New York SBDC Research Network

From the Federal Trade Commission : As a small business owner, you have a lot on your mind. You can’t afford to lose time or money to scammers or a compromised network. We can help you avoid scams, protect your computers and networks, keep your customers’ data safe – and protect your bottom line. You also can find out what the FTC is doing to protect small businesses. Stay connected by subscribing to the FTC’s Business Blog. Check out the article Computer Security Basics for Small Businesses . Also: Start with Security: how businesses can protect their computers and networks against threats . Develop a plan to protect your customers’ personal information. Learn what do if there is a data breach. Read the Stick with Security blog series . Scammers target small businesses. Learn to recognize those scams: Read the Small Business Scams publication. Report scams against small business at ftc.gov/complaint and let us know it affected a small business. Reporting it helps stop

The ASBDC wanted to make sure all small business owners are aware of an important occurrence next month. As of April 8, 2014, Microsoft will no longer provide technical assistance for Windows XP and Office 2003, including automatic updates that help protect your PC. According to Microsoft, more than 20 percent of small businesses are still using the XP platform, which Microsoft first introduced in 2001. What does this mean for your business? 1. There will be no new security updates, non-security hotfixes, free or paid assisted support options, or online technical content updates. 2. Without critical security updates, PCs could become vulnerable to harmful viruses, spyware, and other malicious software which can steal or damage business data and information. 3. Anti-virus software will not be able to fully protect PCs running Windows XP once the OS is no longer supported. 4. Businesses that continue to run Windows XP after support ends may be exposed to potential security threats

How much is everything on your computer worth to you? About $300? The criminals behind a new malware program are betting on it. The Federal Trade Commission, the FBI and other federal agencies are warning consumers and businesses about “Cryptolocker,” a malware program that holds the files on your computer for ransom, and doesn’t allow you to access them until you pay up. Even then, there’s no guarantee. It’s essentially extortion, with all your personal documents, photos, and files at risk. Cryptolocker is spread mostly through email and “drive-by” downloads. The email might look like a routine message from a legitimate company, like a tracking notice from a shipping company. If you click on the hyperlink in the email, Cryptolocker encrypts everything on your hard drive and in your shared folders. When the job is done, you get a “ransom note” demanding payment via Bitcoin or some other anonymous payment method. The criminals behind this malware say they’ll give you the encryptio