Blog
If Your Password is On This List, Change It Now
The annual list of the worst passwords in use during 2018 has just been published by SplashData. This year’s list features a number of the usual suspects, but there are also a few new entries. Here are the ten worst passwords in use, according to the data: 123456 password 123456789 12345678 12345 111111 […]
Google Plus May Shut Down Early Due To New Vulnerability
If you’re a Google Plus user, you’re probably already aware that Google has plans to bring an end to the service. What you may not know is that recently, Google+ suffered another breach in a long string of breaches. This most recent incident put the private information of more than 52 million users at risk. […]
Another Huge Hack, This Time 100 Million Quora Users
Are you a Quora user? If so, you’re certainly not alone. It is the internet’s most popular question-and-answer website, which makes it a unique property in the social media ecosystem. Unfortunately, the site recently suffered a massive data breach that exposed the personal information of about one hundred million of the site’s users. The Quora […]
Marriott Starwood Data Breach Affects Over 500 Million Guests
Marriott now has the dubious honor of having suffered one of the worst breaches in history. Granted, the 500 million customer records recently stolen from the company pales in comparison to Yahoo’s loss of nearly three billion customer records, but Marriott’s number is certainly nothing to scoff at. In 2016, the company acquired rival Starwood […]
Dunkin Donuts Rewards Users May Have Had Their Data Accessed
Are you one of the legions of Americans who run on Dunkin’? If so, be advised that your DD Perks Reward Account may have been compromised. The company reported that they were recently breached by a currently unknown third party, and that at least some customer information was compromised. Dunkin’ (formerly known as Dunkin Donuts) […]
Devices May Communicate Through Sound In The Near Future
IoT startup Trillbit has a big idea with profound implications for the Internet of Things, and by extension, for all of us. The company is currently designing a system called “Trill Tones” that will create a mesh of ultrasonic pulses into a type of sound that the human ear won’t be able to register but […]
Making Ransomware Payments Can Get You In Legal Trouble
It’s no secret that ransomware attacks have been on the rise over the last couple of years. Many companies, desperate to get their files back, have resorted to simply paying the ransom and hoping the hackers act in good faith and keep their word where unlocking the files is concerned. That approach just got a […]
Apple Music Will Soon Play Nice With Amazon Echo
Apple doesn’t tend to share well with other corporations, but they have made a few efforts to expand their services to the platforms of their competitors. You can, for instance, download Apple Music onto an Android device or on Sonos Speakers. Soon, you’ll be able to access Apple Music on your Amazon Echo. The rollout […]
Browser Security Symbols Don’t Mean Websites Are Legitimate
Most people use Google Chrome. In fact, according to the latest statistics, Chrome has more than half the browser market share, with the rest dividing the smaller portion of the market between them. That’s relevant because recently, Google has made important changes to their browser that provide visual cues when a website you’re visiting doesn’t […]
Dell May Have Been Hacked So User Passwords Are Resetting
Have you ever created an account on Dell’s website to purchase computer equipment? If so, your account may have been compromised. As a precaution, Dell has forced password resets for every account on their site. You’ve likely already got a notification sitting in your inbox with a password rest link and additional instructions and information. […]
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.


