As a business owner in a paperless world our books, records, assets, are almost completely digitized, including our intellectual property that most business owners have worked years to amass.

Currently we work hard to protect these bits and bytes with constantly changing services and protective software to monitor and assess and counter threats in real time.

But perhaps the weakest link in the chain of protection is the HKI (Human keyboard interface) popularly referred to as the end user.

With wearable technology, free Wi-Fi, hyperlinks, embedded messages and more sophisticated threats such as steganography (A modern version of cryptography -the hiding of a secret message within an ordinary message and the extraction of it at its destination. Steganography hides an encrypted message sometimes in an image so that no one suspects it exists at all), social engineering, phishing, spear phishing, and other daily evolving threats, relying on technology to counter these threats is essential.  However, an often overlooked protection lies with the end-user.  Security awareness and education to strengthen and educate end users to the simple things that can be done to prevent hacks is probably one of the most cost effective.

Occasionally we at GFAST come across some useful information
that can assist our clients in keeping up with these threats.

We have attached 2 recent publication from the FBI and DHS involving Ransomware.  Ransomware is a type of malicious software designed to block access to your own data until a sum of money is paid.  It has been deployed for a number of years and originally targeted corporate systems that relied on access to data on a near real time basis in order to continue to operate.

As of late this particular hack or tool has become more widely used.  With the evolution and proliferation of alternative currencies, it will undoubtedly become more popular.

GFAST occasionally shares useful information with our clients without making representations or warranties in the spirit of raising awareness.  The attached information is intended to continue to educate our clients and assist them with the protection of their assets.

Please feel free to call us for assistance with any of your security needs.

This publication is distributed with the understanding that the author, publisher and distributor are not rendering legal, accounting or other professional advice or opinions on specific facts or matters, and, accordingly, assume no liability whatsoever in connection with its use.