Tag Archives: Cybersecurity Tips

Holiday Cybersecurity Tips

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Picture of Fish Hook through a gift cardAs the holiday season is underway, Simmons Technology is reminding users to be cautious of potential holiday scams and malicious cyber campaigns, particularly when browsing or shopping online. These scams can come in the form of emails or ecards with malicious links, attachments infected with malware, or requests to support fraudulent charities or causes. It is important to remain vigilant and avoid clicking on unfamiliar links or providing personal information to untrustworthy sources.

It is important to take extra precautions to protect yourself against common online shopping scams. Here are some tips to stay safe:

  • Only shop on reliable websites from retailers you know and trust.
  • Avoid clicking on links in unsolicited emails and be wary of email attachments.
  • Never give out your financial or personal information via email or text.
  • Watch out for fake package tracking emails, fake ecards, and fake charity donation scams.
  • Look for “https://” in the address bar before entering your credit card information online.
  • Don’t auto-save your passwords or credit card numbers.
  • Regularly check your credit card and bank statements and report any discrepancies to your financial institution.
  • Use text alerts provided by your banking app or site to help detect unusual activity.
  • Pay with a credit card instead of a debit card, as credit cards offer protections that may reduce your liability if your information is used improperly.
  • Ignore pop-up offers and deals, and make sure your devices, apps, and anti-virus software are always up-to-date.
  • Protect your passwords by making them long and strong, never sharing them with anyone, and using two-factor or 2-step authentication whenever possible.

We encourage users to remain vigilant and stay safe during the holiday season.

What To Do When You’ve Been Hacked

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When using our computers, tablets, and phones, we all want them—to quote an old Apple slogan—to just work. And usually, they do. Between built-in monitoring tools, antivirus software, and other security checks, devices hum along without our having to give them much thought. But what happens when that’s not the case? What do you do when you think your data, or the device itself, might be compromised?

Signs of a Problem

There are a few telltale signs that your device has been compromised, including:

  • A dramatic decline in performance (crashes, slowly loading applications)
  • An alert from your antivirus software that malicious files or software have been detected on your device
  • New applications, accounts, or other changes to your device that you didn’t make
  • Unusual requests to install new software or software updates for applications you didn’t install and/or requests to make system-level changes to your device
  • An increase in the number of pop-up/pop-under ads in your browser, a change in your browser’s homepage, or automatic redirects to sites you haven’t visited previously

Fixing the Problem

If you suspect your device has been compromised, take action as soon as possible.

  • Begin by backing up any important files to an external hard drive or a cloud storage service such as Dropbox or Google Drive.
  • Next, use a different computer or device to change your passwords for email, banking, and any other secure services you have accessed from the compromised device.
  • Follow any instructions (if provided) by your antivirus software. Often, malicious files and applications can be quarantined and removed by antivirus software.
  • Contact the Service Desk (617-521-2222) so we can have a technician provide additional guidance and confirm that your device is free from malicious files or software.

Remember, if you’re in doubt about any of these steps, you can contact the Service Desk to speak with a technician.