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​​Chamber Connections BLOG

​IT Security Tip: What are Zero-Day Vulnerabilities?

9/25/2023

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​IT Security Tip: What are Zero-Day Vulnerabilities? 
 
In the world of Cyber Security, the term “zero-day vulnerabilities” comes up often.  What exactly does it mean and why do I care about it?  After all, we are a small business and surely not worth anyone’s bother to “hack.”  Nothing can be further from the truth. 
A zero-day vulnerability is a unique weakness in either software or hardware which has not yet been exploited by the hacking community and provides them with a brief window of opportunity to hack your systems before a fix is readily made available to you.  IN other words, it is a hacker’s dream come true. 
 
Why should you care?  Ideally, you shouldn’t.  You should know that we care a tremendous amount and have gone to great lengths to protect you, your employees and customers from just such an exploitation. 
 
Let’s get back to that comment about “not being large enough for a hacker to target you.”  Yes, it is true, governments and large organizations are under a 24/7 barrage of hacking attempts.  What is also true is they spend millions upon millions of dollars every year just to keep up, never mind get ahead of the hackers.  Hacking is a trillion-dollar business.  That is true.  And if you are a hacking concern you are going to look for “soft targets” or the low hanging fruit where you can make a few bucks.  If you hit enough of these singles with small businesses that adds up quickly and you can make a good “living” at it.  They know that most small businesses are too busy to have proper IT security hygiene and take advantage of that fact. 
 
This is one reason all of our clients are monitored 24/7 and scanned continually for probable threats.  If you have a nagging suspicion this isn’t occurring for you, we should talk.
 
Cybercrime is at an all-time high, and hackers are setting their sights on small and medium businesses who are “low hanging fruit.” Don’t be their next victim! To download this free report that reveals the most common ways that hackers get in and how to protect yourself today go to www.packetlogix.com  
 
 
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​IRS Stops Employee Retention Credit Claims!

9/20/2023

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CPA​IRS Stops ERC claims!
The Employee Retention Credit (ERC) has gained wide publicity and numerous shops have popped up all over the United States and unfortunately many have been “false advertising” about businesses eligibility and how much money they will receive. We receive at least five calls per week offering to “gets us the money that is owed to us,” and messages that “you could receive up to $26,000 per employee.” These types of claims have caused an unprecedented IRS response. A recent moratorium on the processing of new claims has been enacted, at least through the end of this year.
If you were legitimately eligible for the ERC (employee retention credit) your CPA could have run some computations to help you determine your eligibility.  There were a few hurdles to jump over, and there wasn’t just “free money” out there because you had employees. The credit was refundable and based upon a business’s ability to pay workers through the COVID-19 pandemic even if their operations were fully or partially shut down or for those that saw a significant decline in gross receipts during the eligibility period. The credit was claimed on an amended form 941 (quarterly payroll tax return) generally for the periods of March 31, 2020, to September 30, 2021.
Due to a slew of recent claims within the last 90 days, the IRS Commissioner reacted with the moratorium, because he said, these claims should be dissipating and not increasing. There have been criminal investigations and convictions related to false claims. To learn more, see this article in the Journal of Accountancy:  https://www.journalofaccountancy.com/news/2023/sep/tsunami-of-erc-claims-required-irs-action-halt-fraud-experts-say.html

​submitted my M Hughes CPA & Company, LLC
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IT Security Tip: Fake update prompts from popular software

9/15/2023

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This Week’s Cybersecurity Tip of the Week, provided by PacketLogix
IT Security Tip: Fake update prompts from popular software 
 
All software needs to be updated on a regular basis. This includes popular programs such as adobe reader, java, and other programs that you might use on a regular basis. Since most of these programs don’t auto-update, they have to ask you to do it.  The bad guys have figured this out and use trickery to present you with fake update windows that look deceptively close to the real thing but will actually give you viruses or malware if you click on them. 
 
The best way to handle this is to either 1. Partner with an IT company that will handle 3rd party software updates automatically for you or 2. Only update this software from within the application itself.  Updates can usually be found in the ‘help’ menu for most software. 
  
Cybercrime is at an all-time high, and hackers are setting their sights on small and medium businesses who are “low hanging fruit.” Don’t be their next victim! To download this free report that reveals the most common ways that hackers get in and how to protect yourself today go to www.packetlogix.com  
 

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IT Security Tip: 4 Ways to Prepare for a Data Disaster

9/8/2023

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​This Week’s Cybersecurity Tip of the Week, provided by PacketLogix
IT Security Tip: 4 Ways to Prepare for a Data Disaster 
 
1. Talk to Your IT Provider. 
 This is your go-to, and where to begin the conversation. An IT provider can provide a risk assessment, and then offer solutions to save you from data loss. Think of the spreadsheet you have been working with for months. It would be a shame if it were gone forever. How about that project you and the team have been assigned with a rapidly approaching deadline? It would be a waste of time and a hassle to recreate if the file became corrupt or were lost. In any case, selecting a Backup/Disaster Recovery (BDR) solution for servers and any workstations can help alleviate this. 
 2. Be a Part of the Conversation. 
 You know better than anyone what files you need access to for a successful day at work. Be involved in the process of backing up your data. Then, should your company fall victim to ransomware or data loss, you will know how to respond. Your IT provider will ultimately be responsible for recovering your data and maintaining your backups, of course, but knowing how to access your files while they get you back up and running may require an extra step. When the disaster recovery solution is put into place, there may also be some training available to you from your IT provider that should prove helpful. 
 3. Know That You Are Protected. 
Work with your IT provider and your manager by learning the answer to this question: “If we fall victim to ransomware, or our company files are lost, what do we do?” With this simple question, you can prevent costly downtime and data loss. You can protect your office and coworkers from being locked out of your files indefinitely by assisting in establishing an effective disaster recovery plan and a disaster mitigation plan. When it comes to a data disruption, it’s not a question of if but when. 
 4. Get Security Awareness Training. 
You, the end-user, possess the power to prevent an attack by identifying a phishing email and warning others. When you learn to spot a malicious phishing attempt and can assist others to do the same you become a powerful force for good! Create a culture of security and minimize the risk! 
  
Cybercrime is at an all-time high, and hackers are setting their sights on small and medium businesses who are “low hanging fruit.” Don’t be their next victim! To download this free report that reveals the most common ways that hackers get in and how to protect yourself today go to www.packetlogix.com  

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IT Security Tip: Three sneaky ways to know your kids are up to no good online

9/1/2023

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​        
This Week’s Cybersecurity Tip of the Week, provided by PacketLogix
IT Security Tip: Three sneaky ways to know your kids are up to no good online
 
Here are some little-known ways to see if your kid is doing things and visiting sites you don’t want them to:
1. They’ve deleted their browsing history. What are they hiding?

2. The ads showing up are questionable. Marketers use retargeting to get you to come back to their websites. So, if you’re seeing ads that make you go “hmmmm,” that’s a sign they’ve been visiting those sites.

3. They hide when using the device. A good rule of thumb is NO devices in bedrooms, or in any room that is not out in the open.
 
Cybercrime is at an all-time high, and hackers are setting their sights on small and medium businesses who are “low hanging fruit.” Don’t be their next victim! To download this free report that reveals the most common ways that hackers get in and how to protect yourself today go to www.packetlogix.com  
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The SkillsRI AmeriCorps Nonprofit Development Fellowship

8/30/2023

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IT Security Tip: Your copier is spying on you…

8/28/2023

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​This Week’s Cybersecurity Tip of the Week, provided by PacketLogix
IT Security Tip: Your copier is spying on you…
 
Modern business equipment has radically changed how we conduct everyday business. Do you realize that copiers and multifunction printers are also one of the leading causes of data breaches?
They are the one device on the network that commonly does not ever have the default password changed. After all, who would want to get in and copy your settings? There might be a different answer if you realize that quite often those copiers keep images of all pages scanned on an internal hard drive. Perfect for someone to anonymously access and steal social security records and sensitive business data.
Take steps to secure your MFP copier today. Change – or ask US to change – default passwords on ALL network-connected devices. Don’t forget this rule when the copier lease is up and a new one is installed! A few quick steps can save a lot of personal data breaches and a lot of security headaches down the road.
Cybercrime is at an all-time high, and hackers are setting their sights on small and medium businesses who are “low hanging fruit.” Don’t be their next victim! To download this free report that reveals the most common ways that hackers get in and how to protect yourself today go to www.packetlogix.com  
 
 

Thanks for your Time and Consideration
Terrence Boylan, CEO

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PacketLogix Cybersecurity Tip of the Week:Be VERY careful of what you put in any e-mail

8/18/2023

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PacketLogix Cybersecurity Tip of the Week
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Be VERY careful of what you put in any e-mail

​Never forget that e-mail constitutes a legal record and can be admissible in legal actions, not only in the courtroom, but in the court of public opinion. People sue people for all kinds of silly reasons. Family members get into disputes, couples get divorced, consumers sue merchants and vendors can pursue delinquent clients.
Whenever a lawyer is looking for damaging evidence, one of the first things they’ll ask for are e-mail records – and deleting them does NOT save you. Just look at what happened to Hillary!
E-mail is also not private. Employers have the right to monitor employees’ work e-mail; and if you e-mail anything to a “friend,” you have no legal right to prevent them from posting it or forwarding it.
So, before you hit “send,” take a minute to make absolutely certain your e-mail doesn’t contain something you don’t want public. Pretend your boss/parent/spouse/religious leader/kids are copied on every e-mail you write. Better yet, pretend your worst enemy is…then edit before you hit “send.”
 
For a very limited time, at no cost to your company, we will conduct a dark web scan looking for your company’s hacked credentials for sale on the dark web.  Contact Nikki Manalansan at 401-227-2695 or nikki@packetlogix.com for us to start your dark web scan today. 
 
 

Thanks for your Time and Consideration
Terrence Boylan, CEO


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​Marshall Building & Remodeling Classroom Giveaway 2023

8/16/2023

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​Marshall Building & Remodeling Classroom Giveaway 2023
Riverside, RI, August 15th, 2023 for immediate release.

​Marshall Building & Remodeling has announced their 2023 Teacher’s Classroom Giveaway. Three local classrooms are eligible to win a total of $1500 to support their students this year. The giveaway aims to bridge the gap between public funding and classroom needs. Teachers can choose to use the $500 gift in any way they see fit, as long as it’s related to helping students learn and grow.
Marshall is celebrating its 40th year in business this year. To show their appreciation to the community that built them, they have launched a 40 Days of Giveaways Program. The classroom giveaway is part of that ongoing effort (other prizes are announced throughout the year on their social media pages).
Teachers from all across Rhode Island and those in Bristol County, Massachusetts are welcome to enter. In addition to the $500 prize, the three teachers will also receive cleaning materials (disinfectant wipes, hand sanitizer, tissues, etc).
Alyssa Marshall, a marketing specialist at Marshall Building & Remodeling and founder of this initiative, spoke about the importance of giving back to the community.
“Marshall has always thought of the community as an extension of our team. We know that without the community’s support we couldn’t be celebrating this 40-year milestone and we feel extremely grateful.
We just want to say ‘thank you’ – to our prior customers, their neighbors, the community-at-large, and, of course, our teachers. We’ve learned that, on average, a teacher spends $500 of their own money supplying the classroom. We want to help alleviate that burden.”
To enter, email alyssa@marshallbr.com with your name (or the teacher’s name you’d like to nominate), school name and grade, contact information, and how the money will be useful to the classroom. Marshall’s staff will vote to select the three recipients.
The deadline for entry is August 30st with winners being announced on September 1st. Winners will be notified via the submitted contact information and also on their Facebook and Instagram account. You can follow them @marshallbuilding.
 
Submission Information:
Alyssa Marshall
Marshall Building & Remodeling
152 Forbes Street, Riverside, RI 02915
alyssa@marshallbr.com
508.542.4314

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IT Security Tip: What the heck is an AUP…and why do you want it?

8/11/2023

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his Week’s Cybersecurity Tip of the Week, provided by PacketLogix
IT Security Tip: What the heck is an AUP…and why do you want it?
 
With so many access points, from cell phones to laptop and home computers, how can anyone hope to keep their network safe from hackers, viruses and other unintentional security breaches? The answer is not “one thing” but a series of things you have to implement and constantly be vigilant about, such as installing and constantly updating your firewall, antivirus, spam-filtering software and backups. This is why clients hire us – it’s a full-time job for someone with specific expertise (which we have!).
Once that basic foundation is in place, the next most important thing you can do is create an Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) and TRAIN your employees on how to use company devices and other security protocols, such as never accessing company e-mail, data or applications with unprotected home PCs and devices (for example). Also, how to create good passwords, how to recognize a phishing e-mail, what websites to never access, etc. NEVER assume your employees know everything they need to know about IT security. Threats are ever-evolving and attacks are getting more sophisticated and cleverer by the minute.
This e-mail series is one great way to keep your employees informed, but you STILL need training and a good AUP in place. If you’d like our help in creating an AUP for your company, based on best practices, call us at 401-227-2695 or email nikki@packetlogix.com . You’ll be glad you did.
 
 

Thanks for your Time and Consideration
Terrence Boylan, CEO
 
 
 
                                                                                          

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