Ok, so as a Business owner or CEO, you don’t expect to come back off holiday to find you’re £24,000 out of pocket right? What a way to head back down to reality with a crash. Unfortunately, this tale of woe has happened very recently to one of our new clients. Whilst abroad, hackers who have been monitoring his emails for a while, swooped in to change the payment details to one of his main suppliers. His staff didn’t notice the switch, and voila, the hackers were suddenly £12k richer.
Our client on the other hand still had to pay his supplier which meant he finished his holiday £24k down. Not cool. Which is why he got in contact with us to ensure he was protected for the future.
Email hacking can be highly lucrative, and when done right (or wrong, whichever way you look at it), hackers can change your passwords, access your bank accounts and pretty much take control of any apps or sensitive data in your files.
Prevention is better than dealing with the aftermath, so what can you put in place to ensure you never end up in the same shoes?
Multi-factor authentication
Every time you log in to your email or any other system, you can confirm it’s you via another device. Usually done on a mobile phone by receiving a code, it’s straightforward, quick and increases your security.
Monitoring for unauthorised email forwarders
Some hackers are in it for the long game. Once receiving access to your email, they sit and wait for days, weeks or even months waiting for the best opportunity. They can set up unauthorised email forwarders to monitor anything going out; it doesn’t even need to be a senior staff members, it’s amazing how much we can give away in our day to day emails.
Email back-up
Unless specifically bought, your emails are not backed up and therefore not protected. Proper back up ensures your IT company has a number of options in the event of an email hack attack including a complete reboot without losing any crucial emails.
AI email screening
If you’ve been emailing a guy called Jon, and one day they sign off their email using their full name of Jonathan, this may seem insignificant to you but AI will pick up this sudden small change and investigate further. It’s sometimes the smallest details which can be a giveaway.
Improved security endpoints
Sounds like IT jargon, and it is (our bad!) but basically this means that every single computer you use to access emails is locked down and protected. From enhanced security to encrypted data and even preventing any usb devices from working when plugged in.
Office 365 advanced threat protection
You absolutely need this. It’s robust Microsoft protection working for you behind the scenes. Your IT company should know the correct way to implement it for your specific setup
Awareness training
The last line of defence is you and your staff. By ensuring everyone is trained up to spot the signs, stay protected and to question any thing which may arouse even the slightest of suspicions.
Business process culture
Follow processes to the letter, particularly when it comes to things like approving payments, cutting a corner (even a very small one) is when a fraudster can jump straight in and do their worst.
If you fancy a chat on how to ensure you’re fully covered against the evils of hackers, then we’re here to answer your questions and put a plan or system in place for you. Give us a bell, drop us an email or send us an instant message (you can find the icon on the bottom corner of the screen). Better safe than sorry right?
It’s now easier to change broadband providers thanks to new government rules. Anyone who has ever wanted to change their broadband provider understands how difficult and frustrating this process could be. Until just recently making this switch was so complicated and difficult for customers that many did not even bother. Providers certainly didn’t mind the fact that jumping through so many hoops completely discouraged even their most dissatisfied customers from finding a better deal elsewhere. The flip side of that coin was that providers wouldn’t be attracting much business away from their competitors either. This has changed thanks to the efforts of telecommunications and broadband regulator Ofcom. Starting in 2015, Ofcom was successful in working with the government to remove many of the obstacles that prevented consumers from having a true choice in the marketplace. They were able to eliminate the requirement for migration authorisation codes necessary to make the switch.
The 2015 rule change was a result of Ofcom’s consultation work in 2012. Through this work they were able to determine that the process for switching providers was so difficult on the consumer side, it in essence took the choice away from the consumer who wanted a better deal. The providers also could delay the transfer to the further frustrations of consumers. The solution, according to Ofcom, was to implement a single process. This new system, called “gaining provider led” ensures that it is now no longer the responsibility of the customer to contact their current provider to request switching.
Additionally, steps were put into place to protect providers against “slamming” where customers were misled into switching. The system helps protect against accidental switching, however this may occur, and makes sure provider/customer contracts are written more clearly in regards to what charges may be incurred when switching.
Have questions about how to switch to a new broadband provider? Give AGT Computers a ring. We would be happy to answer your questions about this or any other tech support, hardware or software issues. We help customers in Blackpool, Lancashire, Fylde, Lytham and surrounding areas with installation of new software, backups, repairs, upgrades and all the computing needs of both individuals and businesses. Cloud storage, cyber security and system upgrades are a part of our list of services too. We are a Microsoft Silver Partner for Small and Midmarket solutions and can work with you to meet all of your personal computer or company’s IT needs.
You’ve no doubt heard of the Black Market. It’s the illegal underground marketplace where goods are sold without any oversight, regulation and certainly no VAT. It’s a shadow economy where you may find a good deal on a device, but you may also get ripped off with no recourse. The Grey Market is a term used to describe a marketplace where goods are sold, many of them imports, that is legal, but they can be just as shady.
A wide variety of tech products, including computer hardware and smartphones, can be purchased through the Grey Market at bargain prices, but a what risk? Do these products even work? Is a high-end Chinese smartphone sold at an insanely low price an offer that is too good to be true. Is it worth finding out?
In the UK it can be difficult to purchase a name brand product like Sony or Samsung. Ordering online maybe the only option. Is is safe to do so? How comfortable are you purchasing an import by the name of Doogee or Gionee. For many, the Grey Market may be the only option. Of course suppliers in the UK would tell you not to patronize these markets, but they have a financial stake in this and they would prefer that you buy their products.
Here are a few things to be aware of when considering whether or not to make a purchase on an import:
Beware of Packing Tricks
Looks are deceiving. A brand new box may contain an old phone. Some of the components may be counterfeit as well. It’s a risk, especially when buying second hand goods: you don’t really know how many hands have been on them.
VAT fees
If you purchase computer hardware and the supplier has not paid VAT on it, you will be liable for those costs. You also run the risk of your new, inexpensive computer equipment being seized. Worse case scenario, you could be prosecuted.
No Tech Support, No Warranties
You can forget about the warm fuzzy feeling that comes with warranty protection. Even if your product does have a warranty, the supplier may not honor it if they think the equipment was obtained fraudulently. The same goes for free tech support. Having to pay for support or repairs on a nonfunctioning device may quickly cancel out any savings made in the initial purchase.
Don’t know who to trust for support and information on software and hardware products? You can trust AGT Computers. We would be happy to answer your questions about products, services tech support, or any hardware and software issues. We help customers in Blackpool, Lancashire, Fylde, Lytham and surrounding areas with installation of new software, backups, repairs, upgrades and all the computing needs of both individuals and businesses. Cloud storage, cyber security and system upgrades are a part of our list of services too. We are a Microsoft Silver Partner for Small and Midmarket solutions and can work with you to meet all of your personal computer or company’s IT needs.
It may have happened to you. You get a call from a person, perhaps with an accent. They say they are from Microsoft Tech Support and they inform you that your computer may be running slowly due to a virus on your hard drive. This may not set off any alarm bells. Maybe your computer has been running a bit slow lately and major companies around the world outsource their tech support to other countries. Why should Microsoft be any different?
The caller may direct you to check out certain files and applications on your computer. You’ll be alarmed to learn that, according to the information you are being told, you do have a virus, maybe more than one. This tech then tells you that for a one-time payment, perhaps £200, you can get warranty protection. You agree and from there you are instructed to download an application allowing a third party to gain control of your computer. You are asked to enter your banking information for payment, then you’ll be all set. The problem is, you should have hung up on this scammer 10 minutes ago.
The most important thing Microsoft users needs to keep in mind is Microsoft does not make unsolicited phone calls to help you fix your computer. Remember that and you will be prepared to crush the dreams of those evil scammers wherever they are calling from. You should never divulge personal information over the phone or agree to download software, but if you follow the first rule, you won’t need to worry about any of the rest. It’s also good practice to report these scams to Microsoft, which you can do here.
If you suspect that your computer has been infected with a virus, give AGT Computers a ring. We are real support techs who can help you with any of your computer-related problems. We provide updates, install new software, perform repairs and take care of all the computing needs of individuals and businesses including backups and upgrades. We serve the Blackpool, Lancashire, Fylde, Lytham and surrounding areas with cloud storage, cyber security and system upgrades. We are a Microsoft Silver Partner for Small and Midmarket solutions and can work with you to meet all of your personal computer or company’s IT needs.
Cyber criminals, hackers, phishers and other ne’re-do-wells will never stop devising new ways to part honest citizens with their money. Bogus websites are another way these fraudsters are tricking people out of their hard-earned pay. These criminals create web pages for businesses that look perfectly legitimate. They offer incredible deals on expensive items. They even use the widely recognised Trusted Shop Trustmark. They are far from reputable, however. How can you tell the difference? There are a few clues to look for. The first one is, if it seems to good to be true, then it probably is.
Ways to Protect Yourself from Bogus Websites
Run the company name through a search engine and examine the results. Check and see if anyone else is talking about them online. Do the words ‘fraud’ and ‘ripoff’ come up quite a lot? Find out why that is. Try to find a business address and phone number as well. Call the number if you’re still unsure.
Consult the Trusted Shops Facebook page to see if there is any mention of the website you are suspicious of. Contact Trusted Shops on 0203 364 5906 or email them at emailservice@trustedshops.co.uk.
Use your best judgement. Be wary. Never send cash or check. Use a credit card or Paypal to give yourself some protection.
Verify the website is authentic by checking it against the lists available athttps://who.is/. This site provides the name and address of website owners.
An example of a fraudulent website would be site which has advertised high-end merchandise well below market value. The site will offer to accept credit cards. When the user clicks to provide card information, the only payment option is to pay via bank transfer. The user may be assured as to the site’s legitimacy due to the fraudulent Trusted Shop Trustmark. Needless to say, providing funds to these fraudsters does not result in anexchange of goods.
AGT Computers can perform a full security audit of your business to make sure you and your network are safe from hackers, phishers and thieves. We can also offer solutions for all your security needs including antivirus, anti spam and malware protection. We would also be more than happy to provide you with a number of affordable solutions for all of your information technology needs. We not only provide full IT support, at AGT Computer Services we also provide cloud storage to businesses in the Blackpool, Lancashire, Lytham and Fylde area. We are a Microsoft Silver Partner for Small and Midmarket solutions and can work with you to meet all of your personal computer or company’s IT needs.
The days of kidnapping and piracy have transferred effortlessly into 21st century technology. In the digital world, ransoms are now being demanded in exchange for unlocking a device after a “ransomware” virus has unknowingly been downloaded.. This virus, developed by hackers, locks its victims out of their computer files. It is no longer the Windows user who is affected, as the virus has evolved to target Apple devices, which it had previously been unable to do.
The malware that is attacking Macs is known as “KeRanger” and the currency it demands from its unsuspecting victims is one bitcoin, or roughly £280. After the payment is received the files are unencrypted. The malware has infected users who were attempting to download a piece of software called Transmission. This programme allows users to transfer data on the peer-to-peer protocol Bit Torrent. The virus remains inactive on the hard drive for about 72 hours after which time it begins to make files inaccessible. The victim will start to notice their important files are now cannot be opened, including photos, videos and other documents.
It is believed that the malware was first introduced on 4 March 2016, so users may have started to notice this lockout around the 7th of March. For Apple’s part in dealing with this problem, they have revoked the digital certificate which made it possible for the ransomware to be download to a Mac device.
Apple users who have downloaded the Transmission software should install an updated version immediately. Many Mac users have long relied on the faulty premise that their machines are immune from viruses. Unfortunately, this is no longer the case, if it ever was in the first place. While hackers continue to expose vulnerabilities in PCs, they are no longer solely focused on Microsoft Windows users.
If you suspect your Mac or PC has been infected with a virus, or if you have any software or security questions, give AGT Computers a ring. We provide updates, install new software, perform repairs and take care of all the computing needs of individuals and businesses including backups and upgrades. We serve the Blackpool, Lancashire, Fylde, Lytham and surrounding areas with cloud storage, cyber security and system upgrades. We are a Microsoft Silver Partner for Small and Midmarket solutions and can work with you to meet all of your personal computer or company’s IT needs.
If you’ve read our two previous posts on the subject of outsourcing IT support, then you know two of the major benefits of doing so: saving time and money.Increased productivity is another benefit. This third installment highlights a few of the advantages of using a third party to provide IT support to your business, including keeping systems updated with the latest software and virus protection. Increased productivity is another benefit.
Increase Your Employee’s Output
In addition to saving time and money by outsourcing your IT support, there’s another reason for doing so. This may not be as obvious, but outsourcing IT can help your staff be more productive in their own work. When your employees no longer have to spend time dealing with technical issues, installing updates and combating malware and viruses, they can concentrate better on their work. This undistracted focus increases productivity which in turn strengthens the bottom line of any business.
Take Advantage of the Knowledge of Others
By outsourcing IT, companies can also take advantage of the latest training and technology. Using a reliable third party is a way to capitalize on the knowledge and skills of these workers who must stay up-to-date on the latest developments in software and hardware. IT is continually changing, most small and midsize businesses don’t have the time or resources to keep up. With outsourced IT solutions, they don’t have to. There are also the added benefits of things like disaster recovery plans that will keep things running even when networks go down.
Is your company ready to outsource some or all of its IT needs? If you are, or if you still have questions, give AGT Computers a call. We would be more than happy to provide you with a number of affordable solutions for all of your information technology needs. We not only provide full IT support, at AGT Computer Services we also provide cloud storage to businesses in the Blackpool, Lancashire, Lytham and Fylde area. Let your employees focus on their work while we focus on your IT issues. We are a Microsoft Silver Partner for Small and Midmarket solutions and can work with you to meet all of your personal computer or company’s IT needs.
Just how important having is reliable IT support to your business? Just imagine operating without it. That means there would be no one to install the latest software updates across your network. There would be no one to help protect your network against malware and viruses and attacks and theft from hackers. No one who would get your computers and network back up and running after a power failure or natural or manmade disaster. How important is reliable IT support to a business? It’s absolutely critical.
Businesses, no matter what size, cannot hope to survive in today’s digital world without IT support, but keeping full-time IT workers on the payroll can be prohibitively expensive. Is outsourcing the answer for your company? This is the second installment of AGT Computer’s three part series on outsourcing IT support to a trusted third party.
Time is Money
You’ve no doubt heard the term, time is money. Nowhere is this more true than in business. Training new IT employees takes both time and money. It is an ongoing cost of doing business and it’s an expense that adds up over time. Many businesses cannot afford to cover this constant need for training, but neither can they afford to employ in-house IT support staff who lack the right skills and knowledge to fully benefit the company. Proper training is added insurance against being left in the lurch when systems go down.
Another aspect of keeping IT support on staff is the time it takes for the recruitment of new IT workers. That’s time that your employees could better spend on other things. Even if you do have a trusted IT employee or several on staff, outsourcing can complement their skills even further. This provides a higher level of support, and the outsourced help won’t take a holiday or call in sick.
Check back for more information on the benefits of outsourcing IT support for small and medium-sized companies. Until then, if you have read enough and think your company might be ready to outsource some, or all, of its IT needs, then give AGT Computers a call. We would be happy to provide you with a list of affordable solutions for all of your information technology needs. In addition to full IT support, at AGT Computer Services, we also provide cloud storage to businesses in the Blackpool, Lancashire, Lytham and Fylde area. Let your employees focus on their work while we focus on your IT issues. We are a Microsoft Silver Partner for Small and Midmarket solutions and can work with you to meet all of your personal computer or company’s IT needs.
Information technology support is essential to any business looking to stay competitive in the digital age. Any disruption to your IT can have a lasting effect on your business, whether it’s one terminal that goes down during peak productivity or a whole network. Your business needs to get back up and running quickly. Lost productively is lost revenue. Lost communication is lost opportunity. IT support professionals aren’t just digital emergency responders either. They help prevent attacks from malware and viruses and keep software up-to-date. They are essential to businesses in Blackpool, Lancashire, Lytham and Fylde.
The question then is who to trust with your company’s IT support. Is having a full-time IT staff worth the cost? Perhaps outsourcing this support would provide a better solution for a company on a tight operating budget. There are many benefits to outsourcing IT support. This is the first of a three part series exploring the benefits both small and medium-size companies can gain from outsourcing their tech support.
It’s All About the Bottom Line
The biggest single reason to outsource IT support is money. The costs of keeping a full-time, or even part-time, IT workers on staff can be prohibitively expensive, especially for a business just starting out. If your company is paying the salary of a full-time IT Manager this may mean additional costs of £30 to £40 per annum, not to mention the costs of training and any company benefits provided. For small or medium-size companies this is an enormous sum, but the company can’t operate without their expertise. There may also be the problem of a lack of space. You may simply not have the room to spare for any more in-house staff members.
Is Outsourcing the Answer for Your Business?
If your are thinking about outsourcing your company’s IT support but have questions about what this entails exactly, give AGT Computers a call. We can provide you with a list of options and develop an affordable solution to meet your needs. At AGT Computer Services we provide IT support and cloud storage to our customers in the Blackpool, Lancashire, Lytham and Fylde areas. We allow your employees to focus on your business while we focus on your IT issues. We are a Microsoft Silver Partner for Small and Midmarket solutions and can work with you to meet all of your personal computer or company’s IT needs.
Facebook is a huge part of the lives of so many of us. With over a billion users worldwide, this provides hackers with almost unlimited opportunities to wreak havoc. Yes, we may in fact be a little too dependent on social media sites like Facebook, and this does leave us vulnerable to cyber threats, this doesn’t seem likely to change any time in the near future. Given the amount of time most of us spend online, it only makes sense that we would want to stay as safe as possible while we do so. Protecting our devices from malware and viruses should be a top priority for everyone. Learn how to protect yourself on social media sites
At AGT Computers, we are experts in installing antivirus software to help our customers, both individuals and companies, so they can better protect themselves from attack. There are a few things that everyone can do to guard against online threats as well. Facebook offers tools for protection for users of its social media sites. While using any of their recommended products is a good idea, no single product will provide complete protection, but rather, these applications should be used in conjunction with other tools to help ensure security and protection from online threats.
Facebook works with several partners to provide its users with protection. Free anti-malware software downloads are available for use with Facebook’s existing software. Companies such as F-Secure and Trend Micro work with Facebook to help prevent users from clicking on malicious links. When a user of Facebook logs into their account from a device that has been infected with malware, whether it’s a laptop, desktop, tablet or smartphone, a notification screen will pop up alerting them to this fact. Included in the warning are recommendations to use malware scanning to find help identify the issue as well as software for cleanup. If a user chooses to download the scanner, they can still use the site as normal while the application runs. All users of Facebook and other social media sites should educate themselves on the protections offered by the particular site, and they should take full advantage of all the tools these sites provide to combat security threats.
For all your software security needs, give AGT Computers a ring. We are here to help with all of your computing needs from repairs and new service to backups and upgrades. We serve the Blackpool, Lancashire, Fylde, Lytham and surrounding areas with cloud storage, cyber security and system upgrades. We are a Microsoft Silver Partner for Small and Midmarket solutions and can work with you to meet all of your personal computer or company’s IT needs.
