If you are having a hard time thinking beyond a dozen roses and a box of chocolates for February 14th, we’re here to help. Sure, those classic gifts can still bring a smile and a swoon, but chocolates disappear within a few hours (reappearing on our waistlines), and roses don’t last long enough to justify how expensive they are this time of year. (By the way, if roses are your thing, you’ll appreciate this fascinating experiment conducted by Brad’s Deals to determine the best time of the year to find the best prices on roses. Spoiler alert: it’s not Valentine’s Day.)
Today’s children are known as “digital natives.” That is, they were born into a world where “phone” is short for “smartphone,” not “telephone,” and staring at screens is more necessity than luxury. But at what saturation point does phone usage get unhealthy? How much is too much?
It’s the review we always welcome: AV-Comparatives conducts independent tests throughout the year to take a hard look at 21 security products for Windows, putting them through rigorous testing that examines their ability to 1) protect against real-world internet threat, 2) identify thousands of recent malicious programs, 3) provide protection without slowing down the PC, and finally, 4) remove malware that has already infected a PC.
Most children today have already been online by the time they go to their first school; numerous online games and apps encourage them to play while learning. But how can we, as parents, teach our children to be vigilant on the internet? Where do parent…
Cybersecurity is a major concern in today’s world, both at the corporate and personal levels. Our computers, our handheld devices, and our smart home and IoT products are vulnerable to a variety of attacks. In 2017 alone, Avast blocked 35 billion security attacks against PCs and 208 million against Android mobile devices. What was one of the biggest security threats? Ransomware.
As the gargantuan crowd gathers in South Korea for the XXIII Winter Olympic games, the whole world will be watching. Of course, just like any large, multi-national event, there will be security concerns and challenges. According to US government offici…
It’s staggering to realize that Bitcoin, the very first cryptocurrency, splashed onto the scene almost a decade ago. It’s only been over this past year that digital coinage has really gained its tremendous popularity. As of January 2018, there are well over one thousand varieties of cryptocurrency in circulation — Bitcoin, Monero, Ethereum, Ripple, Litecoin, IOTA and many more.
The good news is that Avast users are protected against cryptomining, which includes the current threat terrorizing the world’s Windows servers and computers. The Smominru botnet has torn through hundreds of thousands of servers and computers alike, hijacking their CPU power to mine the cryptocurrency Monero. ZDNet reports that the Smominru botnet mines 24 Monero ($8,500) a day, with a net total to date of 8,900 Monero ($2.8M – $3.6M).
As we enter 2018, I encourage everyone to include a simple resolution on their list: make sure you are well-informed about the technology you use, and avoid getting swept up in false narratives and exaggerated claims about its dangers. Let me be clear: there are genuine threats, but they don’t come from the technology itself. As I always say, technology is agnostic. The dangers come from the bad actors that are willing to use any tool at their disposal, including those in cyberspace, to do harm. Our real target should be combating these forces, not demonizing this or that latest technological development. Education about the realities of our digital world is the best antidote against misplaced fears. And, conveniently, it is also the best way to inoculate ourselves against the security issues that technology does indeed pose.
The customer
Headquartered in Peoria, Illinois, Advanced Technology Services (ATS) has been providing IT and managed services for some of the largest brands in the U.S., Mexico, and United Kingdom since 1985. In addition to global enterprises, ATS als…