Grocery Cyberattack Warning: What UNFI’s Breach Means for Business

When most people think of cyberattacks, they picture banks, tech firms, or maybe healthcare providers, not grocery distributors. But the recent UNFI cyberattack proves that even industries once considered low-risk are now in the crosshairs. If cybercriminals are going after food supply chains, your small business could be next. (Story by: TechCrunch)

What Happened to UNFI?

United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI)—one of the largest wholesale food distributors in the U.S.—experienced a major cyberattack in mid-June. This attack disrupted operations, delayed shipments, and caused grocery store shortages nationwide.

While the company says it’s recovering, many grocers are still feeling the effects. For everyday small business owners, the message is clear:

You don’t have to be in finance, software, or real estate to become a cyber target.

Grocery cyberattack warning. UNFI hit by cyberattack. What every small business needs to know and how STS can help.

Why This Affects Every Industry

Cybercrime is no longer industry-specific. Attackers are shifting their focus from highly protected targets to vulnerable ones, like regional distributors, HVAC companies, and retail operators. Small to midsize businesses often lack the layered security infrastructure of enterprise-level organizations, making them ideal entry points for cybercriminals. Industries once considered low-priority, such as food service, logistics, and manufacturing, are now facing increasing threats due to their critical supply chain roles. The growing number of ransomware incidents in these sectors demonstrates that cybercriminals are looking for weak links with high operational urgency. As shown by the UNFI cyberattack, even a brief disruption can ripple across the entire industry, amplifying pressure to pay ransoms and restore services quickly. Why?

  • Many small and mid-size businesses lack hardened IT infrastructure
  • Supply chain access gives hackers leverage over many downstream partners
  • Ransomware payouts are easier from unprepared companies

The UNFI cyberattack underscores a larger trend: no one is off-limits anymore.


What STS Recommends for All Business Owners

Whether you’re in food, construction, education, or logistics, you can take steps right now to avoid becoming the next headline:

1. Backups Are Non-Negotiable

Daily offline backups prevent data loss and give you leverage if ransomware strikes.

2. Email Security Should Be Your First Defense

Phishing is still the most common entry point. Train your team and filter your inboxes.

3. Limit Admin Access

Use the principle of least privilege. The fewer people who have full system control, the better.

4. Segment Your Networks

Separate financial, operational, and customer-facing systems so one breach doesn’t cripple your whole company.

5. Patch Systems Promptly

Hackers exploit outdated software. Automate your updates or let a Managed Service Provider handle it.


STS Pro Insight: You’re Not “Too Small” to Be Targeted

If criminals can breach a $28 billion food distributor, they can—and do—target local businesses for quick payouts. In fact, 63% of SMBs report at least one attempted cyberattack annually.

Our team at SofTouch Systems has worked with businesses across Texas to recover from attacks, and more importantly, to prevent them from happening again.


Schedule a Cyber Risk Assessment Today

Don’t wait for a breach to realize your vulnerabilities.
Contact SofTouch Systems today for a no-obligation cybersecurity assessment tailored to your industry.

Boost PC Security & Speed: 5 Dangerous Windows Settings to Disable

Many small business computers are running slower and less securely than they should be and the culprit is often default Windows settings. These overlooked configurations can expose your business to cyber threats and drain system performance. Here is our list of 5 Windows settings to disable and we’d suggest sooner rather than later.

At SofTouch Systems, we help Texas businesses take back control. In this guide, we reveal five Windows settings to disable right now for stronger protection and faster PCs, no expensive upgrades required.


Why You Should Care

Whether you’re managing employee workstations or your own office PC, default Windows settings are often optimized for convenience, not security. This can:

  • Increase exposure to ransomware
  • Allow tracking of your behavior
  • Drain memory and CPU performance

The fix is simple, but you need to know where to look. Here are 5 Windows settings you need to disable.


1. Turn Off the Advertising ID

What it does: Tracks your activity to personalize ads across apps and services.

Why disable it: It’s a privacy concern and opens up tracking data to third-party apps.

How to fix it:
Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > General, and turn off:
“Let apps show me personalized ads by using my advertising ID.”


2. Disable Cortana (Windows 10)

What it does: Cortana listens for voice commands and stores voice activity in the cloud.

Why disable it: It eats up memory and creates a potential privacy loophole.

How to fix it:
Run this PowerShell command as admin:

powershellCopyEditGet-AppxPackage -allusers Microsoft.549981C3F5F10 | Remove-AppxPackage

3. Stop Unnecessary Background Apps

What they do: Apps like Xbox Game Bar, Skype, or Maps run in the background.

Why disable them: They waste resources and may open network ports to the internet.

How to fix it:
Go to Settings > Apps > Installed Apps, click each app and disable background activity.


4. Disable Remote Desktop (RDP) if Unused

What it does: Allows others to remotely control your PC, often a major ransomware vector.

Why disable it: If not used, it’s a huge unnecessary risk.

How to fix it:
Go to Control Panel > System > Remote Settings, and check:
“Don’t allow remote connections to this computer.”


5. Turn Off Network Discovery & File Sharing

What it does: Allows PCs on the same network to discover and access shared files or printers.

Why disable it: If not managed properly, this opens you to lateral movement in a cyberattack.

How to fix it:
Go to Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center > Advanced sharing settings, and disable:

  • Network Discovery
  • File and Printer Sharing

5 Windows Settings to Disable

Pro Tip: Automate These Fixes at Scale

If your business manages multiple PCs, applying these fixes manually is time-consuming and inconsistent. At SofTouch Systems, we configure security policies through Group Policy, Intune, or RMM software for complete coverage.


Protect, Optimize, and Simplify

Disabling these risky Windows settings is a fast, free way to protect your small business and extend the life of your hardware. But it’s just the start.

STS offers:

  • Endpoint protection & patch management
  • Remote monitoring & support
  • System hardening & security audits
  • Backup and disaster recovery planning

Let’s Secure Your Systems Today

Don’t leave security up to default settings.
Schedule your free security checkup with STS now and take back control of your business IT.

Break Free from Big Tech: How Denmark Is Reclaiming Its Digital Independence

As Denmark makes headlines by choosing Linux and LibreOffice over Microsoft, more business leaders are asking how to break free from Big Tech. The Danish government isn’t just chasing cost savings, they’re taking control of their digital future.

And that’s something business owners in Central and South Texas should be thinking about too. At SofTouch Systems, we help small businesses avoid vendor lock-in and reclaim control over their tech stack.


Break free from big tech: Denmark is reclaiming its digital independence and SofTouch Systems is here to explain why you should pay attention.

What’s happening in Denmark?

Denmark’s Ministry of Digitalization recently launched a multi-year plan to move away from Microsoft tools like Office 365 and Windows. Instead, they’re rolling out open-source solutions like LibreOffice and Linux across government agencies.

The reason? Digital sovereignty.

They want to ensure their government systems stay operational and secure without depending on a single private company or foreign supplier. This includes having control over data, code, and access, even in emergencies.

In their words, it’s about freedom and flexibility—not just software.


Why Texas businesses should pay attention

While this might sound like a government issue, small businesses face similar risks. If you rely too heavily on one vendor, whether it’s Microsoft, Google, or another giant, you’re vulnerable. Not just to sudden price increases but privacy concerns, and policy changes you can’t control.

Some common scenarios we’ve seen:

  • A sudden Microsoft subscription fee increase
  • A critical Outlook or Teams outage halting business for hours
  • Data stored in systems you can’t fully access or migrate

When you break free from Big Tech, you reduce these risks and gain the flexibility to choose the tools that truly work for your business.


What does it mean to break free from Big Tech?

We’re not saying you need to delete all Microsoft tools today. But there are real steps Texas businesses can take to move toward digital independence:

  • Explore open-source software alternatives like LibreOffice or Thunderbird
  • Consider Linux for servers and back-office operations
  • Use email hosting providers that let you control your data (STS offers this)
  • Keep a backup system that isn’t tied to one ecosystem

At STS, we support all of these transitions with Texas-based, human support.


How STS helps businesses break free from Big Tech

SofTouch Systems helps businesses in Central and South Texas regain control through:

  • Vendor-agnostic IT consulting: We show you options—not just what’s popular.
  • Secure email hosting: No Big Tech inbox? No problem. We offer locally managed, encrypted alternatives.
  • Linux server hosting and management: Reduce licensing costs and increase stability.
  • Cloud backups and independence audits: Know where your data lives—and who can access it.

If you’re curious about moving away from vendor dependency, we’ll help you map out the safest, most practical path.


What you can do today!

Ask yourself:

  • Could my business operate tomorrow without Microsoft?
  • Do I know where my data is hosted—and who owns the keys?
  • Am I getting real value from the monthly software fees I’m paying?

If these questions raise concerns, don’t worry. We’re here to help you explore new options, without disruption, confusion, or downtime.

Let’s talk about your next step toward digital independence.