Latest Security News from March/April 2019

Microsoft has always had quite a reputation when it comes to security updates and software upgrades and the latest April 2019 Patch Tuesday update is no exception, with reports of units freezing during the update process and some hanging in the middle of startup after the patch is applied. The culprit? Conflicts between the recent patch update and the antivirus software, which affected many Windows operating systems, including Windows 7, 8.1, Windows Server 2012 and 2012 R2.

Microsoft, Sophos, Avira, and Avast have already addressed and brought light to the issue through their respective support articles. They say that the conflict is largely between recent updates and certain components of antivirus software systems, including Sophos Endpoint Protection, AVG Business Edition, ArcaBit, Avast for Business, CloudCare, and Avira Antivirus. In particular, the patch caused computers to hang or fail on boot, freeze upon startup, or run very slow.

                                                    

Resolving the issue is a matter of removing the updates from affected machines and you can generally do so by booting in safe mode and disabling the conflicting antivirus service and then booting in normal mode so you can uninstall Windows KB. Do not forget to enable your antivirus service after uninstalling the problematic update.

Because these patches and upgrades can be technical in nature, it is always best to seek assistance from your managed IT service provider in order to perform recovery and repairs properly. With the right service, you can rest assured that fixes are correct and won’t cause any further problems for your system.

In conclusion, despite antivirus systems and update patches causing some conflicts with certain operating systems, there is no denying their importance in keeping your applications and your operating system in general functional and secure. Instead of avoiding or deferring these updates, keep yourself informed and on the lookout for latest security news to brace yourself for the positive or negative impacts of these patches and updates.

5 Cyber Security Trends to Prepare for in 2019

Cyber security has always been a challenge for IT professionals. Over the last couple of years, the corporate world has been plagued by high-profile data breaches—not to mention increasingly sophisticated ransomware attacks and relentless cybercriminals who are only becoming more persistent in their cause to wreak havoc in the cyber world. Here are some of the most vital cyber security trends organizations should look out for in the coming year:

                   

1. On GDPR – The European Union’s GDPR (general data protection regulation) requires the protection and privacy of the personal data of EU citizens by businesses operating within the territory. Non-compliance to this can mean grave penalties, which is why organizations have since started to adopt procedures in order to remain compliant. A lot of experts expect the same proactive approach toward data privacy to come to enterprises trading elsewhere, such as the US and some business IT support in Maryland, so more comprehensive federal data privacy laws could be in the horizon for the United States.
   
2. On managed/unmanaged devices – IoT will remain a major pain point when it comes to cyber-security, especially since many connected devices have little to no built-in security, creating many holes in previously secure networks and increasing exploitable endpoints.
   
3. On personalized phishing – Account take-over remains a huge threat in cybersecurity and attacks are becoming more personalized than ever, as cybercriminals move from standard, untargeted phishing emails, to more strategic and tailored attacks that target more lucrative business executive accounts.
   
4. On multi-factor authentication – Multi-factor authentication is becoming the gold standard for security as people become more and more aware of the importance of their personal data.
   
5. On AI cyber-attacks – As artificial intelligence becomes more deeply ingrained in the day-to-day of the average person, it can be expected that cybercriminals will exploit its potential, creating new breeds of AI-targeted and powered malware.

Cyber risks are everywhere, and the abovementioned threats are only some of the most pressing threats that organizations should address in order to protect themselves and their customers from the claws of data breaches and the implications of falling prey to increasing cyber security attacks.

All About How Virtual Reality Has Seen Success in Mental Health Disorders Treatments

Mental health disorders are coming to better light, thanks to efforts that are slowly, but surely removing the negative stigma about different mental conditions that afflict humanity. One of the many developments in the treatment of mental health disorders is the use of virtual reality technologies in various types of therapies. Virtual reality as a tool for introducing therapy for treating mental health issues isn’t entirely a brand-new concept. In fact, it’s been decades since VR is used to administer exposure therapy in a safe and controlled environment. Nowadays, virtual reality therapy is widely used as a mental health treatment platform, thanks to a greater availability of VR devices and more advanced VR technology. Below are some of the most common mental health therapies that benefit from VR technology: 

• VR Therapy for PTSD – VR has been widely used in prolonged exposure therapy for PTSD. In fact, the earliest uses for VR devices have been for the treatment of war veterans and soldiers who suffered PTSD in the 90s. This said, military PTSD isn’t the only kind of PTSD condition that can be treated using VR PET. The technology is also widely used for treating those who underwent other types of trauma such as sexual abuse.

• VR Therapy for Phobias and Anxiety – VR is also being used for treating a vast number of phobic and anxiety disorders through self-guided therapies and/or telemedicine.

• VR Therapy for Stress Relief – Stress and anxiety reduction therapies can also be administered with the use of VR technology, including meditative and relaxation therapies designed to remedy generalized anxiety and stress.

• VR and Cognitive Behavioral Therapies – Apart from exposure therapy, VR is also useful in administering psychotherapeutic treatments like cognitive behavioral therapies that help patients deal with disturbing and destructive thought patterns, beliefs, and behaviors.

How Proper Cyber Security Can Lengthen a Company's Life

Information has become one of the most valuable resources today. As our world becomes more and more digitized, protecting valuable data has become a major challenge for business—not just for the big corporations, but also smaller companies. Data theft or hacking is a serious threat to businesses of all sizes and in all industries. So, as long as there data is digitally stored, anyone can be a target. That is why a growing number of companies have been paying more and more attention and investing heavily on protecting their information. In 2017, the value of the cyber security market is expected to reach $120 billion.

 Data theft, hacking, and more recently the ransomware threat can dramatically affect the reputation, profitability, and viability of companies in many ways. If your business gets targeted, you must deal with the impact of the data breach and containing the threat to prevent more data from being lost. Recovery and restoring the lost data will also be a huge headache. And then there is the issue of restoring the loyalty and confidence of your stakeholders, clients or customers. All of these will cost a lot of money and can really hurt your bottom line or worse, kill off your business altogether.

That is why it is imperative to shore up your data protection and security. Just because your company is small doesn’t mean that it is less susceptible to attacks. In fact, 71% of reported cyber-attacks target small and medium businesses.

When it comes to cyber security, prevention is always better (and less costly) than a cure. The main problem with cyber security is that the threat constantly evolves. As such, the need is to have a dynamic and proactive solution to protect oneself from these cyber threats. Investing now on protective measures such as good antivirus software, firewall protection, strong and secure password systems, and a strong awareness on cyber threats is the key to safeguard your information from intrusion and unauthorized access. A mindset of constant improvement and investment in cyber security systems is necessary to insure a company's survival in today's digital world.

Source URL : http://www.orionnetworks.net/how-proper-cyber-security-can-lengthen-a-companys-life/

Advantages of Deploying Mobile Applications for Your Business

Mobile apps are not merely for big-time businesses. In fact, every business (regardless of size) can benefit from having a mobile application. When implemented with a good mobile strategy, mobile applications for your business may help boost your sales, generate more leads, and keep existing and prospective customers interested in what you have to offer. Mobile applications can be an important aspect of your marketing strategy for the following reasons:

•Establish a marketing channel that is direct and easily accessible to your customers – Apps can be versatile in a sense that they can deliver or include general information, booking forms, prices, user accounts, newsfeeds, messengers, search features, and other features you think may be necessary to keep your business easily available to your customers.

•They keep your business available all the time – An average American tends to spend over two hours on his or her mobile device daily, and while only a few applications are encompassed in this usage, users will still have to swipe, scroll, and scan for the apps they want to use. When they have your app, you can establish your presence in their subconscious minds, even if they do not use it for that particular session.

•Mobile apps provide better value to your users – One of the most common applications of mobile apps for a business is enabling a digitized loyalty program, which will make it easier for customers to keep track of points and collect rewards through their mobile devices. This way, your mobile application may encourage more downloads and return customers. The more customers use or buy your services and products, the more points they can earn, which they can use to obtain certain products or services that they need or could want. Starbucks, for instance, uses a mobile app to providing exclusive rewards to those who have it.

Source URL : http://www.orionnetworks.net/advantages-of-deploying-mobile-applications-for-your-business/