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Watch Out for Contact Tracing Scams!

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 14:39:01 GMT

Watch Out for Contact Tracing Scams!

As contact tracing increases in the state, scammers are finding nefarious ways to use these efforts for their personal gain.

How the Scam Works

You receive an unsolicited message via text, email, or a social media messenger. The message explains that you’ve come into contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. The message instructs you to self-isolate and provides a link for more information. Alarmed, you are tempted to click and get more details. But don’t fall for it! These links can contain malware that downloads to your device.

Another version of this scam involves a robocall claiming to be part of “contact and tracing efforts.” Again, the call informs you that you’ve been exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19. After electing to speak to a representative, the “contact tracer” asks you to verify personal information. This starts with questions about your full name and date of birth but can quickly move to Personally Identifiable Information (PII) and/or financial accounts. While contact tracers do normally reach out by phone, be sure to hang up if the caller doesn’t meet the guidelines described below.

How to tell a real contact tracer from a scam:

Contact tracers will ask you to confirm your identity, but not for financial information . Tracers will ask you to confirm your name, address, and date of birth. In most cases, they will already have this information on file. They will also ask about your current health, medical history, and recent travels. They will not ask for any government ID numbers or bank account details.
Contact tracers will identify themselves : The call should start with the tracer providing their name and identifying themself as calling from the department of health or another official team.
Contact tracing is normally done by phone call . Be extra wary of social media messages or texts.
A real contact tracer will never reveal the identity of the person who tested positive . If they provide a person’s name, you know it’s a scam.
Think the link may be real? Double check the URL. Scammers often buy official-looking URLs to use in their cons. Be careful that the link is really what it pretends to be. If the message alleges to come from the local government, make sure the URL ends in .gov (for the United States) or .ca (for Canada). When in doubt, perform a separate internet search for the website.

WFH Rules Ramp Up Phishing and Insider Risks

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 14:37:28 GMT

WFH Rules Ramp Up Phishing and Insider Risks

Mass home working has exposed US organizations to a greater risk of cyber-attacks and put greater pressure on security teams, a majority of IT leaders believe.

A Cybersecurity vendor polled 250 IT leaders and 2000 workers to compile its Securing the Future of Hybrid Working report. It comes just days after the government backtracked on previous advice by urging those who could work from home (WFH) to do so and help stop the spread of COVID-19.

The report found that a majority of IT leaders believe their organization is at greater risk of phishing attacks (82%) and insider threats (78%) due to WFH orders.

The reasoning behind this is clear: most (57%) employees under lockdown are more reliant on email as a primary communication channel with colleagues, and phishing was the leading cause of cyber-attacks between March and July 2020.

In fact, it accounted for half of all incidents recorded during that time, with 30% of IT leaders reporting a rise in ransomware attacks delivered by phishing, while nearly a quarter (24%) reported an increase in vishing compared to the previous five months.

BYOD presents a persistent risk in this context: 78% of remote workers using personal devices during the period received phishing emails in their work or personal inbox, and a worrying 68% said they clicked through or opened an attachment in unsolicited mail.

There are also concerns about remote workers logging-on to public Wi-Fi when out-and-about. Over half (53%) of IT leaders are worried about the associated security risks, and they are right to: 58% of employees said they’ve either considered connecting to public Wi-Fi or have already done so.

Partly as a result of this behavior, and other factors like limited budgets and distributed working, most (85%) IT leaders believe COVID-19 has put greater pressure on their teams, and 34% are worried they will be too stretched to cope with the increase in threats.

To help mitigate these WFH risks, 43% of respondents claimed they are looking to upgrade BYOD policies and 58% will introduce more staff training.

“Business leaders must understand the strain that remote working puts on IT teams and address the risks people are exposed to,

“Legacy security protocols are no longer equipped to protect distributed workforces and provide visibility into the behaviors of employees who rely on personal devices, risky channels like email and public Wi-Fi to get their jobs done.”

AITS Professional IT Services

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 14:36:50 GMT

AITS Professional IT Services

Align your technology with your business goals by embracing the right applications, tools, and solutions that allow you to stay competitive in today’s market at an affordable cost.

AITS SAAS Backup

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 14:36:20 GMT

AITS SAAS Backup

Efficient recovery: Bounce back from ransomware or user error quickly with one-click restore.

Simple onboarding: Protect clients quickly and manage backups from a single pane of glass.
Set it and forget it: 3X daily backups streamline management.

AITS Managed IT Services

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 14:35:30 GMT

AITS Managed IT Services

Improve productivity, set predictable controlled costs, and reduce the impact of infrastructure challenges on daily operations. We focus on your IT so you can focus on your business.

IT Services Designed for Your Success

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 14:16:40 GMT

IT Services Designed for Your Success

We make IT simpler. Learn about our variety of IT services to see how we integrate with your business to achieve success.

AITS Cyber Security

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 14:16:10 GMT

AITS Cyber Security

Malware. Ransomware. Phishing. The number and variety of attacks continues to grow, making efficient cybersecurity difficult for most organizations. And with a drastic shortage in trained cybersecurity professionals, today’s environment has become increasingly complicated and dangerous.

AITS CMMC Assessment Services

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 14:15:39 GMT

AITS CMMC Assessment Services

We work with clients to navigate the complexities of NIST 800-171, and CMMC 2.0. Through our many experiences, we’ve fine-tuned several solutions that enable our clients to prepare to achieve compliance faster and at a lower cost.

AITS BDR:

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 14:14:24 GMT

AITS BDR:

Protect hybrid physical, virtual, and SaaS environments.

Today’s IT environments combine physical servers, virtual servers and public cloud data which all need full protection. Important data also resides in mail servers which may have limited retention policies. Barracuda protects your data no matter where it is located.

Recover data fast.

Get your systems restored and running quickly from physical appliances, virtual servers, offsite locations, or the cloud.

Ransomware protection—without paying the ransom.

Don’t let criminals hold your data hostage. With AITS BDR, recovering your data is as simple as eliminating the malware, deleting the criminally encrypted files, and restoring a good copy of your valuable data.

AITS Cyber Security

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 14:14:00 GMT

AITS Cyber Security

What is cybercrime?

Cybercrime is criminal activity that either targets or uses a computer, a computer network or a networked device.

Most, but not all, cybercrime is committed by cybercriminals or hackers who want to make money. Cybercrime is carried out by individuals or organizations.

Some cybercriminals are organized, use advanced techniques and are highly technically skilled. Others are novice hackers.

Rarely, cybercrime aims to damage computers for reasons other than profit. These could be political or personal

AITS Vulnerability scanning

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 14:13:05 GMT

AITS Vulnerability scanning

Vulnerability scanning is very often confused with penetration testing but there are some major differences between the two.

• A vulnerability scan is automated high-level test that looks for potential security vulnerabilities, while a penetration test is an exhaustive examination that includes a live person digging into your network’s complexities to exploit the weakness in your systems.

• A vulnerability scan only identifies vulnerabilities, while a penetration tester digs deeper to identify the root cause of the vulnerability that allows access to secure systems or stored sensitive data. The pen tester also looks for business logic vulnerabilities that might be missed by an automatic scanner.

• Vulnerability scans can be instigated manually or on an automated basis and will complete in as little as several minutes to as long as several hours.

AITS Compliance

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 14:12:30 GMT

AITS Compliance

At AITS, we take compliance and ethical conduct seriously. Our commitment to upholding the highest standards of regulatory compliance is a testament to our dedication to providing a secure and trustworthy experience for all our valued users.

✅ Safeguarding Your Privacy: We prioritize protecting your personal information and adhere to stringent data privacy practices to ensure your data remains safe and confidential.

✅ Respecting Industry Regulations: Our team diligently stays up-to-date with relevant industry regulations and compliances to ensure that we operate within legal boundaries.

✅ Transparent Governance: Our compliance efforts are supported by a robust governance framework, which emphasizes transparency and accountability.

✅ Empowering Our Team: We believe in fostering a culture of compliance and ethics within our organization. Our team is equipped with the necessary knowledge and training to uphold these values.

✅ Customer-Centric Approach: Your trust is the driving force behind everything we do. We are committed to listening to your feedback and addressing any concerns promptly.

We are proud to be your trusted partner and vow to continue investing in compliance measures that build a secure and reliable digital environment. Our community's confidence in us is of paramount importance, and we are determined to exceed your expectations in every aspect of our operations.

If you have any questions or wish to learn more about our compliance efforts, feel free to reach out to us. We value open communication and are always here to listen and improve.

Thank you for being a part of our journey towards compliance excellence. Together, we create a safer and compliant digital space for everyone.

Microsoft Plans a Naming System for Hackers

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 14:11:51 GMT

Microsoft Plans a Naming System for Hackers

Right now, different cybersecurity companies often give the same hacking group completely different names. Which makes tracking and responding to attacks harder and slower.

Microsoft and CrowdStrike are teaming up to change that.

They’re creating a unified naming system that clearly identifies cybercriminal groups. Using weather-themed names like “Typhoon” for Chinese state-backed groups. Or “Tempest” for financially motivated gangs.

This might seem like a small change, but it’s a big win for businesses.

It means clearer threat reports, faster responses, and less confusion for your IT support or security provider. Ultimately, it helps your business stay safer and better prepared when cyberthreats strike.

Windows 10 support ends on October 14, 2025

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 14:11:17 GMT

Windows 10 support ends on October 14, 2025

As a reminder, Windows 10 will reach the end of support on October 14, 2025. At this point technical assistance, feature updates and security updates will no longer be provided. If you have devices running Windows 10, we recommend upgrading them to Windows 11- a more modern, secure, and highly efficient computing experience. If devices do not meet the technical requirements to run on Windows 11, we recommend that you enroll in the Windows 10 Consumer Extended Security Updates (ESU) program or replace the device with.

As compliance regulations evolve

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 14:10:48 GMT

As compliance regulations evolve

As regulations like HIPAA, PCI-DSS, SOC 2, NIST, and CMMC continue to evolve, many businesses find it overwhelming to stay compliant while also focusing on growth. That’s where A tlantic IT Solutions comes in.

At Atlantic IT Solutions, we:

Implement security controls that meet regulatory standards
Provide reporting and documentation for audits
️Monitor and protect your systems 24/7
‍Train your staff on compliance best practices

Staying compliant protects more than just data—it protects your reputation, your clients’ trust, and your bottom line.

If compliance is keeping you up at night, Atlantic IT Solutions can simplify it for your business.

Cybersecurity myths that could seriously hurt your business:

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 14:09:46 GMT

Cybersecurity myths that could seriously hurt your business:

Think your business is too small to be hacked? Or that strong passwords are enough to keep you protected?

Cybersecurity myths like these are everywhere. And they could be putting your business at serious risk.

Here are some of the most common misconceptions and the truths every business owner should know…

" My business is too small to be a target. " This is false; small businesses and individuals are often easier targets for cybercriminals.

" I don't need to worry; I don't visit risky websites. " Malware can be delivered through legitimate websites, social media, or even in attachments from trusted contacts.

" My Apple devices (Macs, iPhones) are safe. " Apple products are not immune to viruses and malware; they are increasingly targeted by cyberattacks.

" Antivirus software is enough. " Antivirus software is just one layer of a multi-layered defense strategy, and more comprehensive measures like endpoint detection and response (EDR), security training, and regular updates are necessary.

" Strong passwords are sufficient. " While crucial, strong passwords alone aren't enough. Other methods, such as multi-factor authentication (MFA), are needed to protect accounts from compromised credentials.

" Cybersecurity is a one-time effort. " The threat landscape is constantly evolving, so security measures must be regularly updated and maintained, not just implemented once.

" Cybersecurity is only IT's job. " It is everyone's responsibility, requiring training and secure practices from all employees, not just the IT department.

" Cyber threats only come from outside. " Insider threats, whether malicious or accidental, are a significant risk to an organization's security.

" We can buy technology to solve everything. " Cybersecurity tools are only effective if properly implemented and if the staff is trained to use them correctly.

" I would know if my device were infected. " Many types of malware can operate stealthily, and a compromise may not be immediately apparent.

" Using a VPN provides complete security. " A VPN encrypts your data tunnel, but it does not make you anonymous or immune to all other types of security threats.

" Compliance with regulations equals security. " Meeting regulatory requirements is not the same as being truly secure, as regulations often lag behind the evolving threat landscape

How AI can Manage your Outlook Email:

Thu, 01 Oct 2026 20:14:34 GMT

How AI can Manage your Outlook Email:

AI helps manage Outlook by automating and enhancing email tasks like drafting, summarizing, and organizing, which boosts productivity and helps users prioritize important messages. Key functions include generating email drafts from short prompts, summarizing long threads, suggesting replies, and filtering or sorting emails to clear the inbox. This frees up time for users by handling repetitive or time-consuming tasks.

Forensic analysis of a laptop or workstation:

Thu, 01 Oct 2026 20:13:38 GMT

Forensic analysis of a laptop or workstation:

Forensic analysis of a laptop involves the scientific collection, analysis, and presentation of digital evidence from the device in a manner that is admissible in court. This process includes creating a forensic image of the drive, preserving the original evidence, analyzing the image for user activity, deleted files, and other artifacts using specialized tools, and documenting findings to reconstruct events. The ultimate goal is to uncover information related to an investigation, such as a cyberattack or crime, while maintaining the integrity of the evidence through a strict chain of custody