The IT Experts

It All Starts with Education

Technology can do some incredible things, especially from a security standpoint, but it can’t do it all.

This is why it’s so important to remember the human element of your business—your employees—and train them on security best practices. Be sure to let them know that their social media accounts are goldmines of information for hackers. Criminals can take full advantage of background details, too, like unlocked computer screens and project boards, and use it to target your business.

Remember, it’s important to be aware of what you share—especially on business accounts.

Reinforce Accounts

Your social media account is, at its core, an extension of your business, and it acts as a conduit between you and your audience.

If a cybercriminal were to gain access to your social media accounts, can you imagine the amount of damage they could do to your business and its reputation? Your accounts could be deleted entirely, and that’s generally the best-case scenario; a cybercriminal out to ruin your life could ruin your relationship with your audience entirely and put the future of your organization at risk. We recommend that you use complex passwords for all social media accounts in conjunction with a password manager to keep it all organized and secure.

It’s also imperative that you implement multi-factor authentication for your social media accounts for an additional layer of security.

Get Ready for Scams

Social media feels more casual than your other marketing efforts, and it’s this casual vibe that lends it an inherent trust that hackers can take advantage of.

Your team should be aware of common scams that plague social media platforms, including phishing messages and malicious links. One good rule of thumb is to think before you click, as it could very well keep you from making mistakes that open your business’ social media accounts to compromise. Be especially careful of the login portals, as some hackers will use fake login pages to steal credentials.

Just be careful and navigate to your social media accounts manually—don’t click on links that you cannot identify the origin of.

Ready to take security more seriously for your business? We've got you covered. Learn more by calling us today at (954) 834-2800.

Explaining Advanced Protection

Okay, we forgot to mention that there’s already a feature called Advanced Protection, but hear us out. While Google already offers an Advanced Protection program, the new one is different in three ways:

1. The first one was intended to protect the user’s Google account specifically, whereas this one is designed for the Android ecosystem as a whole.
2. The preexisting one was explicitly meant for those with advanced security needs, as it required a physical key to access a Google account.
3. The existing Advanced Protection was much more exclusionary towards third-party applications… which is great for those at higher risk, but may be overkill for the average user.

We’re not trying to say that the new Advanced Protection enhancements aren’t a big deal. There’s something to be said for accessible and user-friendly security features, and that’s exactly what this does. It focuses on the types of threats that people are more likely to encounter.

However, how far does it go?

All It Takes is a Single Switch

In Android, the Security & Privacy section of the Settings now has a new section titled Advanced Protection, complete with a single on/off switch. All you have to do is tap it, but if you want more control over each individual piece, you can do that too.

Advanced Protection is Simple, Yet Powerful

This update aims to make security easier to use and understand for even the average user. It works in the background to adjust specific settings and add new features. Some of the ways that Advanced Protection enforces basic security best practices include the following:

• A device that has been left locked for 72 hours will automatically restart, ensuring that all data is unreadable until the passcode is entered.
• Devices that are offline for extended periods will automatically lock.
• Calls will be automatically screened to identify potential spam.
• 2G networks will no longer be supported.
• Some devices will only charge through the USB connection when locked, nothing else.

Some of these features might not be available on all devices, and some are still works in progress, but there are more planned to roll out in the future.

More Security is a Good Thing

There’s always a cause to celebrate more security, especially for businesses that use Android devices, as Advanced Protection can be implemented through the device’s work profile. In fact, Google recommends doing so, especially for roles and groups that could be targeted by potential cyberattacks.

Of course, there’s always more you could be doing to protect your business, too. Today’s cyberthreats are so sophisticated that you really want nothing to do with them. Implement robust security measures today to avoid falling prey to these threats tomorrow. To learn more, call us at (954) 834-2800.

Tab Grouping

You probably have a bunch of tabs open at any given time, especially if you need certain web pages and apps for certain tasks. Tab Grouping allows you to bundle them together to keep them organized. Here’s how to do it in Chrome:

• Right-click an existing tab and select Add tab to new group. You also have the option to rename the group (giving you context into its contents) and change its color for visibility.
• Add tabs by either dragging and dropping them into the proper group or right-clicking the tab, selecting Add tab to group, and choosing the correct one.
• Once these groups are created, you can collapse them into a much smaller tab on your tab bar. Clicking them will expand them again.

Pinning Tabs

There may be tabs that you need regularly throughout the workday. You can pin these tabs so they take up less space and are easy to find, fast.

• Right-click the tab and select Pin tab.
• If you ever need to unpin the tab, right-click it and select Unpin tab.

Moving Tabs to Different Browser Windows

There are several ways to rearrange the tabs within your browser windows to categorize them by task or project, or whatever system works for you. 

• Click and drag the tab away from the current window, either allowing it to become a new window or adding it to another browser instance.
• Right-clicking a tab offers the ability to move it to a new or existing window. When selecting the latter, you’ll see a list of available options.

Copying Tabs

It’s not rare for people to need to have two versions of the same document open simultaneously. Copying a browser tab is the quickest way to do it.

• Simply right-click the tab and select Duplicate tab.

Batch-Closing Tabs

So, you’ve completed a task, and now you’re ready to move on to other responsibilities… time to close up some of your tabs. If you have a lot that you no longer need, you can close them by multiples.

• If you only need one of your tabs to stay open, you can right-click on it and select Close other tabs.
• You can also select Close tabs to the right.

Utilize these tips to enhance browser usage in your business!

Technology best practices, in general, are designed to enhance your use of professional IT, and we have plenty more to share! Check back here for more technology advice, and don’t hesitate to turn to us for help with the IT your business relies on. Give us a call at (954) 834-2800 to learn more about our services.