Cyber scammers target parents, grandparents for digital theft. Losses from digital theft have doubled over the past two years, according to the FBI. Sharyn Alfonsi shows how cyber scammers are using AI, apps and social engineering to target seniors. Be aware of any demands from anyone with time sensitive demand for money. The Rising Tide […]
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Author: US Service Center
Established in 2002, we are celebrating our 20th Anniversary. US Service Center specializes in wide range of services, including tailored, fully managed IT services and solutions for small and medium businesses and their owners. We are committed to providing each and every one of our clients with high quality service and support. Our unique IT team is incredibly friendly and can help you every step of the way in growing your business.
Common Scam Types
Common Scam Types will prepare you and heighten your awareness of these types of scams. Payment Scams Exercise caution if you encounter situations where you’re pressured to make a purchase in exchange for compensation, or if someone offers to handle a payment on your behalf or provides bank account details for payment purposes. If an […]
Gift Card Scams
Gift cards are always a GIFT, never a form of payment! Gift card scams can cause significant repercussions for individuals, businesses, and the overall economy. With the global market for gift cards reaching a staggering value of $899.3 billion in 2022, it has become an immensely profitable target for scammers. Those who fall victim to […]
‘Juice Jacking’: The Dangers of Public USB Charging Stations
Juice Jacking and the dangers of Public USB Charging Stations. Are you planning a trip? If so, it’s likely that you’ll bring along your cell phone or another portable device that will need recharging at some point. However, if your battery is low and you plan to use a free USB port charging station, such […]
GoDaddy Breach
In recent news, GoDaddy, a leading web hosting company, revealed that a GoDaddy breach spanning multiple years had resulted in the theft of company source code, customer and employee login credentials, and the placement of malware on customer websites. While media outlets have understandably focused on the admission that GoDaddy was targeted by the same […]
Windows 8.1 End of Life
Windows 8.1 support will end on January 10, 2023 As a reminder, Windows 8.1 will reach end of support on January 10, 2023, at which point technical assistance and software updates will no longer be provided. If you have devices running Windows 8.1, we recommend upgrading them to a more current, in-service, and supported Windows […]
Configuration Errors Blamed for 80% of Ransomware
The vast majority (80%) of ransomware attacks can be traced back to common configuration errors in software and devices, according to Microsoft. The tech giant’s latest Cyber Signals report focuses on the ransomware as a service (RaaS) model, which it claims has democratized the ability to launch attacks to groups “without sophistication or advanced skills.’” […]
Protect Yourself from Text and Email Scams
SMISHING is on the rise Sending emails and texts that impersonate businesses and financial institutions is a common method used by scammers to obtain your personal information and commit identity fraud. SMS Phishing, also known as “Smishing”, is a method that uses fraudulent text messages that ask you to click on a malicious link or […]
Plex Breach
Breaking News Received this notice from Plex today stating there was a breach on 08/24/2022. The gist of the situation is login, perform a password reset, and confirm you have MFA (multi-factor authentication) setup and enabled. Dear Plex User, We want you to be aware of an incident involving your Plex account information yesterday. While […]
Don’t plug in that free Microsoft Office USB drive you got in the mail
In a recent PC World article, some people are receiving what looks like a full retail copy of Microsoft Office in the mail. They never ordered it. NEVER PLUG IN RANDOM USB DRIVES They are finding themselves with an infected computer. The scam is attempting people to plug in the USB drive. Once inserted into […]
Zelle Scams
We have recently seen digital money movement fraud on the rise. A scammer can contact you requesting payment through a Wire Transfer or transfer via Zelle® –these methods allow money to be sent quickly, and the funds are often hard to trace and recover. You should never wire money or send money using Zelle® to: […]
Stay vigilant to protect your personal accounts
Let’s fight fraud together. Follow these simple steps to protect yourself Here are some ways to protect yourself from fraud occurring daily. Protect yourself. Protect your information. Protect your money. If you get a suspicious call, email, or text, don’t disclose any personal information until you verify it’s from a legitimate source. If you have […]
Dymo Printer Proprietary Labels
Dymo Printer Proprietary Labels have RFID chips. This means you are required to purchase Dymo brand labels to run on these news Dymo printers. If you are using custom labels, avoid purchasing the Dymo 550, Dymo 550 Turbo, and Dymo 5XL printers. These printers ONLY use proprietary Dymo labels. These labels have an RFID chip […]
Zero-Click Spyware
There have been many spyware vulnerabilities for mobile devices such as iPhones and Android. This Reuters Article details the account of how a Saudi woman’s iPhone revealed the details of a spyware network. The spyware she was infected was a Zero Click. The type of spyware Citizen Lab discovered on al-Hathloul’s iPhone is known as […]
On-line Shopping Guide
Our shopping toolkit includes online shopping do’s and don’ts, ways to protect financial and banking information, and general information on how to navigate shopping on-line. Crime prevention starts by being vigilant and knowing how to protect yourself and your family. There are several steps that consumers can take to protect themselves when shopping online: Reputable […]
Avoiding Romance Scams
Stay safe this Valentine’s day by following our top 5 tips to avoid romance scams! With the rise of the digital world, online dating has become a reality for millions of Americans. But with the convenience of dating apps and social media, there comes a cost. Romance scams involve a person with a fake dating […]
Company that routes SMS for all major US carriers was hacked for five years
Per this ARSTtechnica article from Oct 5, 2021, Syniverse hasn’t revealed whether text messages were exposed. Syniverse, a company that routes hundreds of billions of text messages every year for hundreds of carriers including Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T, revealed to government regulators that a hacker gained unauthorized access to its databases for five years. Syniverse […]
UEFI firmware vulnerabilities affecting over 25 vendors
UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) software is an interface between a device’s firmware and the operating system, which handles the booting process, system diagnostics, and repair functions.
McAfee Agent bug lets hackers run code with Windows SYSTEM privileges
Bleeping Computer’s article from January 21, 2022, states the following: McAfee Enterprise (now rebranded as Trellix) has patched a security vulnerability discovered in the company’s McAfee Agent software for Windows enabling attackers to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code with SYSTEM privileges. McAfee Agent is a client-side component of McAfee ePolicy Orchestrator (McAfee ePO) that […]
3G Networks are shutting down in 2022
From the FCC: If your mobile phone is more than a few years old, you may need to upgrade your device before your mobile provider shuts down its 3G network, to avoid losing service. For more information on your mobile providers’ plans for 3G retirement and how you can prepare, contact your provider directly. What […]