A great way to get some more Google Drive storage!

Get 2GB Extra Google Drive Space Just By Checking Your Security Settings
gizmodo.com
Want 2 GB of extra space in your Google Drive account? Today, Google will give it to you for free, just for doing something you should be doing anyway: Reviewing your security.

It really can be a shock to realize your GMail account has stronger security than your bank account. But in most cases it does. Banks are slow to strengthen security because it costs $$$

"In other words, the banks aren't doing more because they don't have to. And so as long as they maintain zero-loss guarantees against fraud, and the amount lost to fraud remains relatively small compared to their deep pockets, the banks won't do anything more to protect you."

Two-factor authentication is not infallible, but it makes it much harder for a criminal to gain access to your account (or attempt to do so undetected). The danger is very real, especially for small businesses. If hackers gain access to your account and transfer/wire funds out – you generally cannot get those funds back. Unlike credit card fraud. This is why it is so important that your accounts AND computers be secure. Worried about your computer and network security? IT Xpress can help! Call us today at 336-525-5005 for your free business security audit!

Here's Why Your Bank Account Is Less Secure Than Your Gmail
gizmodo.com
When I log into gmail, the system texts me a one-time key which I use to verify that it's me trying to get in and not some jerk who got my login info from a password dump. You'd think my bank would have the same level of protection to make sure bad guys can't get a good whiff of my money. Nope.

Internet Explorer users – beware of a new security flaw where hackers can inject malicious code into legitimate websites where the address bar looks (and is) legitimate. This makes phishing campaigns much more convincing since users would enter their credentials if the URL looked right. Expect a patch from Microsoft soon, but until then if you use IE, beware of clicking links in emails and only login to sites/services that you go to directly via a bookmark/favorite or manually entering the website's address.

Major Internet Explorer vulnerability could lead to convincing phishing attacks
www.hotforsecurity.com
A security researcher has uncovered what appears to be a serious security flaw in Internet Explorer that could be exploited by malicious hackers to launch convi

If you use AdBlock Plus, you may notice ads where you didn't before. Simply right click on the stop sign icon, select settings, and at the bottom of the page, uncheck 'Allow unobtrusive ads' and save.

After using AdBlock Plus for years, we've become concerned about it's performance and recently switched to uBlock (http://goo.gl/lU7FUD). It feels much faster and so far seems to block ads just as well as AdBlock Plus…

Over 300 businesses now whitelisted on AdBlock Plus, 10% pay to play
arstechnica.com
Microsoft, Amazon, Taboola among companies paying AdBlock to protect revenue source.

If you have computers without MS Office and don't want to pay for it, give the latest LibreOffice a look. With a newly designed interface, it's become much easier to navigate and use. When you install, be sure to select 'custom' and check off all document types you want LIbreOffice to automatically open (vs the trial Office your PC probably has).

LibreOffice Updates, Doesn't Look Like Crap Anymore
lifehacker.com
Windows/Mac/Linux: LibreOffice, has always been powerful enough to stand up against Microsoft Office, but it's also been a bit ugly and clunky to use. Today, they rolled out an update the overhauls the UI and makes it a lot more useable.

Ransomware is making a comeback! Protect yourself with an online backup plan and strong anti-virus protection! Our My ITXpert Pro and Premier plans offer award winning anti-virus protection and Premier plans add unlimited online backup. Plus you get our year round support, An 'Ask an IT Xpert Key' for instant access to our Xperts, and 2 hours of remote support included! http://myitxpert.biz/

Sophos:

New variants of ransomware known as #CryptoLocker, #CryptoDefense and #CryptoWall are spreading via spam emails, drive-by downloads, or by malware already on your computer.

Once you’re infected, crypto-ransomware hijacks all your files, locks them up with unbreakable encryption, and demands a ransom of $300-$500 in bitcoins to unscramble them.

We break down the 5 stages of a crypto-ransomware attack below…

See full infographic: http://soph.so/I1NVw

We don't usually post specials and deals, but we've been very impressed with our Sony flash products and unlike a lot of Sony gear, their flash devices are priced for value. So when they run a special – snap some up! They're very fast and very reliable.

Add To Your Flash Storage Collection with This Huge Sony Sale
deals.kinja.com
You can never have too much flash storage lying around, and Amazon's discounting a nice collection of Sony SD cards, MicroSD cards, and flash drives, today only. The prices are all great, but the Android compatible flash drives are probably the most exciting items in the bunch.

Be on the lookout for infected Office documents!

Empty MS Office Documents Spark Suspicions, Bitdefender Says
www.hotforsecurity.com
Bitdefender, the innovative antivirus software provider, is warning MS Office users against a spam campaign that tricks antispam filters to allow spam freely in

For those of you with TracFone plans (StraightTalk, Net10, Simple Mobile and Telcel America), you can file a claim for a refund due to deceptive marketing of unlimited data plans which were really throttled once you used 2.5GB.

TracFone must pay $40M for throttling and capping “unlimited” data
arstechnica.com
FTC: TracFone brands cut speeds by 90 percent, enforced secret caps.

Businesses big and small have to take security seriously or suffer when the gates come crashing down. Your network is a lifeline and if it's taken down by hackers, you can lose sales and possibly be liable for other damages. You have to manage security in a way that can block direct threats as well as lateral threats from employee devices that travel home with them. IT Xpress can help – call us today for a free network assessment. 336-525-5005/help@itxpress.biz

Report: Companies Still Not Patching Security Vulnerabilities
threatpost.com
The Cisco 2015 Annual Security report shows that CISOs and other security personnel are confident about their strategies despite that they are not patching.

Marketplaces like these will become more common, allowing criminals and even competitors to gain access to unmonitored and poorly protected networks. How secure is your network? Call IT Xpress and we'll do a free infrastructure audit of your business! 336-525-5005/help@itxpress.biz

Hackers for hire? Hacker's List – for those with no ethics or espionage skills
nakedsecurity.sophos.com
Prying open a boyfriend's private accounts is just one of the crimes listed on 'Hacker's List' – a Task Rabbit/Craigslist-esque hackers-for-hire website.

Due to icy road conditions, IT Xpress will be opening at 12:00 today. We will, however, be available via text/email/phone for remote support during regular business hours. 336-525-5005 help@itxpress.biz

Remember the Christmas Day takedowns of the XBox and PlayStation gaming networks? It was carried out using compromised home routers…

Upgrading the firmware on your router isn't very hard – your manufacturer's website likely has detailed instructions for doing so. Still uncomfortable doing it? We can help – just bring your router in and we'll check to see if it's vulnerable and upgrade it if a newer version of software is available!

Lizard Squad's DDoS-For-Hire Service Built on Hacked Home Routers
threatpost.com
The DDoS attacks that knocked both Xbox Live and the PlayStation Network (PSN) offline around Christmas came at the hands of a botnet comprised largely of hacked home routers.

If you use an older wireless keyboard (does it have a 'Connect' button?), it's pretty easy to intercept the keystrokes without accessing the computer. In this case, the developer make it look like a USB charger.

If you use wireless keyboards – you should ensure they are encrypted with AES-128 (Logitech's keyboards do this. There is no connect button. They are paired to the receiver at the factory with encryption keys. Newer Microsoft keyboards do as well. Check online for your model).

See http://www.logitech.com/images/pdf/roem/Logitech_Adv_24_Ghz_Whitepaper_BPG2009.pdf for more information on how keyboard encryption works.

How a $10 USB Charger Can Record Your Keystrokes Over the Air
threatpost.com
Hardware hacker and security researcher Samy Kamkar has released a slick new device that masquerades as a typical USB wall charger but in fact houses a keylogger capable of recording keystrokes fro…

The latest version of the CryptoWall ransom virus is out and it can wipe out all of your data in ways that are very hard to detect. What would you do if something wiped out all your data? Not just locally, but on any attached external drive, flash drive, or mounted server folder? Is your data backed up offsite? (remember the external drive got encrypted) Would your business suffer?

Let IT Xpress upgrade your defenses! We can deploy enterprise grade anti-virus/security software and backup solutions for a lot less than you think! Call/Email us today for a FREE infrastructure and security assessment! 336-525-5005 help@itxpress.biz

Inside CryptoWall 2.0: Ransomware, professional edition
arstechnica.com
Code that switches from 32-bit to 64-bit and turns off Windows' defenses.