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Apple Is Saying Goodbye To iTunes With New Service

It’s the end of an era.  In 2001, Apple introduced iTunes, which transformed the music industry. For the first time ever, it was possible to buy individual songs, transfer files, and automatically sync data. It was safe and secure, and people flocked to it in droves. The truth is that iTunes isn’t so much going away, as […]

Quest Diagnostics Suffers Massive Data Breach Affecting Millions

Chances are good that you or someone you know has had some type of medical testing done by the US Clinical Laboratory, Quest Diagnostics. If that’s the case, then there’s bad news. The company recently announced that they’ve suffered a massive data breach that exposed personal, confidential patient information of more than 11.9 million people. […]

Survey Shows Employees Would Compromise Company Data

A recent report published by nCipher confirms what many business owners have known for a long time.  Their employees are the weakest link when it comes to data security. The nCipher report, however, adds a disturbing exclamation point to the data with a few details you’re likely to find shocking. First, fully 71 percent of […]

Old Drivers Could Cause WiFi Issues After Windows 10 Update

Does your computer contain a Qualcomm wireless network adapter?  If so, be aware that Microsoft is warning you that your system may suffer a sporadic loss of Wi-Fi connectivity after installing the Windows 10 update. The update was released in May 2019, stemming from an issue with out-of-date network drivers. If you haven’t yet installed […]

New Malware Designed To Go After Linux Systems

Linux systems aren’t targeted by hackers as often as Windows and iOS-based systems, but they’re certainly not immune. Recently, security researchers have discovered a new strain of malware developed by Chinese hackers, specifically for the purpose of targeting Linux-based systems. The new malware has been dubbed ‘HiddenWasp’. It bears a number of features in common […]

New Microsoft Excel Feature Could Be Useful For Some

In the earliest days of the smartphone, there were only a few apps that people could use to perform genuinely useful work.  Sure, they were handy for keeping your contacts all in one place and reminding you of appointments, but beyond that, your pickings were fairly slim. That changed quickly with the explosion of apps […]

Health Organization Says Gaming Addiction Is A Mental Disorder

Do you like video games?  Are you the kind that can get so lost and involved in your favorite title of the moment that you’re willing to burn vacation days and spend the entire time in a non-stop playing frenzy? It hasn’t happened very often, but there have been a handful of documented cases where […]

Hackers Had Access To Flipboard User Information

Do you use the news aggregator service called Flipboard? If so, be aware that the company has recently started notifying its user base that hackers breached their network and had access to their internal systems for approximately nine months.  If you haven’t heard from them yet, be on the lookout for an official communication from […]

Fast Food Chain Hit By Malware And Data Breach

Do you have a Checkers or Rally’s fast food location near you?  Is it your go-to fast food joint?  If so, be advised that they’re the latest company to fall victim to a hacking attack. The company recently discovered evidence of malware on its payment processing systems in a total of 102 of the company’s […]

Windows Possibly Removing Option To Use Outdated Wifi Connections

If you haven’t already installed the 1903 Windows 10 update released in May, be advised. When you install it, you’ll start seeing warning popup boxes any time you connect to a WiFi network that is using TKIP (Temporal Key Integrity Protocol) or WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) to encrypt and secure those connections. The particulars of […]

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.

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