Scam of the Week: It's No Secret That This Cash Grab Is a Scam
In this week’s scam, you receive a text message from an unknown phone number that reads “Hello.” The message seems harmless, and you might think it’s a genuine text meant for someone else. Because the message appears friendly, you may be tempted to respond.
However, this message is actually a text-based phishing scam called a smishing attack. Scammers send thousands of these messages to random phone numbers, hoping to receive a reply. If you reply to the text, the scammer confirms that your phone number is active and that they have contacted a real person. They will continue texting you to try to gain your trust so that they can steal your data or financial information. What you thought was an innocent text from a wrong number is actually a scam!
Follow these tips to avoid falling victim to a smishing scam:
If you think you have received a smishing message, block the number and report the text as junk or spam on your smartphone.
You should never share personal or financial information in text messages, especially if you do not recognize the number!
If you receive a text message from an unknown number, simply don’t answer. It’s not rude to protect yourself!
Scam of the Week: Hello... Is It Scams You're Looking For?
In this week’s scam, you receive a text message from an unknown phone number that reads “Hello.” The message seems harmless, and you might think it’s a genuine text meant for someone else. Because the message appears friendly, you may be tempted to respond.
However, this message is actually a text-based phishing scam called a smishing attack. Scammers send thousands of these messages to random phone numbers, hoping to receive a reply. If you reply to the text, the scammer confirms that your phone number is active and that they have contacted a real person. They will continue texting you to try to gain your trust so that they can steal your data or financial information. What you thought was an innocent text from a wrong number is actually a scam!
Follow these tips to avoid falling victim to a smishing scam:
If you think you have received a smishing message, block the number and report the text as junk or spam on your smartphone.
You should never share personal or financial information in text messages, especially if you do not recognize the number!
If you receive a text message from an unknown number, simply don’t answer. It’s not rude to protect yourself!
Compliance Best Practices for 2025
As we look toward 2025, one thing is clear: regulatory compliance is more important than ever. With an ever-changing landscape of laws, data protection regulations, and cybersecurity threats, business leaders must stay ahead of the curve to protect their organizations, avoid costly penalties, and build trust with customers.
While compliance may seem like a complex and evolving challenge, adopting the right habits can help streamline the process and make it easier to maintain. Let’s dive into some key compliance best practices for 2025 and explore 3 essential compliance habits every business leader should adopt to keep their business secure, lawful, and thriving.
Compliance vs. Security: Why You Need Both
In today’s ever-evolving digital landscape, businesses face a growing number of cybersecurity threats. From data breaches to ransomware attacks, the need for robust security is clearer than ever. But alongside protecting your systems and data, there’s another crucial element businesses need to consider: compliance.
Building a Strong Tech Backbone: Why It Matters for Your Business
Your business relies on technology more than ever. But without a solid tech backbone, even the best systems can crumble under pressure. Think of your tech infrastructure like the foundation of a building—strong, stable, and designed to support everything you do. In this blog, we'll dive into what makes a tech backbone strong, why it matters, and how you can improve yours starting today.
5 Ways Strong Cybersecurity Supports Your Business Growth Strategy
In today’s digital-first world, cybersecurity isn’t just about protection—it’s a cornerstone of business growth. Secure systems don’t just keep the bad actors out; they enable you to scale, innovate, and plan long-term without fear of cyber threats. Whether you’re a startup or an established business, strong cybersecurity is the foundation that ensures your growth strategy thrives.
Here’s how robust cybersecurity can directly support your business goals:
Why Cybersecurity Isn’t Just About Protection—It’s About Empowering Your Business
When you think about cybersecurity, the first thing that comes to mind might be protection—keeping hackers out and safeguarding sensitive data.
But here’s the thing: cybersecurity is so much more than that. It’s a catalyst for growth, innovation, and peace of mind. By reducing risks and minimizing interruptions, a strong cybersecurity strategy empowers your business to thrive in today’s fast-paced digital world.
What to Know About Written Information Security Plans (WISP)
Every business, regardless of size, should have a written information security plan (WISP). A WISP outlines the policies, procedures, and security controls for your company to ensure confidential information is protected. It also details how that information is protected within your organization and who is responsible for safeguarding all information.
More than 25 states in the United States including Massachusetts, California, Oregon, Texas, and Rhode Island require companies to have a WISP or similar alternative in place.
Why Data Security is a Business Decision, Not Just an IT Task
When you hear "data security," what's the first thing that pops into your head? A room full of blinking servers? A bunch of IT pros staring at code on their screens? For many business leaders, data security feels like something that only the tech team should worry about.
But here’s the reality: data security is just as much a business decision as it is an IT task. Why? Because the way you protect your data directly impacts your reputation, your customers' trust, and your ability to grow.
Let’s break it down.
Data Security 101: A Non-Techie Guide for Business Leaders
Protect Your Business Without the Tech Jargon
Data security is one of those topics that sounds complicated, but it doesn’t have to be. As a business leader, you don’t need to be a tech wizard to understand the basics. What you do need is a clear, simplified understanding of how to keep your business’s data safe so you can focus on what you do best: growing your company.
Let’s break down data security into simple, actionable concepts you can use right away. We’ve boiled it down into 12 quick insights that you can easily share or use as a checklist to boost your business’s security.
Microsoft Outage Impacting Outlook and Teams
It’s a special kind of relentless attack all business owners and managers face: the persistent, crazy, chaotic assault on your time and attention. No one is immune, and every business deals with it.
Some leaders handle the constant pressure on their attention brilliantly, keeping the team organized and highly productive. But most people struggle with this and feel crushed and overwhelmed by all the things they have to keep track of and do. This goes double if your business is in growth mode and not “standing still” or casually strolling through its existence.
A Sobering Reminder to Not Put Off Disaster Recovery
The destruction left in the wake of Hurricane Helene is unfathomable.
We all need to do whatever we can to help the region and its people recover and rebuild. And, we can take valuable lessons from this tragedy: being prepared and knowing where to focus your preparedness is crucial, no matter what part of the world you live in.
Security Alert: Windows Update Causing Severe Issues
Have you seen the “Blue Screen of Death” on your computer today?
The scary reality is that this may be due to a major issue with a recent Windows update that crashed your system, and it could stop it from functioning altogether.
Scam of the Week: Watch Out for Election-Themed Scams
In this week's scam, cybercriminals are taking advantage of the upcoming United States elections to try and steal your personal information and money. The scams vary slightly and involve fake text messages, social media posts, phone calls, and more.
Security Alert – Google Chrome Alert
Have you seen the recent news about how hackers have learned to bypass Google Chrome’s latest security updates?
If you or anyone in your organization uses Google Chrome as a browser, you could be at huge risk.
Scam of the Week: The Fake Funeral Livestream
Unfortunately, cybercriminals will go to great lengths to try to trick you and steal your information. In this week’s scam, cybercriminals are stealing photos and personal details of recently deceased people from social media.