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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.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Biometric Security

Advantages and Disadvantages of Biometric Security

A lot has been made about biometric authentication over the past decade, so much so that it has been loosely integrated into a lot of the access control mechanisms on most of today's mobile devices. Fingerprint scanners, retina scanners, and facial recognition are all part of the transition to biometrics to upgrade security and privacy. However, for today's businesses, implementing biometrics can have some major disadvantages. Listed below are the pros and cons of biometric authentication.

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How to Utilize Gmail's Confidential Mode

How to Utilize Gmail's Confidential Mode

Gmail has been as secure as most other email platforms, but email is email and there are times when you send an email that isn’t opened promptly and you’d rather not have the information in that message get sent around or archived where you can’t control it. Gmail has now added a feature that allows users to send messages that will delete themselves in a predetermined time frame, and work to keep the contents of those messages from being shared. 

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IT Dangers that Originate From Inside Your Business

IT Dangers that Originate From Inside Your Business

With all the threats covered in mass media these days it can be too simple to get the mistaken impression that the biggest threats to your business are all external. We’re telling you right now that plenty of vulnerabilities first come from inside your business, both creating significant threats independently and simplifying the job for external dangers as well. Listed below are a few of the dangers that could originate from inside your business itself.

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Is Your Team Prepared for Inevitable Phishing Attacks?

Is Your Team Prepared for Inevitable Phishing Attacks?

While it initially sounds promising to hear that the number of data breaches seen last year went down significantly, it is critical to understand that the number of data records leaked as a result more than doubled. One clear cause was the resurgence in the use of the underhanded malware variety known as ransomware. With this suggesting an increased threat of ransomware incoming, can you confidently say that your business’ team is ready to deal with it?

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Apple Devices May Not Be As Secure As You Think

Apple Devices May Not Be As Secure As You Think

For a very long time, Apple has been asked to share a workaround for their platform security with law enforcement, which the company has refused to do. Apple's argument has been that doing so would inherently undermine their lauded security. Well, the feds have given up asking, because they went ahead and developed a workaround themselves; in doing so, have revealed that iOS isn’t quite as secure as it was purported to be.

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Gmail's Confidential Mode

Gmail's Confidential Mode

Gmail is as secure as any comparable email platform, but there may be some messages you send that you’d rather not have lingering in someone’s inbox. On the other hand, did you know that Gmail allows you to send messages that delete themselves after a set timeframe, while also preventing the contents from being forwarded, downloaded, copied, or printed?

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Three Threats Your Employees Can Pose to Your Business

Three Threats Your Employees Can Pose to Your Business

What would you consider to be the biggest threat to your business? Cybercriminals? A natural disaster? What if I told you that it was the team members that you have employed, whether they meant to be or not? This is the hard truth that you need to prepare your business for.

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Smartwatches Could Be A Risk to Your Business

Smartwatches Could Be A Risk to Your Business

The smartwatch is one of the most popular gifts given to technology lovers; and, they have quite a bit of utility. They can help enhance communication, health, and of course provide them with a sleek accessory. One issue that people don’t often consider is how their employer has to handle the influx of smartwatches and other IoT devices that are brought to work after the holidays. Below is a discussion on how Internet of Things devices could be security risks and what a business should do about it. 

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What You Need to Know About The SolarWinds Hack

What You Need to Know About The SolarWinds Hack

2020 gave us a final parting gift: the news that the United States was targeted this year by the biggest cyberespionage attack ever. What were the ramifications of this attack, and what it should teach us going forward?

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Steps Your Business Can Take to Protect Itself From Digital Theft

Steps Your Business Can Take to Protect Itself From Digital Theft

Over a quarter of all data breaches happen to small businesses. The cost of a data breach is really prohibitive to your business’ operational and financial health. To keep your business’ data and infrastructure free of threats and relatively secure, small businesses will need a combination of useful technology tools and well-designed strategies. Listed below are several steps your small business can take to secure itself from digital theft.

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During the Pandemic, Cyber Security is More Important Than Ever

During the Pandemic, Cyber Security is More Important Than Ever

Since the start of the COVID 19 pandemic, it has been clear that many businesses were not prepared to continue their operations remotely. This was largely due to their leadership being convinced in recent years that permitting people to work remotely would lead to a significant reduction in production, leading them to be unprepared to shift to remote functionality. Cybercriminals have taken advantage of many companies as a result. Below we discuss what needs to be accomplished to secure endpoints from afar.

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Cybercrime Continues to Increase Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic

Cybercrime Continues to Increase Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic

Over the past year, entrepreneurs have focused on how to do business amid the global COVID-19 pandemic. The public health crisis has been an opportunity for all kinds of cybercriminals, and the result has been an increase in losses (compared to the second-worst period on record) by over 50 percent. Below we consider the situation, and how it is, unfortunately, getting worse.

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COVID-19 Pandemic Amplifying Cyberthreats

COVID-19 Pandemic Amplifying Cyberthreats

Keeping your network and infrastructure safe from cyberthreats is always a priority, but with so many people working remotely, businesses have encountered problems doing so. In fact, hackers and scammers have come out of the woodwork to try and gain entry into unauthorized networks or to steal data. Below is a look at how the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the threats out there. 

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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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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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Security Best Practices to Utilize for Your Business

Security Best Practices to Utilize for Your Business

Security is a major part of any business, and if there isn’t a diligent approach to the implementation of it, you can be left with huge holes in your network. Below we highlight some of the best practices you can take to make sure that your organization’s security is in the best possible position to protect your digital resources. 

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How to Identify a Phishing Attack

How to Identify a Phishing Attack

If you’ve been reading this blog, you’ve seen Macro Systems discuss phishing attacks. Whether you are being asked by some supposed Nigerian prince to hand over money or you are getting an email by what seems to be your bank that directs you to download an attachment, you are probably a potential victim of a phishing scam. The difference between being a potential victim and a victim is knowing how to identify it. Listed below are five ways to identify a phishing message so that you or your business won’t be scammed.

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