Top Attacking Trends
A recently published report outlines the top trends in business email compromise (BEC) attacks for 2023. In the first quarter of the year alone, there was a 25% increase in unique attacks compared to the last quarter of 2022.
Researchers note the top ways attackers attempt to dupe users:
- Payroll Diversion: Users may be asked to change bank account, payroll, or other sensitive information like direct deposits
- Request for Contact: Attackers will ask for the recipient’s phone number or email address
- Task: A potential victim is asked for assistance with urgent tasks or favors
- Availability: A short email wanting to know availability of someone at their desk or in the office
- Invoice Transaction: Fraudulent emails with fake overdue invoice statements
- Gift Purchase: Asking the recipient to buy a gift card, to surprise other employees with a gift
- Wire Transfer: Requesting a certain amount of money to be wire transferred
- Request for Document: Attacker wants the user to provide a copy of an aging report, w2, vendor list, or other
Security awareness and security awareness training should always remain top priorities to stay safe against attacks like these. To learn more about training, and the additional two trends noted by KnowBe4, visit here for more information.
Apple’s Wonderlust Event
Back to school season is here and so are the student deals at Apple. If you are in the market for a new
In addition to the iPhone 15, there were many big announcements at Apple’s Wonderlust showcase earlier this month. Here is a roundup of some of the major reveals.
Heavily rumored prior to the event, the iPhone 15 lineup has made its debut. New devices come with USB-C for the first time, and feature the Dynamic Island as well as the A16 chip, both seen in the iPhone 14 Pro model. There are other upgrades in the 15’s Pro and Pro Max models, like a new customizable Action Button that replaces the mute toggle and a lighter design with thinner bezels. The new Watch Series 9 was revealed, with an ultra wideband chip, an updated processor for all-day battery life, and a “double-tap” gesture feature; these are also seen in the second-gen Apple Watch Ultra. Plus, there is a new watchface called Modular Ultra which uses the display’s outer edges. With the iPhone15 getting a USB-C charging port, as mentioned above, the AirPods Pro will now also come with USB-C charging case. Apple Watch and AirPods Pro will be able to be charged through the iPhone 15 with this capability.
Throughout September, Apple will release its next round of updates to iOS, watchOS, iPadOS, and macOS. To learn more about pre-order and shipping dates for new products, or additional details of each reveal, visit here.
Vermont Fest
The Vermont Fest Conference will be taking place this fall in Killington, VT on November 1-3.
The annual gathering celebrates the intersection of education, technology, and innovation. It is hosted by Vita-Learn, a Vermont-based organization that is dedicated to advance learning through technology. The event is a platform for educators, administrators, technologists, and thought leaders to come together, share ideas, and explore trends in educational technology. There will be a mix of presentations, workshops, panel discussions, and hands-on demonstrations.
MCG will be hosting a session with Essex Westford School District. EWSD has begun a multi-year effort to change behavior and attitudes around cyber security, through a newly acquired robust backup system and a concerted communication effort. There have been mandatory trainings to employ direct communication to staff, plus MFA has been instituted in the Google environment and will soon also be set up in Active Directory. Together MCG and EWSD are opening up the conversation about the constant threat to network security and how to employ a smooth backup platform.
To learn more about the upcoming conference, visit here for details.
