As the end of 2022 draws near, we take this opportunity to look back on the eventful year behind us — and the exciting new one ahead of us. Over the last 12 months, we’ve experienced cybersecurity highs and lows, learning new tips and tricks while fending off data breaches and privacy threats alike.
No matter the topic, CMIT Solutions’ weekly QuickTips email keeps readers like you in the know. We hope you enjoy this rundown of the top 10 topics from 2022 as we reflect on past success — and look forward to more of it in 2023.
Everyone at CMIT Solutions wishes you a happy, restful holiday spent with family and friends — and a safe and healthy celebration of the new year to come.
- Should you upgrade to Windows 11? Windows 11 first became available in October 2021, but Microsoft waited until the first few months of 2022 to give its new operating system a concerted push. Predictably, the latest OS has seen slow adoption by users. Read the full article.
- Compliance matters. Here’s why. For many companies, compliance is nothing more than a nuisance — an annoying and often frustrating box that needs to be checked. But compliance isn’t just a list of demanding requirements that have to be met. In today’s complex cybersecurity world, compliance often equals safety. Read the full article.
- 10 keyboard shortcuts to speed up your day. Admit it: your daily to-do list is so long that you can never get everything done. Apps and platforms claim to make these things easier, but there’s actually a simpler way to complete more tasks with common keyboard shortcuts. Read the full article.
- New tactics target multi-factor authentication apps. Social engineering has taken on a new twist, according to cybersecurity experts. This online tactic, which leverages personal details gleaned from the Internet to try and convince a user to take action, is now arriving in the form of multi-factor authentication (MFA) prompts. Read the full article.
- Microsoft rolls out new cybersecurity protections. Earlier this month, Microsoft announced two new security settings that prevent known vulnerabilities in the Windows operating system and Office productivity suite. First, an updated security default in Windows 11 will help block ransomware attacks. Read the full article.
- Use an Apple device? Read this now. Last week, Apple announced several critical software updates intended to fix bugs in operating systems on iPhones, iPads, and Mac computers. In a press release, Apple was vague about the vulnerability, stating that, “An application may be able to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges.” Read the full article.
- Sick of your slow computer? In today’s always-connected digital world, multitasking is a must. Throughout an average workday, most of us bounce between multiple applications, browsers, and even devices. As anyone who’s dealt with a slow machine or frozen program will tell you, not every computer can keep up. Read the full article.
- Watch out for LinkedIn scams. LinkedIn is the third most popular social media platform in the world, boasting 830 million users working at more than 58 million registered companies. Because of that massive member base, the professional network has become an attractive target for cybercriminals. Read the full article.
- New hack tactics target QR codes and QuickBooks invoices. Last month, the FBI issued an alert about malicious Quick Response (QR) codes — square bar codes that can be scanned by a smartphone’s camera to launch a website. QR codes have exploded in use since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, offering touch-free ordering at restaurants and retail shops. Read the full article.
- Healthy email habits to improve your day. Whether you took off one day or five days last week, everyone can relate to this situation: returning to work and finding hundreds of unread emails in your inbox. Chances are you started checking those unread emails before the workweek even started, too. Read the full article.
From software upgrades to security precautions, across all operating systems and applications environments, CMIT Solutions is here to help. We help businesses across North America streamline day-to-day operations, safeguard data and devices, and empower employees to do their best work, in the office, at home, and on the road.
Need more year-end technology advice and smart planning for 2023? Contact a trusted IT expert in your community.