Silicon Prairie Cyber Services' Blog

  Data Privacy week is January 23 – 28, 2023.  What are you doing to increase data privacy awareness in your business? What about at home? If privacy isn’t one of the topics you include in your current cybersecurity awareness program, this is a great reminder to get it added. What’s the point? Privacy is more than an abstract idea that businesses need to worry about; it’s something you as an individual need to be concerned with too. As this week approaches, I want you to think about: Trading privacy for convenience. We ALL do this. That free app, you're trading your data and privacy for the convenience of getting to use that app for free. When an app asks for permission to access some additional info on your phone, do you read what it’s asking for? Or do you simply click yes and move on? You could give away too much information. If that app is asking for too much access, it’s probably best to uninstall that app and save yourself some grief later on. Learn how to manage your pr...

Since you’ve read my blogs for a while, you know my passion for cybersecurity and the services I offer.   But did you know that I also offer digital forensics services? In the past, it’s been a tiny portion of my business in the past, and I didn’t speak about it much or even market it. That’s all changing this year.   Last year, I returned from maternity leave and immediately dove into working on a substantial digital forensics case. The case was infamous. The problem was daunting. The work was definitely interesting.   Working on this case reminded me how much I enjoyed forensics and how much I missed it. Digging for information. The hunt for the smoking gun. The quest for truth.   Why am I telling you all this? I want to let you know that I’m expanding the portion of my business that focuses on digital forensics. This also means that I am limiting my cybersecurity services. Here’s a rundown of my current service offerings:   Digital Forensi...

    The bad guys are licking their candy canes in sweet, sweet anticipation.   Anticipation of what?   They can't wait to steal your holiday joy (and cash, passwords, and personal information) through the many online scams, cons, fake websites, phishing emails, and tricks they've prepared just for you. You’ll these scams everywhere this month. Especially in your inbox.   Let’s talk holiday phishing emails.   The holiday phishing email often includes an unbelievable coupon, special shopping offer, or impossible-to-get item. Other lures include bogus gift card offers, giveaways, contests, and too-good-to-be-true deals. The scams will also try to create a sense of "act now" urgency, like putting time limits on the deals. So if you see this email in your inbox this holiday season, beware it's the holiday phish, and it's come for you.   M ake sure you and your friends have grabbed your guide to   safe and secure online holiday shopping.

Have you seen the Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals and ads that started before Halloween was even over? Businesses want you to spend your money shopping with them. And that means cyber criminals are just a few steps behind and ready to snag your cash instead.   To help you keep your money safe and receive the gifts you want this holiday season, I'm sharing…   5 TIPS TO SPOT A HOLIDAY SCAM   1.  Beware of the gift that was SUPER CRAPPY or NEVER WAS Keep your eyes peeled for the many clickbait ads promoting sought-after products or the impossible-to-score gift. Unfortunately, some of these ads are from fraudsters, posing as merchants who want to steal your passwords or give you the gift of malware. Some merchants will disappear without a trace, while others will send you an inexpensive, ineffective product for the same reason (AKA the crappy gift). Don't be a victim of the gift that never was. Don't click on the link in the email, avoid the online ad clickbait,...

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, a global effort to help everyone stay safe and protected when using technology whenever and however you connect. I'm proud to be a Champion and support this online safety and education initiative this October. This month is all about taking action. During October, organizations focus on promoting key behaviors to encourage everyone to take control of their online lives. There are many ways to stay safe and secure online, and I want to get you started with 4 basic steps that will take you far. 4 tips to help you stay safe online all year long! Enable Multi-Factor Authentication Use Strong Passwords and a Password Manager Update Your Software Recognize and Report Phishing

 Do you have a culture of cybersecurity in your business? When you send out a simulated phishing email, is there a buzz in your office? Are people competing against each other, trying to get the perfect score, and never clicking? Or are they rolling their eyes and complaining about having to take more cybersecurity training?   Did you know that humans are the most significant attack surface in your business? The bad guys are coming for your humans, too, not just your tech. Because your humans have a big target on their backs, you need to build a culture of cybersecurity within your business where everyone understands the vital role they play in staying safe from cyber attacks. Getting all of your humans engaged in cybersecurity is so important NIST even released a guidebook called "Cybersecurity is Everyone's Job."   The guidebook is worth a look. It breaks business functions into seven categories and addresses how each person can do their part to secure the busin...

Does building and growing your cybersecurity awareness program seem like an impossible task with no clear path forward?   I hear you. When I built my first cybersecurity awareness program, I was overwhelmed. I had so many fantastic ideas that I wanted to put to work, but I lacked the clarity needed to take action, and I certainly didn’t know what to prioritize. I wasted so much time deciding what to do that weeks and months had gone by, and I had nothing to show for it. Sound familiar?   If you’re nodding your head yes, then you should know that I gained clarity, made decisions, and built an engaging cybersecurity awareness program. What did it take? Lots of research and a little trial and error. Now, I want to share what I learned with you.   I’ve created something new just for you that will take the guesswork and frustration out of building and growing your cybersecurity awareness program. It’s called:   Jumpstart Your Cybersecurity Awareness Progra...