SOBX Tech

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Zoom-Bombing

With all of the schools and influx of zoom meetings popping up, there are things that we want to take extra precaution with. The cybersecurity expert and author @Scott Schober was interviewed by @ShirleyChan from PIX11 News. Below is the video from the interview. This is an excellent interview and in these times that we are going through, it is very much needed.

Do you have questions and need assistance with your Zoom settings? Reach out to us on social media. We are on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram.

 

 

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Remote Services Available

Due to COVID-19, we are only able to offer remote services. We will reopen our mobile services when we are cleared to. The remote services can cover most software issues.  Fill out the contact form below and we will get back to you as soon as we can.  You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram all @sobxtech to make appointments.

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Top 10 Internet Safety Rules & What Not to Do Online

 

Here are the Top 10 Internet safety rules to follow to help you avoid getting into trouble online (and offline).

  1. Keep Personal Information Professional and Limited

Potential employers or customers don’t need to know your personal relationship status or your home address. They do need to know about your expertise and professional background, and how to get in touch with you. You wouldn’t hand purely personal information out to strangers individually—don’t hand it out to millions of people online.

  1. Keep Your Privacy Settings On

Marketers love to know all about you, and so do hackers. Both can learn a lot from your browsing and social media usage. But you can take charge of your information. As noted by Lifehacker, both web browsers and mobile operating systems have settings available to protect your privacy online. Major websites like Facebook also have privacy-enhancing settings available. These settings are sometimes (deliberately) hard to find because companies want your personal information for its marketing value. Make sure you have enabled these privacy safeguards, and keep them enabled.

  1. Practice Safe Browsing

You wouldn’t choose to walk through a dangerous neighborhood—don’t visit dangerous neighborhoods online. Cybercriminals use lurid content as bait. They know people are sometimes tempted by dubious content and may let their guard down when searching for it. The Internet’s demimonde is filled with hard-to-see pitfalls, where one careless click could expose personal data or infect your device with malware. By resisting the urge, you don’t even give the hackers a chance.

  1. Make Sure Your Internet Connection is Secure. Use a Secure VPN Connection

When you go online in a public place, for example by using a public Wi-Fi connection, PCMag notes you have no direct control over its security. Corporate cybersecurity experts worry about “endpoints”—the places where a private network connects to the outside world. Your vulnerable endpoint is your local Internet connection. Make sure your device is secure, and when in doubt, wait for a better time (i.e., until you’re able to connect to a secure Wi-Fi network) before providing information such as your bank account number.

To further improve your Internet browsing safety, use a secure VPN connection (a virtual private network). VPN enables you to have a secure connection between your device and an Internet server that no one can monitor or access the data that you’re exchanging. Read more about What is VPN

  1. Be Careful What You Download

A top goal of cybercriminals is to trick you into downloading malware—programs or apps that carry malware or try to steal information. This malware can be disguised as an app: anything from a popular game to something that checks traffic or the weather. As PCWorld advises, don’t download apps that look suspicious or come from a site you don’t trust.

  1. Choose Strong Passwords

Passwords are one of the biggest weak spots in the whole Internet security structure, but there’s currently no way around them. And the problem with passwords is that people tend to choose easy ones to remember (such as “password” and “123456”), which are also easy for cyber thieves to guess. Select strong passwords that are harder for cybercriminals to demystify. Password manager software can help you to manage multiple passwords so that you don’t forget them. A strong password is one that is unique and complex—at least 15 characters long, mixing letters, numbers and special characters.

  1. Make Online Purchases From Secure Sites

Any time you make a purchase online, you need to provide credit card or bank account information—just what cybercriminals are most eager to get their hands on. Only supply this information to sites that provide secure, encrypted connections. As Boston University notes, you can identify secure sites by looking for an address that starts with https: (the S stands for secure) rather than simply Http: They may also be marked by a padlock icon next to the address bar.

  1. Be Careful What You Post

The Internet does not have a delete key, as that young candidate in New Hampshire found out. Any comment or image you post online may stay online forever because removing the original (say, from Twitter) does not remove any copies that other people made. There is no way for you to “take back” a remark you wish you hadn’t made, or get rid of that embarrassing selfie you took at a party. Don’t put anything online that you wouldn’t want your mom or a prospective employer to see.

  1. Be Careful Who You Meet Online

People you meet online are not always who they claim to be. Indeed, they may not even be real. As InfoWorld reports, fake social media profiles are a popular way for hackers to cozy up to unwary Web users and pick their cyber pockets. Be as cautious and sensible in your online social life as you are in your in-person social life.

  1. Keep Your Antivirus Program Up To Date

Internet security software cannot protect against every threat, but it will detect and remove most malware—though you should make sure it’s to date. Be sure to stay current with your operating system’s updates and updates to the applications you use. They provide a vital layer of security.

 

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National Cybersecurity Awareness Month – Phishing

Phishing attacks use email or malicious websites to infect your machine with malware and viruses in order to collect personal and financial information. Cybercriminals attempt to lure users to click on a link or open an attachment that infects their computers, creating vulnerability to attacks. Phishing emails may appear to come from a real financial institution, e-commerce site, government agency, or any other service, business, or individual. The email may also request personal information such as account numbers, passwords, or Social Security numbers. When users respond with the information or click on a link, attackers use it to access users’ accounts.

You can read more here.

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National Cybersecurity Awareness Month – Social Media Cybersecurity

Now more than ever, consumers spend increasing amounts of time on the Internet. With every social media account you sign up for, every picture you post, and status you update, you are sharing information about yourself with the world. How can you be proactive to stay safe online and, “Own IT. Secure IT. Protect IT.”? #BeCyberSmart and take these simple steps to connect with confidence and safely navigate the social media world.

You can learn more at https://bit.ly/2LLRe7R

 

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National Cybersecurity Month – Online Privacy

The Internet touches almost all aspects of our daily lives. We are able to shop, bank, connect with family and friends, and handle our medical records all online. With all of that, there are people out there that will try to steal your information.

There is so much information out there online about this topic. Here is one download that I recommend about Online Privacy.

 

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National Cybersecurity Month

Held every October, National Cybersecurity Awareness Month (NCSAM) is a collaborative effort between government and industry to raise awareness about the importance of cybersecurity and to ensure that all Americans have the resources they need to be safer and more secure online.

We are big believers in keeping our data protected and secured.

There are lots of great tips and information out there that we will be sharing all month long.  Stay tuned and we will be back with more information this week.

Feel free to read and download this information about Cybersecurity while traveling.

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Keeping Your Computer Virus and Malware Free

Keeping Your Computer Virus and Malware FreeMost people don’t even know that their computer is infected with a virus or malware. The Internet is a powerful and useful too. In the same way that you shouldn’t drive without buckling your seat belt or ride a bike without a helmet, you shouldn’t venture online without taking some basic precautions.

Viruses

Viruses are harmful computer programs that are transmitted in a number of ways and are designed to spread from one computer to another through the internet and cause havoc.  Most commonly, viruses designed to give the criminals who create them some sort of access to those computers that they infect.

Spyware

The terms “spyware” and “adware” apply to several different technologies. There are two important things that you need to know about them and they are:

  • They can download themselves onto your computer without your permission.
  • They can make your computer do things you don’t want it to do.

Botnets

Botnets are networks of computers infected by malware (computer virus, key loggers and other malicious software) and controlled remotely by criminals. They usually are looking for financial gain or to launch attacks on websites or networks.

If your computer becomes infected, give us a call at 252-285-9592. We will be happy to take care of your issues and get you back online within 24 hours.

About SOBX Tech

SOBX Tech is Eastern North Carolina’s leader for computer services, computer repair, software installations, and software upgrades.  SOBX Tech serves the Southern Outer Banks community and surrounding areas. Located in Eastern North Carolina, along North Carolina’s beautiful Crystal Coast, we’re happy to provide on-site service in your home or business, at no extra charge!

 

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Minecraft – Not Just For Kids

Inspired by my son and daughter, I thought this post would be appropriate. They are the biggest Minecraft fans that I know and inspired me to not only write this but start playing too. It’s obvious that I am not as good as they are, but it’s great learning for children and adults alike.

Minecraft

The creative and building aspects of Minecraft enable players to build constructions out of textured cubes in a 3D generated world. Other activities in the game include exploration, resource gathering, crafting, and combat. Survival is where the player must acquire resources to build the world and maintain health. The creative mode where players have unlimited resources to build with and the ability to fly. Adventure mode where players can play custom maps created by other players, and a spectator mode where players can fly around and clip through blocks, but cannot place or destroy any.

Survival Mode

They have both tried to get me to play in this mode, but I just haven’t got the hang out it yet.  In this mode, players gather natural resources (such as wood and stone) found in the environment in order to craft certain blocks and items.

Creative Mode

In creative mode, players have access to all of the resources and items in the game through the inventory menu and can place or remove them instantly. Players, who are able to fly freely around the game world.

Creative

Buildings created by Nate Forant

Besides the main version, Minecraft Classic and Minecraft 4k for the PC are also available.

Minecraft: Education Edition

The Education Edition gives teachers the tools they need to use on an everyday basis.

There are a few differences between Minecraft and MinecraftEDU. The main concept is the same, an open sandbox world. and MinecraftEDU will be able to retain characteristics.  Finally the last large difference is that students can take in-game photos. These online notebooks will be sharable with other students.

My favorite mode is creative so stay tuned as I am sure there will be more great construction coming soon.