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Archives for September 2016

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Google Amps Up Internet Security For Everyone

Internet SecurityThere are lots of ways that hackers can get to you. They can find you on public wifi, access data through your smartphones, and send you infected emails. But the easiest route they can take is the internet, via simple web surfing. With one click of a mouse, you can end up on an infected site unknowingly, giving cyber criminals a back door to your data. But Google is trying to help. Here’s an article, from Network World, that tells us just how Google is doing it.

Google is now providing more information to website owners whose online properties are temporarily blocked as unsafe by its Safe Browsing technology as a way to help them fix the identified problems faster.

Google Safe Browsing is a technology used by Google’s search engine, the Google Chrome browser, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, and Android to steer users away from websites that host malicious or deceptive content.

On the back-end, Google uses robots to scan the web and build a list of websites that host malware, harmful downloads, or deceptive ads and pages. Software developers can then plug into an API to integrate this list into their own applications.

The problem is that many websites hosting malware or bad ads don’t do so intentionally but were hacked by attackers. The owners of those websites can ask Google to rescan their properties and have them removed from the Safe Browsing blacklist once the security problems have been corrected.

Webmasters are encouraged to proactively register their websites in the Search Console even if those websites have never been affected by a security issue. This will save them time when something does happen because Google will send notifications through the service as soon as Safe Browsing detects a problem.

Google estimates that more than a billion users are protected by its Safe Browsing technology, and more than 60 million of them encounter Safe Browsing warnings on a weekly basis. As of May, webmasters took around 60 days on average to clean their websites once they were notified of a compromise, according to Google’s data. This is an improvement from a 90-day average response time in May 2015.

Maintaining your network security should be your number one priority. If you think you may be a victim of malware, the computer techs at Great Lakes Computer can help. We can remove existing issues, as well as set you up with a robust antivirus program to protect you in the future.

Learn more about our Data Security Product Suite

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EMV Everywhere: All About the Chip Card Revolution

EMVAll of the major credit card schemes and card issuing banks have been transitioning to payment by chip card, also known as EMV. It’s an older but highly secure technology that is almost impossible to hack. The move to this type of credit card is in direct response to major database hacks of retailers and small-time theft of credit card information. The annual cost of card fraud in the US alone is in the billions of dollars.

Now retailers have to use a POS system that accepts chip cards or assume all liability for fraudulent transactions. It’s an inconvenience to retailers to upgrade, but the benefits far outweigh the trouble of installing a new POS system to accept chip cards.

What Does EMV Stand For?

EMV is an acronym for Europay, Mastercard and Visa. It’s a standard that’s been used in countries around the globe for over 20 years. It works through a microprocessor chip embedded in the card. This microprocessor contains all of the cardholder’s account information. The chip transmits all of the necessary data to the POS system which then sends it to through the merchant service account.

How Does an EMV Chip Work and Why is it Better Than a Magnetic Stripe?

The current technology of the magnetic stripe is inherently insecure. A terminal pulls information off the magnetic stripe when swiped and stores the information in a local database. This system worked fine prior to the days of massive customer information databases. People swiped their cards, information was transmitted, and the information was locked down tight. The rise of stores like Walmart and Target meant that thousands of cards were being swiped every minute and creating a logistical nightmare for data storage. The problems begin when retailers hold onto credit card information for various reasons but fail to keep that information secure. Hackers on the lookout for easy money found that major retailers were ripe for the picking when it came to stealing credit card numbers. Thieves then cloned the credit card information onto the magnetic stripe of a realistic looking credit card and went out shopping.

The EMV chip works by adding a layer of authenticity that a magnetic stripe can’t match. The chip contains information that ties the card to its owner in a way no magnetic strip ever could. Cardholder information is still transmitted and held in a database, but it’s useless to a thief as it’s impossible for a thief to clone an embedded microprocessor.

How do Businesses get a Credit Card Chip Reader?

It depends. Businesses using a single POS system can call their merchant account provider and inquire about getting a replacement that accepts chip cards. Retailers who have an integrated POS system need to do more work and get a chip reader that works with their existing system. All POS machine and system makers have been aware of the switch for some time, so a replacement reader/swiper shouldn’t be too difficult to obtain and install.

There’s a definite learning curve occurring everywhere as merchants, and customers, adopt this new technology, but it’s worth the wait for your security. Great Lakes Computer offers POS system repair and maintenance, and can help retailers with their chip card terminal needs.

Learn more about Great Lakes POS Systems Depot Repair

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3 Ways Dear Aunt Sally is a Potential Data Security Victim

Data SecurityMost of our readers are computer savvy. They know the basics of how their IT works and are mindful of cyber threats and data security risks. But, we all have that relative or friend who is a late adopter of computers, networks, smartphones and the internet. They may not really understand the risks they create to their own personal data when they log on. Here are the top 3 most common security risks, and how to avoid them. You might want to pass these along to those that could use a little guidance when it comes to protecting their valuable information.

1. They visit unsecured websites.

Surfing the web for recipes and holiday shoppping is certainly a revelation after a lifetime of oversized cookbooks and shlepping to the mall at the holidays. But, cyber criminals know there are less experienced users out there willing to click anything for a deal. When a visitor lands on an unsecured page, they open themselves up to the risk of malware and data theft (like passwords and credit card info). Google has taken action recently to alert people when they are heading to an unsecured site, but you can also be mindful here. Simply look in the URL, or web address, the bar at the top of your screen; If the address starts with “https” then you’re headed to a secure site where your data will be encrypted before sending. Avoid sites with just an “http.”

2. They open emails from unknown senders or download unknown attachments.

Email was one of the first windows of opportunity for hackers. Opening an email from an unknown sender isn’t likely to do harm on its own; factory-installed virus scanners protect us there. But, clicking links and opening attachments that you can’t tell what they are is a huge risk! With so many emails going in and out every day, 205 billion worldwide, people often don’t pay much attention to the warning signs. If the email is from a friend, but it’s sent to a certain group of their contacts alphabetically, it’s probably spam! Don’t click it! If it’s an unknown sender, always err on the side of caution and don’t click on links or open attachments. If you do, you’re likely to download a virus or spyware.

3. They like and share chain posts on Facebook

This one is a little trickier because it’s not as well known, and harder to anticipate. We’ve all seen the pictures of sick kids, cute puppies, aged veterans, and prayer requests that say “Share if you Agree!” or “Type Amen!”. They seem harmless, but a lot of them aren’t. The mildest requests to share statuses work to increase the social popularity of the page they’re posted from.  The most malicious ones may share a link to a virus that could compromise the user’s Facebook account or computer. Either way, most have been crafted to get spread in a viral manner – called Like Farming. After the originator of the post amasses a sufficient amount of likes, they can change the content of the page to malware and scam advertising or sell the information to cyber criminals.

In an interconnected world, threats to the our data security are rampant. We encourage you to help your friends, family and coworkers understand the risks they expose themselves to everyday. These casual users may bring their infected smartphones into your office someday and once they connect to your network, your valuable data is at risk too. If you want to learn more about keeping your network safe from data security threats, contact the experts at Great Lakes Computer today.

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