solid state hard drive

The State of Solid State Drives

September 14, 2023
Backups

solid state hard drive

Thirty years ago, General Motors introduced solid state voltage regulators that were built into the alternators on its cars. Previously, all voltage regulators were bulky electro-mechanical devices in housed in black metal boxes mounted to the engine compartment firewall or on the top side of a wheel well.

GM started the evolution of “internal” automotive regulators and an unintended revolution for drivers replacing the old electro-mechanical style. Aftermarket manufacturers discovered that it was not only possible, but also economical to replace the guts of an external regulator with a solid-state circuit. Unintended consequences occurred, however, when said drivers purchased what looked just like the old style, but weighed significantly less. They immediately assumed that they were getting cheated.


What Does This Have to Do with Computer Technology?

When the parts man behind the counter explained that the weight difference was only because the heavy mechanical parts had been replaced with solid state circuitry, customers demanded an exact replacement. They didn’t care that the several of the solid-state circuits could fit comfortably in the palm of their hand.

Whether we like to admit it or not, although we each have a modicum of excitement about advancements in technology, we also harbor a proportionate amount of skepticism depending on how much that technology touches us.

As more and more people become aware that Solid State Drive (SSD) technology is emerging as the replacement for magnetic drives, so does their level of skepticism. The question always seems be whether the new technology will be superior in every way to the one it is replacing, including it durability and useful life.

3 Things You Should Know About Solid State Drives

This may not answer all of your questions, but it should assuage some of your fears.

  1. SSDs are typically warranted for a minimum of 200 terabytes of “data writes.” To put that into perspective, that would be about three to five years of use by a typical small business.
  2. In actual independent testing, sample drives exceed 700 terabytes – three and a half times the warranted amount.
  3. Two of the SSDs in the test exceeded 1,000 terabytes (a petabyte). As a point of reference, only entities such as NASA would require that kind of capacity. Bob Rankin illustrates the matter with this dramatic comparison:

“A petabyte is 1,000 Terabytes, a nearly incomprehensible number normally found only in NSA or NASA IT projects. The first three seasons of the HBO hit, “Game of Thrones,” in 1080p MP4 format, occupies 9,285,418,071 bytes (9.3 GB). One petabyte equals about 107,695 copies of that data set.”

On the other side of the coin, there is some indication that SSDs may, at this point have a higher uncorrectable error rate than magnetic disk drives. That should be a minor trade-off easily offset by having and keeping a strict data backup plan.

The evidence is clear. SSDs are superior to their predecessors. However, if you still have questions, don’t wait. Contact us today (843-282-2222). Tech Sentries is always on duty helping you “Guard Your Technology” at all hours of the day or night and keeping updated on how to be better prepared for Internet scams.

Tech Support Scam

This Is Tech Support. You Are About to Be Scammed.

September 14, 2023
Security

Tech Support Scam

Internet usage continues to expand as coverage becomes more available and as users are added by the thousands. Those users include people who do not understand what goes on behind the scenes as well as others who know that they do not know.

Scam artists have been around throughout recorded history. The intent is always the same: to take advantage of innocent people, usually absconding with some of their cash. It is just that many of the methods have changed over the years. The art of catching people unaware is common to nearly all scams. The best scams work, not because the victims are oblivious, rather that they respond without thinking, often erring on the side of caution.

Here’s an example. On a recent episode of ABC-TV’s “The Catch.” a couple of con artists (who were also pickpockets) needed to get their hands on some cash. They posted legitimate looking signs near an outdoor café. The signs read, “Be careful. Pickpockets operate in this area.”

It was a perfect scam. People who saw the signs immediately put a hand on the pocket where their cash was, just to be safe. Their response to the signs made it easier for the pickpockets to pull off their scam. In fact, the signs were the scam.

Virtually the same thing is happening on the internet with tech scams. The user may receive a message by phone or on their screen, prompting the user to take action to protect their computer from some alleged issue or malware. Just like the victims of the pickpockets, people react instinctively out of an abundance of caution.

Once in contact, the tech scammer will request access to the individual’s computer in an alleged attempt to fix the non-existent problem. Presto-chango! Before the victim knows what has happened, his computer has new malware installed, his personal banking information has been stolen, or his PC is being held for ransom.

This has become particularly dangerous in the era of remote monitoring and maintenance. There are two things you can do to protect yourself from the tech service scammers.

  1. Think about what is really happening.
  2. Never respond to a tech service warning unless you know the person making contact and that person has been authorized by you to protect your computer.

Be vigilant and think before you react. Thinking first may keep you from doing something foolish. Tech Sentries is the logical source of your protection. We guard and protect your PCs, laptops, and other connected devices against the dangers that lurk in cyberspace and the scam artists who want to take you for everything they can.

Don’t wait. Contact us today (843-282-2222). Tech Sentries is always on duty helping you “Guard Your Technology” at all hours of the day or night and keeping updated on how to be better prepared for Internet scams.

what is whitelisting?

The Wisdom of Whitelisting

September 14, 2023
Security

Do you remember the good old days when we were able to tell the bad guys from the good guys on TV westerns by the what is whitelisting?color of their hats?

Cyber vocabulary includes the term “black hat.” It is derived directly from those old westerns and those dirty, low-down, dastardly villains. Today, the term is used to describe internet hackers who ambush the innocent folks in white hats. Folks like you and me.

The problem is that it’s hard to tell the color of their hat when they are lurking in the shadows of cyberspace.

There’s an App for That

Yep. There seems to be an app for just about anything. Including some apps created by and for bad guys.

Until recently the most commonly used means of identifying malicious apps was “blacklisting,” or what some of the wranglers around the campfire call “The Oops Method.” In its most simplistic form, you create a blacklist of apps you already know are bad guys. The digital list blocks the bad guys from loading on your PC. The problem is that someone has to discover the evil app either by being caught unaware or by keeping up to speed with all the latest information. Except for the apps that are unknown because they are not on the list, the idea works fairly well.

There’s a Better Way than That

The better way is called “whitelisting.” This method involves creating a list of apps that we already know to be good guys. Instead of blocking the bad apps, whitelisting turns the tables and allows only the apps and software that are on your white list to have access to your computer or mobile devices. Only those who have been “deputized” on the whitelist are allowed in.

Now, that’s very technical, but it does describe the difference well enough for you to know that whitelisting is more effective than blacklisting.

We can help you get a white list started and help you keep it up to date. Tech Sentries is the logical source for your protection. We’re wearing our white hats and protecting your PCs, laptops, and other connected devices against the dangers that lurk in the shadows of cyberspace.

Don’t wait. Contact us today at (843) 282-2222. Tech Sentries is always on duty helping you “Guard Your Technology” at all hours of the day or night and keeping updated on how to be better prepared for Internet scams.

old methods cant stop ransomware

Why Old Methods Can’t Stop Ransomware

September 14, 2023
Ransomware

During the American Revolution, sentries guarding encampments reportedly shouted, “Halt! Who goes there? Friend or foe?” As far as we know, there are no statistics that indicate how many foes identified themselves as such – or lived to tell about it.

Ransomware is not easily identified

As of this time, conventional anti-virus software is about as effective at identifying ransomware as Revolutionary War sentry was at identifying friend or foe. We do have some statistics for the current day.

A recent survey of 500 companies found that

  • 33% had been attacked by ransomware in the previous 12 months
  • More than half of those companies were operating multiple anti-virus software at the time.

old methods cant stop ransomware

Think about that.

  • Of 500 companies,165 had been attacked by ransomware
  • Of those 165 attacked, 87 were employing multiple lines of defense.

That’s like having multiple perimeters of sentries, none of which would identify the foe.

There’s a reason for that.

The common approach is called blacklisting. Software already identified as “foe” is blacklisted. The problem is that the software cannot be identified as evil until it has permeated someone’s defense perimeter. Once identified as malware, conventional anti-virus publishes, in effect, “Wanted” posters so that computers can recognize software already known to be malicious.

There’s a solution for that

The solution is in implementing the opposite of blacklisting. Computer techies call it “whitelisting.” Instead of issuing wanted posters, a whitelisting approach allows only known friends to pass.

Pernicious thinkers amongst our readership might be thinking that ransomware can disguise itself by wearing someone else’s clothes. Not so. If ransomware producers think that they can masquerade as a friend, they will be sorely surprised to discover that they are wearing the proverbial Emperor’s New Clothes. The ruse will be discovered, and the attempt at ransom will fail.

Are you adequately protected against ransomware? Don’t think so. Know so. Contact us and let us show you how you can be sure that you are protected.

malvertising

Guard Your Technology Against Malvertising

September 14, 2023
Malware

malvertising

When you juxtapose “malicious” or “malware” and “advertising,” you get the portmanteau “malvertising.” Although malvertising has existed for about 30 years, it is not yet a household word, even among many computer techs. That is probably going to change following a malvertising attack discovered on Google June 2, 2017.

The attack caught users unaware as they innocently clicked on a sponsored AdWords search engine response to the big box retailer, Target. Expecting to land at Target’s website, users were unwittingly redirected to another URL where they were greeted with a Microsoft look-alike site that warned them to call a phone number to remove an infected file on their computer. The file itself was non-existent.

Malvertising typically works because the malware is not on your PC. It is propagated by inserting malicious codes into ads on trusted websites. Malvertising is particularly pernicious in that neither the site nor the advertiser are aware of the code that redirects users to a malicious server. According to the Center for Internet Security, “The software could allow the attacker to perform a number of actions including,

  • allowing full access to the computer
  • exfiltrating financial or sensitive information
  • locking the system and holding it ransom via ransomware, or
  • adding the system to a botnet so it can be used to perform additional attacks.

This entire process occurs behind the scenes, out of sight of the user and without any interaction from the user.” Because all of this activity takes place “behind the scenes” and because internet ads are changed at a rapid pace, malvertising is unusually difficult to combat. The New York Times and NFL websites have already been malvertising victims.

The best practices for guarding your technology against malvertising are to ensure that all of your software and extensions are up-to-date, disable the automatic use of Flash, and close windows not currently in use when connected to the internet.

Tech Sentries is always on duty helping you “GUARD YOUR TECHNOLOGY” at all hours of the day and night. Don’t wait. Contact us today. (843-282-2222).

Dynamic Whitelisting

From Whitelisting to Dynamic Whitelisting

September 14, 2023
Security

Dynamic Whitelisting

“Fundamentally, we need to change the way we interact with the Internet… This whole reactive approach we’ve taken for years just doesn’t work.”

That is the opinion of Frank Dickson, the Research Director for Worldwide Security Products at International Data Corp. He was talking about the need for a more assertive, dynamic whitelisting approach to protecting personal and corporate technology.

 

One of the reasons that people – especially businesses – don’t utilize whitelisting is that it is so manual intensive. Someone has to create the whitelist and keep it up to date. We agree. It can be tedious.

However, what if there were a better way to do whitelisting?

There Is a Better Way.

It is dynamic whitelisting. Think of it as the difference between being the maître d at a restaurant or being one at an exclusive club.

A whitelist is like the maître d at a restaurant checks a list that changes daily to see if you have a reservation. Assuming that you have a reservation, the maître d will allow you to enter and arrange to have you seated. If you are not on the list, you will be politely turned away.

A dynamic whitelist is like the maître d at an exclusive club may have a reservations list, but your name is not going to be on his list unless it is first on the club’s membership list.

Dynamic Whitelisting Is Not New But Still Developing

Even some computer technicians think that dynamic whitelisting is new, but there is at least one report online that cites dynamic whitelisting as having been used in highly-regulated businesses and industries before 2009.

It is increasingly apparent that the accelerating pace of software and application development is rendering companies unable to keep pace. Dynamic whitelisting “facilitates an immediate reaction to any updates in the software world.” Dynamic whitelisting is being refined by leading technology security firms utilizing artificial intelligence, certifications, software tracking, processing, analysis, and classification.

Information is aggregated and loaded into massive databases in real time. Businesses that subscribe to what may become known as WLaaS (Whitelisting as a Service) will no longer have to manage whitelists daily. The security firm provider’s database is akin to the exclusive club’s membership list. If the software is not in the database, it will not be seated in your system.

Look for our next whitelist article, “Why BYOD Makes a Case for Whitelisting.”

Tech Sentries is as concerned about your computer system security as you are. Your computer system security is our business. That’s why Tech Sentries is always on duty. Contact us today to learn how we can help you “GUARD YOUR TECHNOLOGY” (843-282-2222).

phone scams

Phone Scams – Just Say Nothing

September 14, 2023
Security

Just when you think you are above being scammed by callers to your phone, some new twist on the old scam schemes sneaks onto the scene. The latest scam may be the sneakiest since Satan got Eve to say “Yes” in the Garden of Eden.

phone scams

The new scam is so simple that many people never see it coming. After all, this is the hallmark of a scam. If we saw it coming, it wouldn’t work.
The point of this article is to help you see it coming.

The Skinny on the New Phone Scam

The objective: to get you to say “Yes.”
The method: to ask you a question to which you will answer “Yes.” The questions sound innocent enough. For example:

  • “Can you hear me clearly?”
  • “Am I speaking to (your name)?

The sting: Once the caller has a recording of your voice saying “Yes,” your response can be “spliced” into another recording in which the questions are different. In the altered recording, your “Yes” sounds like a response by which you agree to purchase something. Or worse.

The Sides of New Technology

The constant and accelerating development of new technologies is exciting. However, we need to be aware that there are people who use good technology for evil purposes. It’s okay to be excited, but it is important that we be cautious.
Both the FCC and the BBB have issued advice on how to avoid being scammed on the phone.

  1. Don’t answer calls from unknown numbers. Let them go to voicemail.
  2. If you answer and the caller (often a recording) asks you to hit a button to stop receiving calls, just hang up. Scammers often use these tricks to identify, and then target, live respondents.
  3. If you receive a scam call, write down the number and file a complaint with the FCC so it can help identify and take appropriate action to help consumers targeted by illegal callers.
  4. Make a note of the number and report it to BBB Scam Tracker to help warn others.
  5. Ask your phone service provider if it offers a robocall blocking service. If not, encourage your provider to offer one. You can also visit the FCC’s website for information and resources on available robocall blocking tools to help reduce unwanted calls.
  6. Consider registering all your telephone numbers in the National Do Not Call Registry.

Common sense used to be enough to be your guide. Now it takes education, wisdom, and forethought. Be alert. Be cautious. Be safe.

ransomware money

Five Things You Probably Did NOT Know About Ransomware

September 14, 2023
Malware, Ransomware

ransomware moneyOur mission at Tech Sentries is to help you “Guard Your Technology.” Part of helping you to “Guard Your Technology” is to keep you informed about threats to your computer system, like ransomware. We believe that keeping you informed is part and parcel of our commitment to you. We found this insightful information in a recent article in an online tech site.

Ransomware Lesson #1

It can be much easier to steal your business or personal information and hold it ransom than to kidnap someone in your family.

Holding information for ransom may be less lucrative per instance, but the crime can be perpetrated a virtual plethora of times with the potential capability of accumulating a great deal of ill-gotten gain from multiple sources. Although some criminals may take the short path to large sums of cash, the opportunity is now open to treacherous techies who are willing to commit the crime numerous times on a smaller scale.

Just because you are not a big business or personally wealthy does not exempt you from ransomware attempts.

Ransomware Lesson #2

Ransomware is not a virus. The computer term “virus” was coined because, like a live virus, it infects your computer files. Ransomware locks your files so that you cannot access them.

Ransomware Lesson #3

You do not have to click on anything in particular to be the victim of a ransomware attack. Although phishing is a method used in some ransomware attacks, it is not, by any stretch of the imagination, the only method of attack.

We always strongly advise our clients to be careful what you click. Understand, however, that this may not make you immune to a ransomware attack. It is, nonetheless, a good habit to develop to guard your technology.

 

Ransomware Lesson #4

You do not have to visit questionable websites to become a victim of ransomware. Although that may make you more vulnerable to attack, the masters of the ransomware craft tend to use the most innocuous of sites to carry out their schemes. Their whole point is to catch the innocent unaware.

Ransomware Lesson #5

You can guard your technology against ransomware. Although traditional antivirus software has yet to provide foolproof protection against ransomware, whitelisting has come to the forefront as one of the best defenses available. Read our recent blog post about whitelisting here. You will understand in more detail why whitelisting is so successful and why you should use it.

 

You should be concerned about ransomware, but you are not alone and defenseless in the computer world. Tech Sentries is always on duty. Contact us today to learn how we can help you “GUARD YOUR TECHNOLOGY” (843-282-2222).

general data protection regulation

Do We Need General Data Protection Regulation?

September 14, 2023
Security

general data protection regulation

On May 25, 2018, the European Union will update privacy laws for all member nations. How that will affect American businesses and individuals is pure speculation at this point.

You may be asking, “What does the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) have to do with me or my business?” The answer may lie in the reality of how interconnected we have all become as rapidly-advancing technology compiles unimaginable amounts of personal data and moves it around the globe in the blink of an eye.

A more appropriate question may be, “How long will it be before the GDPR affects me?” That being the case, it is worth noting a few of the highlights of the GDPR.

  • Personally identifiable data may not be stored by any company without that individual’s “express consent.” (Expect this rule to be circumvented by statements like this: “By clicking “NEXT,” you indicate acceptance of our terms and conditions.”)

The inherent problem is that the average person does not read the fine print in the terms and conditions. It is reasonable to expect that those terms and condition will include a clause that says that “acceptance of our terms includes your permission for our company to retain your personal information.”

We Value Our Personal Information Most When It Has Been Stolen

The other inherent problem is that the individual or company on the customer end of the transaction is typically more concerned about completing the transaction than sharing their information. Sharing personally identifiable information is a secondary thought at best.

Five Rights Included in the GDPR

Technically, users/customers in the EU will have five rights of protection available.

  1. They may refuse to allow personal (or business) information to be processed.
  2. They may request access to the data a business has about them.
  3. They may request correction of inaccurate information.
  4. They may request deletion of personally identifiable information.
  5. They may transfer personally identifiable information to another entity.

Another question we ought to be asking about the security of our personally identifiable information, is “How do we know that companies are compliant and our information is protected?” The answer is that we do not. Laws are fine, but they must be enforceable to be effective.

Tech Sentries believes that the primary responsibility for guarding your technology and your data is you. However, we understand that no amount of legislation will protect your data, and we also understand that you cannot protect your data without the latest-greatest-up-to-date security measures. Ensuring your protection is our business. We are your security professionals.

Tech Sentries is as concerned about your computer system security as you are. That is why Tech Sentries is always on duty. Contact us today to learn how we can help you “GUARD YOUR TECHNOLOGY” (843-282-2222).

ransomware statistics

Alarming Statistics About Ransomware

September 14, 2023
Malware, Ransomware

For some inexplicable reason, each of us tends to believe that we are immune to catastrophic events, including diseases, natural disasters, and crimes. Unfortunately, we carry that same naivete over to guarding our technology. Just as we think that no harm will befall us personally, even though it does, we believe that are computers are also immune – even though we have no reason to believe that they are.

Eye-opening Ransomware Statistics

ransomware statisticsSome people are motivated by statistics that evidence growing vulnerability. Others become motivated when disaster strikes someone they know. Still others do nothing until they have become infected or affected. We hope the following statistics will increase your awareness of the reality that you can become a victim of a ransomware attack.

  • There are more than 4,000 ransomware attacks reported every day.
  • It is estimated that less than 25% of attacks are report.
  • 30,000 to 50,000 digital devises are infected with ransomware each month.
  • The amount of money paid in ransom increased dramatically from 2015 to 2016.

 

Year Ransom Paid
2015 $24 million
2016 $850 million

 

Year Average Paid
2015 $294
2016 $679

More Convincing Statistics

Ransom paid is only part of the problem. Ransomware attacks cause expensive downtime for businesses.

  • 63% of business attacked by ransomware suffered downtime.
  • 34% lost money as a result of the downtime alone.
  • 20% were forced to close permanently.

Small Business Are Not Immune

Myth: “My business is too small for anyone to bother attacking.”

Fact: A recent survey reported that, on average, small businesses lose an aggregate of $8,500 per downtime hour. That is an annual total of $75 billion.

These statistics may not alarm you. They should. You need to take the necessary precautions to protect your business and your home computers from ransom attacks.

Yes, you should be concerned about your computer system security, but you should also know that you are not alone and defenseless in the computer world. Tech Sentries is always on duty. Contact us today to learn how we can help you “GUARD YOUR TECHNOLOGY” (843-282-2222).

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