Blog
Microsoft Is Giving Windows 10 A New Makeover
One of the most frequently heard complaints about Windows has to do with aesthetics. Despite a few seemingly halfhearted attempts to modernize, significant portions of the OS looks and feels like they were designed in the 90’s. That’s because Windows is still utilizing a lot of design techniques and icons from Windows 95, so the […]
Hackers Are Using Unpatched NAS Devices To Mine Bitcoin
In late 2020, QNAP discovered a pair of critical security vulnerabilities that would allow hackers to take remote control over network attached storage devices (NAS). In this particular instance, the hackers chose not to encrypt files and demand payment or cause other mayhem. Instead, they made slaves of the devices and put them to work […]
Microsoft Expanding Fight Against Macros Based Malware
Macros have been a simple, effective means of spreading malware since the 1990’s, and some hackers still rely on them heavily to ensnare and infect unsuspecting users. It’s a long standing issue that many companies have attempted to address over the years. Now, it seems that it’s Microsoft’s turn at bat again. Recently, the Redmond […]
Latest Apple Update Fixes Web Security Flaw On Most Devices
Recently, two different security researchers (Clement Lecigne of Google’s Threat Analysis Group, and Alison Huffman from Microsoft’s Browser Vulnerability Research Group) discovered a pair of serious security vulnerability impacting Apple devices. The bugs, tracked as CVE-2021-1844 and CVE-2021-21166 respectively, are browser-based memory issues that could have allowed remote code execution if the victim navigated or […]
Hacker Uses Zoom Invites To Steal Credentials Through Sendgrid
There’s a mix of bad news and good in the ongoing war against the hackers of the world. For the bad news, security professionals have recently detected a sophisticated phishing campaign that makes use of SendGrid and convincing replicas of Outlook on the Web and Office 365 logins to harvest credentials. The attack works like […]
New Exchange Online Feature Helps Prevent Phishing And Ransomware
Microsoft has been busy of late, making a raft of improvements to their email system that are designed to enhance user security. Not long ago, they added a fantastically useful feature called ‘Plus Addressing’ which allows Office 365 users to make use of an unlimited number of disposable recipient email addresses and track email sources. […]
Browser Wars Heat Up With Microsoft Edge Boosting Speeds
If you thought the browser wars were over, think again. Microsoft has made some startling improvements to its Edge browser recently that gave it an impressive 41 percent speed boost. That suddenly puts it in the running for the fastest, if not the best and most robust browser in the game. The speed boost is […]
A United States Bank Hit By Ransomware And Data Breach
A few months ago, it became widely known that there was a critical security vulnerability in Accellion FTA servers. Naturally, hackers wasted no time exploiting the vulnerability, and since then, we’ve seen a few instances of high-profile data breaches traced back to that very vulnerability. Flagstar bank is the latest such victim. Recently, the company […]
Latest Windows 10 Release Ditches Unpopular 3D Objects Folder
Recently Microsoft made a change that few people will care about or even notice. On the off chance that you’re one of the minority of people who use the 3D Objects folder, you should know that as of Windows 10 release 1703, the 3d Objects folder will no longer be given special treatment by File […]
Ransomware Attackers Demand 20 Million From U.S. Kia Motors
Strange things are afoot at Kia Motors America (KMA), a subsidiary of Kia Motors with more than 800 dealerships scattered across the United States. Recently the company has reported a nationwide IT outage that is impacting their mobile UVO Link apps, phone services, the company’s payment system, and a number of dealer-specific applications. If you’re […]
A Visionary Approach to Your Security
The purpose of an IT partner isn’t just to fix something when it is broken, it is to keep your people working and your data secure. Astral moves beyond traditional managed services by addressing all the key areas of cybersecurity in today’s complex landscape.
