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Another Organization Gets Hit With Massive HIPAA Fine
The University of Massachusetts’ Amherst campus just learned a hard and incredibly expensive lesson about how serious the Department of Health and Human Services is about cracking down on HIPAA noncompliance. In the 13th high profile fine of the year, the university was hit with a staggering $650,000 fine. Based on agency comments, it could […]
Watch Out For SVG in Facebook Messenger To Avoid Ransomware
By now, you’re probably familiar with the ransomware known as “Locky.” It’s an insidious form of malware that completely locks down your computer and encrypts all your files. Once it has taken root in your system, you’ve only got two choices, neither of them good. You can either restore your machine from whatever backups you […]
San Francisco Public Transportation System Hacked
Last week, San Francisco’s Municipal Railway became the latest in a long line of ransomware victims. Hackers locked their entire system down and made it impossible for them to collect fares, or even function for a time. They demanded payment of 100 BitCoins to unlock the servers and restore functionality. The railway’s IT staff worked […]
Hack Can Turn Headphones Into Microphone To Listen To You
A group of Israeli security researchers operating out of Ben Gurion University have created a proof-of-concept app (malware) that can weaponize your computer’s speakers, turning them against you. The particulars of their code sound like something out of a blockbuster Sci Fi movie script, but it’s all too real, and what’s worse is that it […]
Data Backdoor Found On BLU Mobile Phones
Kryptowire, an American digital security firm, recently made a disturbing discovery about smartphones being sold by Blu Products, a company which makes low-cost phones like the Blu R1 HD, which was recently offered on Amazon for just $50. According to Kryptowire, they discovered that a copy of Adups, a software from a Chinese vendor, was […]
IRS Looking To Tax BitCoin Users
In 2014, the IRS put BitCoin users on notice. They were informed that they had to report all BitCoin gains on their taxes. The Federal Agency considers them to be property, and not currency per se, but so far, during the course of a national investigation, the agency has unearthed several examples of people using […]
Internet On Your Next Flight Might Be Significantly Faster
If you’re a frequent flyer on American Airlines, then you’re probably already aware of one of that company’s biggest drawbacks. Their in-flight Wi-Fi is notoriously slow. The company has been in partnership with Wi-Fi provider Gogo for years, but recently took Gogo to court, citing the drastic difference between their Wi-Fi network speeds and the […]
Have Issues With Iphone 6S Shutting Down? Apple May Replace Battery
Do you own an iPhone 6S? If you do, and it was manufactured in September or October of last year, it might be experiencing problems that cause it to shut down unexpectedly. If you’ve experienced that type of issue, you could get a free battery replacement from Apple to solve the problem. The first step […]
ATM Skimmers Are Becoming A Huge Problem
Unless your firm is directly connected to the banking industry, you may not be aware of this, but the biggest ATM-related crime that banks have to grapple with is ATM Skimming. It has become a major problem, especially for ATMs that are in areas where they can be accessed 24/7, but that have low security […]
Windtalker Attack May Get Personal Info from Mobile Wifi
There’s a new attack vector to be worried about called “Windtalker.” It allows a hacker to take control of a WiFi hotspot and reverse-engineer keystrokes made by users who are typing via their touchscreens. While that sounds like magic, there are some simple principles involved, and the hackers are merely taking advantage of these. One […]
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.
