8 Ways to Avoid Windows-Based Attacks

These experts know how to take advantage of every loophole in the system to break into your network and steal data or use it as a springboard for further attacks. To stay protected from these sophisticated attackers and reduce the risk of becoming a target, you need to implement multiple security measures, you can do that by hiring a Cyber Security Company. After all, there’s no single solution that can tackle every single cyber threat; rather, there are different strategies that work in conjunction with each other to reduce the attack surface while simultaneously protecting your organization against vulnerabilities. That being said, we’ve outlined some of the best practices you can adopt to keep your Windows-based network secure from cyber threats

Change the default passwords
As tempting as it may be to use the same password for multiple accounts and applications, it’s not a good idea. As the saying goes, “if Wall Street bankers can’t get it right, then why should we be any less cautious?” That is, if you want to keep your information and network safe from cyber threats, you have to apply the same carefulness to your own security practices. When it comes to passwords, you shouldn’t make the mistake of using simple words and phrases out of context. Instead, use a password made up of a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols. For example, “12345678!@#$%^&*” is a secure password. Make sure you change the default passwords of your applications and accounts to something more secure.

Also, Read Our Previous Blog: How to Block Fraudulent & Spoofed Emails— Learn to Decipher Phishing Attempts

Educate your employees on risks and safety precautions
For most people, the idea of keeping their workplace safe from cyber threats doesn’t seem like much of a priority. But when an attacker successfully breaches a network, the damage he can cause is vast. In fact, the average cost of a data breach is $3.95 million. To prevent this from happening, you need to educate your employees about the safety precautions they need to take. For example, you can have your employees regularly change their passwords. You can also have them use two-factor authentication whenever possible, such as when logging in from a new device or computer. Furthermore, you can also have them regularly scan their computer for potential security risks, like malware or spyware.

Encryption is the key
Encryption is the most important security tool you can use on your Windows network. It’s a process that transforms data into an illegible format and is therefore virtually unreadable. The problem is that not all encryption programs are created equally. Some may be easy to break while others are so advanced that even a well-funded cyber criminal team would need to work for months to crack them. Moreover, if one of your employees is caught using an unsecured device, he may also be able to access any data stored on the device or even on the network. To find the best encryption program for your organization, consult a third-party security review website, like ours. It may help you choose the right program for your needs.

Keep Windows Up to Date
Keeping your Windows software up to date is essential to ensuring the security of your network. As new patches are released, researchers generally find and fix a number of vulnerabilities on Windows operating systems. But because these vulnerabilities generally go unnoticed until a hacker finds them and uses them to break into a network, updating your software is crucial to staying protected. You can easily determine whether your Windows computer is up to date by opening the Settings app, selecting the System icon in the left pane, and then looking at the “Updates” section. Make sure that your computer indicates that it’s up to date.

Limit which users have access to your network
Cyber criminals are always on the lookout for networks that they can infiltrate and use as springboards for further attacks. And while some networks are more likely to be attacked than others, they all share one common trait: they’re connected to the Internet. So, before you grant Internet access to your network to your employees or clients, think about which ones you want to grant access to and for how long. For example, grant remote access for a set amount of time, like a week at a time, and then revoke it. This will make it harder for an attacker to gain access to your network.

Implement Strong User Authentication
In order to prevent hackers from infiltrating your network and stealing data, you need to implement strong user authentication, like two-factor authentication. It comes as no surprise, then, that it’s one of the first security measures you can implement on your Windows network. Two-factor authentication is a security measure that requires a user to have two forms of authentication, like something they have, like a phone, or something they’re, like a password, in order to log in to an account.

Defend with Network Tools and Other Software
To effectively protect your Windows-based network, you need to make sure that your devices are as secure as possible. To do this, you can use an Extended Security feature on Windows 10 or enable hardware-based security on your computer. You can also use network tools and other software to protect your network.

Penetration Testing Can Help

A pen-test is a type of security testing that focuses on the implementation, configuration, and operation of a system. The Pentest program is used to test the security of a system against various types of attacks such as application-level attacks, network-level attacks, and protocol-level attacks. A pen-test is often carried out by an ethical hacker or Certified penetration tester who uses their skills and knowledge to test the security of a system.

The main goals of penetration testing are to identify vulnerabilities in the system and to determine the best ways to improve security. By conducting a thorough Penetration Testing, an organization not only can minimize the window-based attacks on their networks but also can identify vulnerabilities that can lead to financial losses. In addition, organizations should keep track of all access requests. This will help them to know who is accessing their network and how they are doing it.

Patching
Finally, it’s important to keep in mind that even when you do everything right, there’s a chance that your network will still be compromised. And to have any chance of thwarting an attack, you have to patch your systems as soon as possible. When it comes to patching, every system is different. Some are more likely to be attacked than others, and some are more likely to be overlooked than others. That’s why it’s important to know which systems on your network are the most likely to be attacked. To find out which systems are most likely to be attacked, use an application, like Network Mapper, to map out your network. You can also use a tool, like Microsoft’s, to identify which systems need to be patched. Make sure to update your systems as soon as possible to protect against the latest threats. These are just some of the best practices you can implement to keep your Windows-based network secure from cyber threats.

Complete Checklist of Home Loan Questions for every Home Buyer

If you are looking to get a home loan, don’t get confused with all the “jargons” used within the finance industry. Prepare for your home loan with the checklist of typical questions asked by the lending officers employed by the lenders/credit providers. This checklist is useful when you are looking to:

>> Buy your first home

>> Refinance your existing mortgage

>> Consolidate your debts

>> Upgrade or renovate your home, or

>> Invest in another property

Question – What is the purpose of the credit you are considering?

Your response should be anyone of the following:

>> Purchasing a home to live in

>> Investing in another property

>> Renovating your home

>> Consolidating your debts, or

>> Refinancing your existing mortgage or any other needs

Question – What kind of loan repayment type are you considering?

You should consider your loan repayment options, such as:

Interest-Only repayments – You will only repay the interest on your home loan, and your loan balance will not reduce

Principal and Interest – You will have to repay the interest and principal amount together. It means your loan balance will gradually reduce.

Question – What kind of interest type are you considering?

You need to consider the interest rate type in terms of:

A Fixed Rate home loan – With this type of home loan, your interest rate is set for a fixed period, and your repayments remain the same for the duration of the fixed period, usually between one and five years, or

A Variable Interest Rate home loan – This type of home loan is very popular with first-home buyers who just want a loan product that is simple, easy to manage and offers a number of features and benefits.

Question – Are you concerned with the amount of interest rate percentage being charged?

If you are concerned with the amount of interest rate percentage being charged on your home loan, you can use comparison rates because they are a handy indicator to help you compare loans more easily. An expert finance broker will readily provide you with a number of impartial comparisons to help you when deciding and which a bank aligned lending officer is not willing to provide you.

Question – Are you concerned with interest rate movements (i.e. up or down)?

If you are concerned with the interest rates moving upwards, you should consider a Combination (Split) interest rate loan because it will allow a mixture of security and flexibility. This is how you will pay:

>> A fixed interest rate payment for an agreed portion of your home loan, and

>> A variable interest rate payment on the remaining portion of the home loan.

Question – What kind of features and benefits are you considering with your home loan?

You should make sure you fully understand all the features and benefits available to you, such as:

>> Taking advantage to make unlimited “extra repayments” each month. So, you can pay off your loan faster.

>> Taking advantage of “redraw facilities”, so you can withdraw any extra payments you have made on top of your normal repayment amounts, if you need the cash.

>> Taking advantage of “100 percent offset accounts”. If you decide to put as much of your spare cash as you can into an offset account, and keep the cash in the offset account for as many days as possible, your home loan repayments will reduce. It is because your savings are bringing down the interest incurred, and ultimately your loan will reduce much faster.

Question – How long do you expect to remain in the credit contract (i.e. your required loan term)?

You need to consider if you expect to sell the security property in a certain time frame, for example:

>> Long-term – over ten years

>> Medium-term – 5 to 10 years, or

>> Short-term – less than five years

Question – What is an Exit Strategy?

An exit strategy is a plan for what will happen with your loan when you retire. The lender/credit provider will need to see that you will be able to afford the repayments without having to sell your property (i.e. selling your house is not seen as being a valid exit strategy).

So, now you have a checklist of questions to help you get organised when getting a home loan or an investment loan. And, you should now be better prepared to make a decision that suits your personal needs and budget.

A Guide to Understanding Carbon Accounting: The Basics

Carbon accounting and reporting are essential when it comes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and helping the world transition to a low-carbon economy. But since these concepts can be quite complex and involve lots of technical jargon, many business owners and operators may struggle to understand them.

To account for the carbon emissions of your business, you must track the amount of CO2 your company produces either directly through combustion or indirectly through electricity usage. If your organization falls into one of several key industries—such as manufacturing, mining, or transportation—you’ll also likely need to abide by additional reporting standards for greenhouse gases (GHGs). This article will introduce you to carbon accounting and reporting: the primary methods used to measure carbon emissions and document them for third parties. Read on to learn more about this topic.

What is Carbon Accounting?
Carbon accounting is the process of measuring and analyzing greenhouse gas emissions by calculating the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) produced. Many organizations now use carbon accounting systems to track their emissions and determine the most cost-effective ways to reduce them. Carbon accounting also refers to the process of tracking and recording the emissions from a particular activity. The result of this tracking and recording process is often referred to as a carbon account.

Carbon accounting is critical to understanding how business activities affect the environment and whether they are likely to be regulated. It can be used to track greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and other environmental impacts. These GHG emissions are largely generated during the production of electricity and fuel, industrial processes, dense server racks, data centers, agricultural practices, and the extraction and transport of raw materials.

Types of Carbon Accounting
There are two primary methods of measuring and tracking carbon emissions: accounting and auditing. Accounting is generally used when someone is interested in tracking their own carbon emissions. Auditing, on the other hand, is used when a third party is interested in examining your emissions—for example if you’re in an industry that has to report its GHG emissions.

When you’re calculating your own emissions, accounting methods are generally preferred over auditing methods, as they are much simpler to execute and report. The accounting method is based on the concept of carbon intensity—the amount of CO2 emitted for every unit of production. Accounting methods often include assumptions about the future impact of emissions on society.

The auditing method quantifies actual emissions using a standardized approach. It’s important to understand that these measurements can only be used to compare one company’s performance with another company’s performance. They cannot be used to make predictions about the future.

Defining Key Terms and Vocabulary
Carbon Footprint: A measure of how much CO2 is produced as a result of an activity or product.
Carbon Intensity: The amount of CO2 emissions per unit of production. For example, if you produce 10 widgets and it takes you one hour to make them, your carbon intensity would be 10 widgets per hour.
Carbon Offset: A reduction in carbon emissions that occurs in one place as a result of an increase in emissions in another.
Carbon Sink: An environmental process (such as storing carbon in soil) that removes CO2 from the atmosphere.
Carbon Tax: A tax levied on the carbon content of fuels or electricity.
Carbon Trading: A market-based approach to CO2 emissions reduction where one party purchases the right to emit carbon, while another party either reduces its emissions or buys the right to keep its own emissions at their current level.
GHG Reporting Basics

If your organization falls into one of several key industries—such as manufacturing, mining, or transportation—you may need to abide by additional reporting standards for greenhouse gases (GHGs). These industries are responsible for a large proportion of global emissions, and it’s important for them to reduce their GHG emissions as much as possible.

There are two main types of GHG reporting — greenhouse gas inventories and carbon emissions inventories. Greenhouse gas inventories measure the amount of CO2 and other GHGs emitted by a company. Carbon emissions inventories measure the amount of CO2 emitted by a company. If you are required to report your GHG emissions, you will likely use one of these two reporting methods.

Summing up

Carbon accounts and reporting are crucial for understanding the emissions produced by your business and for understanding how best to reduce them. While this information can be somewhat technical, it’s important to have a basic understanding of the concepts behind it. As a business owner, it’s your responsibility to understand the impact your operations have on the environment and to reduce your organization’s carbon footprint as much as possible.