“Cybersecurity is not just about protecting your devices. It’s about protecting yourself.” ~Anonymous
October is Cyber Security Awareness Month. Here is a recap of things you need to be actively watching for.
FIRST: Last month we saw a rise in scammers pretending to be part of QuickBooks and gaining remote access to computers running QuickBooks. Results vary but it seems the businesses using QuickBooks online are permanently locked out of the software and the businesses using desktop versions are functional but they have lost access to their intuit account. This is a nightmare no one wants.
Engrave these thoughts in your minds: How many customers does Intuit, aka QuickBooks have? How many customers does Microsoft, aka Windows have? How many customers does “pick your product” have? The correct answer is LOTS! They have lots and lots and lots of customers!
Now, ask yourself, how much would it cost these companies to randomly call their customers and offer “free” fix-it services? The correct answer is LOTS! It would cost them lots and lots and lots of money!
Next question: Why would said companies volunteer to spend that much money to proactively fix a problem that you didn’t know you had? And the answer: THEY WOULDN’T! There is not a chance in Heaven or on Earth that they would do that. Big corporations are all about making money for themselves and the shareholders. If the public isn’t demanding they do it, they WON’T!
The next time you get a phone call from QuickBooks or Windows or whomever you need to say: No Thank You! But can I introduce you to my friend? He would love to have a Heart-to-Heart with you. His name is JESUS!!
SECOND: Microsoft will stop supporting Windows 10 on October 14th. If you don’t have the time or money to replace or upgrade your computer before the dead line, you can look into extending support from Microsoft. In an unprecedented move on Microsoft’s part, they are offering a “free” one year extension. It does require use of OneDrive, the online storage feature that Microsoft has been pushing for many years.
THIRD: Having one password for multiple accounts is SO DANGEROUS! At the very least, protect your financial accounts with unique passwords and DON’T keep your passwords in a document or spreadsheet on the computer. Write them in a notebook designated just for storing passwords. If finances allow, invest in a password keeper software. I use dashlane for my personal passwords and Comp-U-Talk provides me with msp keeper for business needs. Both are affordable, especially when compared to the cost and emotional turmoil of having an account breached. You can see how many times and from whom your accounts have been breached at https://haveibeenpwned.com.
FOURTH: Deep fakes are on the rise. Deep Fakes are realistic looking videos of people doing and saying things they haven’t actually done or said in real life. Deep fakes can be fun. I am contemplating making a deep fake of my husband doing laundry. I’m certain it would be hysterical to watch him try to sort the dirty clothes and then start the washer with a hammer, because a hammer can fix anything, don’t you know! But I digress. (Just kidding Neal!)
As Artificial Intelligence (AI) gets better, it is harder to identify deep fakes. Things to watch for include:
· Visual anomalies: pay attention to lighting, shadows, and reflection inconsistencies, blurred edges and unnatural facial movements
· Audio quality: audio often lacks the nuances of natural speech. Listen for unusual pauses and lip sync issues
· Verify sources: look for multiple, reputable, sources with the same content
· Stop sharing your personal content: Deep fakes are created by training AI on actual videos. If you haven’t locked down your Facebook, Instagram and TikTok accounts, now might be a good time to do so. There is no reason to give AI access to your personal data.
A more in depth article about deep fakes can be found here: https://www.comparitech.com/antivirus/what-are-deepfakes/
I’m out of space and time. Please stay safe. If you need assistance, please call.
Until next month,
—Janet
Because It Made Me Laugh!!
