Latest Scam Involves People’s Social Security Numbers

There's a new scam making the rounds, and it's a particularly nasty one involving your social security number.  That’s why it’s always a good thing to get in touch with your IT consultant for updates on the latest scam trends. Here's how it works:

You may get a robocall seemingly from the government, claiming that there's a problem with your Social Security number. The call also states that your account has been flagged for suspected fraudulent activity.

You'll be given a number with instructions to call back and speak to a government agent in order to get help resolving the issue and prevent your arrest.

Needless to say, given the importance of your Social Security number and the looming threat of legal action and possible arrest, a significant percentage of people will call back. They will be desperate to resolve the matter quickly before things escalate.

Of course, the reality is that Social Security numbers cannot be suspended.  This is merely the hook this breed of scammers are using to get people to call them and get help resolving an issue that doesn't actually exist. With so much at risk, it is critical to make sure your IT consultant Columbia gives you important updates on how to secure your data.

If you make the mistake of calling back, you'll be pressured for your name, date of birth, and banking information. In addition to those of course, you will be asked to verify your Social Security number for security purposes.  Essentially then, those who get roped into this scam wind up giving the person on the other end of the line everything they need to steal their identity and empty their bank account.

While anyone of any age can be targeted by the scam, it seems to be impacting older Americans in disproportionate numbers, which makes this group of scammers even more despicable than most. That’s why actions to improve information security must always be taken.

As ever, vigilance is the key to staying safe.  If you get a call like this, don't call back at all.  If you feel tempted, don't call the number you get via the robocall. Rather, look up the number of your local Social Security office and begin your inquiry there.  In short order, you'll confirm for yourself and your own peace of mind that there is indeed nothing to it.

Call SpartanTec, Inc. if you want to know how to keep your company’s confidential information safe and secure.

 

SpartanTec, Inc. Columbia, SC 29201 (803) 408-7166 http://manageditservicescolumbia.com/

cities served:
Columbia, West Columbia, Cayce, St Andrews, Lexington, Oak Grove

Facebook Inadvertently Saves Millions Of User Credentials In Text File

By now most, if not all, of the people you know are into social media and on Facebook in particular. However, with the recent discovery, you may want to change your password. According to a recent report by KrebsOnSecurity, hundreds of millions of usernames and passwords on Facebook were stored in a plain text file. The file was reported to have been accessed by 20,000 facebook employees. A reason why IT consultants always advise changing passwords every now and then.

The sheer number of user credentials stored in the text file is just screaming data breach all over it. And the fact that it has been accessed by Facebook employees more than 9 million times makes it vulnerable to abuse. However, upon investigation, there had been no abuse or misuse of the data stored in the text file as stated by Facebook software engineer Scott Renfro. He added that the user credentials were accidentally logged but it was without risk.

This incident it the latest in a series of security-related issues being faced by the social media giant. The company, however, is taking steps to prevent such cases in the future. While this gives little consolation to the people who were affected by other incidents last year, it definitely is a step in the right direction. On the other hand, IT consultant Columbia normally advise against using the same password or one password for multiple accounts on social media and other websites.

According to Facebook’s official statement, users have nothing to worry about unless they receive a notification from the company. If users to get a notification, it will most likely be regarding a request for password change. Despite the efforts that Facebook is taking to protect its users, we must always remain vigilant with how we manage out passwords. After all, it is our information security that we are talking about when it comes to use credentials.

Want to keep your business secure from hackers? Call SpartanTec, Inc. today to get overall protection.

 

SpartanTec, Inc. Columbia, SC 29201 (803) 408-7166 http://manageditservicescolumbia.com/

cities served:
Columbia, West Columbia, Cayce, St Andrews, Lexington, Oak Grove

New Thunderbolt Flaw Could Leave Door Open For Hackers

During the 2019 NDSS security conference, a Thunderbolt flaw called Thunderclap was revealed. The revelation highlighted a potentially huge problem for major operating systems such as Windows, Mac, Linux, and FreeBSD. The newly announced vulnerability could be exploited by hacker, distorting how Thunderbolt-based devices connect with a targeted system. That’s why businesses must be careful enough and have their IT Consultant ready to provide ample information regarding how to secure data against these kinds of hardware flaws.

Thunderbolt is a type of hardware interface that was a product of a joint project set forth by Apple and Intel. Some devices like keyboards, chargers, and more use the Thunderbolt interface to connect to computers. Originally, Thunderbolt was only to be used on Apple devices. However, with the release of newer iterations, Thunderbolt became available for use on different operating systems. Hiring an IT Consultant Columbia would give you the advantage your business needs to avoid problems from these sorts of vulnerabilities.

To sum it all up, Thunderclap is basically a convergence of different security flaws in the interface. Upon closer inspection, the main flaw comes from the way operating systems’ actions when introduced with new hardware. Operating systems normally trust a new hardware whenever it is installed so it is ready for use. However, hackers could take advantage of this through bypassing the IOMMU or Input-Output Memory Management Unit set in place by the operating systems.

Action to remedy this problem has been quite slow. Thunderclap was discovered in late 2016 but OS developers weren’t as keen on providing a fix. At the moment, the problem is still around. It is only a matter of time before some major hacking incidents happen through the exploitation of these flaws. It’s also one reason why businesses should always protect their data with IT services to improve their overall information security.

Is your company in need of a complete technology solution provider? Call SpartanTec, Inc. Today.

 

SpartanTec, Inc. Columbia, SC 29201 (803) 408-7166 http://manageditservicescolumbia.com/

cities served:
Columbia, West Columbia, Cayce, St Andrews, Lexington, Oak Grove