Blog
Privacy Concerns Over Microsoft Data Sharing
Microsoft hasn’t been making many friends, thanks to its rather invasive data collection policies. In fact, the sheer amount of data the company collects on you via Windows 10 is nothing short of alarming, and it has even caught the attention of government agencies. Several European countries have filed formal complaints about the types and […]
In-App Purchases By Kids May Get Refunded By Amazon
Amazon has been in hot water with the Federal Trade Commission since 2014 for not warning parents that the free apps they let their kids play with can be used to authorize in-app purchases. Thanks to this policy, some $70 million dollars’ worth of in-app purchases were made by minors between 2011 and 2016, and […]
Health Care Employees Have Big Problems With Data Security
Over the past two years, the hackers of the world have begun to shift focus. Previously, their preferred targets had been big credit card companies, and all over the dark web, interested parties could find as many credit card numbers (including all relevant account information) as they were interested in purchasing. Times and tastes change, […]
Hacking Over WiFi Threat Prompts iOS And Android Updates
If you use either an Android or Apple smartphone, which describes approximately 100% of the world’s smartphone-using population, then you’ll want to pay close attention to the security updates that both Google and Apple released recently. Four months ago, Google security researcher Gal Beniamini, a member of Project Zero, identified a string of critical security […]
Facial Recognition Has Major Flaw On New Samsung Phone
Samsung, the world’s largest cellphone manufacturer, has a problem with their flagship offerings, the new S8 and S8+ devices. Both were released with a new facial recognition software the company used as an advanced security measure. The idea was a thing of beauty in its simplicity. Advanced machine learning coupled with advanced image recognition routines […]
Will Your Laptop Battery Last As Long As They Say?
If you have a laptop, you’ve probably noticed that your laptop’s battery doesn’t seem to last as long as the manufacturer says it will. Maybe you just figured you were a power user, or maybe you thought it was just your imagination. It isn’t. A company called “Which?” that runs a popular website offering expert […]
Surveillance Spyware Originally Found On iOS Now Targeting Android
In 2016, security firms Lookout and Citizen Lab identified a dangerous new type of malware, dubbed Pegasus, that surfaced in the iOS ecosystem. The software was developed and sold by the NSO Group, a licensed cyber-arms dealer operating out of Israel. Highly advanced, it was primarily sold to governments, including a number of oppressive regimes, […]
SEO Plugin For WordPress Could Give Hackers Control Of Your Website
WordPress remains the undisputed king of content management systems. It is the web’s most popular site-building platform, and odds are good that you either have a WordPress site or know someone who does. Legions of businesses use the open source CMS to build business-grade websites with a staggering degree of functionality. Unfortunately, the immense success […]
Password Thefts Have Not Prompted Users To Change Password Habits
The newest big problem with data security is the same as the old big problem with data security. It’s the users. Specifically, it’s the fact that most people don’t bother to change their passwords more than once a year, if that frequently. Data security is a major headache for all business owners, no matter the […]
Don’t Fall For New Nintendo Emulator Scam
Nintendo recently released the Nintendo Switch, a new console system. On its heels, we’re seeing a new scam that’s tricking large numbers of PC users (both Apple and Windows-based) into downloading potentially harmful software. The scam seems to be driven largely by YouTube videos, and works like this: A user views a YouTube video talking […]
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.
