Ransomware is the leading cyber security threat in 2018. In a recent podcast, Hal Lonas, CTO of the security software provider Webroot, offered a succinct explanation of how ransomware has flipped the security threat paradigm on its ear. “It used to be that the bad guys wanted data because it was valuable to them,” he said. “With ransomware, they’re essentially asking: ‘your data isn’t valuable to me, but how much is worth to you?’ It’s scary how smart it is.” New types of ransomware will continue to surface. Hackers are constantly modifying ransomware code to evade detection by defense technologies, such as security software. This year, we’ve witnessed a surge in “polymorphic” malware, which is malware that changes automatically to appear unique to different endpoints. Security software often fails to discover these variants. To decrypt files, hackers typically demand a ransom in the form of bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies.

In 2004, the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security launched National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM) to educate Americans about online security. NCSAM is observed each October and is an active effort to educate end users about the different areas of cyber security including safety at home, work, and overall best practices. Online security isn't the job of just one person, it's a collective effort for each person that uses the internet. The SumnerOne's Solutions Team has worked together to create a great month's worth of tips and education to spread awareness.

Last Friday on our weekly Tech Talk segment on The Big 550 KTRS our IT expert, Jeff Groby, joined the show to talk about two-factor authentication. Guy Phillips started the show out with a bang, by letting the listeners know that his PayPal account had recently been compromised. Luckily, Guy was notified and was able to take action before the criminal got away with a few hundred dollars worth of technology! Securing your accounts is something that we always talk about on Tech Talk. Guy's negative experience is just another reminder of why it's so important. One great way to secure your accounts is through using two-factor authentication, Jeff came geared up and ready to talk about the added level of security.

People usually aren't worried about their information being found on the dark web until something happens. It's an immediate feeling of panic when you find out you've become the victim of a data breach and you're notified that your information has been compromised. Sadly, there is no way to make sure your information stays off the dark web indefinitely. However, there are measures that end users can take to do their due diligence to safeguard themselves from becoming the victim of a cyber criminal on the dark web. 

Branching off of our topic of bitcoin from earlier, our IT expert, Jeff Groby joined the Guy Phillips Show to talk about blockchain. Jeff has been joining the crew over at The Big 550 KTRS to talk about everything technology for Tech Talk since the spring and each week, Jeff brings his "A" game. Jeff said that he stays on top of the latest trends by reading an astonishing 15,000 pages of technology information each year!

Sometimes when you have a problem, it's not always easy to see the resolution. Especially when it comes to how things are done in the office with technology. There will always be people who are willing to embrace change and people who prefer how things were done in the past. Neither of these people are wrong. But, the people who prefer how things used to be, may be surprised at how easy technology can make things. This scenario rings true to when it comes time to adopt an electronic content management (ECM) or Document Management solution for your office. Many common problems and inefficiencies can be alleviated by implementing safer, more efficient document workflows.

One of the hottest tech topics this past year and beyond has without a doubt been bitcoin. Naturally, we had to bring the topic to The Big 550 KTRS for our Tech Talk segment. Our IT expert, Jeff Groby, had a ton to say about cryptocurrency and the crew on the Guy Phillips Show were prepared with questions and ready to learn more about how people are making it big with bitcoin.