So You Thought You Were Safe?

Milwaukee WI

19 July, 2021

4:02 PM

Description

Our names are Tom Mitt and Jake Polzin, and we're the founder and the president of TBG Technologies, an IT support company since 2004. The reason TBG Technologies exists is that we believe small companies are ignored. We are talking about the really small businesses. Those with ten or fewer employees usually get the short end of the stick when it comes to technology support. They have the same goals as big corporations. They have the same technology issues. But they have a tough time getting good, reliable help. For years, users of Windows PCs have been told that their choice of computers put them at serious risk of hacking. Windows versions have been steadily under attack since the internet really took hold, back in Jurassic Park days (by internet standards). Two things combined to make Windows systems particularly vulnerable back then: the systems in the time of Windows XP were not designed around security and they were (and still are) the largest share of the market with more installations than any other small computer system. When the core programs that eventually became Windows were created, there was no internet and all the users were friendly hobbyists. Underhanded, sneaky attempts to break into systems were mostly unheard of. Back then, the term "hacker" was a badge of honor and meant that a person had real skills. The scene is very different today. Most computers are connected in an amazing worldwide web, each one with the ability to reach out and touch any number of other systems. Microsoft was slow to adapt this new "wild west" of computing, but they eventually caught up and the newer versions, from Windows 7 up, are much more secure. But the second item that makes Windows systems vulnerable still exists. These are still the most widely used computers in the world, so they are the natural target for nefarious hackers wanting to steal identities, money, etc. Most users are aware of this and have added to their security and have learned what to do and not to do in order to stay safe. All along, other systems have made fun of Windows systems and their apparent exposure. Apple had a whole series of ads (remember "I'm a PC, I'm a Mac") based on that premise. And with the explosion of smartphones and tablets, most people have felt secure. Too bad, but those days are ending. A whole rash of viruses and other malware have been released specifically attacking smartphones and tablets. Apple Macs have been under increasing threat and now their users are being urged to install anti-virus software. A group of researchers has uncovered a security hole that affects millions of Android phones. Millions. And iPhones have their own gaps. The solution is to install anti-virus software on any computer you have, including smartphones and tablets. Pay no attention to those that tell you their device can't be hacked. Your IT team should be able to find the proper protection for you and help you install it. Don't leave yourself out in the cold! In the coming weeks, we'll be posting additional educational information so you're able to become the best business owner you can be. We'll touch on backups, anti-virus, internet safety, cyber-attacks, ransomware, the cloud, email safety, and others. Tom Mitt is the founder and Jake Polzin is the president of TBG Technologies, located at 11300 W. Greenfield Avenue, West Allis, Wis. 53214. Tom can be reached at [email protected] and Jake can be reached at [email protected]. www.tbgtechnologies.com We Make Technology Behave.