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Avoid Phishing Scams with Three Simple Tips

Phishing scams are online messages designed to look like they’re from a trusted source. We may open what we thought was a safe email, attachment or image only to find ourselves exposed to malware or a scammer looking for our personal data. The good news is we can take precautions to protect our important data. Learn to recognize the signs and report phishing to protect devices and data.

 

  1. Recognize Common Signs | Be wary of requests from unknown parties, especially if they ask for money or other sensitive information.

• Urgent or emotionally appealing language
• Requests to send personal or financial information
• Unexpected attachments
• Untrusted shortened URLs
• Email addresses that do not match the supposed sender
• Poor writing/misspellings (less common)

  1. Resist and Report | Report suspicious messages by using the “report spam” feature. If the message is designed to resemble an organization you trust, report the message by alerting the organization using their contact information found on their webpage. You can also forward your email to support@sjtechies.com for one of our Security Team members to review.
  2. Delete | Delete the message. Don’t reply or click on any attachment or link, including any “unsubscribe” link. The unsubscribe button could also carry a link used for phishing. Just delete.

If a message looks suspicious, it’s probably phishing.

 

Have questions?

 

Our team is here to help. Call us at: 856-745-9990 or visit: https://southjerseytechies.net.

 

South Jersey Techies, LLC is a full Managed Web and IT Services Company located in Marlton, NJ providing IT ServicesManaged IT ServicesWebsite Design ServicesServer SupportIT ConsultingVoIP PhonesCloud Solutions Provider and much more. Contact Us Today.

 

Let’s work together to build a safer digital environment for your business. We can increase your online safety through four simple actions, and whether at home or work, these tips make us more secure when connected. Take time to discuss them with your team so you can all become safer online!

 

  1. Use Strong Passwords | Strong passwords are long, random, and unique and include all four-character types (uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols).
  2. Turn On Multi-Factor Authentication | You need more than a password to protect your online accounts; enabling MFA makes you significantly less likely to get hacked. Enable MFA on all your online accounts that offer it, especially email, social media, and financial accounts.
  3. Recognize & Report Phishing | Be cautious of unsolicited messages asking for personal information. Avoid sharing sensitive information or credentials with unknown sources. Report phishing attempts and delete the message.
  4. Update Software | Ensuring your software is up to date is the best way to make sure you have the latest security patches and updates on your devices. Regularly check for updates if automatic updates are unavailable.

In today’s digital landscape, protecting your business doesn’t have to be complicated. By adopting these simple cybersecurity practices—using strong passwords, enabling multi-factor authentication, staying vigilant against phishing, and keeping software up to date—you can safeguard your business against common threats. Remember, cybersecurity is a shared responsibility, and small actions today can make a big difference tomorrow. Stay proactive, stay protected!

 

Have questions?

 

Our team is here to help. Call us at: 856-745-9990 or visit: https://southjerseytechies.net.

 

South Jersey Techies, LLC is a full Managed Web and IT Services Company located in Marlton, NJ providing IT ServicesManaged IT ServicesWebsite Design ServicesServer SupportIT ConsultingVoIP PhonesCloud Solutions Provider and much more. Contact Us Today.

New Website Design – Snow Plow Risk Brokerage

The Website Design team of South Jersey Techies has been constantly working on developing great looking websites using the latest web technologies. The most recent website developed by our team is for Snow Removal Insurance Brokerage in Marlton, New Jersey.

Snow Removal Insurance Brokerage works directly with Retail Agents to help them understand the changes that have been implemented within the snow & ice management industry. Together they create policy with liability coverage suitable to the insured’s needs and future. SRIB is working together to change the insurance world’s perception of a greatly under-appreciated breed of contractor.

Have questions?

Our Web Design team is here to help
Call us at: 856-745-9990 or visit: https://southjerseytechies.net

South Jersey Techies, LLC is a full Managed Web and IT Services Company located in Marlton, NJ providing IT ServicesManaged IT Services, Website Design ServicesServer SupportIT ConsultingVoIP PhonesCloud Solutions Provider and much more. Contact Us Today.

The end is near: Say goodbye to the Windows 10 free upgrade

The deadline for a free Windows 10 upgrade is right around the corner. Find out what happens after the offer expires.

Windows 10-July29

Don’t look now, but July 29, 2016, is coming up fast. That is the one-year anniversary of the release of Windows 10, which means the ability to upgrade to the new operating system for FREE will soon expire. (If you are interested, you can take a look at the official countdown here.)

In a January 21, 2015, Windows Experience blog post titled The next generation of Windows: Windows 10, we learned that Windows 10 would be a free upgrade. Author Terry Myerson said:

Today was a monumental day for us on the Windows team because we shared our desire to redefine the relationship we have with you—our customers. We announced that a free upgrade for Windows 10 will be made available to customers running Windows 7, Windows 8.1, and Windows Phone 8.1 who upgrade in the first year after launch.

A little over six months later, on July 28, 2015, Myerson penned another Windows Experience blog post, titled Windows 10 Free Upgrade Available in 190 Countries Today, in which he reiterated the free upgrade policy:

From the beginning, Windows 10 has been unique—built with feedback from five million Windows Insiders, delivered as a service with ongoing innovations and security updates, and offered as a free upgrade to genuine Windows 7, Windows 8.1 and Windows Phone 8.1 customers.

If you’ve been reading articles by Woody Leonhard or Paul Thurrott in recent months, you know that Microsoft has been upping its game with the Get Windows 10, or GWX, program it built into Windows 7 and Windows 8.1. It really wants every Windows user everywhere to be running Windows 10.

Any holdouts—Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 users who have been sticking to their guns so far—have only a few more weeks to go before losing their chance to get Windows 10 for free.

In a recent Windows Experience blog post titled Windows 10 Now on 300 Million Active Devices – Free Upgrade Offer to End Soon, Yusuf Mehdi, the corporate vice president of Microsoft’s Windows and Devices Group, said:

…we want to remind you that if you haven’t taken advantage of the free upgrade offer, now is the time. The free upgrade offer to Windows 10 was a first for Microsoft, helping people upgrade faster than ever before. And time is running out. The free upgrade offer will end on July 29 and we want to make sure you don’t miss out. After July 29th, you’ll be able to continue to get Windows 10 on a new device, or purchase a full version of Windows 10 Home for $119.

What will Windows 10 cost after July 29?

As Mehdi pointed out in his post, you will be able to purchase a full version of Windows 10 Home for $119.

But how much will Windows 10 Pro cost?

Well, if you head over to the Microsoft Store right now, you’ll find that you can purchase both Windows 10 Home and Windows 10 Pro as a download or on a USB flash drive. Windows 10 Pro will cost you $199.99. And moving past the July 29 deadline for the free upgrade, it’s a pretty safe bet that prices will remain the same—especially since they’re the same price points that the full versions of Windows 8.1 Home and Pro sold for when that operating system was new.

Will there be upgrade versions of Windows 10 after July 29?

Since Microsoft provided free upgrades for a full year, I wonder if there will be upgrade packages for Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 users who decide to upgrade to Windows 10 after July 29. I suppose that it’s possible, but then again, maybe not. When Microsoft introduced Windows 8.1 packages, it offered only the full versions—there were no upgrade versions of Windows 8.1. With that in mind, it’s easy to speculate that this may also be the case with Windows 10.

Have questions?

Get answers from Microsofts Cloud Solutions Partner!
Call us at: 856-745-9990 or visit: https://southjerseytechies.net/

South Jersey Techies, LL C is a full Managed Web and Technology Services Company providing IT Services, Website Design ServicesServer SupportNetwork ConsultingInternet PhonesCloud Solutions Provider and much more. Contact for More Information.

To read this article in its entirety click here.

Wawa introduces free WiFi services

PHILADELPHIA – Wawa began offering free WiFi Tuesday for customers at its 700-plus stores.

Wawa-free-xfinity

 

The service is available through a collaboration between the retailer and Philadelphia-based Comcast, the companies said.

To access the free service, Comcast said, “customers should log on to the ‘xfinitywifi’ SSID in the list of available networks on their devices.”

The service includes public Xfinity WiFi for Wawa customers and private access WiFi for employees and vendors.

Wawa stores operate across the tri-state area, as well as in Maryland, Virginia and Florida. The firm’s WiFi service will be available outside of Comcast’s traditional service areas, the companies said.

Wawa noted it needed “a fast and reliable WiFi solution to enable a consistent in-store experience for its mobile application.” It also said the service allows customers “to take advantage of a free connection without having to rely on their cellular service.”

Bill Stemper, president of Comcast Business, said WiFi has become a vital service for companies looking to improve “the customer experience at their branch locations.”

Have questions?

Get answers from Microsofts Cloud Solutions Partner!
Call us at: 856-745-9990 or visit: https://southjerseytechies.net/

South Jersey Techies, LL C is a full Managed Web and Technology Services Company providing IT Services, Website Design ServicesServer SupportNetwork ConsultingInternet PhonesCloud Solutions Provider and much more. Contact for More Information.

To read this article in its entirety click here.

South Jersey Cyber Crime

The hackers used “ransomware” to lock the hospital out of its own medical records.

Not all kidnappers grab your loved ones.

A growing online threat – ransomware – essentially abducts your computer system, putting data and services off-limits to users and demanding a payment to restore access.

“We are seeing more cases of this – sometimes almost on a daily basis,” said New Jersey State Police Capt. Steve Jones. “And we’re not seeing all of it, because people may be too embarrassed or don’t believe it can be helped.”

Ransomware viruses are a plague. Once infected — installed to your computer by a website you’ve visited, a rogue email attachment or link, or instant message — your computer will lock up. With names like CryptoWall, these types of viruses may create a popup window or Web page warning you that you’ve broken some law and have to pay a fine, anywhere from hundreds to thousands of dollars, according to the FBI.

These scams threaten to encrypt your files forever or destroy them unless a ransom is paid, according to the FBI.

Once paid, your computer is unlocked or a code is sent to unlock the machine, authorities said.

Between April 2014 and June 2015, the FBI received 992 CryptoWall-related complaints with victims reporting a loss of more than $18 million.

The state’s top cybersecurity unit recently launched an online effort to help people guard against ransomware.

“For many organizations, preventing ransomware entirely is nearly impossible,” says the New Jersey Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Cell (NJCCIC), which introduced a Ransomware Threat Profile page at its website in February.

But it notes individuals and companies can take measures to prevent infections and to limit their impact.

Although ransomware can lock up laptops and desktop computers, the risk is particularly great for data-dependent organizations like hospitals and accounting firms, said Jones, the State Police spokesman.

So far, at least three hospitals have been hit nationwide – in California, Kentucky and the Washington, D.C., area. South Jersey hospitals are well aware of the menace.

“It’s a big concern. It’s something that has really spiked,” said Tom Handlon, chief information security officer for Kennedy Health, which operates three acute-care hospitals in South Jersey.

Handlon gave no details, but said Kennedy seeks to protect itself through protective measures inside its computer system and by promoting safe conduct by employees.
“We’re monitoring it constantly and updating as we go along,” he said. “We are really educating the staff and our entire organization that we are a target.”

A similar view came from Tom Rubino, spokesman for Cooper University Healthcare System in Camden.

“We have tracked the recent wave of ransomware attacks that have targeted hospitals across the nation,” Rubino said. He said Cooper’s IT security team “is proactively taking measures to prevent ransomware infection of our computer systems.”

“Additionally, as a critical component for preventing all computer viruses, we are increasing our employee education efforts.”

A key precaution is to back up your computer’s contents on a frequent basis, Jones said. “But you’ve got to keep the backup drives disconnected,” he warned. “Otherwise, the ransomware can migrate to the backups.”

The State Police in March 2015 investigated a hacking incident that disabled much of the computer system for the Swedesboro-Woolwich school system. In that case, a hacker demanded more than $125,000 in the form of a digital currency called bitcoins.

The district, which did not pay the ransom, had to wipe clean its email servers and cafeteria lunch-ordering system to rid itself of ransomware. Only a handful of classroom computers were infected.

Hackers exploited a gap in the district’s computer security system and a vendor’s “weak” passport to take over the computer system, Michael Procopio, Educational Information and Resource Center’s director of technology, said at the time. EIRC experts helped the district restore its system.

The district’s hacker was believed to have struck from abroad – a familiar pattern, according to the State Police.

“Many of these messages and attacks are coming through foreign servers,” Jones said. “The countries that house these servers are not often countries that have a real open relationship with law enforcement.”

Tools have been available to help decrypt older versions of ransomware, said Dave Weinstein, New Jersey’s director of cybersecurity.

“At this point, the strain has morphed to the point where there is no releasing your files,” said Al Della Fave, a spokesman for the Ocean County Prosecutor’s office. “The lock these cybercriminals put on your files is foolproof at this point.”

Unless you’ve backed up your computer prior to the infection, Della Fave said, “The only way you would get your files back is to pay.”

“Ransomware is working” for cyberthieves, said Ben Johnson, chief security strategist at Carbon Black Inc., a  computer security firm in Waltham, Massachusetts. “People are paying.”

In the last few weeks, cybercriminals have come up with some new twists, he said. For instance, one version encrypts files more quickly after someone opens up a malware-filled Microsoft Word document or some other attachment.

Other versions encrypt the computer at its most basic level so it can’t even power on, or use the computer’s own system administration tools to infect itself, he said.

The best course of action is to make sure you don’t get the virus. “You must be super careful what you click on,” Della Fave said.

Here’s what you should do, according to Johnson and the Ocean County prosecutor’s office:

  • Keep your computer’s security software up to date.
  • Keep your network firewall turned on.
  • Do not open spam email messages or links to suspicious websites.
  • Back up your files, such as documents, photos and music, to a secondary storage device.
  • Be careful when you browse the web. Use ad blockers to help protect yourself.

Have questions?

Get answers from Microsofts Cloud Solutions Partner!
Call us at: 856-745-9990 or visit: https://southjerseytechies.net/

South Jersey Techies, LL C is a full Managed Web and Technology Services Company providing IT Services, Website Design ServicesServer SupportNetwork ConsultingInternet PhonesCloud Solutions Provider and much more. Contact for More Information.

To read this article in its entirety click here.

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Tips for a Green PC

Takeaway:  Tips for making environmental choices whether buying a new computer or maintaining your current one.

To reduce energy intake you can use a power strip, monitor usage with utilities and unplug components when not in use.  Deciding to go green for current computers or buying a new computer can help with power management to cut down on wasted energy and costs.

Energy Star is a voluntary energy efficiency program that prevents greenhouse gas emissions with strict guidelines.  EPEAT is an assessment tool to help users compare and purchase computer equipment.  Both provide tools to help make an environmental choice.

epeat-logoenergystar-logo

Buying a New Computer Tips:

  • Research:  Find out if it is Energy Star rated, how much energy the computer will use and power management options.
  • Recommendations:  Check out product reviews from previous purchasers and from non-profit organizations that provide accurate feedback (Such as EPEAT and Energy Star)
  • Purify New PC:  Read the Hazardous Material Use Policy on manufacturer’s site.
  • Don’t be Greenwashed:  Research the company to make sure that their “Green Computer” is not a marketing campaign with few benefits towards the environment.
  • Green Guide:  If you would like user ratings and reviews for products, several websites provide these options as well as advice for purchasing new equipment. 

Upgrading Current Machine Tips:

  • General Health Check:  The three major components that play a role in energy are graphics card, microprocessor and monitor.
  • Replace CRT Monitor:  CRT Monitors may contain Lead, Mercury, Barium and more toxins.  Replace your old monitor with a new LCD or LED Monitor to save energy and money. 
  • Upgrading Memory:  Upgrading your RAM will increase the speed of your machine while lowering the power intake, which is a quick, inexpensive fix.
  • Greener Battery:  Similar to CRT Monitors, older laptop batteries contain hazardous chemicals such as lead.  Companies are starting to manufacturer Green Batteries that have a longer life expectancy using earth-friendly features.
  • Greener Power Supply:  The ability to scale the power required for particular actions with your power supply is an efficient way to save energy; while regular power supplies emit a steady rate of power at all times.

 

 

Go Daddy Posts Workaround for 60-Day Lock


I just found out from fellow domain blogger Kevin Murphy of DomainIncite that domain registrar Go Daddy has finally posted a workaround to their 60-day lock. Apparently their doing this is a response to the modified ICANN transfer policies taking effect since June 1, 2012.

One of the most common complaints I’ve encountered about domain registrar Go Daddy is their arbitrary 60-day transfer lock. In case you just came in, Go Daddy can prevent your domain name from being transferred to another domain registrar for 60 days if a certain condition is met.

All domain registrars have a rule wherein you can’t move your domain name to another registrar if it’s within its first 60 days of registration or recent transfer-in from elsewhere. Go Daddy is currently the only one who puts in another 60-day transfer lock on top of those.

Initially, Go Daddy’s 60-day transfer lock kicks in if the registrant or administrative contact’s name or contact details is changed. Go Daddy since evolved their 60-day lock to only if the registrant name is changed for whatever reason.

Before I describe the workaround, it might be important to know what ICANN’s recent policy change is, and how this affected Go Daddy.

ICANN mostly made just some language changes in their transfer policy among registrars, but there is one major change relevant to this. Namely:

Upon denying a domain transfer request for any of the following reasons, the Registrar of Record must provide the Registered Name Holder and the potential Gaining Registrar with the reason for denial. The Registrar of Record may deny a domain transfer request only in the following specific instances:

Express objection to the transfer by the authorized Transfer Contact. Objection could take the form of specific request (either by paper or electronic means) by the authorized Transfer Contact to deny a particular transfer request, or a general objection to all transfer requests received by the Registrar, either temporarily or indefinitely. In all cases, the objection must be provided with the express and informed consent of the authorized Transfer Contact on an opt-in basis and upon request by the authorized Transfer Contact, the Registrar must remove the lock or provide a reasonably accessible method for the authorized Transfer Contact to remove the lock within five (5) calendar days.

I bolded the portion starting from “a general objection” to indicate ICANN’s recognizing Go Daddy’s 60-day lock. However, they’re also requiring the registrar to allow the “authorized Transfer Contact” a means to do away with that within five calendar days.

In short, Go Daddy is being allowed to maintain their 60-day thing, yet allow the domain’s registrant or so a way to get around that if ever. The wording can be argued either way, but all this is a means of balancing competing interests.

I bolded the portion starting from “a general objection” to indicate ICANN’s recognizing Go Daddy’s 60-day lock. However, they’re also requiring the domain registrar to allow the “authorized Transfer Contact” a means to do away with that within five calendar days.

In short, Go Daddy is being allowed to maintain their 60-day thing, yet allow the domain’s registrant or so a way to get around that if ever. The wording can be argued either way, but all this is a means of balancing competing interests.

Domain Name Wire also has more from Go Daddy’s director of policy planning James Bladel:

“We understand our 60 day lock has been controversial,” said James Bladel, Director, Policy Planning for Go Daddy. “What is boils down to is, while it’s a very good tool for intercepting and preventing hijacking…we recognize that our efforts to address that problem shouldn’t be a hindrance to legitimate users of domain names that want transfers to be a little more simple.”

Kevin quotes Bladel’s rationale further:

“The bad guys are not going to call and ask us to take a second look at this,” he said. “The bad guys want it to happen under the radar.”

Bladel explains the lock can be lifted after a human review unless they suspect a hijacking is going on. Additionally, the domain name’s WHOIS information is changed to its original state.

I think that second part is going to pose some problems, particularly on ownership changes after a recent sale. Time will tell how this goes, and Go Daddy is surely going to adjust to that if need be.

So step by step, here’s how it goes:

1. If you change your domain name’s registrant name at Go Daddy, it turns on their 60-day transfer lock. They do post notices of this before you make the change, and they do email about it. (unless caught by your spam filter, knock on wood…)

2. You’ll get an email with an email address to contact a team at Go Daddy to appeal the lock.

I’m sure some of you wish it’s a way to call that team directly instead. Would be nice if Go Daddy accomodates that, though I also know they “need” to control that if ever.

I wish they thought of this sooner rather than have to inconvenience a lot of people unnecessarily because of this, though I know some people want this done away instead. Like I said, it’s a matter of balancing competing interests.

In any case, at least there’s now an option to go around their 60-day lock. 

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Increase Sales & More with Site Analytics

Get the insight you need to succeed on the Web.

The key to any successful website is knowing your visitors. Site Analytics gives you the valuable, real-time data you need – information you can use to spotlight popular products, target new customers, track offer responses and much more. With over 30 detailed reports, you can find out where your visitors are coming from, what paths they take through your site, even where in the world they live.

Stats at-a-glance

  • Get the information you want – without having to click through countless screens – with our customizable dashboard view.

Real-time results

  • With Site Analytics’ real-time statistics, you don’t have to wait until tomorrow to find out if changes to your site are working. Plus, heat mapping and pinpoint functionality tell you which sections or links are getting the most attention.

In-depth reporting

  • Dig into the details and get a better understating of your customers with more than 30 reports. Find out who’s visiting, when they’re on your site, how they’re getting there and much more.

Choose your view

  • Site Analytics lets you decide how you want to view your data with three graphing options (Bar, Area and Line) as well as the ability to export to Microsoft Excel® or Adobe® PDF.

Powerful, easy-to-use features let you dig as deep as you want.

Everyone wants something different from their site statistics. Some people want a quick, birds-eye view; others want to get lost in the details. That’s the beauty of Site Analytics; it works for everyone. Our user-friendly interface and intuitive features put you in control so you can get exactly what you want.

See what’s happening

  • Get a quick overview of your site’s traffic and visitors with a selection of dashboard widgets.
  • Real-time statistics let you see, almost instantly, how changes to your site impact your traffic.
  • Improve your site’s structure and usability by seeing where people click and which links get the most attention with heat mapping.

Organize your data

  • Find the information you need with more than 30 reports in several categories: Visitor, Page, Referrer and Server.
  • Visualize the data the way you want with three different graphing options: Bar, Area and Line. Plus, set custom date ranges to target your results!
  • Share your data with co-workers and clients by exporting to Microsoft Excel® or Adobe® PDF. You can even create a schedule to email customized reports.
  • Get separate reports for each alias and subdomain — simply add them as separate Site Analytics accounts.

And much more

  • Easily collect stats on your WordPress® site with our free Site Analytics plugin.
  • Enable secure (SSL) mode to encrypt your data so it can’t be viewed by others during transmission.
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  • Use Site Analytics with any website, whether you host with us or a third party.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our highly trained, courteous support staff is waiting to take your call. Whatever time it takes to assist you, that’s the time you’ll receive. We’ll resolve any issue to your complete satisfaction.

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