Blog
Digital Movie Service UltraViolet Is Shutting Down
On paper, UltraViolet seemed like a great idea. It was (and still is, for the moment) a service that stored your license information for various digital media you purchased. You could buy a movie from Amazon Prime, buy something else from some other online vendor, and watch them on any number of devices without having […]
Chrome And Firefox Should Be Updated To Stay Secure
The first browser update of 2019 is officially out. Both Google’s Chrome and Mozilla’s Firefox browsers are getting a raft of security fixes that will help make Mac, Linux and Windows users safer and more secure. The latest build of Chrome addresses nearly sixty CVE-level flaws, seventeen of which are rated as being “high” severity, […]
Security Issue Causes Apple To Disable Group Facetime Temporarily
Apple’s latest iOS release contained a feature that wowed and excited its massive user base. Group FaceTime. It was heralded as ‘the next Big Thing’ in the Apple ecosystem. Unfortunately, there are problems, and the company has been forced to temporarily disable the feature while they wrestle with a major security flaw. A bug in […]
Your PC May Have Security Risks From Old Loaded Software
When was the last time you conducted a company wide audit on all the software running on all the machines tied to your firm’s network? If you’re not sure the answer to that question, it’s almost certainly been too long. The risk, at least according to the latest survey from Avast, is that there are […]
Watch Out For New Ransomware Called Phobos
There’s a new strain of ransomware making the rounds, and it’s a nasty piece of work. Called Phobos by its creators, the latest threat on the ransomware scene first made an appearance in December of 2018. While details are sketchy, what we know so far about it is grim indeed. Researchers at CoveWare have been […]
Many Android VPN Apps Contain Malware Or Exploitable Weaknesses
If you’re like many seasoned ‘Netizins, you probably rely on some type of VPN to help ensure your digital privacy. Unfortunately, based on research conducted by Simon Migliano, you could very well be wasting your time. Mr. Migliano is the head of research at Metric Labs and is a respected name in the industry. He and […]
Ransomware Can Make Installing Illegal Software More Risky
Most reputable businesses don’t deal in illegal copies of commercial software, but there have been a few reported instances. There’s always the possibility that a cash-strapped individual that’s eager to do additional work from home might resort to installing a ‘cracked’ free copy of a program. Unfortunately, those who opt to go that route now […]
Microsoft Support For Windows Phone Users Is Ending In 2019
If you were one of the people who decided to give a Microsoft Windows Phone a try back when the company was still attempting to get into the market, this is a reminder that the company plans to end all support for the platform by December 10th, 2019. There’s still plenty of time to switch […]
Google Is Rolling Out New Features For Gmail Users
Google has recently announced a trio of new features for Gmail users that are going into place immediately, and may in fact be available for use by the time you read this article. Here are the details: One of the first things you’ll notice is a new strikethrough button, visible when you’re composing. You’ll find […]
Google Hangouts Will Close And Transfer To Hangouts Chat
This is just a reminder for anyone using Google Hangouts. The company is moving forward with its plans to discontinue the service, starting with GSuite users and then later moving to the broader consumer shutdown. If your company is currently making use of the messaging app for communications and you haven’t begun making plans to […]
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.
