Techsavvy Consulting

10/15/2022

Scam with Zelle increasing, chances of getting reimbursed for your losses low. Good article about that, something to be aware of if you use this app.

A new report released by Sen. Elizabeth Warren shows more scammers taking advantage of Zelle users, and that banks often don't reimburse customer losses.

09/01/2022

I have been made aware of an emerging phishing threat, “callback phishing.”

Here’s how it works: Cybercriminals send phishing emails telling employees their subscriptions (e.g., TV, internet, phone) are going to be automatically renewed. People who think they will be charged for automatic renewals are motivated to call the number in the phishing email to try to stop the automatic payments. When people call this number, threat actors send another email with a malicious link directing the caller to a website with malware. This malware can then be used to launch ransomware or extortion attacks.

reports indicate the activity is currently widespread and targeting financial institutions and their employees.

Best practices to help prevent phishing

· Never respond to emails from unfamiliar companies or individuals without verifying the source
· Never click a link inside a suspicious email/text
· Never provide your password, username or account number, even if the source appears to be legitimate
· Never open attachments included in a suspicious email
· Always be on the lookout for these five signs of phishing:
· Requests for personal information
· Requests to complete web forms
· A sense of urgency or consequence if you don’t respond quickly
· Fake links, which can be identified by hovering over them
· Email addresses with misspelt or added characters

03/06/2020

Of course the scammers never let a crisis go to waste. Here is info from the Dept of Homeland Security to be aware of . Feel free to share with older relatives or other family members and friends.
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) warns individuals to remain vigilant for scams related to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Cyber actors may send emails with malicious attachments or links to fraudulent websites to trick victims into revealing sensitive information or donating to fraudulent charities or causes. Exercise caution in handling any email with a COVID-19-related subject line, attachment, or hyperlink, and be wary of social media pleas, texts, or calls related to COVID-19.
Here is a link to the full article:

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) warns individuals to remain vigilant for scams related to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Cyber actors may send emails with malicious attachments or links to fraudulent websites to trick victims into revealing sensitive information or....

02/23/2020

Something to share with any older relatives, knowledge is power.
Scammers are pretending to be government employees. Scammers will try to scare and trick you into giving them your personal information and money. They may threaten you or your family and may demand immediate payment to avoid arrest or other legal action.
DON'T BE FOOLED!
IF YOU RECEIVE A SUSPICIOUS CALL:
1. Hang up!

2. DO NOT give them money or personal
information!

3. Report the scam at OIG.SSA.GOV!

01/13/2020

Worth reading this article to see if your internet modem is affected by this vulnerability. I don't believe these are models that Spectrum cable uses, looks like ATT uses a modem from a company called Pace so those appear to be unaffected as well.

Cable Haunt lets attackers take complete control when targets visit booby-trapped sites.

10/25/2019

Interesting video that shows the about the top 15 or so websites from 1996 to 2019, forgot about a lot of these. AOL and yahoo were big players until google unseated them.

Timeline of the most visited websites on the Internet from 1996 to 2019. Worldwide statistics based on websites traffic measured by monthly visits. ***** I a...

08/17/2019

https://www.kut.org/post/ransomware-attack-hits-local-governments-texas
I have had customers hit by ransomware in the past, when things like this happen its a good time to assess where things are at with your technology. Is your home router firmware up to date? How old is the router, perhaps its time to upgrade to a new one? Are your important files being backed up, how hard would it be to recover from a ransomeware attack happening to you? I share this info not to scare anyone, but when things like this occur, its a good time to do a reality check. DM me if you have any questions or for a consultation.

A coordinated ransomware attack has affected at least 20 local government entities in Texas, the Texas Department of Information Resources said. It would

07/17/2019

be wary of free apps, some maybe taking advantage of you.

App provokes shock with pictures – and concern about what they could be used for

04/19/2019

So when I work from home, I use a VPN to securely connect to my work and access resources. But my VPN connects to Canada, so Google thinks I am in Canada and any results it brings up are obviously Canadian. So to get around this, when using Chrome, after you do a search, paste this to the end of what ever is in the address bar showing the results of what you looked for: &gl=us
This will bring your results back to the US, no matter where in the world you are.

04/09/2019

I have received two calls from 800-937-8997, claiming to be from Verizon and that my account is suspended. It is an attempt to gain my account credentials. If you get a call from this number , ignore it and block it.

02/25/2019

Folding phones are interesting, can only imagine what they will cost.

Here's what we thought of the first foldable phone titans.

02/21/2019

New tech for gas pump skimmers. They say its best to always swipe your card inside gas stations. https://krebsonsecurity.com/2019/02/new-breed-of-fuel-pump-skimmer-uses-sms-and-bluetooth/