Author Archives: Anton Ruighaver

Tips To Reduce IOT-Related Risk In The Healthcare Industry

Business, Security, Technology
Most, if not all, cybersecurity experts believe that anything connected to the internet can be hacked. So with the increasing popularity of the Internet of Things (IoT) and IoT devices in the healthcare industry, it’s only wise that organizations understand and address the risks associated with the ubiquity of IoT. Computing devices that contain a treasure trove of patient data are attractive targets for cybercriminals. Healthcare apps, for instance, hold plenty of sensitive information, such as Social Security numbers, prescriptions, and medical histories. Should hackers ever get a hold of this information, they could resell it on the dark web or use it to steal their victim’s identity. They could even use this information to gain direct control over other IoT equipment, which would lead to even bigger consequences. Similarly, hackers could exploit vulnerable medical devices to infiltrate even the … READ MORE »

Don’t Be A Victim Of Watering Hole Attacks

Business, Personal, Security, Technology
With cybercriminals continuously developing new ways to infiltrate networks and steal user data, it is more crucial than ever to stay one step ahead of these perpetrators. Protect yourself from one of the most common methods that cybercriminals use to inject malware into computers: watering hole attacks. The term “watering hole” colloquially refers to a social gathering place where a particular group of people often go to. As internet users, we all have unique “watering holes” or websites that we visit frequently. A financial analyst, for example, is likely to visit websites related to financial investments and market trends. In a watering hole attack, cybercriminals observe the watering holes of a specific demographic and infect their most visited websites with malware. Any user who has the misfortune of visiting any of these compromised sites will then have their computers automatically … READ MORE »

Empower Your Mobile Workforce With VoIP

Business, Mobility, Technology, VoIP
Remote work policies require companies to expand their communication capabilities. Many businesses aim to increase productivity and improve customer service by turning to a VoIP solution. There are several factors that will make your VoIP more mobile while ensuring both your customers and employees remain satisfied and can communicate hassle-free. To cater to your out-of-office workers, there are a variety of ways by which you can expand the mobility of your VoIP services. 1. Look into unified communications (UC) If your employees are able to bring their personal devices to work, your IT administrators will insist that all of them comply with your company’s policies. You will need to establish good security and compliance measures to meet the needs of both your customers and employees. A solid solution is UC, which integrates real-time communication services, such as instant messaging, telephony, … READ MORE »

These 5 Types Of Hackers Are A Threat To SMBs

Business, Personal, Security, Technology
Malicious hackers are motivated by different things. Some do it for fun, some want money, and others just want to end your business. Getting to know how they behave and what drives them informs how you must defend your organization against them. Script kiddies In terms of skill, script kiddies (or skids, for short) are at the bottom of the hacker totem pole. Their name comes from the fact that they use scripts or other automated tools written by others. They are often young people on a quest for internet notoriety or who are simply bored and in search of a thrill. Script kiddies shouldn’t be dismissed so easily, however. The ILOVEYOU virus, considered one of the worst malware on the planet, was developed by skids. Hacktivists Hacktivists often hack into businesses and government systems to promote a particular political agenda … READ MORE »

Here’s How To Choose The Right VoIP Solution For Your SMB

Business, Cloud, Technology, VoIP
Many small- and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) turn to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) as their telephony solution. VoIP allows them to make calls either through traditional desk phones (hardphones) or software-based phones (softphones). Find out the pros and cons of both phone options so you can decide which one fits your business best. What’s a hardphone? A hardphone functions like a normal phone, but it’s connected to your business’s IP network instead of a telephone line. There’s no learning curve associated with VoIP hardphones and they allow your staff to call anyone worldwide at an affordable price. More advanced hardphones have built-in video displays and touch screens for video calls, eliminating the need for separate equipment for video conferencing. What’s a softphone? A softphone is any electronic device that uses a software application that allows users to turn their PCs, … READ MORE »

Level Up Your Excel Skills With These Tips

Business, Technology
Microsoft Excel’s new features now make it easier than ever to process data and present information visually. Level up your spreadsheets with the tips below: Take advantage of Ideas in Excel If you’re not sure which type of chart best tells a particular story out of a table of data, don’t worry — Excel’s artificial intelligence has got your back. Just click any cell in a data range, then go to the Home tab and click the Ideas button. A task pane will appear, showing recommendations for what data visualization you can use. Here’s a quick reference for what some of the most popular charts are for: Column/Bar chart – Compares categories with one another by depicting their numerical standing in terms of column height (or bar length, in the case of bar charts) side by side (think of lining children up and … READ MORE »

Basic Cybersecurity Terms Everyone Should Know

Business, Cloud, Personal, Security, Technology
If the only cybersecurity terms you know are “virus” and “hacking,” now is the time to expand your cybersecurity vocabulary. This will enable you to better understand the variety of risks in the online world and protect your computers, data, and yourself. Here’s a short yet handy list of cybersecurity terms you should know. Malware For a long time, the phrase “computer virus” was misused to refer to every type of attack that intended to harm or hurt computers and networks. The more appropriate term for these harmful programs and files would be “malicious software” or “malware.” Whereas a virus is a specific type of malware that is designed to replicate itself, any software created for the purpose of destroying or unfairly accessing networks and data should be referred to as malware. Ransomware Don’t let all other cyberthreats ending in … READ MORE »

Protecting Healthcare Providers From Insider Threats

Business, Security, Technology
Many healthcare organizations are at risk of data breaches caused by insider threats. These are security risks within your organization and can be any of your current or former employees, partners, and contractors who have knowledge about your computer systems. Here are five ways through which your healthcare organization can prevent insider threats from exposing your data. Educate All healthcare employees must be educated on patient privacy, data security, and the risks associated with certain behaviors. They must also be aware of allowable uses and disclosures of protected health information (PHI). For example, some healthcare personnel may be tempted to peek into the medical records of a celebrity admitted to their hospital. You must emphasize that such behavior is strictly forbidden and that it carries corresponding penalties. Deter Develop and enforce policies aimed at reducing the risk of data leaks. … READ MORE »

4 Ways To Boost Staff Efficiency

Business, Technology
Technology enables businesses to work remotely, collaborate more efficiently, and manage their time more effectively. But to achieve these benefits, you need to implement technologies that align with your business’s needs. Here are some things to consider. Change office communication To increase teamwork and productivity, set up instant messaging software such as Slack or Microsoft Teams. These platforms allow employees to communicate in real time instead of communicating through asynchronous methods like email. You can instantly send messages and share files in team chat rooms, saving precious time and allowing you to get more work done. This is especially useful in enabling communications when everyone is working remotely Install video conferencing Rather than spending hours getting to and from meetings outside your office, opt for a networked phone solution that offers video calls and conferencing. This way, you can hold … READ MORE »

Handy Keyboard Shortcuts For Windows 10 Users

Business, Personal, Technology
First released in 2015, Windows 10 is packed with various features that make it easier for users to accomplish their tasks. Among these helpful features are time-saving keyboard shortcuts that can be extremely helpful to workers. In this blog, we’ve compiled our favorite keyboard shortcuts. Snap If you’ve never used Snap, then you’re missing out on one of Windows 10’s key features. Snap allows you to put two to four windows side by side, making it easier to compare documents or do two things at the same time. You can use Snap with these keyboard shortcuts: Windows Key + Left – Snaps the current window to the left side of the screen Windows Key + Right – Snaps the current window to the right side of the screen You can also select a snapped window and press Windows Key + Up/Down to … READ MORE »