The thing about cybersecurity is you have to defend successfully 100% of the time. The hacker, on the other hand, only has to succeed once. In other words, when protecting from online risk, if you lose a single battle, you'll probably lose the war. But, for the hacker, one win and its total victory.
In cybersecurity, the battlefield is asymmetrical, with the attacker at a great advantage, and the fight is a long slog without rest. It takes a consistent state of high performance to compete successfully in cyber warfare, and defenses should be best-in-class and on the job at all times.
For these reasons, we're proud of F-Secure for again winning the 2020Best Protection and Best Performance awards from the AV-Test Institute, a prestigious 3rd party IT security research firm.
F-Secure is Rated #1 Again
TDS operates as an "open platform," meaning we are not beholden to any vendor or provider. This way, we choose best-in-class solutions according to our client's needs and are "open" to co-opting the best innovation coming from the IT security industry.
Since 2014, we've provided clients with F-Secure's business-grade solution for protecting their Windows and Apple computers, laptops, and servers. F-Secure has consistently proven itself to us and our customers and recent award from the AV-Test Institute recognizes the reasons why.
"F-Secure was awarded ‘Top Product’ in all the six tests conducted by the institute in 2020.
F-Secure is the only vendor to win AV-Test’s prestigious Best Protection award seven times.
2012. 2013. 2014. 2016. 2018. 2019. And 2020."
From the AV-Test Institute in their annual awards report for 2020.
Retail antivirus software is not up to the task of protecting computers and laptops from online risk anymore. It takes advanced science and technology to manage and optimize defenses continually, and F-Secure does it better than anybody else. To see how they do it read more here,and forinformation and purchasing, click here.
✓Whether you are an individual, a family, a professional, or a business, nothing works better than F-Secure PSB for protecting Apple Macs and MacBooks, Windows PCs, and Android mobile devices.
FBI Internet Crime Report for 2020
The FBI report says complaints were up 69%, and $4.2 billion was lost in the U.S. to cybercrime and fraud in 2020. A significant part of the overall damages includes a staggering increase for seniors.
No one is surprised that the top crime reported for 2020 was phishing, with 241,342 complaints. These numbers make it clear; the best defense from cybercrime is being aware and thinking critically with your email inbox.
✓ The best way to avoid the #1 risk of internet fraud is learning to identify email phishing and spoofing from your inbox. Here's how.
Privacy and Personal Safety
We think it's important to share that we see a meaningful though unsettling trend. More people are coming to us because they are in or have left an abusive relationship of one sort or another. Whether it is an ex, a neighbor, or a co-worker, they are being stalked, harassed, spied on, and broken in to.
Everything from internet devices and appliances to email and online accounts became suspect and distrusted in these cases. It's unnerving to witness and a reminder that privacy is not only at the core of security and personal safety but critical to emotional well-being too.
✓ Cases involving cyber-stalking and spying demonstrate the immense power in aggregate personal data, especially in the hands of one that doesn't have your best interests at heart.
Hang Up on T-Mobile
If you are a T-Mobile customer, you should know they have changed their privacy policy and opted you 'in' to collect your personal information and 'sell ads.'
“We’ve heard many say they prefer more relevant ads so we’re defaulting to this setting.”
T-Mobile spokesperson - Mar. 9th
The rest of the story is from the WSJ in the news tile from March 9th, below.
✓ To opt out of T-Mobile's data collection, click here.
Finally, let's not forget, while we're pleased F-Secure has delivered again and continues to win against hackers and online crime, cyber warfare against your technology will never relent. Besides advanced technology to defend, personal vigilance, critical thinking skills, and common sense will always be paramount to survival and success in the digital age.
Investors are the next target of large-scale cyberattacks
"... a multi-layered approach to email security is essential, which includes implementing strong anti-phishing email and email authentication protections that specialize in defending against advanced identity deception attacks and brand spoofing."
The Bleeping Computer - Mar. 6th
16,945
"Number of customers of Atlantis Paradise Island learning that their personal information was compromised when a server at the Bahamas resort was accessed by a hacker over three days last October."
The State of Maine, in their lawsuit against the resort - Mar. 8th
T-Mobile New Privacy Policy to Allow Selling Customer Data for Ads
“We’ve heard many say they prefer more relevant ads so we’re defaulting to this setting.”
T-Mobile spokesperson - Mar. 9th
Hackers are making a killing off the pandemic
"As the global lockdown forced much of the world’s population to conduct their lives online, cybercriminals followed, finding novel ways to exploit the pandemic. Adam Walsh, chief of the United Nations’ cybercrime department has had a front-row seat as this new wave of cybercrime has broken."
Restoftheworld.org - Mar.16th
FBI Says Phishing Scams Rose Sharply in 2020
"Crime spree: The Federal Bureau of Investigation said phishing exploits saw marked increase from the previous year, as hackers zeroed in on concerns about the coronavirus pandemic and attempted to exploit widespread remote working."
Wall St.Journal - Mar.19th
Former US Director of cybersecurity: Crypto ransomware ‘running wild’
Former Homeland Security official Christopher Krebs called for greater governmental oversight of cryptocurrency, saying that anonymous payments are a threat “the average American is concerned about.”
Christopher Krebs on Bill Maher - Mar. 26th
A Private Alternative to Google Maps: DuckDuckGo Maps
"Google Maps, as an extension of Google, is subject to the same data collection practices as any of Google’s other services. This means that anywhere you search for is stored against your name and used for marketing. In 2018, it was even revealed that Google had, in some cases, been storing location data even after users had told it not to."
How to Geek, for more:
For previous CyberAdvisor Letters:
To view Blog posts:
Total Digital Security, 301 Clematis Street, Suite 3000, West Palm Beach, FL 33401, United States, 877-643-6391