A printer hack. You might stop, consider the phrase, and laugh. Why would someone hack a printer? Well, there are plenty of reasons, and none of them are laughing matters. More and more devices in your small business now connect to the Internet or, at the very least, your office network. Known as the Internet of Things (IoT), devices that can connect to the Internet range from your printer to smart light bulbs, smart thermostats, even that smart coffee maker you’ve had your eye on for some time. These devices have minimal network capabilities, but there is an invisible network line running from it to your computer, the router, and everything else. This means if someone finds a way to hack a device, such as a printer, they can rather easily move into your network, onto your computers, and through local storage drives. (more…)

If you were to talk to most Mac owners, they would tell you Macs don’t get viruses, so there is no need to take extra precautions. While wishful thinking, that isn’t exactly true. True, Windows computers are attacked more often, but that isn’t because the Mac operation system is impenetrable. (more…)

As a small business, you understand all too well the importance of Internet security. You go to great lengths to protect not only your business information but the secured data of your customers. Letting this kind of information out can lead to the loss of contracts, lawsuits, and even the closure of your business. When you access the Internet, there are often people watching what you’re doing. They know what websites you visit, and what searches you make, and they can track everything you do. Sometimes this is just Google monitoring you in order to provide better advertisements, but other times, Internet sleuths are watching and gathering this information. (more…)

Cybersecurity threats are everywhere, and one of the biggest mistakes you can make is assuming your company is simply too small to be hit. In reality, as a small business, you’re a more likely target than the giant corporations. Sure, it makes national headlines when Target or Home Depot have a data breach, but that’s due to the size and the number of consumers impacted. A small business like yours won’t turn heads. In fact, cybercriminals are usually more interested in a quick smash and grab of Internet-based data than attempting to hack through the security of a major company. That puts your business in the crosshairs. (more…)