is using 28 different tools to see what your doing online.
Now, what happens when you block most (if not all) of these different little logical spy devices? When tested on a 1.5Mbs DSL connection (fast enough to get results, slow enough to calculate differentials) we got some significant results. Here’s what we did:
- Blocked all advertising trackers.
- Left open all trackers that serve a useful purpose (live support, security checking, etc.).
- Loaded a predetermined set of websites and a Firefox Macro Script that would load each page in succession. After one page fully loads, it loaded the next.
We cleared the system Cache between each test run (and we did 10 runs of the tests).
Well, go figure! You can surf much faster with all that “spying into what your doing stuff” turned off! Significantly faster (tests ranged from 10-14% faster). And, we wern’t leaking all kinds of personal data, surfing history, etc. out to other people we just think have no business tracking us.
Want to protect your personal and business information? Give us a call or email. We can not only block out the “bad actors” that are tracking you and your employees every online move, it’ll get you a little bit more out of your existing Internet connection speed too.
AT&T Has Security Breach, Doesn’t Bother To Tell Customers
Another day, another sad story about a big company losing customers private information, and not telling anyone about it.
In April, AT&T confirms employees of an outside contractor hacked customers’ information including Social Security numbers. The contractors employees attempted to unlock phones to put them on another network. Did they sell the names/SSNs? Nobody (including AT&T) has answered that question, yet.
You can see AT&Ts full response as posted by the California Attorney Generals Office by following This Link.
Who’s watching out for your Company’s and Employee’s Mobile Data? Helping to create the policies, procedures, and infrastructure to protect your data?
Give OPENRSM a call… We can make it easy for you to secure your information.
OPENRSM Advises Changing AppleID Passwords Immediately
It seems to be Apple’s turn in the data wars between “fast buck” artists and real companies.
Apple iPhones/Pads are locking up all over Australia and the UK and being held for ransom by a scammer that has managed to gain control of the devices. Apple has yet to comment but incidents in the US can’t be far behind. The “Find My iPhone” service seems to be the only link between the users whose iPhones and iPads are being “held hostage” by the scammers.
From an article in The Telegraph: “Currently there is only speculation about how the attacks have been carried out. Apple has not yet responded officially,”… “With the possibility that this attack is linked to your ‘Apple ID’, affected users are advised to change your Apple ID password as soon as possible.”
And, so you should.
Another Reason You Need OPENRSM To Help Guide You Into The Clouds
And this is another reason why you need an experienced IT Company to help you manage your implementation and use of “The Cloud”
