The threat of phishing remains prevalent in all aspects of digital life. Both personal and professional. But a recent deep dive by Mandient into the details of a more specific kind of attack that is on the rise. This shines a light on the threat of industrial-themed email attacks and how they can affect operational […]

Major Impact Earlier this week the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced a nationwide ground stop of all flights.  Approximately 9,000 flights were delayed, and over 1,000 flights were canceled. The reason why?  The NOTAM system (short for Notice to All Air Missions), which is designed to provide real-time information to pilots and air traffic controllers […]

Which resolutions have you set for yourself in 2023? Let me guess: get fit, eat healthily, and hit the gym on a regular basis. These are good choices, but how about another way to incorporate training into your schedule? And this one may pay off in dollars saved, not pounds lost. Why Train? Cybersecurity training […]

Social Security Scams While many of us are taking time at the end of the year to enjoy our friends and family’s company and goodwill, cybercriminals are using it as an opportunity to scam people. One such opportunity comes with the end-of-year renewal of programs and policies. And Social Security scams are one of the […]

Quick! Get to the store for that forgotten gift…order online and pay for overnight shipping…whatever it takes to get the gift in hand for the holiday ahead! We know the holidays are coming, but inevitably we are scrambling to get some things done at the last minute. And where there’s an opportunity, there’s a scam. […]

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is gaining popularity among everyday consumers like so many technologies, through social media. Just take a quick look in your newsfeed and you’re likely to see your friends in otherworldly scenarios they’ve created with Magic Avatars from Lensa. With over 4 million downloads in the first part of December, it’s clearly a […]

End of year wrap-up has many of us in a hurry. We rush to get our businesses buttoned up, our shopping done, and our tasks completed so that we can enjoy the time off. Along with our tendency to rush, is the feeling of merriment and goodwill, and we may assume everyone else is operating […]

You are familiar with phishing. You’ve taught your clients and colleagues to be on alert for fraudulent emails. But are you changing your approach to education and training to match the sophistication of cybercriminals and their tactics? Smart Phishing Teaching effectively doesn’t necessarily mean endless bits of content and methodologies. It means that each lesson […]

‘Tis the Season The unofficial official shopping season starts this week, and if there is a sale, there might be a scam close by. As the prices go down, so does our guard. We fear losing out on a deal and can act without thinking. A few quick reminders to stay cyber-safe. Fraudulent Websites Don’t […]

When it comes to needing a strong cybersecurity program, don’t overlook the opportunity that the healthcare industry presents. There is a market here that MSPs should be focused on as a way to grow their business. Why Focus Here? Healthcare continually remains one of the largest targeted industries for cybercriminals. The payoff for a data […]

Sloppy social media habits can lead to a compromise that extends beyond an individual’s personal account. Many people don’t realize that their login credentials tie them together with an invisible thread in the dark web. A hacked social account could lead to access to business credentials or more. Hackers 101 Being in IT, you’re familiar […]

Can your mobile phone be infected with malware? It sure can. You’re holding a small computer in your hand, and it can be susceptible to malicious software just like your laptop or desktop. Nuisanceware can be problematic when it is downloaded with other applications. Spyware can lead to stolen data, and one step up is […]

A deepfake is a portmanteau (more on that in a moment) of “deep learning” and “fake”. What is a portmanteau? It is when you take multiple words and combine them into a new word. For example, smog is a portmanteau of smoke and fog. So how exactly could deepfake affect you and your business? If […]

Breach Secure Now is a partner-focused business. We work for the MSP community to provide them with the most comprehensive cybersecurity solutions for their clients. Gradient MSP also works with MSPs to provide the tools that integrate their solutions. The Right Partnership Because BSN was founded by an MSP for MSPs, we know the importance […]

This month we celebrate National Cybersecurity Awareness Month. The year’s campaign theme of “See Yourself in Cyber” focuses on the individual. This collaborative effort is done to raise awareness between government and industry. It is overseen by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the National Cybersecurity Alliance (NCA) working together. The theme this […]

October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month and Breach Secure Now is here to make sure that we get everyone involved in the cybersecurity ‘celebration’! Everyone – and we mean every single person needs to be aware of cybersecurity and the best practices that keep their world secure.  The ripple effect of breached information can travel […]

Small businesses often make the mistake that they have to be cybersecurity experts to have strong security programs in place. Remind them that as their MSP, you can be their expert. The concern is often that learning how to protect their business will be overwhelming. One more thing to do. Or that they need to […]

Is social engineering that effective? Ask an Uber or Rockstar Games employee that question and you’ll likely hear a resounding yes. This effective mode of duping people within a targeted group or business was the method that one hacker used to hit both companies with a breach. Just how effective is it? In 2021, the […]

You may hear the word ‘bot’ used in conversations, especially around cybersecurity.  But often we use it without really knowing exactly what it means or how it originated. The Players The term botnet is short for robot network.  It describes a network of computers that are infected by malware.  This malware is controlled by a […]

Back-to-school time is in full swing and imagine if the only threat that schools faced would be running out of tissues during sniffle season? Unfortunately, that isn’t the case. A cyberattack warning from the FBI, CISA, and MS-ISAC has been issued indicating that cybersecurity “attacks may increase as the 2022/2023 school year begins and criminal […]

Student Loan Scams With the launch of the U.S. Student Loan Forgiveness program, there is an opportunity for students and other borrowers to benefit. Any scenario that puts millions of people in a target pool is ideal for hackers. Add to the scenario the list of questions and uncertainties and you have a recipe for […]

What is ransomware as a service? You’re likely familiar with software as a service (SaaS) but ransomware? What does that mean? First, let’s do a quick recap of what ransomware is. It is a type of malware that holds the victim’s files and folders for ransom. Through human error, the malware is deployed and encrypts […]

Zero Trust Access Zero Trust, or Zero Trust Access, is the term applied to the strategy which assumes that you cannot trust the individual or device until verified.  The good guys, the bad guys, and all devices are the same and should not be trusted automatically. Proof of trust is verified with credentials. The term […]

As an MSP, your business is designed to serve your clients.  That means fixing what breaks and preparing them for what might break.  You encourage behaviors that eliminate the breaking altogether.  As a Breach Secure Now partner, you’re likely approaching this from multiple angles.  Ongoing training, social media reminders, and products that integrate with their […]

It’s back-to-school time, and no matter the age of the student, or the location of the school, there’s one class that everyone needs to pass. Smart cybersecurity habits need to be on all of our minds, and we can’t afford to fail. We’ve put together some reminders about staying safe online and with your technology. […]

With regard to technology, the Human Race is in an actual race to have the latest products and solutions integrated into our lives. We will stand in line for hours to be the first to have a new phone when it is released.  Camp out on Black Friday to get a good deal on electronics […]

Misrepresenting yourself is easy to do in a world where many of our interactions exist online.  Why not put that profile photo of yourself up at the gym from a few years ago when you actually went there regularly?  You’ll eventually get back to working out.  There’s no harm in it. Deceptive? Sort of.  But […]

Remember when summertime meant easy days and more time to relax? In the hurriedness of today, those moments can feel like they are too far gone to recapture. Additionally, as an MSP, there are so many clients relying on you, that it can be difficult to take time for yourself.  Enter Breach Secure Now We are […]

Strong password behavior is the foundation of many aspects of a cybersecurity program. There are still people that have the same password for all their accounts. As an MSP, you can’t be there when they create passwords to oversee the process. But you can enable measures that will force them to engage with good habits. […]

Dashboard Tag Filtering Grouping items together with tags is an effective way to put order to the items that you write, collect, and store electronically.  Tagging records allows you to label and group data in the same way.  Breach Secure Now has built upon that approach with a new update for our partners! Our latest […]

We are excited to announce that our annual training is now mobile device ready!  Your clients can now complete their full training courses just as they did on their desktop, but in a mobile format as well.  What Does This Mean? You will now be able to offer your client’s users access to watch the […]

Since Breach Secure Now was founded by an MSP. We have strong roots in understanding our partners’ unique opportunities and challenges. We are proud to be a company that focuses our platform and solutions on the needs of the MSP community and its clients. How do we accomplish that? By continuously seeking partner feedback to […]

Last year our team developed an innovative and one-of-a-kind security risk assessment, with a one-of-a-kind name. The Baseline Employee Cybersecurity Assessment, or BECA, was released in December and has been successfully used by our MSP partners as both a prospecting tool for prospective clients and a relationship-building tool for their existing clients! Since then, our […]

Oxford Dictionary defines malvertising as ‘the practice of incorporating malware in online advertisements.’  Short for malicious software, or malware advertising, this is the practice of attacking viewers or consumers with fraudulent information that is inserted into sometimes (but not always) legitimate advertisements. How Does It Work Malvertising works in conjunction with the online advertising ecosystem […]

Cybercriminal activity has many terms that are part of the mainstream vernacular. The dark web, breaches, and most people have heard of phishing, even if they don’t know how to recognize a fraudulent email.   In fact, Google recently warned nearly 5 million people in a recent week about potentially harmful sites that they are about […]

Scam Alert: Interview & Job Scams There are some topics that might seem irrelevant or not important when it comes to alerting your clients with regard to their online safety and cybersecurity.  One of those might be about the process of looking at other jobs for a career change or simply to supplement their current […]

Staying engaged and interacting with your clients just got easier.  And in the cybersecurity realm, no one can afford to stay complacent and ‘forget’ just how integral smart and secure habits are when it comes to lowering your risk of a breach.  You can’t be there onsite for your clients and calling them daily to […]

Imagine if a locksmith created a key for your home or business, then sold a copy of that key to a burglar.  They didn’t steal your belongings, but they provided access, making them integral to the process for it to occur.  Initial Access Brokers (IABs) work in a similar fashion.  The name says it all, […]

According to the United States Government Depart of Commerce National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), a removable media device or portable storage device is: “A system component that can communicate with and be added to or removed from a system or network and that is limited to data storage—including text, video, audio or image […]

It is so easy to become complacent in our cybersecurity behaviors.  But Android users should be given a shake this week and alerted to malware that is being deployed unknowingly by users who think that they are downloading anti-virus apps via the Google Play store.  There were six different cases found to contain the Sharkbot […]

No Big Deal Right? A friend recently mentioned an email that she received regarding an investment app that she had downloaded on her phone.  The app was a way for her to play around and learn a little bit about investing, something that it seems many people leaned into during the pandemic.    The notification […]

Many of us dread this time of year for the obvious reason …tax time can be well, very taxing.  Add to the challenge of it all, that many of us are working from home, and find ourselves in a whole new and unfamiliar scenario of what we can claim as a tax write-off.  We’re all […]

Look Beyond Technology and Put People First If you think of business as if it were a sports team, you can have a top-notch facility (or fancy office space), stylish uniforms, and the best fan base (or clientele list) around, but if your players don’t show up for each game, you’ll never have a winning […]

Sports fans undoubtedly have their favorite teams.  Sometimes we pick them based on the mascot, hometown, or because they were “my dad’s favorite growing up”. But just because you have a favorite team, it doesn’t mean that you don’t have respect for other franchises or organizations.  These are the teams that are often “drama-free”.  They […]

As an MSP, your clients know you’re there to “take care of the computers”.  The scenario is often (but not always) that they have their job to do, and you’ll hear from them when there’s an issue that prevents that from happening.  Regardless of their level of insight or knowledge of technology, they likely know […]

Participation in just about any group activity, from sports to dancing, to delivering presentations, is usually accompanied by one phrase that’s applicable across the board: practice makes perfect.  If you prepare for what may or may not happen, the likelihood increases that you will respond in a more successful manner.  But, when discussing a strategy […]

Well, today wraps up the month of February and the celebration of our love about being a part of an incredible community of MSPs and channel vendors dedicated to cybersecurity.  During the month of February, we shared some serious love for our partners, and really enjoyed seeing all of you that shared your #BSNLove on […]

We take thee for better or for worse, in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health…we will be there for you in your time of need…. ah, the familiar words we hear as two parties engage at the beginning of their road together.  You’re in it together and promise to stand by […]

Find something you love to do, and you’ll never have to work a day in your life.  Whether or not you have heard that exact quote before, it likely will resonate with all of us.  Loving what you do means that you have fervor for finding answers, are delighted at discovering different ways to approach […]

Everyone is doing it, right? It seems every day we see one successful match-up after the other on our newsfeed from Instagram to Facebook, and everywhere in between.  And since it is now February, the month known for celebrating perfect partnerships, we thought, hey, let’s put ourselves out there!  Tell Me a Little Bit About […]

Our recent launch of the Baseline Employee Cybersecurity Assessment provides MSPs with a new tool to add to their prospecting and baseline risk detection efforts.  As an MSP, it gives you the opportunity to show prospects and clients that human security plays a key role in protecting their organization and that without proper ongoing training, […]

Our recent launch of the Baseline Employee Cybersecurity Assessment provides MSPs with a new tool to add to their prospecting and baseline risk detection efforts.  As an MSP, it gives you the opportunity to show prospects and clients that human security plays a key role in protecting their organization and that without proper ongoing training, […]

Our recent launch of the Baseline Employee Cybersecurity Assessment provides MSPs with a new tool to add to their prospecting and baseline risk detection efforts.  As an MSP, it gives you the opportunity to show prospects and clients that human security plays a key role in protecting their organization and that without proper ongoing training, […]

Our recent launch of the Baseline Employee Cybersecurity Assessment provides MSPs with a new tool to add to their prospecting and baseline risk detection efforts.  As an MSP, it gives you the opportunity to show prospects and clients that human security plays a key role in protecting their organization and that without proper ongoing training, […]

Our recent launch of the Baseline Employee Cybersecurity Assessment provides MSPs with a new tool to add to their prospecting and baseline risk detection efforts.  As an MSP, it gives you the opportunity to show prospects and clients that human security plays a key role in protecting their organization and that without proper ongoing training, […]

Assessment Overview Our recent launch of the Baseline Employee Cybersecurity Assessment provides MSPs with a new tool to add to their prospecting and baseline risk detection efforts.  As an MSP it gives you the opportunity to show prospects and clients that human security plays a key role in protecting their organization and that without proper […]

Is it good or bad news to know that ransomware and phishing are no longer terms that need further explaining to most people?   Yes, it is favorable when you’re trying to explain how important a cybersecurity plan is for your clients to have – you don’t necessarily need to start at the beginning when it […]

Let’s talk end of year! Cybersecurity budgets vary across businesses, with some spending millions of dollars each year and others only a small fraction of that. But no matter the size of your client’s cybersecurity budget, there are a few key steps you can take to make sure it’s effective. Help Your Clients Identify Their […]

It’s holiday blockbuster season!  The time of year when the big screens are full of movie releases that are expected to pull in the crowds that want to watch Marvel and DC Comic heroes unite to save the world. They come from all realms to fight the dark forces that threaten humanity.  Together they will […]

We often discuss the proactive approach that you should take when it comes to cybersecurity.  Security risk assessments will identify the gaps, ongoing training will help to strengthen the human risk factor, and tools like Catch Phish will keep the team engaged and learning along with those training programs.  But the fact is, you can’t […]

Don’t Be Scammed By a Turkey It’s Thanksgiving week and that also means that the holiday season has officially started for most of us.  And just the holiday season of our youth, as in summer vacation from school, this is the time of year when we as adults tend to put our feet up and […]

Do Your Healthcare Clients Need an Annual Check-Up? As a Managed Service Provider, you’re in the business of keeping other businesses running.  Which vertical they are in, or what products and services they provide may not be the most pressing detail.  Unless you’re talking about healthcare.  There are two common views when it comes to […]

‘Tis the season for gathering with friends and family and this year feels especially special because of the limited human interaction we’ve had over the past year.  Or is it years now? It feels like years.   While Thanksgiving is just around the corner, the type of gathering we are referring to is IT Nation in […]

Performing a Security Risk Assessment (SRA) is one of the things that Managed Service Providers can utilize as a way to solidify their client relationships and grow their business.  Offering it to existing clients is a way of showing your value as well as helping them to strengthen their security posture.  You can engage with […]

Who’s Ready to Go? As Cyber Security Awareness Month comes to an end this week, don’t let the momentum you’ve created dwindle or diminish.  Take the foundation of awareness that you’ve been establishing with your existing and new clients and keep on building!  Are you feeling unsure about how to keep it going, or uncertain […]

When the national campaign for cybersecurity awareness ends on October 31st, the need for diligence doesn’t go away with it.  Since a critical aspect of your job as an MSP is to keep your clients safe and secure, you’ll inevitably benefit from keeping the momentum going!  Keep your clients aware of the risks and threats […]

It Starts at Home With October being designated National Cybersecurity Awareness Month (CSAM) by the National Cyber Security Alliance and the United States Department of Homeland Security, we are seeing promotional material from a variety of public-facing businesses.  Everyone from our banks to our credit cards to the grocery store is promoting it on their […]

Cybersecurity Awareness Month is the perfect time to “shine a light” on the ways that your clients can be aware of the threats that they face when it comes to cybersecurity, as well as provide ways to mitigate the risk factors that can allow cybercriminals easier access.  In addition to our very own marketing toolkit […]

If you’re in Texas, you’ll want to take note of a recent law that took effect on September 1, 2021.  Governor Greg Abbott signed House Bill 3746 that has amended the state’s data breach notification law.  The original law, Business and Commerce Code  521.053 established requirements for businesses around “any breach of system security” that […]

The work of an MSP is often taken for granted – until something goes wrong.  And then you are the first phone call that a client makes and it’s a hurry up and rush scenario.  At Breach Secure Now, our partner-focused mission is the foundation for all that we do.  Our founder Art Gross was […]

This past week Howard University had to cancel classes due to “unusual activity on the University’s network”. As a result, their Enterprise Technology Services (ETS) team shut down the school’s classes for the day to investigate the situation which they identified as a ransomware attack.  This incident brought to light the consideration of how deep […]

The threat to a business from outside perpetrators is very real when it comes to cybercrime.  But sometimes the threat comes from within, and it is even harder to detect or prevent in the first place.  Why would someone try to intentionally hurt the very company that provides them with a paycheck?  The reasons vary, […]

Last week the President met with leaders in the private sector as well as those in education to discuss the need to address cybersecurity threats to the nation and efforts needed across the board.  The increase in incidents and the ongoing threat of attack is something that transcends all the invisible borders that we put […]

Last week we saw the mobile phone carrier T-Mobile fall victim to cybercriminal activity when a hacker accessed the personal data of their users.  They learned of the breach via claims that were made on an online forum.  This led to an investigation and hiring of cybersecurity experts to help with the situation. They have […]

You can’t fix what you don’t know is broken.  And that in a nutshell sums up why you need to do a security risk assessment (SRA) when it comes to a business and addressing their cybersecurity needs.  But of course, there is more to the story, that’s simply the headline.  As an MSP, you want […]

Trends come and go and keeping up with them when it comes to pop culture or fashion might be challenging, but when it comes to cybercrime, you’ll likely never be ahead of the hackers. Their ability to adapt their tactics and tailor them to be more effective is constantly changing – and nearly impossible to […]

With summertime in full swing, many of us are heading out on vacations that are long overdue.  Whether you’re visiting family, friends, the mountains, or the beach, be “shore” to travel with smart cyber habits that will keep you and your loved ones protected in ways that can’t be fixed with that first aid kit […]

Last week, we discussed the opportunity that is present to best support your healthcare clients, the importance of those organizations being HIPAA compliant, and how cybersecurity comes into play in healthcare. This week, we’re taking an even deeper dive into healthcare cybersecurity to answer the question, Why Is Healthcare Such a Target for Cybercrime? We […]

As Managed Service Providers, you likely look at the world through ‘tech-colored glasses’.  While your business may focus on one vertical, in general, you’re able to support a business regardless of what they do or where their focus is, because you see them as a client with a technical infrastructure that you support.  What they […]

1. What would you do if a ransomware attack impacted your business for more than 2 weeks? Most MSPs are really good at backing up and restoring data. That is a core service that MSPs provide to their clients. It would be natural for a client to minimize the impact of downtime of a ransomware […]

Being on guard can be exhausting in any situation.  Learning behaviors that can offset the risk of danger can help, but it isn’t always a failsafe solution.  Such is the case with ransomware.  You need to know the signs to look for when it comes to dangerous links in phishing emails, attachments that seem like […]

In the past year, we’ve all seen how changes can be thrown at us unexpectedly.  We are presented with the need to evolve and grow in ways that can sometimes feel uncomfortable, or even rushed when the landscape that we work within changes.  Despite how it may feel at the time, this is usually a […]

Working from home.  It was fun while it lasted for many of us.  Some people are scrambling to get back to the office to escape makeshift dining room desks that compete with family life and chaos, or just crave the social interaction and other structure that office environments provide.  You might be in a combination […]

The three largest network morning news shows are often what Americans have on in the background as we get ready for work or school. You’ll find the headlines, pop culture, and maybe some shopping bargains from time to time. They generally cover the top stories of the day but are not known for their likelihood […]

As an adult, it is likely that you’re at least carrying one insurance policy.  Life, renters, auto, home…. In fact, it is very likely that you have multiple policies that provide coverage for each and every aspect of your life.  This coverage continues beyond your “stuff” and into your well-being with health insurance.  While needed […]

All of the minutes add up! There’s a lot to do when it comes to keeping up with multiple clients who are often in “crisis mode” or reacting to things that they might not understand, which can lead to panic.  You need to have solutions that deploy quickly and do the job right the first […]

Just as it seemed we might be seeing clear skies ahead in terms of the pandemic, another dark cloud began to rise on the horizon.  The Colonial Pipeline breach hit the news and many people began to panic.  We were all too familiar with uncertainty of the future and last year’s toilet paper rush was […]

This week we welcome Scott McClain, owner of Network Design Consultants as he discusses his experience as an MSP with healthcare clients and how his partnership with Breach Secure Now has contributed to that. After speaking with dozens of medical professionals, we realized the lack of understanding and confusion surrounding HIPAA Compliance. We also have […]

SmileDirectClub (SDC) is a business that offers teledentistry services throughout the world.  They produce and sell transparent retainers that fix crooked teeth in the way that traditional braces work.  With 60-75% of people in need of their services, they are poised for long term success, with a large audience of potential patients.  Sure, there is […]

It’s that little alert on your desktop.  The “upgrades available” indicator when you check your computer.  Or when your smartphone tells you that it’s going to update later while you’re sleeping, and you defer it to another time.  What if you miss an email or a text?  Nah, you don’t need to do that update, […]

In August of 2019, Facebook was the victim of a data breach that compromised information from 533 million people from 106 different countries.  Why is this in the news now?  Because the breach was addressed in a recent email from Facebook management, and that email was accidentally sent to a Belgium-based news outlet and, in […]

Cryptocurrency is a term that we hear all of the time, but many of us don’t seem to fully grasp what it is, and how it works.  We’ll take a look at it from a high level to provide some understanding.  Why? Well, it isn’t going away, and it only seems to be gaining popularity.  […]

Verizon recently released their 2021 Mobile Security Index report, and in it they summarize their research findings by looking at 856 IT professionals.  These are the people that buy, secure, and manage the mobile and internet of things (IOT) devices for their companies. In a year of firsts and unexpected experiences, what did they find? […]

At this time of year, we all risk resembling Charlie Brown waiting on his Valentine in the mailbox.  Has my check arrived?  Is it in the mailbox?  Perhaps you’re waiting on stimulus checks or tax refunds.  But along with the hint of spring flowers, there is mailbox optimism in the air for many of us. […]

It can be so frustrating to try to convince people that we “know better” than they do.  Especially when it comes to health or safety right?  You want them to know so that you can protect them! It’s like parenting, they need to make mistakes to learn, but nothing too catastrophic.  Cybersecurity is not too […]

WeLeakInfo was a data breach site that offered paid subscriptions to users who could then access their searchable database which contained stolen records.  This now defunct site contained 12.5 BILLION records of data that was illegally obtained through various means.  This included names, phone numbers, addresses, passwords, and email addresses.  Cybercriminals used this site as […]

The passing of the recent COVID-19 relief Bill last week includes funding that will be set aside to address cybersecurity concerns and a rise in the issues that have increased as a result of the pandemic.  As we often say when the topic can become divisive or political, regardless of which side you stand on, […]

There’s a March Madness of a different kind that happens each year during this time of tournaments: the onslaught of phishing emails that users fall for over and over again. With pools that take place in our offices, among friends, or to the individual who wants to join a group online, hackers are handed a […]

Your phone rings once.  The number looks familiar, same area code, same exchange as your local area, so you pick it up.  Hello? No one responds on the other end of the line.  You repeat “hello?” and it feels like a bad connection or that they can’t hear you on the other end, so you […]

Are you familiar with the United States Space Force (USSF)?  This branch of the US Air Force military was established in recent years to protect and secure space, just as it does for air, land, and sea with other branches.  This past week in the news, it was announced that Space Force was hiring or […]

We tend to not ask too many questions and let things slide when we aren’t certain about the situation.  Is that normal?  Should that happen like that?  I guess so.  I don’t really know. I mean, it seems ok?? And as with all things related to COVID-19, there’s an air of uncertainty that hasn’t left […]

Dating or cultivating relationships is hard enough, let alone trying to do it successfully during a pandemic.  You’re putting your heart in the hands of the internet gods and trusting that they will guide you safely along the corridors of the unknown and unseen.  Don’t get us wrong, online dating is the way that many […]

This week a friend shared a story about her college-aged daughter Jane and her recent experience in finding a job.  She is in graphic design and has a portfolio, so when she came across a well-known company that creates sports-branded gear that was hiring, it was something she wanted to pursue.  She sent them her […]

As we move ahead, taking advantage of the energy of the new year and work to get our annual plans moving, sometimes rushing to get a lot more done than usual since we now know the unexpected is all that can be expected, let’s have a quick refresher.  On what, you ask?  Smart, safe, and […]

New normal. Our new reality. The various ways that we describe everyday life in the time of a global pandemic. It means a lot of change, in a lot of ways, for a lot of people. While parenting is definitely more challenging when it comes to managing to homeschool and work from home at the […]

Bell bottoms, neon colors…kale…trends come, and trends go, and generally, we’re not one to care much about what’s in style, but cybersecurity trends?  That’s one we can get behind and think that there can never be enough of! So, what can you expect to see as both a consumer, employee, employer, business owner or just […]

The end of the year in the usual circumstances brings about reflection even if it hasn’t given us challenges to face or decisions to look back on. This year was one of extraordinary circumstances, and while the situation was unprecedented, the summary of what transpired lends itself to the age’s old advice: Preparation is key. […]

When establishing a safe environment at home, we put locks on the doors, latches on the gate, and home security systems that keep uninvited visitors out, and alert us to any intruders otherwise. What we see is what we address – as is the case with most things and situations. But hidden somewhere in your […]

Regardless of whichever way you lean politically, the recent announcement of a few incoming Presidential government staff appointments is hopefully good news to those who know the importance of strong cybersecurity. Why? Because these individuals come with a collective history of working in the industry. This means that there won’t be any lag time in […]

Let’s try to make lemonade out of these lemons we keep getting with COVID-19.  Yes, there is an uptick in the number of cases and yes, it appears we are heading towards additional restrictions and lockdowns in various ways.  One of two things has likely happened, you started working from home and are still there; […]

With the election season winding down, and a new administration announcing plans for the future, there will be another factor that contributes to the uncertainty of our times.  (When does the list of uncertainties stop growing, I wonder?) And again, we find hackers and cybercriminals in a power position to take advantage of our uncertainty […]

As the need for cybersecurity awareness increases across the entire business landscape, so does the need for strong programs and a trained and competent workforce. This affects everyone in at least two ways. First, you need to have a designated leader in place who facilitates the program, and second, you need to ensure that the […]

There’s a lot to talk about in the political world right now. In the United States, we’re on the cusp of a huge election and the opinions are strong. We aren’t here to discuss that side of politics; we’re here to look at how cybersecurity factors into this election process and how it affects all […]

No, this is not a political post.  In fact, we know that there are some topics that don’t even merit an effort to try to discuss.  They’re important, but differing opinions each hold their own value.  But when it comes to cybercrime, we should all be a united front.  There is one choice, and that […]

And so, the season starts.  Which one is it that we’re referring to?  Cyber Monday, Black Friday, Prime Day…all of these sales tend to lean towards exceptional deals on electronics, and today that means the “smartest” of appliances are being purchased and set up in our homes. By getting the latest and greatest, are we […]

The United States government has been known to take a stand of ‘we don’t negotiate with terrorists’ when it comes to discussions of ransom. Whether this has 100% certainty to it can be argued in more ways than we care to discuss here. What we do know for certain is that this week, the government […]

October kicks off 2020’s cybersecurity awareness month, and if this year has given us any type of certainty, it’s that smart cyber practices are a necessity. The uncertain, the unexpected, and the unknown all allow for hackers to gain our trust, and eventually access, into our personal and professional records without knowledge or permission. Phishing […]

We are past the point of whether or not working remotely, or from home, is something we are unsure of. It is likely our permanent setup, or at the very least, a long term one that we need to move forward with and in confidence. These recommendations should be for readers who find themselves in […]

We knew that any type of newsworthy topic was going to give cybercriminals so much opportunity – and COVID-19 gave them so much bang for the buck.  Just because this was something affecting the world in a detrimental way would never be reason enough for hackers to take a break.  They were going to take […]

You can’t help someone effectively if you don’t know the details of their situation.  So how can you determine what your clients need if you are not aware of what they are looking to achieve, the problems that they are trying to solve, or their behavioral tendencies when it comes to decision making? Does this […]

The Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) division announced a final directive this week that requires all individual federal civilian executive branch (FCEB) agencies to “develop and publish a vulnerability disclosure policy (VDP) for their internet-accessible systems and services and maintain processes to support their VDP.” Identified as the Binding […]

The conversation around selling your services can get uncomfortable for a variety of reasons.  We all have our own beliefs as to how we should be doing it, and few people want to acknowledge that they might be doing it wrong. Start with marketing.  Get your name out there, have a call to action, and […]

Business Email Compromise (BEC) is not a new term. BEC scams have been growing in popularity for some time now. If you’re not familiar with BEC, it’s when a fraudulent email is sent to a company or individual, and the email appears to be from a legitimate business resource or person, often varying from the […]

“This pandemic is great for my business!” said very few people. Unless you’re a hacker. And then it’s likely that business is booming. We don’t think of cybercriminals as businesspeople. We tend to think they are individuals lurking about in hoodies in their basement. Quite the opposite – or so we have found through investigations […]

The emphasis on smart cybersecurity practices is vital. As professionals in the IT industry, we know this, we work to ensure policies and procedures are in place that keep the topic at the forefront of every business we support and work within. But while training employees to learn these behaviors is important, there is one […]

It is easy to get left behind if you become less interesting. No, we aren’t talking about your friends or your childhood toys, although that does happen. We’re talking about YOU. Yes, don’t leave yourself behind. What? How? Explain! Remember your MySpace account? Or when your significant other wanted you to create a TikTok account […]

It should hardly come as a surprise to anyone that cybercriminal activity has surged in 2020. By May of this year, the number of reported attacks had already come close to the total for 2019 according to the federal government. With the onset of COVID-19, there were a plethora of new opportunities for cybercriminals to […]

Imagine if you had two emails that were worth a million dollars each. You would do everything that you can to protect those emails and ensure that no one deleted them. You would back them up, have multiple copies in place so that if you lost those emails, you would have a quick way to […]

Marketing Magic Having an in-house marketing team is not always possible for small businesses.  Also, it can be difficult to maintain an ever-growing and ever-changing list of vendors and products to market. As a Managed Service Provider you face the struggle of not only supporting your clients full time but also carrying the full-time weight […]

We all knew that the world was going to be forever changed when the  World Health Organization declared a global pandemic earlier in 2020. Just how much it was going to change was unseen – and remains unclear as each day brings new challenges for each city, state, and household in our country. As a […]

There is no way to emphasize enough, just how important it is for small businesses to be prepared for a cyberattack. But according to a recent survey by the Wall Street Journal Pro Research of 400 companies and their security officers, many companies are not taking it seriously enough to improve their readiness and risk […]

Legal Cybersecurity In the world of law, continuing legal education (CLE) credits, or minimum continuing legal education (MCLE) credits, are ongoing professional education credits for attorneys that take place after their initial admission to the bar. These are available to American Bar Association (ABA) members in a continually growing library that can be accessed online […]

There are gaps in cybersecurity and the level of risk awareness as most of us work from home right now.  And if heading back to an office environment happens for some, it isn’t going to be the majority of workers, at least anytime soon. With reports of productivity being higher from the work-from-home structure, many […]

New Frontier The recent conversation with Chris Wiser and Art Gross covered several issues that will continue to be “hot topics” regardless of where we stand regarding COVID-19. Procedure & Policy Whether you are going to continue to work remotely or have your team return to an office, the first thing that you’ll want to […]

State and local governments need funding and resources.  For which thing are we talking about here?  Respirators? Masks?  No, but we are talking about another type of protection, for another unseen threat – cybercrime.  With malicious activity already on a steady rise, the current crisis has brought some government offices to an even more heightened […]

The numbers are on the rise – and in this case, we aren’t talking about COVID test results.  In just a few months, the number of consumers that suspect they are at risk of identity theft has increased.  In February of 2020, we saw numbers from CyberScout that out of 1050 employed adults in the […]

When this pandemic hit the world, the realization that most countries were not prepared for this also hit hard at the same time.  Here in the United States, and all political opinions aside, we realized that despite our confidence in our economy, in our intelligence, in our standing as a “world leader” we were not […]

“Why do I always have to update my software?” “What is a patch update and why is it so important?” As an MSP, you know that it is hard enough to emphasize to every one of your clients and their employees the importance of strong security.  You also know that keeping track of what they […]

Small Business, Big Problems There is a multitude of problems that small businesses are facing today. Clients are working from home.  This is happening as a matter of force, but also will likely evolve into a matter of choice.  And all of this is happening by them essentially picking up their desks and going home […]

A New Normal Working from home has become a new normal for you, your customers, and communities across the country, with dining room tables and shared spaces becoming the offices where we conduct business of all kinds.  While this structure has many benefits to productivity and employee satisfaction when done correctly, the fact that most […]

When you’re a small business, you hope for exposure.  But recently, we learned that the Small Business Association (SBA) was the victim of an incident that exposed user data in a less than positive way.  This occurred at the end of March, about two weeks into the official COVID-19 crisis for the United States, and […]

Maintaining your sanity as a business owner during this time of global crisis is enough to make you want to crawl into bed and come out when it is over. But you know you have to push through and be the rock for your business, for your family, and for your clients.  They are turning […]

Technology at the Forefront Many companies are finding that the technology projects that were put on hold, or on the back burner, have moved up to the top of the list of priorities.  This is happening for a variety of reasons. Working from home is now a necessity, and so are the technical features and […]

As an MSP, you are on call 24/7, even if your hours are not technically ‘round the clock’. As a business owner, this is amplified.  You not only have a team to take care of and maintain, but you also have clients that need looking after as well.  Ideally, all of these individuals are tethered […]

The arrival of COVID-19 restructured the world in countless ways.  We have had to rethink how we socialize, live day-to-day, and in order to keep a lot of other parts of our lives running, we are having to rethink the way in which we run businesses. When we start to address how a business will […]

Effective Immediately As the Novel Coronavirus pandemic continues to greatly impact our nation, working from home is no longer an occasional benefit for many Americans, but is now a requirement for many businesses to continue operating safely and effectively. While working from home does come with its perks, there are many new cybersecurity risks created […]

We’ve all been through challenging times personally and professionally, and in our heads and hearts, we know that “this too shall pass”. But with the COVID-19 virus being declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization, the time in which things pass may be longer than we’d like. As a business owner and MSP, your […]

The Untapped Vertical With the cannabis industry growing rapidly in the United States, and more states legalizing marijuana, this sector of business is one that can be explored as a vertical by MSPs to uncover the cybersecurity needs within. The profitable nature of this business means that they are growing exponentially not only as single […]

An Easy Target The value of stolen data increases when it is more easily manipulated and used.  With a social security number, you can apply for identification, loans, and a range of other things that are valuable.  If your credit score is high, the possibilities of what can be done are higher too, so who […]

Malvertising We are in a time when “fake news” has become a term thrown around so frequently it is now part of our vernacular.  In fact, there are quite a few new terms and words borne from the rise of technology in our lives.  One of those words is malvertising. What is malvertising?  It’s when […]

Insider Threat A recent discovery of a breach of customer data at Fifth Third Bank uncovered a troubling truth. It wasn’t hackers outside the United States that had accessed the information, it was intentionally handed over by employees.    Starting in 2018, personal information that included Social Security numbers, addresses, and account numbers were provided by a small […]

Made in China The 2017 Equifax breach brought individuals and one of the largest credit agencies to their knees.  And now, over 2 years later, the United States Justice Department has charged four Chinese military officials as responsible parties in the breach. The Equifax breach compromised the personal information of nearly 150 million Americans, which […]

How to Get Found  We know that running a business is more than ensuring that you have the right products to resell.  It’s more than having the right people in place to sell, deploy and support those products.  It is about having all of those pieces in place and then having the right people and clients […]

The rate at which data breaches are occurring is on the rise, this we know.  But another corresponding rate on the rise is the dollar amounts that are being paid out in a ransomware attack.  That number has risen by 104% for the fourth quarter of 2019.  With an average of $84,000 being paid by […]

End of Windows 7 They say when one door closes another one opens, but in this case, it’s a window.  On January 14th, 2020, Microsoft ended its support for Windows 7.  Since Microsoft is no longer offering patches or security updates for vulnerabilities identified in Windows 7, hackers have a new way of gaining access […]

I just fell for a phishing email. Yep, the guy who builds services to protect clients from phishing emails was tricked by a phishing email! Now, I didn’t click on anything or give up confidential information but I did think a phishing email was a real email and forwarded it over to my staff to […]

The team here at Breach Secure Now curated a lot of content in 2019 that we hope you found informative and thought-provoking when it came to your cybersecurity, both personally and professionally. We’ve put together a list of some of our favorite blogs that generated some tremendously positive feedback, addressing both you as a Managed […]

Evil Twin You’re out and about for any number of reasons.  Traveling for work.  Killing time while waiting for co-workers or family members.  But you have some time and you have work that needs to get done. You pull out your phone or laptop, and all of the available wi-fi connections come up.  Perhaps you’re […]

It isn’t breaking news that there is a steady – and alarming – rise in cybersecurity breaches and overall compromises in data and hardware.  What is news is the lack of field experts that are available to deal with such a rise in demand. The field of ‘cybersecurity expert’ wasn’t even on the radar until […]

Nothing Random in this Ransom The end of the year always gives one reason to reflect back and review the past 12 months in a variety of ways. When we take a look at the year in cybersecurity, we can say with certainty, that there was nothing random about the pattern of attacks on businesses.  […]

Alexa, What Are You Collecting? At the top of many holiday gift lists was a smart speaker device.  They can make our life easier and more convenient with integration across all of our devices, taking efficiency to the next level.  And it is likely we’ve all made a new friend in Alexa, Siri or their […]

You can teach your clients how to spot a phishing email and hope that they take heed. You can warn them about the dangers of reusing passwords and basic cyber safety. But how do you educate and create awareness about something that is so slow-moving and “creepy” that most people don’t even realize it’s there […]

Plan, people, policies Under the guidance of Maria Vullo, the New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) created and finalized cybersecurity regulations for the banks, insurance companies, money transmitters, credit unions, brokers, and mortgage bankers that they oversee.  These companies and institutions run the gamut in size and sophistication of their systems. So, they looked […]

Some of us attack and engage in our holiday shopping with a plan that rivals the most well thought out strategies.  We scour weekly fliers, online ads, and research who will have the best price and coupon code for us to use.  In order to shop smart, yes, keeping track of prices is important, but […]

If your phone rings and the caller id is UNKNOWN, you likely won’t answer.  And scammers know that, so they’ve been cleverly hiding behind fake caller id numbers that are just a digit off from numbers that are familiar.  So, you pause, and figure you better pick up “just in case”.  The voice on the […]

Prices may go down over the holidays but hacking incidents go up.  Way up.  While online shopping is something we all need to be diligent about when it comes to our personal cybersecurity, we need to be mindful of our working environment as well. Many employees take this time of year as an opportunity to […]

Modern Law Cybersecurity is something you have to think about at the individual level. At the healthcare level. And at your place of business. But what about when it comes to the businesses that support you?  We make assumptions that there are policies and procedures in place, but never really verify them, we just trust […]

Election season scams  Political candidates will target voters to get their message across, and hackers will take advantage of the timing.  With petitions, polls, and surveys being posted to get a sense of the political climate online or by telephone, citizens let their guard down and assume that the information being collected is for candidates […]

Skim This Over Recently the FBI issued a warning against e-skimming threats in response to the increase of attacks on small and medium-sized businesses, as well as against government agencies.  This relatively new form of attack occurs when malicious code is placed within a site that accepts payments.  The payments are rendered via credit or […]

New Lures for Phishing A recent security alert from the online payment processing company Stripe has informed users of a phishing scam that shows just how fast hackers adapt to the efforts used to counter their tactics. Stripe is successfully used by small business owners, charities, and individual consumers for payment & donation processing.  Recently, […]

There’s a tweet that has Twitter aflutter. It includes the news that Twitter inadvertently sent users’ email addresses and phone numbers that were provided for security purposes, including two-factor authentication (2FA) phone numbers, to advertisers for targeted marketing. Their Tailored Audiences and Partner Audiences advertising systems were the lucky recipients of the lead information.  These […]

It’s the Little Things When we think about cybersecurity, we might first imagine big data centers being guarded.  Hackers working diligently in the shadows to compromise a large network or company and “maybe” get to our information at some point.  But like all things in life, the little things add up. When it comes to […]

I’d Like a Word with You In fact, I’d like a word with all 218 million of you.  Yes, that is the number of users in the popular game Words With Friends, the very one that was allegedly hacked by the Pakistani hacker, who uses the alias Gnosticplayers, on September 2nd of this year.  This […]

October 1, 2019 — Breach Secure Now! today announced its commitment to National Cybersecurity Awareness Month (NCSAM), held annually in October, by signing up as a Champion and joining a growing global effort to promote the awareness of online safety and privacy. NCSAM is a collaborative effort among businesses, government agencies, colleges and universities, associations, nonprofit […]

Knowledge is power.  And when it comes to fighting hackers, we need all the power we can collectively find.  Educating your employees is the key to preventing cyberattacks, and Chubb’s Third Annual Cyber Report confirms this. With small businesses having a tendency to have limited funds and resources when it comes to “extras”, cybersecurity training […]

Instant Money…Maybe? The popular commercial asks, “What’s in your wallet?” and if you ask most anyone, it probably isn’t cash.  The slow death of bill carrying was first hit by the credit and debit card.  Then we were able to pay via our watches and smartphones.  Now, you can just click an app and send […]

Are You a Hacker Helper? Here you go, let me get the door for you.  Are you looking for access to my company’s network?  One moment, let me get those login credentials for you. Of course, this sounds ridiculous.  But in reality, it is exactly what is happening.  Cybercriminals use advanced social engineering to get […]

Security Risk Rate vs. Spend Rate According to the 2019 SMB IT Security Report from Untangle, 80% of the small to medium-sized surveyed businesses identify IT security as a top priority.  Of the 300 worldwide businesses in the study, 29% are spending less than $100 a month to address that concern.  With an annual spend […]

A New Approach to an Old Problem Resistance to yet another government regulation, a lack of understanding the complexities of the rules, and an overall unwillingness to take on yet another area of expertise in an ever-changing technical landscape can make the sale of HIPAA compliance a tough one. Gone are the days of using Meaningful […]

HIPAA – Then & Now The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, better known as HIPAA, has been around since 1996, with the intent to protect patients by properly handling their protected health information (PHI). With good intentions, HIPAA set forth to provide both security provisions and data privacy. The legislation was passed in the […]

Live and Learn Most situations teach us lessons so that we don’t repeat damaging behaviors. For example, if you touch a hot stove, you know to pause and make sure it’s off before doing it again.  If you run out of gas on a highway, on future drives, you’ll be on the lookout for a […]

There is a rise in awareness with small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) of the threat to their cybersecurity.  The problem is, it causes a subsequent rise in a risk factor to Managed Service Providers (MSPs).  That risk is of them losing their business. According to a recent report conducted by Continuum and Vanson Bourne, “Underserved […]

The Excuses  It’s not easy! It’s a lot to keep track of. I have no idea where I’ve used that before. There’s nothing in there that anyone would want. You want me to go back and change ALL of my accounts? These are all responses when a user is told that their passwords need changed […]

Filing and Smiling  When is the last time that you filed a piece of paper?    It used to be that a file cabinet was like your personal bank vault – holding the papers that defined and valued a business. From employee records to bank statements, that file cabinet had everything necessary to keep things humming […]

Can I Get Some Privacy in Here? If you’re talking about your online data, probably not.  While businesses can create policies and procedures that limit the exposure of your private data, those lines are often blurred between professional and personal information. As a result of this, at least 25 states have laws that address the […]

What happens if your computer systems are hacked with ransomware?  I think I’m covered by my insurance policy for that…(pause)…you scramble and try to find your policy documentation.    It’s here somewhere. I’m sure I’m covered…I mean, I think we’re covered.  I better make sure.   You email your insurance agent…wait for the declaration page.  Try to sort it […]

The Ethics of Hacking In 2013 the then National Security Agency chief Keith Alexander spoke at the Black Hat cybersecurity conference about acknowledging, and protecting, ethical hackers.  He discussed how through surveillance, these individuals would be uncovered, but also shielded, from legal jeopardy. Black Hat is a computer conference that focuses on security consulting, training, and […]

This week I saw a story link come across my newsfeed to “make sure you get your money from Experian” – it was referring to the compensation being offered as a result of their breach.  You could either opt-in for credit monitoring or take the $125 payout. Regardless of what choice you made if you […]

If you are management, and your employee came to you with a proposal, you’d likely (hopefully) listen. What if that employee proposed to you that by keeping business as is, you’d likely lose millions of dollars – and possibly go under?  But if you made one small change, you’d increase your odds of staying in […]

This isn’t something you can pencil in and get to when you have time, cyber maintenance has to be something you commit to. We all have those moments when we realize that we had the best intentions to stick with something, but its priority fell by the wayside. We start off strong, then taper off […]

Tip-Off You know how certain people seemed to have a way of predicting the future?  They were ahead of the curve if you want to call it that… those who “got in on a good thing” before anyone else seemed to be aware? Consider this your lucky day, because we’re going to let you in […]

Facebook Status: Away on Vacation Social media is great for a lot of things.  Sharing photos, reconnecting with old friends, finding like-minded people and groups to share ideas and hobbies.  But when does sharing become oversharing? Hackers gain access to your personal data via your profile and the information you share there – and you […]

When Global News Hits Home When you hear and watch news headlines, you can often tune out.  It’s not happening here; it’s not affecting you directly.  It’s a global issue right now.  You’ll worry about it when things are closer to home. The problem is, by the time it hits home, we may have forgotten […]

Sunday funnies Remember the Jetsons?  Robots that cleaned, food choices you tapped into a computer for preparation…moving sidewalks?  Flying cars aside, we aren’t too far off from the technology that seemed so unlikely and impossible.  The future – it’s here. We live in a day and age where these advancements bring forth so many wonderful […]

In business, if you can cast a bigger net to reach a larger audience, it’s considered a good idea – a win.  Unfortunately, hackers are now taking the same approach. With c-level executives offering a higher payoff when compromised, sending out phishing emails to the general population at a company will likely increase your odds […]

And So, It Grows First, it was a widespread, if not generic, notion – you need to protect your personal information.  Then we began to call it cybersecurity, and it was applicable to your business as well.  It was still a concept that blanketed data generically – the overall message was that you need to […]

Ransomware Is Not Randomware Gone are the days where you “might know” someone who has, or will, come under attack to a ransomware attack.  The skyrocket in cases has come in at a 105% increase according to Beazley Breach Response (BBR) Services team which compared numbers against their 2018 data. Adding insult to injury, the […]

RobbinHood – the Not so Heroic New Outlaw Stealing from the rich to give to the poor – in theory, the original Robin Hood had good intentions.  There’s a new generation of him and his not so merry men and in this adaption, the takeovers are far less charitable.  Using malware instead of arrows, this […]

Every Cog in the Wheel Matters Whether your name is on the sign out front, or you are in a leadership role, the success of the business is in your hands.  In that role, you know that each department feeds into the overall health of the business, and you need to ensure everyone, and everything […]

Hot Spots New York and California.  The mention of these two locations may have you conjuring up images of entertainment, celebrities, and people living the fancy life. Unfortunately, when we mention New York and California here, we’re not referring to anything glamorous. In fact, these two states are famous for something that they don’t want […]

When a breach occurs, after the confusion and panic have passed (or merely settled in), the finger pointing starts.  Generally, clients assume that since the anti-virus icon in the corner was there, they were protected.  Firewall?  Not sure what it is, but I get an alert every now and then about it, so it must […]

Missed Opportunities Missed opportunities.  They come in many forms, shapes, and sizes.  It might be personal, professional, or just for the fun of a moment. We all have them, and it likely still pains us to think about being wrong on any opportunity in life, especially those that would provide you with a way to […]

You Can’t Teach an Old Dog…. or Can You? I remember trying to explain a VCR to older relatives.  It wasn’t that they were less intelligent or unable to grasp the overall concept, it was that it wasn’t a necessary thing to learn in their opinion.  They weren’t interested in the technology; they had fared […]

Business email compromises (BEC) scams made a big statement in 2018, seeing a 133% increase over 2017, according to a recent report by Beazley Breach Response Services. The Beazley Breach Briefing looked at information gathered from investigations into more than 3,300 data incidents that were reported to Beazley in 2018. The investigations revealed that nearly […]

How many times do I have to tell you? Sadly, if you’re reading this, odds are that you are an adult now, but you should know that I’m saying this with the same frustration that your parents had. We teach kids when they are younger by repetition.  Lessons become so ingrained in our head that […]

Tis the season!  You’re making mental plans with what is hopefully a generous tax refund and deciding what to do with the surplus of cash you’ll soon have on hand. Along the way from starting to submitting the paperwork, there are quite a few roadblocks to be aware of.  Even if you aren’t getting a […]

We are all aware of federal compliance regulations when it comes to the privacy and security of our information.  For example, you’d be hard pressed to find someone who hasn’t heard of HIPAA.  Yet are you aware that regulations have been put in place at the state level that have the same goal – to […]

Data breaches are extremely common as technology continues to advance. Of those breaches, small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are a favored target for cybercriminals. In fact, more than 70% of attacks target small businesses, according to the National Cyber Security Alliance, and as many as 60% of hacked SMBs go out of business following a […]

Being scammed can happen so easily today, but when you make it about a topic that many people can let their guard down with, the scam can happen much easier.  What topic is that? We’re talking about money. Fake check scams have been around for quite some time, however, with the increase in online sales […]

Social media allows you to stay connected to people that you don’t get to see all of the time, and for that, it is a great thing.  Family photos are easily shared, groups of like-minded people are able to gather together and share thoughts and ideas, and events are marketed to the masses for better […]

Anna Jones is an employee of Your Financial Services, Inc. and has used LinkedIn since 1996.  It’s been a great tool for listing her employment history as well as communicating with former colleagues and potential employers to keep in touch.  Over the years there’s been a lot of private information exchanged between her and these […]

You get an email or text from what seems to be a legitimate email or phone number.  Then you read the message: “Send bitcoin right away or else I am sending compromising photos or information to your friends and family.” If you’ve received this type of email, you’ve likely been a victim to a new […]

Love is in the air, and many people are turning to the internet to find it.  We all know someone who has met their significant other online or at least is having a good time while trying to find them by dating a few people they’ve met through dating apps or services.  But are they […]

“You need to check out this company I’m investing in… it’s a no-brainer.” “My friends are in this club, and it’s crazy, they basically paid a membership fee to join, and they are getting checks every month for doing nothing!” Have you ever been on the other end of one of these conversations?  Congratulations, you’re […]

Today, many people are working more than one job, and with the flexible options of contractor work, or work as needed opportunities, you can likely find something that fits your schedule and financial needs.  Maybe you are looking for a little bit of extra work to make ends meet, or a way to save up […]

  We’ve all heard of the Dark Web. The infamous private corners of the internet that are only accessible through special software that mask your IP address. You know, where you can do just about anything, from joining a book club to hiring an assassin. Maybe you want to play a chess match? The Dark Web […]

Remember ransomware, the malicious software that blocks computer access until a ransom demand is paid? The threat was huge and dominated headlines in the past but seems to have slowed down in recent months. Could the decline in publications citing ransomware as the cause of a data breach or loss of data indicate that cybercriminals […]

Too often, we look at our business relationship with clients as a linear connection.  Every business or organization is a potential client, and you want to make that connection, that line, a direct link between you and them.  Yet we often make the endpoint a purchase of our products or offerings. Do they need anti-virus?  […]

Identity theft is not a new crime, in fact, criminals have been altering and improving their techniques to capture and use stolen information for years. While identity theft historically targets an individual consumer, an increasing number of criminals are now targeting businesses instead. What is identity theft? Identity theft occurs when someone pretends to be […]

In a recent warning, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has cautioned consumers and small businesses about the continuing and growing threat of phishing scams. In the statement, the FTC has expressed that while cybercriminals continue to send out mass emails asking bluntly for personal information, they have become more sophisticated in their attempts. Small businesses […]

Azure Active Directory Synchronization Is Here! The long-awaited enhancement is finally here! At Breach Secure Now!, we value partner feedback and use it to fuel the development and enhancement of our platform. We’ve made it our ongoing mission to implement new features to help our partners free up time, and grow their businesses. One of […]

I have run an MSP for 18 years and counting. I have learned a lot over the past 18 years, and I continue to learn new things every day. When I first started out I was good at technology but crappy at sales and marketing. Back in 2000, there were no organizations like Robin Robins […]

As the multi-billion-dollar industry of cybercrime continues to thrive, employees remain the number one cause of cyber attacks. Despite cybercriminals relentlessly targeting and attacking organizations of all sizes, employees remain untrained on security awareness, leaving them to fight a battle they’re unprepared for. A 2017 study from Keeper Security and the Ponemon Institute revealed that […]

In an age where businesses are moving their data from in-house servers to the cloud, the complexity of how to appropriately care for that data is beginning to disappear. Although that may not sound like a bad problem to have for those organizations making the move, MSPs who were once extremely sought after to protect […]

Business email compromise (BEC) scams remain one of the most widely used attack vectors among cybercriminals to date. In fact, cybercriminals are finding so much success in exploiting human vulnerabilities through BEC scams that their frequencies have been dramatically increasing. What is a BE