Blog
Will Getting Rid of Cards Increase Bank Security
The magnetic stripes on the backs of credit and debit cards are problematic. The root of the problem is that they contain absolutely nothing in the way of security. The information they contain is completely unprotected and vulnerable to a type of attack known as “skimming,” where someone with a bit of technical savvy can […]
The Dangers of Open Wi-Fi
Have you secured your Wi-Fi connection yet? If not, your neighbors may be “borrowing” your internet connection. That poses some potential dangers to you, and could even set you up for some legal trouble, but how can you tell? There are a number of indirect indicators that someone may be borrowing your connection. Of these, […]
New Attack Puts Websites At Risk
Remember last year’s “Heartbleed” scare? If you don’t, or if you need a refresher, Heartbleed was a flaw in the security of SSL, which is the technology employed by just about everyone on the web to make financial transactions secure. It is essentially the technology that makes people feel comfortable about conducting business on the […]
How To Manage Your Reputation Online
There are few things that strike terror into small business owners like having someone smear them, their company, or their brand online. Is it any wonder? We’ve all seen and heard horror stories about businesses being brought down by a hailstorm of criticism on the internet, and it can leave business owners feeling powerless to […]
Data Security – It’s not JUST About Digital Records
The US Department of Health and Human Services is having a tough time of it. They are the latest government agency to report a significant data breach, but this time, with a twist. In this instance, it wasn’t a nefarious plot by a group of hackers, but simple human carelessness and error. The case in […]
Why An Overqualified Employee Might Be A Great Choice
In many cases, when a hiring manager sees a resume for an open position from an obviously overqualified candidate, the immediate reaction is to toss it. Too often, they’re not even considered, on the thinking that because they are overqualified, the moment a “better” job comes along, they’ll take it, moving on to greener pastures. […]
Group Video On Mobile Devices
Wouldn’t it be great if you could find a free, high-quality group video conferencing solution, offered by a company with a proven track record for quality? Great news if you’ve been looking for something like that, because now, you can! Microsoft has big plans for Skype, and is in the process of rolling out a […]
Hackers Are Upping the Stakes and Holding Networks Hostage
Remember the ‘Good ol’ days,’ when all hackers would try to do is breach your security, steal your files and crash your servers? Well, things are about to get a lot messier, and more expensive. Over the last few years, there’s been a marked increase in Ransomware. If you’re not familiar with the term, the […]
Employee Security Breaches Are On The Rise – What Can You Do?
Hardly a week goes by that there’s not some or other high profile hacking attack or data breach in the news. These headline making attacks get the lion’s share of the attention because of their scope and scale, seeing the hackers making off with sensitive personal and financial information of hundreds of thousands, and often […]
First Ever Ransomware on OSX
It finally happened. Ransomware has officially made its first appearance on OSX. Anyone who downloaded version 2.90 of the “Transmission” App (which is a legitimate Bittorrent app available in the Apple Store) on or around March 4 should delete it immediately and install the clean 2.92 version. If you’re not familiar with the term, ransomware […]
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.
