1930’s — 1950s, Bank Robber Willie Sutton is famously known for answering a reporter, Mitch Ohnstad, who asked why he robbed banks by saying, “because that’s where the money is.”

If that sounds reasonable, then you won’t have any trouble understanding these excerpts from a Malware Blog by TrendLabs. They listed the TOP 10 most dangerous items of 2010. What’s the connection between Wille Sutton, the bank robber and the “danger list?” The most popular, or most used, items are also the most susceptible to danger…

File format: PDF was the riskiest file format in 2010, as Adobe Acrobat and Reader vulnerabilities routinely became part of exploit toolkits.

Website software: The riskiest software used by websites in 2010 was the popular blogging platform WordPress. Tens of thousands of unpatched WordPress blogs were used by cybercriminals for various schemes, primarily as part of redirection chains that led to various malware attacks or other blackhat search engine optimization (SEO)-related schemes.

IP: The most dangerous IP used in 2010 was Internet Relay Chat (IRC). Thirty percent of all botnets used IRC to communicate with infected machines and their command-and-control (C&C) servers. Fortunately, blocking IRC use in networks reliably stops botnets.

OS: The riskiest OS used was Apple’s Mac OS X. In November, Apple sent users a massive maintenance release that weighed in at at least 644.48MB. The weighty upgrade included fixes for multiple security vulnerabilities since the previous update released in mid-June. Apple’s penchant for secrecy and longer patch cycles also increased the risk for users.

Website: The most dangerous website in the world was Google. Its tremendous popularity led cybercriminals to target it specifically for blackhat SEO-related schemes, which in turn, led users to significant malware threats, particularly FAKEAV. In addition, Google’s ad network was also frequently victimized by malvertisements.

Social network: In another case wherein popularity led to danger,Facebook could be considered the most dangerous social networking site around. Everything from survey scams to KOOBFACE malware proliferation ensued on the site, as cybercriminals went where the people were, that is, Facebook.

The Full list can be found HERE

…and the point?
The point is WORK & PLAY Safely.
Implement the upgrades and the software patches WHEN they come out – don’t wait.
Establish and USE Passwords. Follow sound guidelines.

And, what about the year just finished…2011?
Click HERE and find out!

The word is OUT on these 10 words and phrases!

At least according to the good folks at Linkedin, these are the 10 most overused words on resumes today.

(Graphic courtesy of Linkedin)

So, what does this mean to you and me? Linkedin’s article, points out that these words are too ambiguous to really tell prospective employers what they want to know about an applicant’s skills and background. There’s nothing specific to identify one applicant over another. And what if you’re NOT brushing up your resume? The message for the rest of us is refresh and sharpen those language skills, so they’re ready when we need them!

Sharpen your word choice, use precise words precisely. Expand your personal vocabulary, bulk-up on adjectives and adverbs; those rich, colorful, tasty words that paint in all the details of the mental picture you’re creating in the other person’s mind.

There’s a great line from a movie from 1989…

“The only thing that separates us from the animals is our ability to accessorize.”

While I might not completely agree with Miss Claire Belcher, I think she’s on to something. It IS our ability, to use both spoken and written LANGUAGE, to transfer ideas, information and knowledge from one person to the next, that makes it possible for our civilization to move forward. Our complete command of language DOES separate us from the animals.

So, if your future is dependent upon your communication skills, and you want to do more than run with the herd, give Linkedin’s advice serious consideration. With so much of modern communication dependent again upon the written word over the spoken word (facebook, Linkedin, myspace, email, websites and all the rest), shifting from the ambiguous to the specific could be all it takes that transforms your communications into a dazzling standout for your readers. Just like any other skill that can be learned, the more practice you put into better writing, the more proficient you become. Think of it this way, Freshmen in college, should be able to communicate better than third-graders, don’t you agree?

Risking another quote from the late 1980’s, this sums up the problem…

“…Our individual language banks are shrinking, our adjectives are imprecise and ordinary, and we’ve developed a kind of counterfeit communication that diminishes us all with its banality.”

And from the same 1987 TV show, here are a couple examples of colorful, inviting writing…

“She was a woman who enjoyed littering. For her, men were just as good as kleenex.”

“She was all cotton candy and pink champagne — legs that stretched out for five or six miles, and one of those laughs that made you feel like riding around in a convertible.”

Linkedin has it right!
With 2012 just around the corner, it’s a perfect time to take a look at your profile… your writing and your communications.

Don’t find your self in a position to
ask Santa for a new computer this year.

READ, THINK, then CLICK!

Spammers are so clever. and they’re depending on us to not pay attention to the details, to either be so caught caught-up in the moment or so eager to click that we will fall into their inviting trap.
I can’t display the email I just received. I want to be fair to what appear to be legitimate business(es) that are being used as pawns in a not-so-obvious scam attempt. What I can and will do is change the names and share with you what showed up in my email box.

(below is a mock-up of the actual email I received)

===========================================================================

Sent By: “nolave” <novale@update.com>     [ Today’s date and time ]

Attachment:               nolave.htm             Download | Remove

Dear Customer,

All Retail accounts are locked!!! Please download the file attached to this e-mail and follow the steps.

*** Please note, ONLY RATAIL ACCOUNTS ARE LOCKED ***
*** Example : Market Segment : Retail ***
*** Do not update if you have another Market Segment ***

Copyright 2011 Novale, Inc.

===========================================================================

There are about FIVE things IMMEDIATELY WRONG with this email.

1. I’ve NEVER heard of Novale, Inc. (so, how could I POSSIBLY have a retail account with them?)
2. I am not engaged in any retail ventures…
3. NO professional organization would allow an email (No matter HOW urgent) to go out with the typo “RATAIL.” And finally…
4. NO CONTACT INFORMATION for me to reach out to the company for more information or assistance with my account (assuming I had one!)
5. Did anyone besides me notice that the good folks at Novale (nolave) can’t seem to consistently spell their own name correctly?

We’re all busy. With the holiday season upon us, attention to detail can be diluted will all the excitement (stress?) of the season. So consider this, as I did, a relatively kind reminder that when you pop open your email — whether it’s personal or business — slow down, READ the email, and THINK before you click ANYTHING!!!
Obviously, I didn’t download the attachment, so I don’t know WHAT would have come through onto my machine – and our company’s network, if I had. I DON’T WANT to know. IF it had been a legitimate business concern, there would have been contact information for me to use.

Now, before some of you start swinging punches, let me say right at the start — I AM AN iPHONE USER!
Yes, I have an iPhone and plan to continue using iPhone.

So, why am I asking the question about iPhone Users being Lazy? It’s the only explanation I’ve come up with for the infoGraphic below.

We are re-posting this infoGraphic after finding it in Selena Frye’s article titled: Infographic: iPhone users and security concerns.
Naturally, look at all the statistics and percentages — but I’m most focused and most concerned with the blue boxes in the lower portion of the phone’s screen.

Unless I’m reading these numbers wrong, they imply that iPhone Users KNOW that iOS upgrades are important, but simply can’t be bothered to do them. If YOU have a better interpretation of these numbers — please share them with us.

Spam is more than a nuisance. It is a financial burden and security threat to companies all over the world. Spam spreads viruses, jams networks, steals information and worst of all…it continues to grow.

The good news is that you don’t have to put up with this burden anymore. Why give in to the harassment of spammers when there is an easy, affordable solution that can fight the battle for you?

SpamShield from teeone, offers a simple, effective way to get rid of 97% of email born spam, fraud and viruses before they ever get to your system. Powered by AppRiver’s state of the art filtering engine, we are constantly monitoring the ever-changing methods and technology used by spammers to stay ahead of their techniques… so you don’t have to.

Plus it is easy! The hardware, software, and maintenance necessary for spam and virus protection are included in this managed email filtering service.

I’ll get right to the point — How are your computer server machines holding up?

We’ve talked with a number of prospects who are “suffering with” aging servers. Are you in that group too?

In an effort to explain WHY they haven’t DONE anything about the problem, they begin to share with me the process they’re facing:

…finding the right server for not only their current, but future growth needs

…finding the best deal on the machine they’ve settled on

…juggling schedules and arranging delivery times such that someone who knows what they’re doing can come in and set up the new server

…shut down business long enough for thetransition from old to new machines can be made

…discovering which software applications won’t work on the new server — and what to do about it

…re-configuring and re-networking all the work stations to the new server network – hoping no one gets “lost” in the process

…re-integrating the backup process into the new server configuration

…and so on and so on and so on…

Don’t you agree it’s just easier (and in the long run, cheaper — you ARE in business for the long run, right?) to let teeone manage all that for you?

Not only do you not have to deal with another tech who is “learning” your system, you’ll never have to face the prospect of outgrowing your server again.

Tech support from teeone is just part of the deal and it’s always ONE phone call or ONE email away.

Once you make the migration to a teeone server,  you can “let go” of concerns with your server, backup, and maintenance, whether it’ll make it one more year. Managing those chores is teeone’s responsibility.

THE BIG QUESTION prospects have is, “Do I Spend More?”
The BIG ANSWER is, “YES!”
Our clients report that they spend more…

…TIME with their families,

…more time on the golf course and

…more time on the boat.

Some even tell us they’re able to spend time more effectively running their business instead of running their IT.

Let’s work together to bring a teeone solution to your operation — a discover HOW You’ll SPEND MORE and what changes it will make for you.

Everyone takes in information differently. Consequently, everyone learns differently.
For some, a graphic is very instructional. For others reading the words provides the greatest flow of information. See what works better for you…

Info-graphic:

How social media carelessness can help criminals.

The Graphic above and a really good article by Selena Frye are available on the TechRepublic Website.
But just in case you’re not a graphic-driven individual, let us highlight some of the dominant points of information for you, here.

Statistics about Home Break-ins:

• The average home break-in causes $2,137 in losses.
• The value of goods stolen during the day are higher than at night (most folks are away at work, school, etc. during the DAYTIME).
• In 2010 there were nearly TWICE as many burglaries during the day than at night, with the value of nighttime burglaries coming in at $1,868 and daytime ringing up at $2,158!
• Because they’re such handy online tools, burglars use Facebook, Twitter and Foursquare to target potential properties.
• 15% of Americans use social media (Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare, etc.) to ANNOUNCE that they have left home.
• 80% of burglars report that they make more than one trip to a property before successfully breaking in.
• 78% say that a simple and cheap (and obvious!) home alarm system would deter them from targeting a home in the first place.

The FIVE MOST COMMON MISTAKES
homeowners make:

1. Leaving windows OPEN.
2. Leaving valuables in plain view of anyone passing by.
3. Posting their whereabouts (and schedule?) on social networking sites.
4. Hiding house keys near the front door.
5. Leaving parcels deliveries outside (making it obvious that no one is home).

Suggestions to Help Keep You Safe:

It only takes 2 minutes for a burgler to break into a house with no visible security system.

The average robbery takes place in 10 minutes.

Set your facebook privacy settings to allow ONLY your friends to see your content.

ONLY add ACTUAL friends into your network.

STOP announcing upcoming travel plans.

DO NOT post photos that reveal your address or landmarks giving your location away.

DO NOT post photos of expensive items in your home.

Parting Thought…

At the top of this article I mentioned that everyone learns differently. Some folks will read this article (and the article by Selena Frye) and change their habits as they affect their home security and their Social Media practices.

For others, it will require filing an insurance claim and dealing with the impact of a home burglary (or two… or three…) before they get the point. See what works better for you…

Stop what you’re doing.

Pull out your wallet and your smart phone.

Take the credit cards (yes, the debit cards too) out of your wallet and turn them all face down on the table. You’re likely to find (if you look closely enough and the light is just right) a toll free telephone number. Odds are that number connects you to the Fraud department (NOT customer service) for the credit card company.

Now, crank up your smart phone’s contact list. Create a new entry for each card, entering the toll free numbers. In one of the fields include ONLY the last 4 digits of the account number. DO NOT ENTER THE ENTIRE ACCOUNT NUMBER! Your personal information and the last 4 digits are all the bank will need to properly identify you and your account.

Put everything back where you had it.

Now, when your wallet is stolen or an ATM that has been hacked “eats” a credit card, you’re prepared with the appropriate numbers to IMMEDIATELY call and cancel the accounts.

Cybercriminals have a new trick. They trap debit and credit cards in ATMs so they can retrieve them later. It’s a move that was caused by better security measures designed to prevent skimming. There are several ways to trap a card in an ATM.

One trick is to put a device on the machine that uses either tape, wire or thread in order to hold a card in. Criminals can then retrieve your card when you walk away. The PIN can be gotten either by literally looking over your shoulder or by putting an overlay device on the keypad that can record your PIN.

So, what to do? Ideally, only grab cash from the ATM at your local bank. When the ATM eats the card, stay with the ATM and call the bank on your cell phone.

Using the technique above, you’re prepared should your card vanished into an ATM at the airport — just as they’re calling for your flight to board.

Security in the Digital Age is an on-going effort. Seldom is any task a one-shot-and-DONE affair. But, using this simple, yet COST-FREE technique adds a level of security to your “Plastic” and is well worth the few minutes requred.

IF your company is looking for an improved level of Digital Security, it’s time to…

She’s on TV every weekday, but most of us who have to be at work by 8:00 AM miss seeing her. Regardless of which network you favor or how you feel about her Today show appearances,

Hoda Kotb shared the following bits of wisdom in a print publication recently.

I copied them onto a sticky-note for myself.

I’ve emailed them to certain friends who I thought might benefit from them.

Now we’re sharing them with you.

Surround yourself only with people who fill you up.
Get rid of the toxic ones.

Don’t sweat the little stuff —
90% of what you worry about won’t happen.

If you’re still standing after surviving an illness or death of a loved one or whatever your cross to bear is, you get four words:
You Can’t Scare Me. Use them.

Don’t hog your journey; share it to help others.

Allow yourself dark days to stay under the covers watching Law & Order reruns and eating junk food.

There is much that could be made of these suggestions; comparing them to the wisdom of great thinkers, civic leaders or spiritual notables.

For today, I’m willing to let them stand on their on, letting you decide how much weight to give them. — Enjoy.

Just like you, I get email offers all the time. Unlike most folks though, I get a lot of email from companies offering: “Disaster Recovery,” “Disaster Planning,” “IT Guides,” “Business Continuity in the face of disaster” — you get the picture.

Originally, I had wanted to include in this post a link (or at the very least a screen shot) of the latest offer to come through. However, good sense prevailed and I’m not going to do either of those things, but here’s a taste of what was in the offer…

“Save $50 on this Great Book!”

The book is a Disaster Recovery planning guide geared specifically toward the IT needs of your company. It reportedly contains tips & techniques on how to prepare your business IT to survive a disastrous event.

In the promotional/advertisement for the offer are bullet points of the information included in the book. Things like:

• Identifying risk, threat and your vulnerabilities

• Equipment taken by federal law agencies

• Backups: how and when to create them

• Tips for reviving your “dead” hard drive

• And so on and so on…

As a representative of teeone, here are the points I’d like to make.

The price for the book is OVER a hundred bucks.

It will take SOMEONE a good deal of time to get through the book, digesting the nearly 200 pages of information and then applying the information appropriately to YOUR business profile.

Most of the “tips & techniques” offered invariably result in the purchase of new software, hardware and supplies.  You, as the business owner must have the dedication to allocate more time to create and maintain a comprehensive “Recovery Plan,” train key team members and keep that plan current as staff, equipment and operations evolve and change over time. On top of that, personnel have to be assigned to the tasks related to all these new acquisitions to make them effective.

Let’s recap:

• Price of the book

• Time to get educated

• Purchases of new software/hardware and supplies

• Dedication of resources

• Additional personnel

Every business owner has PLENTY of…
TIME, MONEY, RESOURCES, DEDICATION and PERSONNEL
to dedicate to a new effort, right?

Or, you could just call teeone.
Once your business is operational on a teeone remote server, your Disaster Recovery Plan is IN PLACE. DONE. This isn’t just marketing hype. We know this from experience.

One teeone client, whose office burned to the ground (the fire started in the building next door), reported he spent more time picking out new office furniture than rebuilding his business data. The night of the fire, he went home, fired up his home computer, logged into his teeone server to find his business data untouched by the disaster. Recovery Complete!

Another client’s office suffered after a freak tornado dropped into the parking lot. The building sustained moderate damage — the business (data, files, email, estimates, etc.) suffered NO LOSS!

As I see it, you have three distinct choices when it comes to disaster recovery:

Do Nothing — and plan to have NO BUSINESS after disaster hits.

Do It ALL Yourself — become the Business Continuity/Disaster Recovery expert along with all the maintenance and expense that comes with that title.

Let teeone secure your business continuity.

Teeone.
Now THAT choice IS an easy one to make!