Terry Allen, Sr. Security Consultant & Shared CIO/CISO, talks about how traditional anti-virus software works... and why it's not able to cope with today's sophisticated cyber threats.
Terry AllenAugust 31, 2020
Since businesses started shifting to remote work due to COVID-19, OXEN has seen a sizeable uptick in requests for purchasing and implementing VPNs for at-home workers. You’ve probably seen that a Virtual Private Network (VPN) connection is often recommended for securely working from home while accessing company resources. So what’s a VPN for in this context, and do you need one? If you’re a business manager, do you need a VPN connection for every employee who’s now working from home? Read on for our tips. What Is a Virtual Private Network? VPN stands for “Virtual Private Network”. It creates a…
OXEN TechnologyMay 4, 2020
While the growing size of these breaches increases the probability that each of us could be affected, we often forget that we haven't taken simple, every day precautions.
OXEN TechnologyApril 20, 2020
We need technical support companies to help us solve complex issues with our devices and applications. We do our best to stay safe on our devices, but often there are technical elements that we aren’t trained to handle. Relying on tech support is necessary to get us back in working order. However, scammers and hackers will use our dependence on tech support to get their foot in the door. By pretending to be tech support and using scare tactics, they trick their victims into installing a virus or paying money. What are some of the tactics scammers use to do…
OXEN TechnologyApril 13, 2020
Attackers Are Taking Advantage of Unprecedented Changes What we’re witnessing today with the COVID-19 pandemic is unprecedented. Local governments are banning large gatherings. Many businesses and institutions are forced to close or adjust work schedules. Organizations that can are moving their employees to reduced hours or remote work. This means many people are now working from home for the first time and encountering issues with connectivity and access to company networks and data. The social isolation, uncertainty, and distractions cause anxiety and mistakes. On top of all of this, cyber attackers are already trying to take advantage of a world…
OXEN TechnologyMarch 30, 2020
You may have heard about shared CIO services – or a “virtual CIO” – and wondered what that is and whether it would help you. How do you know if you would benefit from CIO or CISO services? For one, a Shared CIO (Chief Information Officer) or Shared CISO (Chief Information Security Officer) doesn’t replace your existing leadership of IT staff. Instead, this position enhances your IT team and your business leadership. This is a consultative person who helps you define a strategy to best use technology and manage cyber risks based on your actual business goals. CIO services aren’t…
OXEN TechnologyMarch 9, 2020
Business email compromise (BEC) scams are on the rise. They target business owners and high-level employees in order to defraud a company, its customers, or its partners. In this type of scam, an attacker will pretend to be a trusted entity by spoofing a company email account. Then, they trick employees into revealing sensitive information or performing wire transfers. Types of BEC Scams There are different types of BEC scams. However, all these threats usually target employees with access to company finances, in an attempt to trick them into transferring money or revealing sensitive data. BEC scams include: false invoice…
OXEN TechnologyMarch 2, 2020
You may have noticed that recently a lot of your accounts are now requiring multiple methods of verifying your identity when you login. No longer do you just enter your username and password to get into your email, your cloud apps, or your accounting system. You now also need to input a short code that is texted to you, generated by an app, or emailed. In some cases, you might be getting verification phone calls, using a smart card, or entering biometric data like a fingerprint. What is this? This is multi-factor authentication (MFA). MFA consist of three things that…
OXEN TechnologyFebruary 10, 2020
Every day we read about another cybersecurity breach. Lost credit card information, hacked emails, corporate or national security information stolen by insider or external actors. Cyber espionage and security attacks have become sophisticated and big business. We have reluctantly learned a new language: ransomware, “phishing”, malware, HIPAA (in healthcare), PCI (for credit card protection), and PII (personally identifiable information) to name a few. The challenge grows even faster as more and more devices are attached to our networks. New devices like thermostats, smart lights, cell phones, watches, and smart monitors of all types connect to our networks to share information.…
OXEN TechnologyJanuary 20, 2020
