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Macro Systems Blog

Macro Systems has been serving the Metro Washington, DC area since 1997, providing IT Support such as technical helpdesk support, computer support and consulting to small and medium-sized businesses.

A Refresher on Ransomware and Why You Should Never Pay Hackers

A Refresher on Ransomware and Why You Should Never Pay Hackers

If fortune smiles on your organization, you won’t ever have to deal with what we are about to discuss: ransomware. For the past several years ransomware has been a serious problem for businesses, governments, and individuals. Listed below is a discussion about the different types of ransomware and how some people want to put a ban on ransomware payments. 

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How to Monitor Your Workers without Crossing Any Lines

How to Monitor Your Workers without Crossing Any Lines

Of all the controversial topics in the workplace, employee monitoring is among the most divisive. As an authority figure in your business, it is only natural that you would want to ensure that your team is working diligently, especially as they are working remotely. However, there are some lines that cannot be crossed you should be aware of. The concept of monitoring your employees and what cannot be done is discussed below.

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Four Vital Elements of Successful Network Security

Four Vital Elements of Successful Network Security

A modern business’ network security needs to be amongst its top priorities if it is to have any chance of operating without undue risk of data breaches and other problems. Admittedly, managing this sounds like a Herculean task, but a few relatively easy implementations can help give your security a significant advantage as you lock down your business’ future. Listed below is a review of four key components for successful Network Security.

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What You Need to Know About The New Phishing Tactic "Display Name Spoofing"

What You Need to Know About The New Phishing Tactic "Display Name Spoofing"

Having success in business usually relies on building trustworthy relationships. You have to trust your vendors and suppliers to get you the resources you require, you need to trust your staff to complete their tasks without putting your business in harm's way, and you need to trust your customers to purchase the products and services that you offer. Running counter to these necessary bonds of trust are people actively soliciting people’s time, energy, money, and attention for their own selfish purposes.

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Paying a Ransom Demand These Days Could Cost Your Business Even More

Paying a Ransom Demand These Days Could Cost Your Business Even More

Regarding ransomware, we have always stood firm in our recommendation not to pay whoever is responsible for locking down your systems. On the other hand, due to the globalized nature of technology and cybercrime, it is even more imperative that companies don’t attempt to placate their attackers with the demanded funds. Otherwise, warns the United States Treasury Department, these victimized businesses could very well pay severe fines for doing so.

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What Has Zoom Done to Enhance Its Security?

What Has Zoom Done to Enhance Its Security?

As a communication tool, the video conferencing app Zoom saw a significant bump in its popularity with both personal and business users as the coronavirus pandemic made other means of meeting no longer viable. Nonetheless, this sudden increase in its user base also revealed some serious security problems with the platform. What has Zoom has done to resolve these problems since then?

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How to Avoid a Strained Relationship With Your IT Department

How to Avoid a Strained Relationship With Your IT Department

Business relationships, especially between you and a service provider or you and a coworker, are imperative to a business’ success. On the other hand, maintaining these relationships can be difficult when there’s a good chance that your actions might create more work for another person. Listed below are some reasons why your relationship with IT may be strained, and a few tips to help fix it.

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Is Your Smart Assistant Threatening Your Privacy?

Is Your Smart Assistant Threatening Your Privacy?

Smart assistants usually appear in the office and home, so much so that the novelty seems to have finally worn off and they are now just another appliance. Like any other appliance, there are a few quirks that can be frustrating to deal with. For example, anyone living around these devices has shared a particular experience: the device registering something as a wake word that certainly wasn’t meant to be the wake word.

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Considering What Would Happen if All Data Became Exposed

Considering What Would Happen if All Data Became Exposed

What if all our personal data in existence was exposed? If every text message sent, every Internet search executed, every website viewed, everything we had ever done online, was made public? Gizmodo recently reached out to some experts for their insights. Listed below are their responses for you to consideration.

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What You Need To Know About Voice-Based Phishing

What You Need To Know About Voice-Based Phishing

Telework has become imperative for businesses to maintain themselves right now, as remote work became a hard and fast requirement in the face of the coronavirus. Nevertheless, if businesses aren’t careful, they could trade one problem for another in exposing themselves to security threats.

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What Your Business Needs to Know About Cyberattack Vishing

What Your Business Needs to Know About Cyberattack Vishing

Since the onset of the coronavirus, many companies have managed to sustain themselves via remote work, also commonly known as telework. While this strategy has permitted quite a few businesses to survive, it has also opened them up to security threats. Listed below is a focus on one such threat: vishing, or voice phishing.

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What VPNs Can and Can't Do For You

What VPNs Can and Can't Do For You

We haven't been timid about promoting the use of VPNs (virtual private networks) as a way of protecting your online security. Nevertheless, we wanted to take a bit of time to specify what a VPN can and can't do to help you.

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What the Data Says About AI-Enhanced Crimes

What the Data Says About AI-Enhanced Crimes

When we think of modern cybercrime, most people’s minds go to one of two places: some think about the annoying, misspelled emails that are clearly scams, while on the other can’t help but think about the hacks that we see in movies, where a cybercriminal manages to overcome the best the government can incorporate into their defenses.

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Don't Forget about Ransomware

Don't Forget about Ransomware

Ransomware is the most terrifying type of malware out there: it can have a variety of negative effects on a business, yet it seems to still be on the fringe of the mainstream. Listed below is a refresher course on ransomware. 

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What You Need to Know about Credential Stuffing

What You Need to Know about Credential Stuffing

A lot of people have more time on their hands thanks to the pandemic, so it makes sense that many are turning to streaming services and the like for their entertainment. Alas, this has not gone unnoticed by cybercriminals.

Listed below is an examination of credential stuffing.

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Good and Outdated Password Hygiene Strategies

Good and Outdated Password Hygiene Strategies

The password is the primary element of both data security and user authentication; this makes the construction of them extremely imperative to protecting digital assets. Alas, not everyone comprehends how to construct passwords that actually work to protect the information on the other side. Listed below is a discussion on how to create a solid password that works to keep your digital resources safe.

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Watch Out for Employment Scams

Watch Out for Employment Scams

The COVID-19 pandemic has created an ominous situation for many businesses, resulting in employees finding themselves in a vulnerable position. Regardless of whether or not your employees are able to come into the office right now, it is critical that you share the following information with them, as it may help to keep them out of a tough spot.

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Concerned Security Predictions from Cybersecurity Professionals

Concerned Security Predictions from Cybersecurity Professionals

With the COVID-19 pandemic far from over, many companies have had their attention pulled away from their cybersecurity needs by the concerns that the current health crisis has created. Listed below are some of the observations that a group of 273 cybersecurity professionals have made, courtesy of an annual survey.

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Does Your Business Accept Card Payments? Then You Must Maintain PCI Compliance

Does Your Business Accept Card Payments? Then You Must Maintain PCI Compliance

Many modern businesses accept payment cards. To secure people’s personal and financial information when conducting transactions using credit, debit, and gift cards, the companies that stand to lose the most if these transactions are compromised: Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express, have implemented industry-wide compliance regulations. This regulation is called PCI DSS, short for Payment Card Index Digital Security Standard. Listed below is a look at this regulation.

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What Your Business Needs to Know About Security Audits

What Your Business Needs to Know About Security Audits

A security audit tests the overall integrity of your business when it comes to its IT security. In our modern environment, businesses need to have strengthened fortifications in place to protect themselves from cyberthreats, and these fortifications need to be properly tested and reviewed over time. Listed below are some of the types of audits and their benefits, and how you can assess your security.

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