Hackers and other cyber criminals are an ever present danger on the Internet. This is a fact that we simply can't escape, and what's more, you can be pretty sure that we will see an increase in the number of attacks against sites as the internet continues to expand and be used by more and more people. One of the latest major sites to be hacked is LivingSocial, so if you have an account with this website, you may want to keep reading.

LivingSocial is a daily deals website that focuses on bringing bargains and original deals to users based on their geographical location. In late April, news broke that the website had suffered a massive cyber attack with 50 million accounts being compromised.

From the reports we have seen, the attack targeted accounts world-wide with only account holders in Thailand, Indonesia, South Korea and the Philippines being unaffected. An email sent out by Tim O'Shaughnessy, LivingSocial's CEO shortly after the incident said, "We recently experienced a cyber-attack on our computer systems that resulted in unauthorized access to some customer data from our servers. We are actively working with law enforcement to investigate this issue."

The company assured users that their credit card data had not been compromised, as they are kept in another database. Account passwords were also encrypted, which means they are harder to crack but not impossible.

What should you do? If you have a LivingSocial account, we recommend that you go and change your password immediately. This can be done by:

1. Going to LivingSocial's forgot your password page.
2. Entering the email address you used to sign up for the account with.
3. Pressing Reset Password.
4. Checking your email for an email from LivingSocial and following the instructions in the email.

It is advisable to pick a new password, one that is as different as possible from your old password and, as always, the longer, the better.

Is there anything I can to do protect my company? If you are a business owner who has websites that encourage customers to sign up for updates, accounts, etc. you may be wondering how you can keep your user's information secure from cyber attack. In truth, you can't keep your important information 100% secure, if a hacker is committed enough, they will be able to get the information they need or wreak the havoc they want to. But what you can do is to make it as hard as possible for cybercriminals to get your information. This could be as simple as using multiple databases to store different bits of information, or as complex as using the latest encryption methods and systems.

Each business is unique, and the best way to ensure your valuable data is secure is to work with an IT partner who takes the time to get to know your security needs and develop a solution that is as near to 100% secure as possible.

If you are worried about the security of your systems, contact us today. We may have the perfect solution that will meet your needs and budget.

Pause for a minute and ask yourself if your business is prepared for a disaster. Chances are you have some plan for a large scale disaster like hurricanes, earthquakes and fire, but what about other disasters like hackers or human error? The truth is, many businesses with a disaster recovery plan often forget to ensure they cover all potential disasters.

Here are five tips to help ensure that your business is fully ready for the next disaster.

1. Backup everything While it can be tempting to only backup the most important data and programs, it can be a chore to identify what is deemed to be important. Who knows, a file that is non-essential today may become essential in the future. If it is lost due to a disaster, this could prove to be a problem.

It would be a good idea to look for a backup solution that covers all data and programs. But, having a full backup solution isn't enough, you also need to ensure that recovery is easy and can be implemented quickly.

2. Look into tiered recovery Establishing a tiered recovery method means identifying the value and importance of existing systems and utilizing a recovery method that meets needs. It would be a good idea to identify mission critical systems and adopt a recovery method that can have these systems up and running as quickly as possible. From there you can tier different systems and match a recovery method. For example, archived files are likely not needed right away, so they can be recovered at a later date, using a slower recovery method.

3. Keep copies of all keys and licenses With the amount of software and programs businesses use on a daily basis growing, it would be a good idea to keep copies of the activation keys (the string of digits and letters you enter to activate the full version of software) and purchased licenses.

While many of these are now distributed electronically through email, there are still software developers that distribute keys by mail or with the physical install CDs. If you lose the codes in a fire, you will be out of luck and have to purchase the software again. This is an extra charge you likely don't want.

4. Pick the right recovery locations The best recovery plans offer numerous backup solutions which are hosted in different locations. A good provider knows this and will utilize data storage centers as far apart as possible. If you choose to backup your own data, it would not be a good idea to keep the backups in the office.

Similarly, if you are preparing for a big disaster, you likely have physical locations that you can move to if your main business location is damaged or destroyed. Optimal plans will have more than one location identified, and have them as far apart as possible. This will minimize the chances of losing full operations and increase your business's ability to bounce back quicker.

5. Match your recovery plan to your business There are so many different backup and recovery options that it can be tough to pick one. The best course of action is to look at your systems and how they work. If you operate strictly offline, a cloud based backup solution likely isn't your best bet. Or, if you operate fully in the cloud, a physical tape or hard disk backup may not be optimal.

If you are looking to beef up, or establish a disaster recovery plan, try working with an IT partner like us, who can help you find the optimal solution that can meet your needs and budget.

Among the biggest technological trends of this past year are devices that are always connected to the Internet. Thanks to their convenience, these 'always on' devices look set to increase in popularity. The downside to this is that your accounts could be at risk of increased security threats. In an effort to curb this, tech giants have been introducing two-step verification. Microsoft is the most recent company to announce this, so it's early days and you may be wondering what exactly it is.

Below is an overview of the two-step verification system Microsoft has recently implemented.

What is it? If you use any of Microsoft's products, you likely have a Microsoft Account. This account is what you use to access SkyDrive, Outlook, Skype, Office or even the Xbox. The whole idea of this is that you have one account for all of Microsoft's products and services.

While this is great (you only have to remember one username and password), it can be a security issue. If a hacker gets into your account, they could have access to all of your personal information. Microsoft realizes this and has recently introduced two-step verification, a new Microsoft Account feature that beefs up your account's security.

Two-step verification is a feature that will ask you additional questions when you try to log in to your Microsoft Account. For example, you may be asked to enter a PIN or phrase that is sent to your phone. If you have used your credit card at the Microsoft Store, or on an Xbox in the past year, you have likely seen this feature in action. Now, Microsoft has extended it to your account.

This new feature is not mandatory for your Microsoft Account, so you have to sign up for it. But It is a good idea to consider enabling this function on your account, especially if you have sensitive information stored online. While this won't make your account 100% hack proof, it will drastically cut down the chance of a hacker gaining access.

How to set up two-step verification Microsoft has made it really easy to enable this security measure. You can do so by:

1. Going to https://account.live.com/proofs/Manage and logging into your Microsoft Account.
2. Selecting your phone number and Text from the drop down menu and pressing Next on the window that opens to receive a text message with a code. If you don't see this option, you should be taken directly to they account management screen
3. Entering the code you get on your mobile device and pressing Submit.
4. Clicking on Security Info under Overview.
5. Selecting Set up two-step verification followed by Next.
6. Picking from how you would like to receive verification codes (Authenticator app, Phone, or another email account). We recommend the app, which you can download onto your mobile device.
7. Following the instructions on the screen and entering the code that is sent your the option you selected above, and pressing Next.

Your account should now have two-step verification. The next time you log in, you will be asked to verify the login using the option your selected. For example, if you selected a text message, you will receive a text on your phone with a code.

If you would like to learn more about your Microsoft Account and security measures you can take to, please contact us today.

'It's here, it's here, it's kind of finally here' was a cry uttered by many a Google fan recently when Google announced that their augmented reality project Google Glass had begun shipping. In truth, the version of Glass released is actually the Explore edition, a limited release, which is aimed at early adopters and developers in the US. While there aren't many units available, the device has garnered attention worldwide, with many wondering and what it does and how it does it.

Google recently posted a video on YouTube giving a quick run-through of how to use Glass. Before we go over how users will interact with this new tech, here's a brief overview of the project.

What is Glass? Project Glass was introduced by Google in early 2012, and is essentially a wearable computer (running a version of Android) you wear on your head like glasses. Indeed, the shape of the device at first glance resembles a pair of spectacles: there are the usual two arms along with nose grips. However, instead of glass, there is a mini screen or HUD (Head Up Display) that sits just above your right eye. The HUD displays information much like a smartphone screen, and you can interact with the computer and the Internet using voice commands.

Currently, wearer's with prescription glasses can't actually use the device, but Google has confirmed that the device, if you can call it that, will eventually have lenses much like a normal pair of glasses.

So, how does it work? The video (watch it here), uploaded by Google, sheds a little light on how a user will interact with this device. For example there is a touch-sensitive area on the arm of the device which extends from your temple to just above your right ear. Tapping this will wake it from sleep mode, and display a clock on the screen which sits just above your right eye.

The clock is your home screen, and looks similar to the clock on the lock screen of almost every Android device. You can scroll to the left (by touching the pad near your ear and moving it towards your ear. This will display upcoming information like the weather, flights, or events.

Touching the pad and swiping towards your eye will display information from previous uses like messages, pictures and videos. Tapping on the screen will activate that relevant information. For example, if you are looking at a brief overview of an event, you can tap the device to bring up more information.

One of Google's previous videos showed how you can also interact with Glass by using voice commands. Saying, "Ok glass, take a picture." Will take bring up the camera and take a picture of what you're looking at. You can also ask questions to have glass search Google Now by saying something like, "Ok Glass, What is the traffic like?" To bring up a Google Map with the latest traffic highlighted.

Will it be useful for business? While this is undoubtedly one of the coolest products of the past couple of years, the actual usefulness of the device for business remains to be seen. For now, this device will likely be the domain of app developers and extreme early adopters. But this device, like the smartphone, will likely be incredibly disruptive when it's launched for the masses.

What do you think of Google Glass? Would you buy one if you had the opportunity? Let us know.

Windows Phone isn't the most popular mobile operating system on the market, and that is a bit of a shame, especially since it's a good, even a great system. And more users, businesses especially, are starting to realize this and some business owners or managers are looking into buying Windows Phones. The problem is, if you already have a smartphone, say an Android, it can be a bit of a challenge to make the switch over. Luckily Microsoft has recently released an app that makes this process easier.

If you have an Android phone and want to move over to a Windows Phone, Microsoft has recently released an app that can help. "Switch to Windows Phone", available on the Google Play store, is an app that scans your device for installed apps and then links them to your Microsoft Account. It will also tell you how many 'matched apps' are available for the Windows Phone.

Matched apps are either the Windows Phone version, or a similar app that has the same functionality. It is highly likely that you will see more than 70% of your Android apps available on the Windows Phone Store.

After you have matched your apps on the Android device, you can then download the companion app from the Windows Phone Store, log in to your phone using the same Microsoft Account and the app will show you the available apps and allow you to tap on them to install them.

If you have synced your contacts, email and calendar with a Google Account on your Android, you can also log into this on your Windows Phone and the three should sync automatically. This means that switching is technically as simple as signing into two accounts on your Windows Phone.

Looking to switch? Download the free Android app from Google Play here. You can find the free companion app on the Windows Phone Store here. Check back next month for an in-depth look at how to switch to a Windows Phone from another system. If you are considering switching, or would like to learn more about how a smartphone can help make business easier, contact us today.

Social media has become an important part of any business's marketing strategy. By having an active presence on the main networks, you will likely see increased sales or at the very least an increase in brand recognition. So, while social media is an invaluable marketing tool, there are also other departments which could benefit from it.

Below are four non-marketing oriented uses of social media that businesses could benefit from.

Hiring LinkedIn is a social network dedicated to helping professionals and organizations connect and find jobs and new talent. Most social savvy companies will have a presence on this network and may even hire exclusively from here.

If you are looking for new employees, it wouldn't hurt to have a LinkedIn profile. To find the best talent, you need to forge and maintain connections (usually starting with people you know), and be somewhat active in groups and on message boards.

It's also important to not forget the other major networks when it comes to hiring. Tweeting a job opening on Twitter, or posting ads on Facebook could also help you find your next employee. Facebook can be particularly useful because you can pay to target ads (in this case, job openings) at specific demographics.

Internal communications Communication is an important part of business, and most people choose to communicate using email. You have probably seen emails with jokes, invitations to after work events, lunch orders, etc. sent to the whole company and also received the many replies that go with it. This can get very annoying, and also confusing.

Why not utilize social media for non-essential (aka. not related to work) communication. Set up a Facebook group where your employees can share content, invitations to lunch or after work gatherings, interesting stories, etc. That way you can limit email to more important, business-related aspects.

Using social media for internal communication is also beneficial for companies with younger workers. Most already see Facebook, Twitter, etc. as their main form of communication, some even feel more comfortable communicating over this medium as opposed to speaking out in meetings. Having a group portal or Facebook page could give less-empowered employees a way to voice their ideas, and maybe even improve on them with feedback from others.

Learning A common complaint of many business owners is that they have a tough time staying on top of ever-changing trends and what currently interests their customers. Using social media to connect with your customers can be a great way to learn not only hot trends but also about new ideas.

Customer service When it comes to social media, users will often complain publicly on their wall or through their tweets. This is bad for you, as the reach of this complaint can go a long way and make you look bad. Some companies have decided to confront this head on by having specific customer service accounts. If a customer complains, has an issue, or even compliments you, be active and respond using that account.

If done properly, over time, you will see more and more people reaching out to your customer service account through social media. This also gives you another way to please clients or turn around negative customer experiences.

Social media and the various platforms are not only great for marketing, but can be incredibly useful for other business functions. Do you have any other ways you use social media? Let us know. Or, if you would like to learn more about how it can help your company, then contact us today.

It seems that there is a security threat or leak in the news almost every week. The majority of these leaks tend to revolve around account information and passwords being stolen and released on the Internet for anyone to view. In truth, most of the passwords released are secure, but not 100% secure. Anyone with a powerful enough computer and the right tools can crack almost any security measure. The only thing you can really do is come up with strong passwords.

If you want to minimize the chances of your password being hacked, here are five things you should NOT do.

1. Don't pick short passwords

While short passwords are easier to remember, they are also easier and quicker to hack. The most common way to hack passwords is by using brute force: Developing a list of every possible password, then trying this list with a username.

Using a mid-range computer like the one many have on their desk, with a normal Internet connection, you can develop a list of all potential passwords astonishingly quickly. For example it would take 11.9 seconds to generate a list of all possible passwords using five lowercase characters (a,b,c,d,etc.) only. It will take about 2.15 hours to develop a list of all possible passwords using five of any computer character. Once a hacker has the list, they just have to try every potential password with your user name.

On the other hand, a list of all 8 character passwords with at least one special character (!,@,%,etc.) and one capital letter would take this computer 2.14 centuries to develop. In other words, the longer the password, the harder it will be to hack. That being said, longer passwords aren't impossible to hack, they just take more time. So, most hackers will usually go after the shorter passwords first.

2. Don't use the same password

The way most hackers work is that they assume users have the same password for different accounts. If they can get one password, it's as simple as looking through that account's information for any related accounts and trying the original password with the other accounts. If one of these happens to be your email where you have kept bank information, you will likely see your bank account drained.

It's therefore important to use a different password for every online account. They key here is to try and use a password that's as different as possible. Don't just add a number or character onto the end of a word. If you have trouble remembering all of your passwords, try using a password manager like LastPass.

3. Don't use words from the dictionary or all numbers

This article published last year on ZDnet highlights the 25 most popular passwords. Notice that more than 15 contain words from the dictionary, and most of the rest are strings of common numbers. To have a secure password, most security experts agree that you should not use words from the dictionary or number combinations that are beside each other (e.g., 1234).

4. Don't use standard number substitutions

Some users have passwords where they replace letters with a number that looks similar, for example: h31lo (hello). Most new password hacking tools actually have combinations like this built in and will try a normal word, followed by replacing letters with similar numbers. It’s best to avoid this.

5. Don't use available information as a password

What we mean by this is using information that can be easily found on the Internet. For example, doing a quick search for your name will likely return your email address and social media profiles. If you have pictures of your kids, spouse, pets, family, their dates of birth, etc. on your Facebook profile and have put their names in captions, it's possible for a hacker to see this (assuming the pictures are shared with the public).

You can bet that they will try these names as your password. You would be surprised with the amount of personal information on the web. We suggest searching for yourself using your email address(s), social media profile names, etc. and seeing what information can be found. If your passwords are close to what you find, it would be a good idea to change them immediately.

There are numerous things you can do to minimize the chance that your passwords are stolen and accounts hacked.

 

Managed services provider brings clients the benefit of securely accessing files and collaborating from anywhere

ProviDyn, a provider of IT support, strategy and services for small and medium-sized businesses and nonprofit organizations, today announced ProviDyn Sync, secure, cloud based file storage that will allow its clients to access files at home, in the office or on any mobile device, including iOS and Android devices.

Collaboration is increasingly important in today’s mobile workforce, along with accessing and syncing documents between devices such as laptops, desktops, tablets and smartphones. While there are consumer cloud products available, they are hosted publicly, meaning that everyone shares the same encryption key, which can be a big problem for a business. If that encryption key is compromised, all of businesses’ documents, their clients’ documents and any of the user’s personal documents are vulnerable. With ProviDyn Sync, clients are provided with an encryption key that is exclusive to their business and documents, and not shared with anyone.

Along with the convenience, collaboration and added data protection, ProviDyn Sync offers:

Universal file access; sync across stationary and mobile devices: Eliminates dependency on FTPs, VPNs, or file servers.

448-bit Blowfish encryption on-device and in-transit: Offers the highest level of security for any cloud platform, ensuring that sensitive documents (contracts, designs, client history) are safe from hacking and breaches.

Private encryption key management: Eliminates the need to worry about data loss.

Remote wipes of endpoints and mobile devices: Allows clients to perform remote wipes of desktops for clients, former employees and rogue employees.

Custom deleted file retention periods: Enables clients to conveniently extend or shorten deleted file retention periods and never lose a file again.

Granular user-access and security controls: Allows for policies to be set for individuals within a company, including which employees can share files, can delete files and revisions, can access certain files, and what types of files they can upload.

Revised file backup: Stores file revisions, which allows employees to collaborate without worry.

Managed file sharing for internal/external parties: Allows for sharing files with external parties through ProviDyn Sync and through unique web addresses. ProviDyn Sync also allows companies to monitor the files shared within the company and externally.

Multiple folder backup (Documents, Desktop, Pictures, etc.): Syncs all different file types, including the ability to backup entire folders and the files within them.

“Many of our clients start out with one of the more popular consumer options for file access, sharing and syncing, but soon realize these products are not secure or robust enough to meet their needs,” said Hamish Davidson, president and CEO of ProviDyn. “We are looking forward to bringing the benefits of cloud based file storage with the added security and features required for businesses to run more efficiently.”

About ProviDyn
ProviDyn provides technology expertise, services and support to help small and mid-sized organizations sustain growth and strengthen performance. Backed by technology experts, ProviDyn helps organizations gain the full benefits of existing technology, make strategic investments in implementing new technology and maintain an infrastructure that is secure, reliable and flexible. ProviDyn offers managed services, mobile computing, IT strategy, virtualization, cloud computing, business continuity, network security and IP telephony. To learn more about how ProviDyn is Driving Business Through Technology and helping companies reduce costs, improve efficiency and maximize productivity, visit http://www.providyn.com/ or follow us on LinkedIn.

Marketing Research Firm With Employees Across the Nation Expands Partnership with ProviDyn

ProviDyn, a provider of IT support, strategy and services for small and medium-sized businesses and nonprofit organizations, announced today that The Connell Group has extended its existing managed services contract by turning to ProviDyn for strategic direction in configuration and setup of new offices in New Jersey and X. The Connell Group is a growth-stage market research consultancy dedicated to bridging the gap between market research and brand strategy.

Since 2008, The Connell Group has relied on ProviDyn to meet its day-to-day IT services and support needs and migrated to the managed service provider’s private cloud in 2011. With employees spanning multiples states and new offices opening in New Jersey and Chicago, The Connell Group enlisted ProviDyn to procure equipment, review building plans, expand phone systems and ensure proper cabling and wiring. ProviDyn recommended and selected Internet providers and also configured and deployed the firm’s network infrastructure, firewall and switches, which easily integrated into their existing private cloud environment.

“Ensuring the new offices run smoothly, have a solid infrastructure and are well integrated with our other locations is critical to our operations,” said Sean Connell, Principal of The Connell Group. “ProviDyn has consistently made reliable strategic recommendations and it put our minds at ease knowing they were handling the IT strategy and procurement for our new offices.”

“Often, companies don’t consider the various strategic IT decisions that go into opening a new office,” said Hamish Davidson, president and co-founder of ProviDyn. “Making the added effort upfront to properly configure the network and procure the right equipment can eliminate a lot of downtime and ensure smooth collaboration between offices.”

About ProviDyn
ProviDyn provides technology expertise, services and support to help small and mid-sized organizations sustain growth and strengthen performance. Backed by technology experts, ProviDyn helps organizations gain the full benefits of existing technology, make strategic investments in implementing new technology and maintain an infrastructure that is secure, reliable and flexible. ProviDyn offers managed services, mobile computing, IT strategy, virtualization, cloud computing, business continuity, network security and IP telephony. To learn more about how ProviDyn is Driving Business Through Technology and helping companies reduce costs, improve efficiency and maximize productivity, visit http://www.providyn.com/ or follow us on LinkedIn.

About The Connell Group
The Connell Group is a market research consultancy focused on closely connecting research design to the business agenda of our clients. We do this by combining the expertise of brand marketers with the data-driven perspective of market researchers. Founded in 2000, The Connell Group consults with a host of companies ranging from Fortune 100 to start-ups. Headquartered in New Jersey, we have offices in Atlanta, San Francisco, and Chicago, and we provide global services throughout the United States, Europe, Latin America, and Asia.

We at MSP Today are learning a lot about storage in the cloud, and one lesson is there are a heck-of-a-lot of vendors!

That means providers have to find a way to stand out from the crowd, otherwise their business will go nowhere.

For ProviDyn, the distinction is keeping one customer’s data away from that of another, a feature offered by the new ProviDyn Sync file storage system.

There are nearly as many approaches to cloud storage as there are vendors.

One study, breaks the market down into three main types, hardware, software and services. Then the researchers looked at products, such as data transfer, backup, primary storage, and gateways. And then there are four main deployment models, community cloud, private cloud, public cloud and hybrid.

ProviDyn falls into the service provider category and offers storage that end users can get at, a form of primary storage that can also be used to store copies of files.

The system, like many of its file storage rivals, allows access from any number of devices, PCs, tablets and smartphones. And it offers, the company claims, peace of mind.

“Collaboration is increasingly important in today’s mobile workforce, along with accessing and syncing documents between devices such as laptops, desktops, tablets and smartphones.While there are consumer cloud products available, they are hosted publicly, meaning that everyone shares the same encryption key, which can be a big problem for a business,” the company said. “If that encryption key is compromised, all of businesses’ documents, their clients’ documents and any of the user’s personal documents are vulnerable. With ProviDyn Sync, clients are provided with an encryption key that is exclusive to their business and documents, and not shared with anyone.”

Other ProviDyn Sync features include:

• Private encryption key management
• Wiping of mobile devices and other endpoints remotely
• Granular user-access
• And managed file sharing allowing external parties to share your data.

Customers tend to trade up as they use the system, the company says. “Many of our clients start out with one of the more popular consumer options for file access, sharing and syncing, but soon realize these products are not secure or robust enough to meet their needs,” said Hamish Davidson, president and CEO of ProviDyn. “We are looking forward to bringing the benefits of cloud based file storage with the added security and features required for businesses to run more efficiently.”