The Scam: Don't Open the Front Door:
We have been
alerted that there is an active hacker scam in which the hackers are calling to
business offices and even users cell phones. They are identifying themselves as
being with Microsoft or with the “Microsoft Fraud Protection and Security
Group” or just the “Internet Security Office.” They state that they have
discovered a virus on the company’s data network or on the user’s computer and
ask for remote access to the network or the computer to assist in cleaning it
up and in finding the “bad guys!”
These are scams their goal is
varied. Many use Team Viewer or a similar remote control program and
after they obtain remote access to the user’s computer they can then either
lock the users computers and then demand hundreds of dollars to release the
files, or they install software to log passwords and ultimately perform
identify theft or steal corporate information.
Data Breeches are Not Funny:
As humorous as the SNL Landshark skit is the reality of opening the door to a hacker is not funny at all. The damage hackers
can inflict on a company can be extremely costly. The importance of having a
good data backup plan and firewalls that are continuously and automatically updated is more crucial than ever. Big name companies such as Target, Home
Depot, Sony, and Anthem have recently been in the news regarding the breech of their data
networks. Theses breeches resulted in the theft of sensitive company and customer information and millions of dollars in damage. While these events have helped bring the seriousness of data breeches and theft to the public eye there is a concern that some small business owners will think that hackers may primarily target big name companies. This is not the case. Not only are companies of all sizes being targeted but even individual computers. Please keep your data and your customer's data safe. Review, install, and update your data security systems and practices. Install and update firewalls, install a data backup system, and inform your staff of the threats they should avoid. Contact Advanced Technology Consultants, LLC to discuss your data security needs, (314) 991-5050
www.atcstl.com
