Blog
Watch Out For Invoice Emails That Include Encrypted Docs
Hackers have once again pushed the envelope. They’ve again come up with a new way to infect target computers and get around whatever detection software is in place. The latest twist is sending encrypted Word files to your employees. These files are accompanied by an email, describing the attachment as an invoice for some service […]
Some Google Maps Listing Links Sending People To Malware Sites
Each month, hundreds of millions of people rely on Google Maps. It has become the replacement for GPS in most of our cars. We rely on the service for everything from getting simple directions to doing research on a new location you’re scouting out, finding a new restaurant to try out for dinner, looking for […]
Microsoft Word Vulnerability Being Used To Victimize Email Users
Microsoft is taking some heat, thanks to a nasty exploit in Microsoft Word that is being used to install malware on the PCs of unsuspecting users. The exploit was discovered by both McAfee and security firm FireEye, and based on the joint research by both firms, it has been in use since at least January. […]
GameStop Latest To Have Customer Information Hacked
If you shop at GameStop.com, keep an eye on the credit card you used for signs of suspicious activity. According to security researcher Brian Krebs, sources inside the financial industry are reporting that the company’s website was breached between September 2016 and February 2017. GameStop itself has confirmed that they’ve hired a third party to […]
Dallas Storm Siren Hack May Signal Future Bigger Infrastructure Hacks
The city of Dallas, Texas is under siege by hackers. Not long ago, an unknown hacker took control of several of the city’s signal lights. Even more recently, another hacker commandeered all 156 of the city’s emergency sirens and activated them simultaneously for nearly two hours. Residents were startled all over town and frightened into […]
Some Illegal Movie Downloads May Contain Trojan Threat
If you use torrent software to download advance copies of movies or your favorite TV shows, your machine could be part of a large and sprawling botnet called Sathurbot. The hackers behind the botnet upload infected torrent files that contain a small executable described as being a video codec you need in order to play […]
New Bill May Help Small Businesses With CyberSecurity Guidance
If you’re a small business owner, you may feel completely overwhelmed by the digital security threats you face, and you’re not alone. A recent survey indicated that more than 70% of all cyber-attacks are made against companies with fewer than a hundred employees. Unfortunately, those companies don’t have the deep pockets of the large multinationals, […]
Buy Computer Hardware Now: Prices Expected To Increase This Year
If you’re in the market for new hardware, PC or smartphone, now is the time to buy. All indications are that prices are going to be rising in the next year. There are a few different factors in play here. This year is slated to be a big year for new smartphone releases, putting increased […]
Watch Your Blog Comments, Or Risk Getting Flagged
If you participate in blog conversations, then you’ve probably heard of Disqus. It’s the largest and most well-known blog commenting software on the web today, used by a variety of news media sites and blogs of all shapes and sizes. Its user base numbers are in the hundreds of millions. Unfortunately, since literally anyone can […]
Telephone Scammers Get Tricky By Recording “Yes,” Using It Against You
What’s old is new again. In the days before the internet, scammers frequently weaponized the telephone, but now, that’s considered old school. While telephone scams still exist, they’re not nearly as common as they once were. Recently, however, a new scam has been making the rounds that has even gotten the attention of the FCC. […]
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.


