July 27, 2021

Good morning, everyone!

This week’s critical vulnerabilities: Apple has released updates for iPhones, iPads and Big Sur with lots of security fixes D-Link has released a hotfix for multiple vulnerabilities in its DIR-3040 AC3000-based wireless internet router Microsoft has a workaround for Windows 10 to guard against the “SeriousSAM” bug FortiNet has released updates to fix critical flaws in its FortiManager and FortiAnalyzer products Patch All the Things!

Consult Only Original Sources of Information

Recently I exploded everyone’s heads when I said Google is not your friend – because so many Google ads point you to malware! I talked about “original sources of information” – one of my favorite topics! I’ll pull out a couple more today.

Your bank account has been compromised

Or you need to confirm your information because they have updated their system, or suspicious activity has been reported … you get these emails and texts all the time, right? What do you do? Two options:

1. Go to the bookmark (or favorite) you have saved in your browser, and log into your account where you know it is safe to do so. (If you haven’t bookmarked the login pages for important sites you visit, do that right now!) If there is a problem, as soon as you log in, you’ll get a notification on the page.
2. Go old school – pull out your bank card, flip it over, and call the number on the back. If there really is a problem, you will immediately be transferred to the fraud department.

Tech support help

If you are working in a software application and get stuck and need help, what do you do? Go to Google and type “tech support help” in the search box? NOOOOOOOOO!!!!! Look at the top of the screen, the menu bar, almost certainly has a menu item titled “Help” – guess what? The clue is in the name. That’s where you get help! 😁 It may link to a knowledgebase or it may have a phone number, whatever, that is where you get legitimate tech support for that application, not a scammer trying to steal your money.

Spammy phone calls

If you get a phone call claiming to be with your bank or your doctor’s office, but they start asking you questions (“Can you please confirm your date of birth?”) or they say there is a problem with your computer and they need remote access to fix it … ask for their name, trouble ticket number, callback number, then HANG UP! Call the number in your contacts (NOT the number they gave you) for whoever they said they were.

Develop your natural skepticism!!

And have a good week.

Remember, you can read past editions of this newsletter on our website, along with tons more information under the Resources tab.

Talk to you again soon!

Glenda R. Snodgrass
grs@theneteffect.com
(251) 433-0196 x107
https://www.theneteffect.com
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Security Awareness Training Goes Live Again!

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Contact me to schedule your employee training sessions. They're fun! ☺