Posted by Eric Torres on Fri, Feb 10, 2012 @ 09:01 AM
With Valentine's Day around the corner, cyber criminals are ramping up spam, phishing, and other attacks targeting the lovers' holiday
By Tony Bradley | PC World | Published: February 10, 2012
There are only a few days to Valentine's Day. Those of you who are shocked by that revelation are prime targets for Valentine's Day related spam and phishing attacks as hackers hope to catch you with your guard down for this day of romance.
Messages targeting Valentine's Day are expected to quadruple globally in the coming days - in part because cyber criminals are adept at targeting holidays and current events as bait for attacks. An offer for a dozen roses for a few pounds might get some traction any time of the year, but with the clock quickly counting down to Valentine's Day it has much higher odds of duping frantic lovers in search of a last minute gift.
A blog post from McAfee warned: "Many consumers look for a little romance on Valentine's Day, whether it is a thoughtful gift, a romantic getaway, or a heartfelt e-card, but if you're looking for these things online, beware."
McAfee points out a number of types of Valentine's Day themed threats you should be aware of:
Phishing scams
Attackers will send out spam promoting bargains for flowers, romantic dinners, jewelry, or other Valentine's Day gift related themes. Clicking on the offer might take you to a malicious site that could compromise a vulnerable PC, or it could take you to a site that looks legitimate, and asks for your credit card, and other personal information to "complete the order".
Malicious eCards
Any holiday that traditionally involves giving and receiving cards is a prime target for cyber criminals. Everyone loves to receive a personalised greeting card - especially if it seems to be from someone that may be romantically interested.
Seriously, though, what are the odds that someone you don't know decided to send you an ecard for Valentine's Day out of the blue? Right.
Mr (or Mrs) Wrong
Another scam to watch out for are fake profiles on online dating sites. Cyber criminals create online dating profiles designed to be as attractive as possible to lure unsuspecting love seekers. The idea is to make connections, and establish trust as a means to further criminal activity.
McAfee outlines some additional threats to watch out for in its blog post. To steer clear of Valentine's Day cyber threats, follow the basic principles of online common sense. Don't open emails or file attachments, or click on links from people or sources you are not familiar with - and even if you do know the sender, think twice about whether that person would really send you a Valentine's Day email.
Another basic rule is that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Don't fall for unbelievable last minute Valentine's Day gift ideas no matter how desperate you are for a gift.
Protect your wallet, your identity, and your heart by avoiding Valentine's Day cyber scams.
Posted by Eric Torres on Thu, Feb 02, 2012 @ 04:54 PM
Expands Total Network Management Services for Regional Customers
GLENDALE, WI – February 1, 2012 – River Run Computers, Inc. a full-service IT management firm, has purchased TechQuility, an IT firm from Mequon, Wisconsin, expanding its ability to service small business, improve market share and increase sales channels with a proven team. The TechQuility acquisition adds engineering resources and improves advanced remote monitoring services for its customers. Tim Ward, founder and CEO for TechQuility, brings leadership and sales expertise for IT strategic planning, networking management and metric reporting.
The new group will provide on-site network management to small- and medium-sized businesses that require technology to manage and grow their businesses. “The River Run acquisition will provide TechQuility clients more in-depth technical resources,” says Tim Ward, CEO TechQuility. “Help-desk support services, available 24/7, are something our clients will now be able to enjoy,” he adds.
Although the overall marketplace has been flat the past few years, River Run Computers has experienced growth on the IT on-site management services side of its business and continues to invest in business operations. “Small- and medium-sized businesses need cost-effective, flexible service solutions to keep their networks up and running,” states Paul Riedl, Jr., CEO of River Run Computers. “Tim Ward and his team from TechQuility bring over 20 years of certified networking experience, and we are excited to add them and their clients to our service organization,” he adds.
River Run Computers growth is led by its flagship service Regularly Scheduled Visit (RSVP) Program. The program provides clients with a multitude of managed IT services and support. It includes the day-to-day onsite and help desk support that small- and medium-sized businesses require. All clients receive a custom-designed program resulting in the best management and network maintenance program for them. The RSVP includes critical maintenance and security review activities, while covering troubleshooting and resolution of user and network issues that occur with daily network use.
About River Run Computers
Founded in 1993, River Run Computers, Inc. is a full-service IT firm whose mission is to keep your computer network “up and running.” For more information on 24/7 Technical Support Service, Total Network Management or the RSVP program, contact Eric Torres at 414-228-5618 or etorres@river-run.com.