Technology Tips January 2024 Edition

#Tips

Skyward IT Services

by Skyward IT Services

Skyward IT Services Network Infrastructure and Security Specialists

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iOS 17 security bug

If you’ve done the recent iOS 17 update, you’ll want to pay attention to this security bug. The update enabled a feature that shares the contact info of your phone by just being near another one. To turn this off, go to Settings, General, AirDrop, Bringing Devices Together. Change to Off.

Block vs. unsubscribe

You receive a marketing email from a company you don’t remember subscribing to. To make sure you aren’t bothered by this company again, you go to click “unsubscribe.” It seems harmless, right? Well, you might want to think again—you could potentially be clicking on a link infected with malware.

Hackers know their persistent emails can be annoying, which is why some may hide malware in the part of the email where you’d click to unsubscribe. To avoid this potential problem, only click unsubscribe on email messaging from 1) major brands and retailers, and 2) email lists you remember subscribing to. When in doubt, elect to block the sender instead. On most email platforms, you can typically block senders by right clicking, then selecting “block sender” or “block.”

Cybersecurity Wrapped: a year in review

We all worked hard in 2023, but unfortunately hackers did too. Here are a few shocking stats to be mindful of to make 2024 our most secure year yet.

During the first nine months of 2023, 1 in 4 people in the U.S. had their health data exposed in a data breach.
Between January and August 2023, 360 million people were victims of corporate and institutional data breaches.

Here are a few more stats, as well as some information on why you should turn on Advanced Data Protection (ADP) if you're an Apple user.

Malware of the month

The FBI seized several websites from the ransomware gang ALPHV/Blackcat. The search warrant allowed them to gain important insight into the group’s operations. The FBI provided a decryption tool to hundreds of victims that will allow health care, emergency services, and other targeted organizations to come back online and resume operations.