Fix a Frozen PC

Frozen PC, Ophtek, overheated hard drive, reboot, task manager, , , ,
21
Sep 2021

Nothing halts your productivity like a frozen PC. It’s one of the most frustrating problems a PC user will face. But you can easily solve it.

Even the most basic PC will be a complex piece of machinery. Not only are there the electrical and mechanical elements of the hardware, but the software is also at risk of developing problems. Accordingly, a PC can soon run into a major issue. And one of the most common symptoms of this is a frozen PC. No matter how many times you click your mouse or tap at the keyboard, there simply isn’t any response. Your productivity will instantly stop, and you will become highly frustrated. No one wants this, but what’s the answer?

How Can You Unfreeze Your PC?

It’s important to rectify a frozen PC as soon as possible to ensure you can continue being productive. The best ways to successfully solve this are:

  • Access Task Manager: Sometimes, you may find that only one application freezes. This can be particularly frustrating when it’s one that is in constant use. It’s also likely that you won’t be able to hit the close button due to its lack of response. However, by using Task Manager, you should be able to close it. Just hit the Windows button and type in Task Manager in the start box. This will open the Task Manager which displays all the applications currently running. From Task Manager you can right click on any frozen apps and select the End Task command.
  • Manual Reboot: If a PC is completely frozen then it’s unlikely that you will be able to initiate any resolutions due to the lack of available options. In these cases, you will need to carry out a manual reboot. This should only be considered as a final option as manual reboots can result in data loss and file corruption. To complete a manual reboot, hold down the power button on your PC until it turns off – this should usually take around five seconds. Leave the machine turned off for a minute until restarting it.

For more ways to secure and optimize your business technology, contact your local IT professionals.

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5 Signs That You Need to Upgrade Your IT Infrastructure

cyber attacks, IT Infrrastructure, Legacy Software, Old PCs, Ophtek, Storage Space, System Speeds, , , , , ,
14
Sep 2021

The business world is constantly evolving and it’s crucial that your IT infrastructure supports this. However, it’s important that you know when to upgrade.

A good IT infrastructure is the backbone of any successful organization in modern business. But, much like the way in which the business landscape quickly changes, the technology behind these infrastructures can soon be superseded. This leaves you at risk of losing out on gains in productivity. Gains that your competitors are sure to take advantage of.  IT equipment, however, is expensive and there’s little reason for upgrading for the sake of upgrading. You need to be able to recognize the warning signs that you IT infrastructure needs upgrading.

What are the 5 Signs?

Regularly reviewing the capabilities and condition of your IT infrastructure should be considered a vital business task. Any potential issues need to be addressed, but what should you be looking for? Well, you should start by keeping an eye out for the following:

  • Slow System Speeds: Nothing is more frustrating in the world of IT than slow system speeds. PC users want to be able to transfer between apps seamlessly and execute tasks quickly. Accordingly, if you find that your IT systems are consistently running slower then this should be treated as a major warning sign. Either the demands of your network can no longer be met or your systems are simply outdated. Whatever the reason, upgrading your IT infrastructure can quickly remedy the fault.
  • Regular Cyber-Attacks: If you find that your IT systems are regularly being breached by hackers then there’s a good chance it’s down to your IT infrastructure. Often this can be down to a lack of suitable protection. Evaluating your defenses should be a regular task to protect your systems. By regularly monitoring your defenses you should be able to spot vulnerabilities before hackers do.
  • Working with Old PCs: As we’ve already covered, technology changes quickly. And this means that your workstations can soon become outdated. PCs and laptops may not be low-cost items, but eliminating the faults most often associated with them – lack of speed, poor compatibility and limited features – is undeniably essential.

For more ways to secure and optimize your business technology, contact your local IT professionals.

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Fake Legal Complaints Packed with Malware

DDoS Attack, Legal Complaints, malware, Ophtek, Security, , , ,
07
Sep 2021

The threat of legal proceedings always produces a sense of instant anxiety. But this is soon multiplied when it turns out to be a malware attack.

A recent threat to your IT security has been launched by cybercriminals intent on playing on your anxieties. Using a combination of legal threats and malicious links, the hackers aim is to get the BazaLoader malware downloaded to your IT network. The hacker’s strategy, as we’ll see, is one that has been encountered before and demonstrates the everchanging approaches employed by hackers. But what exactly is this new threat? And, more importantly, how do you protect yourself from it?

The Threat of Legal Action

With a generous helping of audacity, this latest attack is launched by the hackers contacting organizations to inform them that their website is involved in a DDoS attack. Rather than being sent from one email address to another, however, the hackers send their communications via the contact forms on websites.

The messages inform the website owners that it appears their website has been hacked and that files on its server are now being used to direct DDoS attacks. The sender of the message, of course, claims that their website is the victim of this DDoS attack. A link is included in the communications which directs the recipients to a Google Drive URL where, it is claimed, instructions to rectify the DDoS attack are housed. But clicking on this link will only set up an automatic download of BazaLoader.

The BazaLoader malware is, as the name suggests, a ‘loader’ form of malware. It’s typically used to download and activate additional malware such as ransomware. This compromises your system even further and, in the case of ransomware, imposes financial demands on your organization. The entire attack is remarkably similar to recent messages sent regarding fake DMCA claims surrounding copyright infringement.

How to Protect Yourself

Naturally, with the information provided above, you should know to tread carefully around any such communications. But, as you can see, the hackers are likely to change their strategy in the future. Therefore, you need to remain on your guard and practice the following:

  • Educate Your Staff on Social Engineering: Attacks such as the BazaLoader one rely on social engineering. This has become a popular strategy for hackers and it’s important that your staff can identify the tell-tale signs. Make a point of regularly refreshing their knowledge to ensure they remain vigilant.

For more ways to secure and optimize your business technology, contact your local IT professionals.

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What are Initial Access Brokers?

Cyber Security, Hackers, IAB, Initial access brokers, Ophtek, Ransomware, , , , ,
30
Aug 2021

Gaining access to an unauthorized network is every hacker’s dream. And, now, this is easier than ever thanks to the rise of initial access brokers.

Initial access brokers (IABs) are a relatively new trend in the world of hacking. These threats have been tracked for several years now, but they have yet to create major headlines. Nonetheless, they represent a major threat to your organization’s security. And the number of IABs operating online is rising. Therefore, it’s important that you understand what IABs are and the threat they represent. So, to help keep your organization safe, we’re going to look at IABs.

What is an IAB?

We’ve discussed ransomware in depth on numerous occasions, but we’re yet to touch upon the role of IABs when it comes to ransomware. The hard work, for a hacker, is breaking into a network. Most networks will have some level of security, so significant time needs to be invested to beat this. But what if there was someone you could go to for ready-made access? It would be a dream scenario for a hacker and it’s one which is provided by IABs.

Acting as a literal broker, IABs carry out extensive research on organizations to identify those that are considered vulnerable. Slowly, these IABs will build up a portfolio of vulnerable targets and details on how to gain access to their networks. This takes the hard work out of hacking for the hackers and ensures that, for a fee, details of vulnerable networks can be quickly obtained. The majority of these deals take place on the dark web with access details being sold to the highest bidder.

How Do You Avoid Becoming an IAB Listing?

IABs are not selective in the industries that they target and tend to scour all industries for potential victims. These threats are also unfolding on a global basis, but some research has shown that a third of IAB listings involve businesses located in the US. Accordingly, you will want to make sure you don’t find your organization having its vulnerabilities advertised as being for sale. And you can do this by taking note of the following:

For more ways to secure and optimize your business technology, contact your local IT professionals.

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The Dangers of SIM Hijacking

Data Breach, Data Security, Ophtek, SIM Hijacking, TMobile Breach, , , ,
23
Aug 2021

A recent security breach of the T-Mobile network has resulted in two issues: the loss of confidential data and the risk of SIM hijacking.

Data breaches are commonplace in the world of hacking, but SIM hijacking is less familiar outside of the telecoms industry. SIM cards, of course, are used in mobile phones to identify users to networks and allow them to make calls. These SIM cards are highly secure given the amount of data they contain and the finances associated with them e.g. contracts. And mobile phones are now a crucial part of any modern business for communications to run smoothly. Accordingly, protecting SIM cards for organizations should be a major concern.

But what is SIM hijacking? And what can you do to protect your SIM cards?

The T-Mobile Breach

In what is the fourth such attack in 18 months, around 48 million customers – many of them former customers – have been affected by the latest T-Mobile breach. Quickly Check If You’re Email Was BreachedThe cause of this breach has not, as of yet, been identified, but the data in question has. Stolen data includes:

  • Names
  • Social security numbers
  • Birthdates
  • Driver’s license details

Around 850,000 customers who hold pre-paid accounts have also had their names, phone numbers and account PINs stolen. All of this data is currently being sold online and represents a major security threat to those involved. And, for those whose number has been exposed, there is also the very real risk of falling victim to SIM hijacking.

What is SIM Hijacking?

SIM hijacking is a process where a hacker attempts to obtain control over a mobile phone account by moving the associated number to a new device. This is achieved by contacting a service provider – such as T-Mobile – and adopting a false identity. You may wonder why people want to steal a mobile number. After all, having access to a set of phone numbers isn’t overly exciting for a hacker. But we live in a world where mobile phones are regularly used for two-factor authorization. Therefore, having access to a phone number can open all manner of opportunities to a hacker.

How Do You Prevent SIM Hijacking?

Once a hacker has your phone number there is little you can do to stop them attempting to hijack your SIM. Naturally, the simplest option is to limit the number of times you give out your mobile number. But this is difficult when we live in an age when so many companies request your number for contact purposes. Nonetheless, it is possible to limit the damage by carrying out the following:

  • Certain service providers such as T-Mobile and Verizon offer security features which block SIM swaps by either requesting a security PIN or using the existing device to authorize the swap

For more ways to secure and optimize your business technology, contact your local IT professionals.

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