Advertisements and suggestions based on our internet browsing habits are sources of online tracking. However, autocomplete passwords are also another source of online tracking. This sneaky tactic comes with serious security risks. Here’s how you can stop it from targeting you. Why autocomplete passwords are so dangerous As of December 2018, there are 4.1 billion internet users in the world. This means users have to create dozens of passwords, either to protect their account or simply to meet the password-creation requirements of the platform they're using. Unfortunately, only 20% of internet users have different passwords for their multiple online accounts.Certain web browsers have integrated a mechanism that enables usernames and passwords to be automatically entered into a web form. On the other hand, password manager applications have made it easy to access login credentials. But these aren't completely safe.Tricking a browser or password manager into giving up this saved information is incredibly simple. All a hacker needs to do is place an invisible form on a compromised webpage to collect users’ login information. Using auto-fill to track users For over a decade, there's been a password security tug-of-war between hackers and cybersecurity professionals. Little do many people know that shrewd digital marketers also use password auto-fill to track user activity. Digital marketing groups AdThink and OnAudience have been placing these invisible login forms on websites to track the sites that users visit. They've made no attempts to steal passwords, but security professionals said it wouldn’t have been hard for them to do. AdThink and OnAudience simply tracked people based on the usernames in hidden auto-fill forms and sold the information they gathered to advertisers. One simple security tip for today A quick and effective way to improve your account security is to turn off auto-fill in your web browser. Here's how to do it: If you’re using Chrome – Open the Settings window, click Advanced, and select the appropriate settings under Manage Passwords.If you’re using Firefox – Open the Options window, click Privacy, and under the History heading, select “Firefox will: Use custom settings for history.” In the new window, disable “Remember search and form history.”If you’re using Safari – Open the Preferences window, select the Auto-fill tab, and turn off all the features related to usernames and passwords. This is just one small thing you can do to keep your accounts and the information they contain safe. For managed, 24×7 cybersecurity assistance that goes far beyond protecting your privacy, contact Multi IT or call us today on 011 435 0450

Virtualisation and cloud computing can be confusing, especially to business owners who are not familiar with them. But when you understand their differences, you’ll be able to best take advantage of these technologies. Virtualisation Imagine a company with five servers, each assigned a single task such as storage, email, etc. If there were a spike in email traffic, it would overwhelm the email server, causing it to slow down. Adding another server would solve this problem, but it would be expensive and inefficient on days with less traffic.With virtualisation software, you can combine the resources of all five servers in our example. So if the email server gets bogged down, it can borrow resources from any of the other servers with extra capacity. The process is not as simple as it sounds, and businesses often turn to an experienced IT service provider to set up a virtualisation environment.Because virtualisation software can be installed on a server in your office, it is totally independent of cloud technology. Sometimes, people misunderstand the difference because the vast majority of cloud solutions use virtualisation to improve their services.Cloud computingWith cloud computing, users can edit documents, save files, and interact with apps that aren’t actually on their computer. Instead, they access these items by connecting to a server via a network or internet connection. To carry out its purpose, a cloud platform sometimes uses several virtualised servers to provide users with a simple system that appears to be on its own, even though it’s actually shared with several other users and servers. There’s no need to purchase additional servers, and you can also save valuable office space by not having to deploy bulky equipment.Obviously, scalability is critical in today’s ever-changing business conditions. Cloud computing makes it easier to manage business tasks to maximise productivity. And it helps streamline operations, as more cloud services are integrated. Businesses don’t have to worry about infrastructure maintenance because it is covered by the cloud service provider.Virtualisation and cloud computing are both economical technologies that small businesses should take advantage of. If you want to see what they can do for you, Contact Multi IT Today or call us on 011 435 0450 to discuss your computing needs.

The Super Bowl is coming to Atlanta’s Mercedes Benz Stadium on February 3rd. Whether you’re going to the game or yelling at the TV somewhere else with friends, there are a host of cyber security concerns to consider. Cyber criminals thrive on the excitement and chaos surrounding big events which create the best conditions for easily distracted prey. Concerts, inaugurations, parades, college playoffs, The Olympics, DragonCon, holidays and any crowded situation where people are working under tight deadlines all provide opportunities. Just think of all the looting that takes place in tropical environments during flooding and hurricane emergencies. The Super Bowl has all these elements in abundance. More than 112 million people watched the Super Bowl last year, with an estimated 7 million streaming it online. Don’t even get me started on the additional millions who were probably streaming it illegally. When you combine a huge audience with alcohol, game day power eating and numerous related festivities, highly skilled cyber crooks are poised to shoot the proverbial fish in a barrel.Here are a few tips to keep you safe: Ticket Scams Counterfeit tickets are rampant. There are no “print at home” tickets. So, if you are going to try to buy last-minute, too-good-to-be-true tickets from an online seller, Ticketmaster has a few tips: Buy from an official source and be wary of “official sounding sources.”If you do buy from a third-party site, beware of too-good-to-be-true deals. And don’t pay with a cashier’s check, cash or money wires…or Bitcoin. Use a method that is traceable.Make sure the URL of the site you are buying from is not a look-alike or spoofed; be sure it is an encrypted site. Phishing Don’t click on any email that says, “Tell us who you think will win the Super Bowl and get a free gift card.” I suspect the famous Nigerian Prince scam died and was reincarnated with this offer. Be very wary of unsolicited contest emails using the Super Bowl in the subject or as an incentive. This is generally illegal. If it does come from a trusted source, look at the domain at least three times. And make sure you know how to spot a phishing email. One more thing; roughly 5 billion was bet on last year’s game. Mostly illegally. Are you prepared to deal with the potential of your financial data being sold or phished through an illegitimate gambling site? On the illegal markets you have no way of protecting your data. Software Updates With the likes of Spectre and Meltdown, make sure you’ve updated your phone to the latest version of its software. Outdated software is a leading entry point for criminals. Wifi Stay off free wifi. Seriously. That is your safest bet. If you can’t be dissuaded, be very aware of the network you plan to use. It is common for scammers to create a spoofed wifi network which has the same look and feel as a legitimate network. And you’re not only vulnerable to this threat at the big game itself, but also at your local sports bar or other venues, where free wifi may be easily hacked or left unsecured. You must also be on the look-out for viruses. While skilled cyber security teams are monitoring all systems at the game, 49% of fans connected to the free wifi last year which is a 41% increase year over the year before. And this connection trend is not slowing down. A reported 100,000 threats took place last year with only 19 considered serious. However, increased traffic will only move the needle upward on higher risk outbreaks. Bluetooth Worse than wifi – make sure you turn off your Bluetooth before you head to the game. You don’t want to make it too easy. State Sponsored Threats Anyone remember the 15-minute blackout from Super Bowl XVLII? Recall anything Jack Bauer had to deal with on “24”? With security getting in and out of the stadium as tight as can be, a malicious actor, maybe even a state actor, could attack the grid or security systems to create panic, and cause billions in damages. With the Internet of Things (“IoT”), everything is connected; which is one of the reasons why Iranian operatives were able to hack into a dam in New York State a few years ago. Authorities are generally prepared for these eventualities and have contingency plans in place, but there are always new exceptions. Streaming While TV viewership has remained flat over the past decade, streaming is increasing. It’s not too far-fetched to predict that a record number of people will livestream the Super Bowl this year, but many may also be streaming illegally. Illegal streaming sites are notorious for all kinds of threats. Malicious links, phishing, exploits, ransomware; it’s all there, and only one impulsive click away. If you still want to go down this path, consider whether using an illegal streaming site is worth the risk. Pardon my unsolicited opinion in advance. It’s not. Check If You’ve Been Hacked After The Game You might not know it, but you might have an exploit lying on your phone or computer. If you are using all the right technology, you are probably okay. But if you’ve been browsing odd sites trying to get more info on the special event (or replay any of the funny and ridiculously expensive Super Bowl commercials), at least consider having periodic scans run shortly thereafter. To Sum It All Up Keep your devices up to dateAvoid public wifiTurn off BluetoothDon’t open that unidentified emailBe sure to run regular scansIf it seems too good to be true…you know the restDon’t drink and gambleMay the best team win Give Multi IT a call today on 011 435 0450 for support.