Hackers Strike - Was Your Password Posted Online?

Hackers struck again this week. CNN.com reported that this time, they posted 400,000 Yahoo user's passwords to a webpage as a "warning" to Yahoo, Inc. to close up security holes in their web servers.

The hack revealed a frightening fact; many of the passwords were embarrassingly weak. Sequential lists of numbers, like "12345" were used as passwords 2,295 times and the generic, "password", 780 times. If you are a Yahoo user, change your password immediately.

With cyber attacks becoming almost a daily occurrence, it is extremely critical that you take security seriously and protect your data (home or business). Ensure all of your passwords are considered "strong" and that your PC/Mac is running up-to-date anti-virus software. Integrating a hardware firewall and spam/web filtering service to your business network is also recommended.

Zarti techs can perform a full IT evaluation that often uncovers security threats and offer solutions on reducing them. Utilizing the services of a technology consulting firm like Zarti Group offers business owners the comfort of knowing security patches are being implemented on a monthly schedule and that their security tools are configured properly. If you require assistance figuring out where your firm is vulnerable, please don't hesitate to contact me at 732-395-4281 or jedwards@zartigroup.com.

Click to read the article “Yahoo Hacked, 450,000 Passwords Posted online”.

Hackers are Targeting your Firm!

Cyberattacks on law firms are quickly on the rise. The June 25th edition of the Wall Street Journal included an article that serves as warning to Law Firms to tighten up IT security. With firms relying so heavily on technology, hackers are taking advantage of loose security policies and uneducated users to steal sensitive data, confidential information, and even record phone messages. A data breach can be disastrous for your firm; damaging client-attorney confidentiality, the firm's reputation and, ultimately, the bottom line.

Your firm's security vulnerabilities are not limited to weak passwords, unencrypted email, and lost or stolen devices; the bad guys are also preying on the users that click links in trojan emails or text messages and leave a laptop at the airport with no password protection. Other resources that may have been thought secure can become issues as well; online file storage tools like DropBox, Google Drive, and SugarSync all come with risks.

However, preventative measures can be taken to keep hackers out. It’s key to educate the firm's users to identify security risks and hacker's phishing attempts when handling email and surfing the web. The unaware user can be the firm's weakest link when security is concerned. It is also critical that owner's understand the resources in their network (firewalls, laptops, password policies, mobile phones, online services, etc...) and have them audited regularly. 

Zarti techs can perform a full IT evaluation that often uncovers security threats and offer solutions on reducing them. We can also train your staff on what to watch out for. Utilizing the services of a technology consulting firm like Zarti Group offers business owners the comfort of knowing security patches are being implemented on a monthly schedule and that their security tools are configured properly. If you require assistance figuring out where your firm is vulnerable, please don't hesitate to contact me at 732-395-4281 or jedwards@zartigroup.com.

Click to read the article, "Lawyers Get Vigilant on Cybersecurity”.