AI-powered Google account scams

Urgent Alert: New AI-Powered Gmail Scam Targeting Texas Businesses – Protect Your Company Now

Talking to all Gmail users, you’ll want to be aware of a new “super realistic AI-powered Google account scams.”

In a recent blog post, Microsoft solutions consultant Sam Mitrovic shared how he recently encountered an AI-powered Google account scam attempt that was surprisingly real.

The scam started when Mitrovic received a notification that he needed to approve a Gmail account recovery attempt. A message saying that you need to approve a login attempt or password change, real or fake, is how many scams start. A little more than 30 minutes later, he received a call from a real Google number in Sydney, Australia that he ignored.

Persistent Scams Payoff in the End

A week later, he received an identical notification followed by another phone call. This time, he picked up. The American voice on the other end, Mitrovic said, explained there was some suspicious activity on his Google account and someone had accessed it a week ago. The apparent Google employee offered to send an email detailing what happened, and that message promptly arrived from an official Google address

As Mitrovic paused to read the email thoroughly, the voice on the phone said, “Hello.” 10 seconds later, it said “Hello” again with the exact same tone. At this point, he realized the voice was AI and hung up.

AI-powered Google account scams will only get better.

Had the call proceeded, it’s likely the caller would have eventually asked for an account recovery code or perhaps sent the user to a fake login portal.

You too must be persistent

Mitrovic offered a few indicators that tipped him off to the potential AI-powered Google account scam. Here’s what you should be aware of to stay safe:

Google sent an account recovery notification when the account holder didn’t request one.
Google doesn’t call personal users, only Business Profile users.
When he checked his recent logins (you can do this by going to your profile, then “Security,” then “Recent security activity”) there was nothing out of the ordinary.
A reverse search showed other people receiving the same scam call.
Viewing the full email header (which you can do by clicking “more” next to the reply button and “show original”) showed that the “from” address was actually different.
The “to” field showed another email address that wasn’t his.

Maybe the biggest tip-off was that Google support (or any other tech support for that matter) will not contact you out of the blue to tell you there’s a problem. If something seems fishy, it’s always best to err on the safe side and end communication until you can figure out more.

STS defends Texas Business against unwanted attacks.

AI-powered scams continue to rise, Google is fighting back. Last week, it announced Global Signal Exchange, a partnership with the Global Anti-Scam Alliance and DNS Research Federation to fight scams. The GSE is a real-time information-sharing platform that allows insight into the cybercrime supply chain, hopefully allowing for faster identification of bad actors.

Windows 11 2024 Update

Windows 11 2024 Update: What Business Owners in Texas Need to Know

As a trusted IT consulting firm serving Central and South Texas businesses for over two decades, we understand the importance of staying ahead in the ever-evolving world of technology. Today, we’re breaking down the latest Microsoft update that’s making waves in the business community: the Windows 11 2024 Update.

The Big Picture: Microsoft’s “Full OS Swap”

Microsoft has dubbed this update a “full OS swap,” signaling a significant overhaul of the Windows 11 operating system. For small business owners in Texas, this means preparing for a more substantial update process than usual.

Key Points for Business Owners:

Gradual Rollout: Microsoft is implementing a phased approach to minimize disruption.
Cybersecurity Implications: As with any major update, this presents an opportunity to reinforce your business’s cybersecurity measures. Our team of experts can guide you through this process.
Server Management Considerations: For businesses utilizing Windows servers, this update may require additional planning and support to ensure smooth operations.
Backup Solutions are Crucial: Before initiating the update, it’s imperative to have robust backup solutions in place. We can help secure your valuable business data.
Small Business Support: Our IT consulting services are tailored to support Texas small businesses through this transition, ensuring minimal downtime and maximum efficiency.

Preparing for the Update:

Schedule the update during off-hours to minimize business interruption.
Ensure all current Windows builds are up-to-date.
Perform a comprehensive backup of all business-critical files and systems.
Consider a clean install for optimal performance (we can assist with this process).

The Update Process:

Initial download and background preparations
Installation phase (which may take several hours)
Multiple system reboots
Possible new setup screens to navigate

Time Investment:

For most Texas businesses, we recommend allocating 2-4 hours for the update process. Older systems may require additional time.

Conclusion:

The Windows 11 2024 Update represents a significant step forward in Microsoft’s operating system technology. For Texas business owners committed to staying competitive and secure, this update is an important consideration. However, it’s crucial to approach it with proper planning and expert support.

At SofTouch Systems, we’re dedicated to supporting the hardworking business owners of Central and South Texas. Our IT consulting services ensure that your technology works for you, not against you. Let us help you navigate this update and keep your business running smoothly.

Contact us today to schedule a consultation and learn how we can support your business through this update and beyond. Together, we’ll keep Texas businesses strong, secure, and at the forefront of technology.

Microsoft and Rackspace: The 2023 Cybersecurity Research Report

Trends have not changed, have we?

Cybersecurity in 2023 has a new challenge

During August, Microsoft and Rackspace Technology conducted a survey targeting IT decision-makers, exploring the prominent cybersecurity trends anticipated in 2023. The results underscore the dynamic nature of the cybersecurity landscape. Notably, with C-suite and board members acknowledging the critical significance of digital security, there are observable changes in priorities and budget allocations.

Key findings:

Organizations are investing heavily in cybersecurity, with a focus on AI as a vital tool.
C-suite and corporate boards are more engaged and involved in cybersecurity than ever before.
Two crucial measures businesses need to implement to enhance their resilience against cyberthreats are:
Crafting a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy that aligns with organizational objectives.
Mitigating the IT talent shortage through strategic, long-term solutions.
Other key takeaways:

Cloud-native security is a top priority for many organizations.
Top threat vectors include phishing, ransomware, and malware attacks.
Organizations are struggling to recruit and retain cybersecurity talent.
Organizations are looking to external partners to help them improve their cybersecurity posture.
Compliance challenges and security automation are also key areas of focus.
Overall, the report paints a picture of an industry that is increasingly aware of the importance of cybersecurity, but is also facing significant challenges.

The need for Cybersecurity should be considered essential

Cybersecurity is currently out ranking business concerns such as; supply chain and logistics, hiring talent, and sustainability for CEO’s. We passed the tipping point a long time ago but no one noticed. Have a spot in the cloud? What is your security like there? Businesses are outsourcing IT Security at an increased rate due to lack of internal expertise. Nearly 70% of IT execs around the world are more worried about cybersecurity now than ever. Protecting critical data/warehouses is top priority followed by Integrating cyber risk into enterprise risk management and Integrating strategic security measures into their new processes.

For more information and insights for your organization follow this link to the study.