What is VoIP?

VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol and is a way of making phone calls over the internet. Instead of traditional telephone lines, VoIP uses the internet to send and receive audio signals allowing real-time communication using a computer, smartphone, or other mobile devices.

VoIP apps have become increasingly popular for business and personal use due to their cost-effectiveness and convenience. The voice quality, however, can vary depending on the internet connection quality and other factors.

Benefits of VoIP Optimization

VoIP optimization can help small businesses improve their communication systems in several ways. By optimizing their VoIP systems, companies can reduce latency, the amount of time it takes for a signal to travel from one point to another. This can result in better audio quality, and fewer dropped calls. Optimizing your VoIP system can help you save money on bandwidth costs, as you won’t need to use as much data to make calls.

Tips for Optimizing Your VoIP System

There are several steps small businesses can take to optimize their VoIP systems. First, ensuring that your internet connection is reliable and fast enough to support VoIP calls is important. Your VoIP call quality depends on the speed and quality of your internet connection, so it’s essential to ensure you have a good connection. 

Besides VoIP software and basic hardware, there are several strategies businesses can use to optimize their VoIP systems. Setting up a VoIP network isn’t plug-and-play; you should consult a VoIP service provider before making any changes.

Network Bandwidth Management

The first step in optimizing your voice system is ensuring that your internet connection is fast and reliable enough to support VoIP calls. The bandwidth requirements for real-time communications depend on the number of concurrent calls and the codec used. This means having an adequate upload and download internet speed and a low latency rate. Faster speeds mean better sound quality and fewer dropped calls. If you’re unsure if your internet connection is up to the task, you can use a speed test to check. 

Please note that depending on the amount and type of VoIP connection, you may need to upgrade your internet connection or ethernet network or purchase additional bandwidth. If your WiFi infrastructure isn’t up to the task, you may need to invest in a business-class router or access point.

Quality of Hardware

In addition to network bandwidth management, it’s important to check the quality of your hardware, such as phones, headsets, and microphones, to make sure they are up-to-date and working properly.

The Importance of using quality headsets and VoIP phones cannot be overstated. Cheap headsets and phones can lead to poor VoIP call quality, which can have a negative impact on customer experience.

Utilizing Quality of Service (QoS)

By utilizing Quality of Service (QoS) settings on a business router, you can prioritize VoIP traffic over other network traffic, like when you need to download large files or stream video. This helps reduce latency and jittery voice communication, leading to better call quality. Some other QoS features include packet prioritization, bandwidth allocation, and traffic shaping.

Utilizing VoIP Monitoring Tools

Network performance monitoring tools can also monitor VoIP performance and identify call quality issues. These tools can help businesses quickly identify and address problems before they become major issues. Failure to monitor your VoIP system can lead to poor call quality, which can have a negative impact on customer experience.

Implementing Traffic Shaping Policies

Businesses can implement different types of traffic-shaping rules to control the amount of bandwidth allocated to specific applications and devices. The first type of traffic-shaping rule is a bandwidth limit, which limits the amount of bandwidth used by a specific application or device. The second type of traffic-shaping rule is a priority rule, which gives certain applications and devices priority over others.

By implementing these types of traffic-shaping rules, businesses can ensure that their VoIP system has enough resources to function properly and is given priority over other applications and devices.

This helps to ensure that VoIP calls are not impacted by competing traffic on the network and that they have access to the necessary resources for optimal performance. 

Video Call Quality

Over the past couple of years, more and more handsets have been equipped with video call capabilities. This is a great way to gain a competitive edge, allowing for more personalized customer interactions.

However, video calls require more bandwidth than audio-only calls and can be subject to latency issues if the network is not optimized correctly. To ensure that video calls are of high quality, businesses should make sure that their internet connection is fast and reliable enough to support video calls. Also, before buying your IP phones, ensure they are compatible with the video call features you need.

Choosing the Right Equipment and Software

Choosing the right VoIP equipment and software is essential for businesses to get the most out of their VoIP solutions. Companies must consider scalability, compatibility with existing systems, and cost when selecting VoIP equipment and software. That’s why we use 3CX! The UI is easy to navigate making the user experience better, and their softphone app is amazing. Businesses should also look for solutions with features such as encryption and authentication to help ensure secure communications over the network. If they have the right tools in place, businesses can ensure that their VoIP systems are running optimally and provide reliable service to their users.

Businesses should also consider the user experience when selecting VoIP equipment and software. Solutions should be easy to use and provide features such as voice recognition, video conferencing, and call forwarding to ensure that users can make the most of their VoIP systems. Additionally, businesses should look for solutions compatible with various devices and platforms to maximize their investment. By considering these considerations, companies can ensure they have the right VoIP solution in place for their needs.

Businesses should also consider the devices their employees use when selecting VoIP equipment and software. Different devices can have additional requirements in terms of bandwidth, latency, and other factors that need to be taken into account when optimizing VoIP performance. Companies should look for solutions that offer features such as call recording and analytics to help them better understand how their VoIP systems are being used and identify areas for improvement. Choosing the right VoIP equipment and software is essential, and by doing so, businesses can ensure they are getting the most out of their investment.

Utilizing Cloud-Based Solutions

Cloud-based VoIP solutions can offer businesses several advantages when optimizing their VoIP performance. Cloud-based solutions are often more cost-effective than on-premise solutions. They can be scaled up or down as needed, allowing businesses to adjust their VoIP resources according to their needs. Did we mention, cloud-based solutions are typically more reliable and secure than on-premise solutions, making them an excellent choice for businesses that must ensure their VoIP systems are always available and secure?

Taking Advantage of Automation Features

VoIP automation features can help businesses optimize their VoIP performance by automating tasks such as call routing, call forwarding, and voicemail management. Automation features can also be used to monitor the performance of VoIP systems and identify areas for improvement. Automation features can also ensure that VoIP calls are routed efficiently and that users have access to the resources they need for optimal performance. By taking advantage of automation features, businesses can ensure their VoIP systems are running optimally and providing reliable service to their users.

VoIP Optimization Challenges 

Some common issues when Optimizing Business VoIP systems include:

1. Poor internet connection: If your internet connection is slow or unreliable, it can lead to poor call quality and dropped calls.

2. Outdated hardware: If you’re using outdated hardware, such as headsets or microphones, it can cause audio issues and reduce the overall quality of your VoIP calls.

3. Lack of Quality of Service (quality of service) router: Without a quality of service router, your VoIP traffic may be competing with other types of data for bandwidth, which can lead to poor call quality.

Some other common VoIP issues are latency, jittery voice communication, and voice packet loss. Latency is the time it takes for a signal to travel from one point to another. Jitter is the variation in latency over time. Voice packet loss occurs when data packets are lost or corrupted during transmission. If you experience a voice packet loss issue, you should check your router settings and make sure that VoIP traffic is being prioritized over other types of data. These issues can cause poor call quality and should be addressed as soon as possible. 

If you’re using a wireless network, you should also make sure that your router is up-to-date and secure. Wireless networks can be vulnerable to interference from other wireless devices, which can cause poor call quality. Using a wireless network should not be a problem if everything is configured correctly.

Wrapping Up

In conclusion, businesses must carefully consider their needs when selecting a VoIP provider, equipment, and software. By considering factors such as scalability, compatibility with existing systems, user experience, and mobile device requirements, businesses can ensure they have the right tools for optimal performance. Furthermore, utilizing cloud-based solutions and taking advantage of automation features can help companies to optimize their VoIP performance and provide reliable service to their users.

What Is The Google Voice Verification Scam?

The Google voice verification scam is an attempt by fraudsters to gain access to a person’s Google account. The scammer will contact the potential victim via phone, email, or text and claim to be from Google. They will then try to convince the victim to provide them with their Google Voice verification code. Once the scammer has the code, they will access the victim’s account and potentially steal personal information or hijack it. It is important to be aware of this scam and to never provide your verification code to anyone unless you are sure that it is a legitimate request from Google.

Be wary of unsolicited requests for your code, and never click on any links they provide. If you are ever unsure, contact Google directly to verify the request. Even if you never created a Google Voice account, this scam is going around to help hackers gain access to your Google Account, ultimately setting up your Google Voice account. It has a simple link that looks like a Google short-link, but it gives hackers access to your account.

Many people have mentioned that they’ve received a google verification code on their mobile phone, even though they haven’t done so. Many users will see the message “Google is trying to add this device to your list of devices and needs you to confirm your number.” It is followed by a random sim link that verifies whatever device you connect.

What Does This Mean If I Receive This Message?

If you receive a message referring to your Google Voice account that is unsolicited, like in the picture above, you may be under attack and should proceed cautiously.

This means one of a multitude of things.

1. Someone, somewhere, is trying to use your phone number to issue themselves a Google Voice number – making your phone number the forwarding number.
2. You (or someone else) are trying to log in from a device that Google has not authorized. If you’re sitting doing things as usual, and you and nobody else doing this that you know – this means that someone out there is doing so without your permission.
3. Someone is trying to steal your identity and log into your Google Gmail email.
4. Someone may be trying to connect their Craigslist account using your phone number, which would make you responsible for illegal things that they do.
5. Someone is trying to steal your identity to use your phone number – ultimately signing up for something so they can pretend to be you.

If you click this link, the victim can provide instant access to the hacker to log in to their email, Google Voice, and all other Google apps. While it’s been happening for a long time, NortonLifeLock recently noticed and has documented the trend as a legitimate scam/cyberattack technique.

Why Is This So Dangerous?

Clicking on unrequested notification links is extremely risky. If you were to click on one of these fake Google Voice notifications, you have just invited a hacker into your network, and they have free reign.

Many people with a mobile phone wouldn’t think twice when receiving a confirmation message from Google. During the data breach, this scam is the equivalent of someone trying to dress up as someone important to you. When questioned by an authority figure, many people wouldn’t think twice and would go ahead and give that police officer their information. Worse, using this scam is a way to exploit Google’s recovery system.

What Should I Do?

Below are some simple steps to secure your Google and Google Voice accounts before it’s too late.

First, you should register and add your phone number and a recovery email address that isn’t well known to the public. This will help you maintain your information even if someone tries to steal your account.

Secondly, do NOT (we cannot repeat this enough) text your security code or even click on the authorization link if there’s one in the text message. They will end up pretending to be Google and asking for your code, and then they’ll try to text you asking for the code.

If you’ve texted back to the number the security code, or even if you have clicked on the authorization link, then you need to act fast. Quickly change the password to your Gmail and Google account before the attacker can lock you out of it.

If you haven’t created a Google Voice number, you need to create a Google Voice number by clicking the link and getting one. When asked for a forwarding number, make sure you enter a number (not the number that the scammer stole), such as a family member’s or spouse’s number, to have it as a forwarding number. You can permanently remove this number later if needed.

If you receive an email requesting access to your Google account or Google Voice account and you did not request it, a hacker may be trying to breach your device.

You may enter this code when you receive the Google Verification request that YOU approved and requested. DO NOT do this for confirmation requests other than the one you have made.

Go to https://voice.google.com/settings and click the blue circle. You can now enter your scammed phone number as the forwarding number you wish to add. If you try to reclaim this number that hasn’t been used in the past, more than likely, you’ll get a message that states that your number is in use on another account and you need to reclaim it. Take your number back, and your phone number will be removed from your account.

The Final Conclusion

While it’s easy to have this happen to anyone, having the right cybersecurity on your work and home devices is essential to protect your business. Suppose you ever receive ANY text message claiming to be from Google, Microsoft, or a government office that you didn’t try to link your phone to. In that case, you need to treat this information as completely confidential – and realize that you are acting as a firewall for your device by ignoring these unrequested messages.

Failure to do so could result in your identity being stolen, and your phone number’s security code should be treated as you would an SSN or other pertinent information. And always change your password if you think your google has been broken into.

HelpDesk or Help Desk?

Helpdesk and Help Desk are often used interchangeably, but they refer to two different types of services. Helpdesk is a service typically offered by an external provider that provides users with technical support and advice on using a product or service. Help Desk, on the other hand, is a service offered internally by an organization, usually to its customers, to provide them with technical support and advice.

Both services can help businesses by providing an effective, cost-efficient way to address customer service issues quickly and efficiently. Helpdesk and Help Desk can help companies to maintain customer satisfaction, reduce customer service costs, and streamline customer service processes. These services can also help businesses generate more leads and sales, as they can increase customer engagement and loyalty.

Why You Need a HelpDesk Solution

There are a few reasons why you may need support services. Here are some of the biggest things that can help you understand the importance of help desks on all levels of your business.

You Can Create Essential Customer Experiences

If you should have any questions, you can use the help system to get the answers or even be walked through a solution without having to sit on the phone the whole time.

Because the helpdesk provides a centralized database of knowledge (especially mixed with automation), it allows more workplace efficiency so work that needs to be done can get done without interruption.

You can use them for your customers, so if they have a problem, they can report it. This will help you get the most feedback possible about a product or service you may provide so you can get a heads-up on market research.

What Help Desks Do I Need?

Many types of tech support services are available, and they all do different things. You can choose which is right for your business depending on your needs.

If you have an IT help desk that provides remote monitoring and assistance, you can contact your managed service provider in case of cybersecurity or IT issues.

For all scopes outside your business’s IT department, you might consider having a customer service chatbot that allows your customers to interact and ask questions. Not only that, but it will enable you to resolve any customer issues.

Last but not least, you may want to consider a business-level help desk, which allows you to communicate directly with other internal departments of your business. These are very common in the workplace and will enable you to contact each other when you need small things, such as work on payroll or even get ahold of your HR department when required for the paperwork side. Of course, you can also use these features (and not abuse them) to alert an employee that you need to work on something or change a planned workload at the last minute.

Are These the Only Reasons Why I Need a Help Desk?

We’ve all been bombarded by irrelevant, spammy emails at least once. What if the software could weed out these emails, get rid of them for you, and even track emails you’ve sent and alert you when it’s been opened? Would that interest you?

You need to realize all of the things that make Help Desks more essential than ever these days. For one, tracking all those business emails is a pain. Therefore, as mentioned above, you can use internal help desks to replace this so your inboxes aren’t full of one-liners.

You can also use this as a marketing tool to analyze just how good your customer support is. The better support you have for your customers and that your IT team may have for you, the better your overall business endeavors will be. This means that you may have more conversions and happy customers, which equals better reviews and more recommendations for someone to come to your business first, above all others that may be competitors.

How Do I Get a HelpDesk?

There are a few steps to take for businesses looking to set up a HelpDesk for their customers or employees. First, consider the size of the organization and the number of users who will need access to support services. Then, it is important to decide on the type of customer support needed, whether it be an in-house team, a third-party provider, or a combination of both.

Once the type is decided, the organization will need to determine the hardware and software requirements and the personnel required to staff the HelpDesk. As a qualified Managed Service Provider, we’re happy to help you with any helpdesk needs. We highly recommend that you let us provide you with a quality IT help desk to protect you during these challenging times when cyberattacks are at the highest they’ve ever been.

How Are the Hackers Connecting?

One of the most common methods is accessing RDP ports and points on computers and devices that share the SMB protocols in Windows 10. The hackers are acting as brokers to help other scammers and cyber attackers alike. They aren’t just ethical hackers or cyber attackers these days – now people are giving the job a title: initial access broker. This is because they get the data and sell it to bidders on the dark web and other areas, government offices, countries, and even your competitors (yes, this happens).

RDP Endpoint Sales

RDP connections are a hacker’s dream come true when spreading computer viruses.

This is when cyber criminals succeed with brute force cyberattacks on your servers or workstations configured to use the Remote Desktop Protocol. They then sell these remote desktop connections.

Hacked Network Equipment

Believe it or not, there are more and more vulnerabilities becoming persistent with this. As major ISPs worldwide are getting slammed with lawsuits regarding the issue, it still happens. Hackers exploit vulnerabilities of your network routers and modems, or even VPNs, and get access into the network and to the central data unit.

BOTNet Sifters

The malware and ransomware botnets go through the computers they infect and encrypt all their data. This allows them to be sold to other ransomware teams.

Fortunately, there are some defenses regarding these computer viruses. Still, the biggest problem is that many of these emerging viruses have never been seen before – let alone in the volume in which they are modified these days. Here are some of the most common computer viruses cyber attackers use nowadays.

MARS Virus

The MARS ransomware computer virus digs its heels into your data and encrypts more files than you think.

The MARS virus is extremely new – only being discovered in November 2020. What’s interesting about this is that the primary attacks seem to be coming from Russia and the surrounding areas. This ransomware acts like many others, but there is no fix for it yet (many others have decryptors for files already, but not this one).

Emotet

The Emotet malware strikes when you click the “Enable Editing” button and is one of the more complex computer viruses to remove.

This is one of the most popular and largest malware botnets out there. While most of these attacks are with ransomware teams directly, this attack is a chain of other ransomware infections. The compromised system’s data is then sold.

Trickbot

Trickbot has been making a comeback during the pandemic and is one of many computer viruses reaping havoc on RDP accounts.

Trickbot is a pretty similar botnet. Like Emotet, it is malware that allows cybercrime to take place. However, this one infects the victims but gets access to Emotet-infected systems.

BazarLoader

This one’s a doozy but acts like the backdoor trojans of yesteryears. However, it linked to the original Trickbot hacking group and became a spinoff of that project. What’s the most important problem is that they install the Ryuk ransomware.

Qakbot/Qbot

QakBot/Qbot is one of the most devastating computer viruses you can get infected with.

This one goes by multiple names. Infosec has deemed this one a slower infection than older systems. At the same time, the QakBot groups end up taking their time with their infections. However, they collaborate with other botnet networks to make them even more lethal.

SDBBot

You need to audit your network immediately if you see any computer viruses.

This one’s a more recent malware infection. It’s tied to a cybercrime group that has been seen where Clop and other ransomware computer viruses were inserted.

Dridex

Dridex helps distribute computer viruses to unsuspecting individuals.

This backdoor trojan is more of a malware downloader program. It is one of the most used spam email campaigns today and distributes the ransomware called Locky. However, they are using other newer ransomware strains to hit larger companies.

So How Do I Stay Protected?

First, you need a network solution to protect your business’s data and preserve its security. Finding the right IT support team is one of the most important things you can do. Ransomware hackers aren’t just sticking to computers and emails anymore. These days, exploits in various items around your offices can quickly become a target. And if they get access to your router, you’re in for a world of hurt. The most important thing you can do is contact your team to install some very secure firewalls, then increase your device security with a high-powered sentinel to protect your computer.

Important January 2021 Update

How One Malware Chain Became the Most Costly & How to Defend Against It

Emotet is one of the most dangerous computer viruses we have seen in a long time.

We’ve mentioned it, and you’ve probably heard about it elsewhere. Still, Emotet – the super virus of 2020 – has become the most impactful and destructive threat to small and medium businesses, government organizations, and larger corporations. While it’s not a new virus, it’s more heavily modified. It is evolving beyond a banking trojan – including selling information to other cyber attackers and infecting users with ransomware. But what is it? And how could one initially just an email phishing virus become this big?

Much Like a Worm

The super virus known as Emotet is similar to past computer viruses called worms.

Like the old viruses called “worms,” Emotet often uses phishing emails to infect other systems on a network, other people’s contacts, and much more. And just like computer viruses of the past, users don’t know that they’ve been attacked until after.

However, Emotet is not a worm, even though it acts like one. And it can be spread in similar fashions, and other attackers have been delivering it with other methods. It was initially made as banking malware but has made its way to personal and small business computers, making it one of the most widely used and dangerous computer viruses.

Trickbot is the Second Most Dangerous

Out of all the current computer viruses, the Trickbot banking trojan ranks second regarding how much damage it produces.

Also, banking trojans are constantly being manipulated, and “improved” (more like tailored to do more damage) to the point that it’s become one of the other leading ways that cyber attackers can install ransomware on individual computers. Many of these trojans are being used to take advantage of exploits in network routers, home and business network computers, and even Microsoft products. This allows users to access any educated exploit they can use against the system to damage it.

Can an Antivirus Stop the Attack?

Installing an antivirus like SentinelOne can assist in keeping computer viruses at bay.

Although it’s highly reported that most attacks can be stopped with Windows Defender and other antivirus programs, many of these trojan viruses have protection to keep the user unaware that the virus is being installed. Even many advanced firewalls are not detecting the attacks. That’s where full-service solutions like SentinelOne come into play.

SentinelOne can offer a large defense against these attacks and even prevent them. At the same time, it can also aid in recovering data that may have been breached – and many ransomware attackers know it. Numerous companies are threatened when the attacker realizes they’re ignoring their ransomware attacks. We’ve even mentioned in a previous post that some hackers are cold-calling their victims when they know that their demands are being ignored.

So How Can You Protect Yourself?

Aside from using a full-service solution, it would help if you instilled maximum security. This is sometimes hard to do when you’re busy working. Therefore, you must have IT specialists that provide multiple services to implement these different security solutions. This could include, but not be limited to:

• Local cloud backups of your company’s financial and critical data
• Increased email security
• Advanced knowledge of cybersecurity that they’ll happily share so you can teach your employees
• A defense and helpdesk solution lets you keep busy doing what’s important – running your business.
• Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) systems and phone services that extend outside of your office to local home offices
• Dedicated local web hosting solutions
• And much more
• Whatever you decide to do, it’s crucial that you avoid getting these “deadly for business” computer viruses, and give us a call at Infinity DataTel today!

Are You Keeping Up to Par with Your Cybersecurity?

While many companies think that they are, the truth is (and we mean no disrespect to anyone by this) you’re probably not. When it comes to cybersecurity, you never stop learning. This is huge because as technology emerges and constantly evolves, so do the dangers of cyber attackers. They’re always learning new methods (and even old methods, such as software exploits) to develop new ways to get into business systems and steal information, data, and of course, the worst thing they can steal – money.

Some cyber attackers even go one step further to get their money from you by hijacking emails and conversations on the phone and even installing crypto-mining software on your computers at work. Do you know how you can stop this from happening? Two words, security training.

So, How Can I Be Sure I’m Up to Par?

First off, there are many things you can do to ensure that you’re keeping up to speed with your cybersecurity. Train your employees in cybersecurity methods (if you don’t know where to begin, we’ve got a post all about it as well). Once you train your employees, you can ensure that your systems are all set up with the top defense to thwart attackers.

Network Security

Endpoint security does many things, but what it does well is catapult your network security solutions to a whole new level.

You must have the right network security. With the proper equipment and network security protocols, like advanced firewalls, you can ensure that you are taking the first step to increasing your company’s protection. This also goes with having state-of-the-art networking that your managed IT team can install for you.

Device Security

Ensure all your devices are secure to keep your data safe from hackers.

Don’t think that you’re safe just yet. Every single device needs to be able to be secured so that you can guarantee your company’s safety. This includes email protection and even antivirus software to protect your computers and stop hackers before they can connect to your systems. Securing your devices can ensure that you are protected even when your employees use them.

Employee Security Training and Monitoring

Sometimes you can’t just think that every employee will know they’re not doing anything that may cause a security breach. They may not mean to, but having security monitoring to see their every move can help trace cyberattacks to where and when they started if they happen so you can get it cleared up quickly.

Data Backup Services

No matter your business, you’ll need a data backup solution and disaster recovery plan. Because even with the best employee security training, nothing is 100%.

A local service to provide complete data backups for your company is essential to your business security. You don’t want to keep all of your customer and company info-account data, confidential information, and even payroll info. You want to ensure that your company can get the full service of data backups regularly. And by them being locally owned and operated means that if there’s ever a problem, they can retrieve anything you’re looking for if you can’t find it rather than calling some helpdesk overseas.

Voice over Internet Protocol Phone Systems

With an Infinity DataTel managed phone system running 3CX software, VoIP exploits will be kicked to the curb, and your employee security training will be given a jolt.

The systems you choose are critical when it comes to security. Not only are VoIP systems extremely secure with the proper devices and cybersecurity practices, but you can also guarantee that you’ll save a lot more money. Having VoIP rather than using landlines and fiber is a win-win situation. It also helps in this current world where remote work is becoming a more viable option for employees.

Using the Right Managed Services Provider

With Infinity Solutions/DataTel as your managed service provider, you’ll sleep well knowing the best MSP in Arizona is handling your network and employee security training.

When you look at everything you need, you’ll want an all-in-one technology solution rather than having to pay for every service separately. That’s where the right managed service provider comes into play. They’re very much different than IT departments and IT support technicians – they’re masters at being able to give you every one of these services – and often have packages to provide them to you so you can save at the same time.

Final Security Training Thoughts

If your systems are outdated, or you are still running old software and network systems in your business, then make sure you get up to speed. Employee security training is not just a one-off event. Employee security training should be done continuously throughout the year. For more info about our employee security training methods and to get the right cybersecurity solutions that your company needs, send us a message or give us a call.

Why is it so bad? First, this is one of the rare advanced ransomware infections that you can find very little (but often duplicated content) about this nasty ransomware installed on your computer. According to the information that you get with the virus in the infamous !!! MARS_DECRYPT.TXT file that goes into every folder and attacks your Microsoft Office files. But wait, there’s more.

What is this MARS Ransomware Virus?

The MARS ransomware acts similarly to other ransomware viruses out there. You can get it in numerous ways, but the most common practice these days is thanks to the SMB: CVE-2020-0796 exploit in Windows 10. Fortunately, Windows versions 1903 and 1909 have these patches available in the Windows Update store. Still, there is only a workaround (which isn’t even guaranteed to work) using a PowerShell command that ends up blocking SMB protocols.

The easiest way to deter the MARS ransomware is to turn off your computer’s SMB.

Want another workaround? Turn off SMB in your Microsoft Windows system. No. Really. All of it. Unfortunately for businesses and even home office networks, this makes file sharing between computers a pain in the butt. You can also disable Windows Services (or port 445) on your router network – but then this also can break the ability for Windows to download data from Windows services.

The virus is installed, and apparently, it seems that it is a Russian hacker with complete access. It tells you that you have so many of your office files and infects different file types. They list all that the virus is supposedly encrypting – but this isn’t all the files that get encrypted on your device. The virus then installs other malware into browsers and causes chrome to go haywire in the background, loading extremely malicious websites and installing other viruses.

However, the tricky thing is that you don’t even see what websites open because the windows are invisible (Malwarebytes can catch this happening if you’re infected in real-time).

What’s MARS Ransomware’s Goal?

Like most ransomware, the MARS ransomware is after Bitcoin. Image by Aaron Olson from Pixabay

The goal of these types of ransomware is to steal bitcoin. These days, small businesses have been getting hit harder and more often regarding ransomware. The reason? It’s much easier to charge many small companies, LLCs, and freelancers these days a small amount than to go after a big company with more robust security. More people get infected for no reason – more people pay smaller amounts. This is a business tactic on its own (think about customer service. Charge less, get more customers).

The MARS ransomware infection attacks your system when malicious attachments containing malicious files are downloaded, demanding bitcoin (usually anywhere from $500-800. The encryption process happens swiftly, and you are in big trouble if you don’t have a cloud backup. They tell you to send the unique id and three files for test decryption to an outlook or Russian email address. After decryption, they send you the decrypted files and give you a bitcoin wallet to send the money to.

What Files Are Affected?

“All your important files are encrypted.
To recover encrypted files, you need:1. Buy bitcoins. The easiest way to buy bitcoins is the LocalBitcoins site. You must register, click “Buy Bitcoins,” and select a seller by payment method and price. https://localbitcoins.com/buy_bitcoins

You can also find other places to buy bitcoins and a beginner’s guide here:

“They claim that they’re only infecting office documents, but it gets much worse than that. According to their “ransom note,” they encrypt the following filetypes:

The MARS ransomware digs its heels into your data and encrypts more files than you think.

XLS, XLSX, DOC, DOCX, PPT, PPTX, ODT, ODS, PDF, PSD, FPT, PHP, and MDB files. However, it gets much deeper than that. If the virus runs for a while, then you may notice that even these files get encrypted: .bmp, .jpg, .mp4, .sav (emulator saved games), .dat, .ini, .txt, .rtf, .dotm, .cs (C#), visual studio files, .wav, .mp3, .wma, and many others.

So What Am I Supposed to Do to Be Safe?

Want to keep the MARS ransomware away? Make sure your password-protected sharing is turned on.

If you think you may be at risk, we already gave you a basic idea. Ensure that you don’t have password-protected sharing turned off, but most importantly, disable the SMB protocol on your computer. You can do this currently (until the future Windows Update) in Control Panel > Programs and Features > Windows Features and uncheck both boxes showing SMB in the title. Restart your computer after this and apply the changes. But this doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re safe.

Can I Restore the Encrypted Files?

There are numerous types of file decryption programs released by multiple companies. This ranges from Kaspersky Labs to even Trend Micro and more – but they haven’t created a decryption key for this virus, and we don’t recommend one decryption program over another. It was just discovered this month, and while some say you can use things like Stellar Data Recovery, many users complain that it doesn’t work to recover their files after decryption.

If you have a Shadow Copy from the Windows Shadow Volume Copy service, you may be lucky enough to get some of these files back if you restore them to a specific date. However, you may end up losing some files in the process still.

While a restore point may restore your programs before the attack, this may leave you vulnerable. This is why we urge all of our users to perform a cloud backup daily and, at worst, a weekly backup because it makes the recovery process much more straightforward. In many cases, the only way to fix the solution is to reset your computer using the Windows 10 Recovery Tool.

Mars Ransomware Removal

There are two ways to remove Mars Ransomware from your system. One method involves removing the malware manually with Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Premium or a similar program. Another option is to purchase an anti-malware tool such as SpyHunter, which has been proven effective against similar threats. Both methods require downloading software onto your PC. We highly advise against installing any unknown applications found online without first reading about what they do.

Manual removal requires opening each folder where the malicious application resides and deleting everything. This method is time-consuming and risky since there’s no guarantee that you’ll delete every single piece of data associated with the threat. If you’re unsure how to proceed, contact us immediately to help guide you through the steps involved.

Spyhunter will scan your entire hard drive and display a list of items detected during its analysis. Click “Next,” review the results, and “Remove Selected.” The program should automatically reboot when complete. Note: SpyHunter does not provide real-time protection; therefore, please ensure you run scans regularly.

There Are Still Infinite Solutions

Suppose you feel that your cybersecurity is lacking or that your systems may be threatened by the MARS ransomware(or the possibility of getting it). In that case, you’ll want to get ahold of your local service provider and ensure that they have a full-circle IT solution ready for you to stop the attackers at the gates and not let them in. An advanced threat protection solution that offers active anti-ransomware protection is a good start.

You may even have the date on local cloud backups with your MSP provider to help you get your old files back. But suppose you see that you get infected with the MARS ransomware. In that case, you must first disconnect that infected device completely, possibly even disable or shut down your internet, and call your service provider. They can help you with the proper steps from there!

What Are Deductible Subscriptions?

The above also applies to streaming services that are relevant to your business as well.

If you would rather save money, but use streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, Philo, and others, you may be able to count them as a business expense. Most of us, even business owners, have Smart-TVs now or Roku TVs. If you do in your place of business, you can always add these services for your employees’ entertainment, or even if you use things such as YouTube Premium subscriptions so you can broadcast material, you can add those. Here’s the catch:

They MUST be used only for business. That’s right – unless you’re a self-employed individual and pay for services, these accounts have to be used only at your place of work, for business purposes. It can get a bit sketchy, but this also means you can’t use your business accounts to search and watch your favorite videos on YouTube or the next Game of Thrones Episode at home using your business accounts.

Streaming Music Can Be a Business Expense Too

Most marketing agencies creating original content use music streaming services such as Spotify or iTunes to use in ads and videos. But did you know that if you have on-hold music installed on your VoIP system that it is a business expense, you can write off?  Since it’s a music streaming service and you are using said music to keep customers entertained, it is deductible.

Rather than paying for Sirius, XM Radio, or other more expensive streaming services, you can use things such as iTunes, Spotify, and other services as a solid business expense as well. This also includes VoIP services that you may have patched into these accounts (to provide hold music for your customers). If you want to have a business in which you have public music broadcasting for customers, patients, and even strictly for your workers, audio streaming services can also be added to your business expenses – and they too can be tax-deductible!

Again, it would be best if you only had this for your business. Not for your listening pleasure at home or anywhere else.

What About Amazon?

One that’s not necessarily a streaming service, but more of a subscription service is Amazon Business Prime. For any business wondering, if the cost of a Prime membership is worth it, it is, and it is a deductible business expense.

Other services, including Amazon, have business-specific services that allow you to use strictly for business. When you get one of these services, such as Amazon Business Prime, you can deduct that at the end of your year because it’s a valid business expense.

What Other Services Count as Streaming Services?

Not all of these are streaming services, but they all are tax-deductible, and you should be claiming all of them.

Other services, such as file backups, cloud backup solutions, IT department solutions, and even managed service providers count as a business expense for you. This will help give you a massive break in many ways throughout the year, not just at tax time.

Do Web Hosting Services Count?

Web hosting is counted as a streaming service, and as a business expense can be written off.

This is also deductible, but you want to make sure that you get a good web hosting provider. One of the best things you can do to avoid having numerous bills is to ask your MSP or IT technical support team to provide these services. The best ones offer skills that can adapt to any situation, any business, and on multiple levels. With the right MSP, you can even use your mobile phones, websites, and more to help stay connected to your employees.

Are Long-Term Service IT Contracts Deductible Business Expenses?

A long term service agreement with your MSP is tax-deductible. So are streaming services like iTunes or Spotify if you pay for them in advance.

When it comes to no-hassle services, some may offer a contract-based business relationship, while others are simply word-of-mouth even when they’re paid “month to month.” Many small businesses will either enter long-term contracts with their providers, so they don’t have to deal with the hassle of continually re-upping their subscriptions. For things like Spotify and other streaming services, a lot of times, you can call their customer support line and do this as well. Even Amazon Prime can let you pay for an entire year’s worth of service (vs. month to month).

To consider streaming services into your annual expenses, if you pay for more than a year (like paying for a contracted technical representative team for five years), you can divide it by the amount of time to calculate it into your yearly expenses.

What’s the Point?

The point of this post is to educate you and all of our clients here at Infinity DataTel of how business expenses work and show you how to save some money. By hiring the right team of professionals that can give you the best services on multiple levels – and provide various IT services to you at the same time, you can get a majority of the above streaming features and so much more! Allowing you to get the most out of your company’s money and worry about what’s important – the business!

The Pros of the Dropbox Password Manager

The Dropbox password manager has quite a few pros and benefits of interest to your business.

There are many benefits to using password managers for business applications.

1. The Dropbox password manager can protect your employees’ information.
2. It allows you to have particular concrete policies that protect your business.
3. It allows you to have the ability to set and enforce your passwords that may change regularly – but still allow employees to sign in seamlessly as if nothing has changed.
4. It can improve productivity and overall workplace efficiency.
5. They’re often more secure for your business. You’re more likely to have a cyber attacker try to phish the pertinent information from you than they are to get into your password manager.

Is Third-Party the Best Solution?

Not all password managers are created equal; some are downright awful regarding security. The Dropbox password manager is still in Beta, but it’s looking to change the game.

While you need to know that any third party may be liable for the information should you have a data breach, you want to ensure all of your company’s passwords are safe. Therefore, you must do homework before signing up for a service like the Dropbox password manager. These third-party services are always subject to attack. At any given point, they aren’t as good as dedicated services designed to provide ONLY password management to your company.

Software Solutions for Password Management

Partnering with the right MSP can be highly beneficial for password management and all facets of IT.

There are other things that you can have instilled into your business for security. These are often browser-based, but if you talk to your IT team, you may be able to have them find a quality software solution that can protect you more on the local level. These services are just as secure because you have everything stored on a local server, but you still run the risk of attacks if you don’t have one of the best cybersecurity suites to keep hackers out from the base of their attack points.

With the right managed service provider, you can get a locally owned solution rather than trust some third-party corporation that you may even have trouble calling customer support. And they’ll be able to provide cloud backup services and password management software. What’s the downside to this? If you have all your passwords stored on a local device, you are ultimately waiving the right for another company to maintain responsibility.

How to Protect Yourself

Network security is dependent on employee education, first and foremost. But did you know that password security is just as important? The Dropbox password manager will make it easier and safer to store different passwords for every site and program you need.

First, when you sign up for a service that uses a password manager, you will have a master password in place. You may want only to give your IT support team access to this and nobody else. Otherwise, your IT team may be able to have one, and you need it to be completely secure and nearly impossible to thwart and discover. There are all kinds of hacker tools that can try to find string passwords, so you need to have a good mix of capital and lowercase letters, symbols, and numbers to protect yourself.

If you forget the master password, you may have some trouble. And what’s worse? It doesn’t mean you’re safe. Suppose your attacker should find a Windows Office exploit to operate your system remotely or even install a keylogger on your system. In that case, they can end up getting that master password and gaining access to EVERYTHING that you have secured in your company. Not even The Dropbox password manager can protect against something like this.

How Can I Avoid This?

It never hurts to have your passwords stored somewhere, but you want to ensure that you have them in the safest place possible. Talk to your network or secure VoIP provider to see what you can do regarding password maintenance and see if the Dropbox password manager is right for you. While you may want to get with the times and utilize these services, sometimes it’s best to have those million post-it notes or a spreadsheet printed out in a secure place or file cabinet!

Windows 10 Tip #1 Cleaning the Clutter

Over time, the temporary folders in Windows become cluttered and other areas of the computer. To make them speed up, older versions of Windows had an easy-to-find Disk Cleanup feature that would clear this clutter up, empty your recycle bin, and more.

This tool can still be accessed if you are running a small business or have a lot of data going back and forth, adding or removing, etc., regularly. Hit the Start button, and type Disk Cleanup. Then all you have to do is perform the cleanup and defragment of your hard drive as normal. It is highly suggested that if you run with SSD drives or defragment your computer fully (at least once a week), you do it at the end of the office day or have your IT team do it after hours.

Windows 10 Tip #2 Special Start Menu

You’ll see another Windows 10 tip in the left-hand corner, the special start menu.

Windows, of course, has a start menu when you hit the “Start” button on your keyboard, but many users don’t know that there are many things they can still access using a special start menu by pressing the letter X with the Windows key. It gives you an enhanced but slimline version of the Start menu that lets you access Apps and Features, Disk Management tools (including disk cleanup), Device Manager, Task Manager, PowerShell, and more.

Windows 10 Tip #3 Taskbar Hotkeys

These are not the shortcuts we are looking for, but if you hold down the Windows key and hit a number, you’ll be able to open up your taskbar programs, which is a pretty cool Windows 10 tip.

Aside from Alt+Tab, one of an IT professional’s best friends, you can also access different apps and windows on the taskbar according to the number they’re pulled up in. If you hold the Windows key and type the number of the window’s location on the taskbar, you can switch to it instantly. For example, if your browser is the fourth window on the taskbar, you’ll hold Windows & hit the number 4.

You can see all your open programs in one place by holding down the alt and tab keys simultaneously.

Windows 10 Tip #4 Shake it Down

If you have many different windows open, which is pretty standard in the workplace, you may need to do something such as access the desktop quickly or minimize multiple windows at once. To do this, you must click the top Status bar in your Windows app and then shake your mouse back and forth quickly. This will minimize all of that program’s windows so you can do what you must in other areas.

You can always restore the windows later by doing it again. However, you must have this setting enabled via the Windows Settings ->Multitasking area or the Group Policy Editor (something for the IT Pros out there).

Windows 10 Tip #5 The Powerful God Mode

Learning how to get into your computer’s God Mode folder is an invaluable Windows 10 tip.

This is something that many IT and managed service providers know about, but it is something they are keener on using compared to regular users. You can create a shortcut with every single setting for Windows in one convenient folder – including control panel shortcuts and more advanced features. To do this, you have to create a folder (you cannot create a shortcut to this anymore like you could with older versions of Windows) and name the folder: GodMode.{ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C}

Once you do this and hit enter, the icon will change to a new symbol, and when you open it, you need to be extremely careful. You can jack up your computer if you don’t know what you’re doing in this advanced control panel.

Windows 10 Tip #6 Boot Your Systems Faster

If you follow this Windows 10 tip, you’ll be able to boot up your system faster.

One of the best options that you can find is the task manager’s Startup tab. It allows you to enable or disable startup items (not services) that slow down your bootup and loading process. If you want the most out of this, you can always open the Windows Run command prompt (using the Start Menu we mentioned), then type MSConfig into the box, and then hit enter. This will pull up advanced configurations. You probably want these settings at the least:

Normal startup

Boot Tab->Timeout 8 seconds

Services Tab -> Check to Hide All Microsoft Services
Turn off Any Program services that aren’t system or Antivirus (Google, Adobe Acrobat, etc.)

Hit OK, or Apply-> OK, then restart your computer to see how much faster Windows loads. Do note that if you have an Antivirus causing slower computer speeds (this is common), you may not see much difference.

What Other Windows 10 Tips Can I Get?

If you have a good managed service provider or VoIP service team member that’s a true professional in everything IT, then all you have to do is ask if there’s a shortcut that you can use. Numerous tools can be used to speed up productivity. We highly recommend using them, such as if you’re a writer who needs to operate quickly with word processing or have many windows up for processing data. Just ask, and they’ll let you know!

Have you ever lost your data because you accidentally deleted it from your hard drive? What if you needed to pull up an old document or a photo that you may have removed a while back?

I Thought Windows Came with a Recovery Solution

Many people fail to realize that there is a time limit to using Windows File Recovery, and they tend to find out after it’s too late, and their files are gone forever.

This puppy isn’t like your operating system repair and recovery. Instead of downloading special software, Microsoft aims to help you recover lost or deleted files. Of course, you can’t wait forever to recover your files. Otherwise, they may be gone entirely and overwritten to the block. But is this file recovery any good? Or is it better to have another file recovery tool or a professionally managed service provider do it for you? Let’s find out!

Limited Options

There are now file recovery options for everything technical and IoT, including phones, computers, camera systems, and even smart toasters.

File recovery programs are not only a dime a dozen, but so are their features. From mobile device recovery to PC or Mac recovery (even Linux has recovery apps), what you need in a file recovery system may vary, and you may not get the right one the first time. On top of that, you may have particular files that you need to recover, program files, installation files, and other pertinent data.

Microsoft’s tool recovers a lot, but it doesn’t recover everything. They’ve stuck their tool about so-so with much other mediocre software on the web – allowing you only to recover MP3s, MP4 vids, Documents (including text files, rich text files, and Office Documents), and JPEG images. If you want more recovery options, you may want to leave that to the pros or spend cash on another program.

Only for Certain Hard Drives

Depending on which hard drive you have installed may be the difference in Windows File Recovery retrieving your data or being lost forever.

Windows File Recovery can do an excellent job at retrieving the types of documents above on an NTFS file system, but it lags when extracting data from other hard drive signature types. This means that if you have a FAT32 or a ReFS file system, it may take much more time to retrieve less data than you would if you used an NTFS filesystem.

What does this mean for the average user? It means you can help recover lost files that are important to you if you accidentally wiped your hard drive or deleted something. Of course, Microsoft already put this into Windows 10 if you have File History turned on (you have to enable it manually).

Is It the Best Option for File Recovery?

Windows File recovery is probably not the best method of recovering your files, and you should look elsewhere if you can.

We’re going to answer that question with a loud and resounding no. Why do you ask? First, your limitations with Windows 10 make it even harder to recover files. There are also a bazillion other file formats than the ones that software applications create, and this file recovery tool can’t recover everything you may need. There is plenty of higher-end software, but as mentioned earlier, that may not be the best option for your business or personal needs.

Hidden Dangers of File Recovery

When attempting to use Windows File recovery or any file recovery, there is always a possibility that something may go wrong, so plan accordingly and be safe.

If you’ve noticed, since Windows ME and even Windows XP existed, file recovery and any recovery can be potentially dangerous. There are millions of viruses out there, and even though your virus protection (unless it’s a beast provided by your MSP) is working full force, it may not pick up on erased or super-compacted-and-encrypted data. In other words, Windows Recovery partitions and even the infamous System Restore has and always will be necessary for essential things but dangerous because they can harbor old removed viruses.

Therefore, it’s best not to do the work yourself if you can avoid it. Get ahold of your team of IT pros and let them get cranking – you’ll always have the insurance of knowing that you won’t harm your disk drives with their help!