Android – B.S. Consulting

Are your company mobile devices protected?

Mobile devices are indispensable. Smartphones, tablets, and other mobile gadgets play a big part in everyday processes, especially for individuals and companies that value connection and convenience. But as the number of mobile devices used in business operations increases, so do the cyberthreats that target them. Be sure to follow these steps to safeguard company mobile devices.

Ensure mobile OS is up to date

The updates to Apple and Android operating systems (OS) improve overall user experience, but their most important function is to fix security vulnerabilities. Reduce your business’s exposure to threats by installing updates for all devices as soon as they become available. Don’t delay updates, as doing so gives cybercriminals ample time to exploit vulnerabilities on devices that run on an outdated OS.

Install business applications only

Downloading apps seems harmless. However, lenient policies on what should and shouldn’t be downloaded on company mobile devices could lead to staff installing non-business-related apps, many of which are notorious for malicious advertising codes and other threats. It’s imperative that employees download and install only business applications necessary for their work on their company-issued mobile devices.

Be careful when connecting to public Wi-Fi networks

Emergencies may compel your staff to use password-free Wi-Fi networks in hotels, airports, cafes, and other public places. Connecting to an open network can expose your confidential information and sensitive company data to cybercriminals connected to the same network.

You can avoid this by providing a practical internet data plan, preferably one that includes roaming services, for remote workers. And if connecting to a public Wi-Fi network is really necessary, using a reputable virtual private network (VPN) can help protect your sensitive data. A VPN creates a direct, secure connection for data from your end to your intended point on the internet.

Enable phone tracking tools

Losing a company-issued mobile device is unfortunate. Devices can be misplaced or stolen, but enabling Find My iPhone for iOS devices, GPS Phone Tracker for Android, or any device-tracking app helps users locate lost phones. Some also have the option to delete data on stolen devices. Downloading and setting up such an app takes only a few minutes and it will give you peace of mind knowing that even if your phone is lost or stolen, its contents will not be compromised.

Screen SMS carefully

SMS phishing can be used to trick you into clicking malicious links. Cybercriminals send messages purporting to be from someone you know, asking you to urgently disclose confidential information. Should you encounter such an SMS, you can either delete it or alert your IT department. You can also block unknown senders without even opening their messages.

Mobile devices are becoming more critical to operations. And with more devices open to attacks, businesses must bolster their cybersecurity efforts. Malicious actors will exploit every possible vulnerability and that includes those in unsecured smartphones and tablets. Get in touch with us if you need comprehensive security solutions for your business.

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What Android accessories should you have?

Many Android phone and tablet models provide great features and functionality out of the box. However, your Android device can offer so much more value when you customize it with accessories and peripheral devices. Here are some must-have accessories you should invest in for your Android devices.

Protective cases

No matter how careful you are with your Android device, there’s always a chance you can accidentally drop it. If your device’s display is shattered or the underlying hardware is damaged in any way, you could end up paying expensive repair fees. Purchasing a protective case or cover ensures your device stays in good condition — and they’re relatively inexpensive, too.

There are various options for cases. For starters, there are ultra-thin cases that are lightweight and feature stylish designs, but they may not be the most protective option. Those who work in harsh environments may prefer rugged cases, which can survive frequent drops and other heavy-duty use cases. Finally, for employees who work on the go often, wallet-style cases provide a built-in screen protector and extra compartments to hold your cards, cash, and ID.

Screen protectors

As their name suggests, screen protectors protect your device’s display from nicks, scratches, and cracks. Tempered glass screen protectors are the best option for your Android displays, as they’re much thicker and thereby better at securing your device if it falls. Good quality tempered glass also has great touch response and doesn’t affect the viewing experience at all.

Keyboards

Touchscreen keyboards on your Android phone or tablet may not always be optimal for heavy business-type work like spreadsheet editing, word processing, and more. Fortunately, if you prefer a more tactile typing experience, Android devices let you connect portable keyboards via a micro-USB adapter or Bluetooth. To sync a Bluetooth keyboard to your device, simply go to Settings menu, enable the Bluetooth option, select Search for devices, and select the keyboard you wish to pair. There are many wireless keyboards compatible with Android, but we recommend models from name brand companies like Logitech, Microsoft, and even Apple.

Mice

Using Bluetooth mice will allow you to transform your Android tablet into a more traditional, yet compact laptop replacement. This is particularly helpful if you need mouse navigation for certain workloads like text editing. Similar to keyboards, you’ll want to select trustworthy mouse brands for ergonomics, reliability, and quality.

Phone holders

If your work often requires you to drive to different locations, consider installing a phone holder on your dashboard or windshield. With this setup, you can view GPS apps on your Android phone, answer emergency calls, and use voice commands completely hands-free. Some phone holders even have wireless charging built-in, so your device can stay topped up for however long you need on the road.

MicroSD cards

MicroSD cards allow you to increase your Android device’s available storage space. This gives you much more room for saving high-resolution videos, images, and other files. Plus, having access to locally saved files is great for areas with unreliable connections to your cloud storage platform.

When selecting microSD cards, pay attention to storage capacity and speed — usually displayed in classes like 4, 6, and 10. Class 10 microSD cards have a minimum write speed of 10 MB/s and are ideal for most situations. As for the storage capacity, there are 32 GB to 1TB microSD cards available, and the one you choose will largely depend on your budget.

Portable charger

Even though most Android devices can make it through a day on a single charge, having too many resource-intensive apps open can quickly drain power. In these cases, having a portable charger can be a lifesaver. Keep in mind that not all portable chargers are built the same. You want to make sure they support the fast charging standards of your device, offer at least 10,000 mAh of capacity, and use the type of USB ports compatible with your device.

There are so many ways to extend the functionality of and enhance your Android device. If you have any questions about Android or are looking to integrate it into your business, give us a call and we’ll be happy to advise you.

This post was originally published on this site

What Android accessories should you have?

Protective cases

Screen protectors

Keyboards

Mice

Phone holders

MicroSD cards

Portable charger

This post was originally published on this site

Moving files from Android to PC or Mac

Maybe you ran out of phone memory so you need to transfer files from your mobile to your computer’s storage drive. Or maybe you need a bigger screen to work on something and your computer provides that. Whatever brought you to this page, here’s how to transfer files from your Android device to your computer.

To start, you’ll need the following:

Your Android phone
A computer with a USB Type A or C port
A USB cable

On Windows

Unlock your phone.
Plug it into your computer’s USB port using a cable.
Your Android phone will display a “Charging this device via USB” notification. Tap on it.
Tapping on the notification will display other options. Select File Transfer under “Use USB for.”
Your computer will show a file transfer window. Drag and drop files from this window to your preferred location on your computer.
Once you’re done, unplug your USB cable from the computer.

On Mac

Transferring files from an Android device to a Mac is pretty much the same process as that for Android to Windows file transfers, but with a few additional steps:

Download and install Android File Transfer on your computer. Take note that this app only works on Macs running on macOS 10.7 or later.
Open the Android File Transfer app. You need to open it the first time you use it, but the next time you plug in your device, it will automatically open.
Unlock your Android app and connect it to your Mac using your USB cable.
On your phone, tap on the notification that says “Charging this device via USB.”
Your phone will then display other USB options for your device. Under “Use USB for,” choose File Transfer. This will prompt your computer to display an Android File Transfer window.
Drag and drop files from this window to your preferred location on your computer.
After backing up your data, eject your USB by right-clicking the icon for the external device on your desktop and selecting “Eject [volume name].” Alternatively, you can drag the external volume icon into the trash can in the Dock.
Unplug your USB cable.

Transferring files from one device to another is easy, isn’t it? But data backup is more than just copying and moving files. If you want to learn more about making your business devices and computers disaster-proof, our dedicated IT experts can help you perform routine backups that go beyond drag-and-drop. With their knowledge in security, data recovery, and business continuity, you never have to worry about losing your data again. Call us today.

This post was originally published on this site

Moving files from Android to PC or Mac

To start, you’ll need the following:

Your Android phone
A computer with a USB Type A or C port
A USB cable

On Windows

Unlock your phone.
Plug it into your computer’s USB port using a cable.
Your Android phone will display a “Charging this device via USB” notification. Tap on it.
Tapping on the notification will display other options. Select File Transfer under “Use USB for.”
Your computer will show a file transfer window. Drag and drop files from this window to your preferred location on your computer.
Once you’re done, unplug your USB cable from the computer.

On Mac

Transferring files from an Android device to a Mac is pretty much the same process as that for Android to Windows file transfers, but with a few additional steps:

Download and install Android File Transfer on your computer. Take note that this app only works on Macs running on macOS 10.7 or later.
Open the Android File Transfer app. You need to open it the first time you use it, but the next time you plug in your device, it will automatically open.
Unlock your Android app and connect it to your Mac using your USB cable.
On your phone, tap on the notification that says “Charging this device via USB.”
Your phone will then display other USB options for your device. Under “Use USB for,” choose File Transfer. This will prompt your computer to display an Android File Transfer window.
Drag and drop files from this window to your preferred location on your computer.
After backing up your data, eject your USB by right-clicking the icon for the external device on your desktop and selecting “Eject [volume name].” Alternatively, you can drag the external volume icon into the trash can in the Dock.
Unplug your USB cable.

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Safeguard your social media accounts from hackers

Social media phishing attacks are on the rise, with Facebook being one of the most commonly impersonated brands. Hackers are now employing more sophisticated tactics to steal personal data from social media users. To keep your data safe from them, heed our reminders and tips to strengthen your privacy settings and keep bad actors away.

Lock screens exist for a reason

Always lock all your devices as soon as you stop using them. This way, you are safe from the simplest hack of all: someone opening a social media site on your browser while you’re still signed in.

In case you didn’t know, here’s how to lock your computer:

On Macs:

Press Ctrl+Command+Q.
Click the Apple logo on the top left corner of the screen, and click Lock screen.

On Windows devices:

Press Windows key+L.
If there are multiple users using the device, click the Start button on the bottom left corner of the screen, then select User > Lock.

Strong passwords aren’t out of fashion — yet

A six-digit passcode may be enough to secure your phone, but you’ll need something much more complicated for your social media account passwords. Create a password that you don’t use for any other account because with the regular occurrence of data breaches, hackers probably already have a long list of your favorite passwords from other websites and platforms.

It is best to use a password manager like 1Password, LastPass, or Dashlane. These allow you to generate, save, and retrieve complex passwords.

You can also enable multifactor authentication, which requires users to fulfill at least one more identity verification step after entering their username and password. The extra step or steps can be getting your fingerprint scanned or entering a one-time passcode on an authentication app. Even if hackers have your password, they won’t be able to log in without the additional authentication requirements.

Make use of social media features

Facebook can help you monitor who’s accessing your account and from where. On a Mac or Windows computer, click on the down arrow located at the upper right corner of your Newsfeed and select Settings and Privacy. Then click Settings > Security and Login to get more information.

Under the section Where You’re Logged In, you’ll see a list of the places and devices you’re logged into. If you don’t recognize a particular location or device, that means someone else has logged in as you and is likely doing things you do not approve of. You need to log them out forcibly (by clicking the ellipsis on the row indicating the malicious login and click Not you?) and then report the incident immediately.

Then, under Setting Up Extra Security, turn on Get alerts about unrecognized logins. Unfortunately, as of this writing, Twitter doesn’t have the same option. This makes implementing multifactor authentication even more necessary.

Hackers can also take over your Facebook and Twitter accounts through third-party services to which you’ve given access to your profiles, so make sure to double-check what you have approved. Here’s what you need to do:

Facebook: Go to Settings > Apps and Websites to view and manage third-party services that use Facebook to log you into the accounts you have with them.
Twitter: Go to Settings and Privacy > Apps to check and edit the list.

Lastly, check the permissions Facebook and Twitter have on your smartphone or tablet.

Android: Go to Settings > Apps > App permissions.
iOS: Go to Settings > Privacy to manage which service can access which parts of your phone (such as the camera and speaker).

Less personal info, fewer problems

These steps are just the beginning of what you should be doing. You should also limit the personal data you share on your social media accounts. Avoid oversharing.

By following these tips, you can significantly prevent Facebook and Twitter hacking.

Cybersecurity is a sprawling issue — and social media privacy is but one of the many things you need to stay on top of. For 24/7 support, call our team of experts today.

This post was originally published on this site

Safeguard your social media accounts from hackers

Lock screens exist for a reason

Always lock all your devices as soon as you stop using them. This way, you are safe from the simplest hack of all: someone opening a social media site on your browser while you’re still signed in.

In case you didn’t know, here’s how to lock your computer:

On Macs:

Press Ctrl+Command+Q.
Click the Apple logo on the top left corner of the screen, and click Lock screen.

On Windows devices:

Press Windows key+L.
If there are multiple users using the device, click the Start button on the bottom left corner of the screen, then select User > Lock.

Strong passwords aren’t out of fashion — yet

It is best to use a password manager like 1Password, LastPass, or Dashlane. These allow you to generate, save, and retrieve complex passwords.

Make use of social media features

Facebook: Go to Settings > Apps and Websites to view and manage third-party services that use Facebook to log you into the accounts you have with them.
Twitter: Go to Settings and Privacy > Apps to check and edit the list.

Lastly, check the permissions Facebook and Twitter have on your smartphone or tablet.

Android: Go to Settings > Apps > App permissions.
iOS: Go to Settings > Privacy to manage which service can access which parts of your phone (such as the camera and speaker).

Less personal info, fewer problems

These steps are just the beginning of what you should be doing. You should also limit the personal data you share on your social media accounts. Avoid oversharing.

By following these tips, you can significantly prevent Facebook and Twitter hacking.

Cybersecurity is a sprawling issue — and social media privacy is but one of the many things you need to stay on top of. For 24/7 support, call our team of experts today.

This post was originally published on this site

Watch out for mobile ransomware on your Android device

Ransomware is now so rampant that it has spread to mobile devices. In particular, Android smartphones and tablets are vulnerable to ransomware, putting confidential data stored in these devices at risk of loss, theft, and/or use for criminal activities. How can you keep your business’s Android devices safe against mobile ransomware? Read on to find out.

How does mobile ransomware work?

Android users may unwittingly download mobile apps riddled with ransomware from third-party app stores or even legitimate ones such as Google Play Store. Once these apps are installed, the ransomware is launched, locking the device and encrypting the data it contains. The victim may see a ransom note on the screen demanding payment in Bitcoin or some other cryptocurrency in exchange for unlocking the device or the decryption key.

One specific ransomware strain detected in late 2020 locks a mobile device’s screen and prevents the user from dismissing the ransom note, which looks like a message from the police. The note tells the user that they committed a crime and must pay a fine — a technique that cybercriminals have been using to make their victims panic, making the latter more likely to pay up.

What should you do if your Android device is infected?

Just as with ransomware that affects computers, there’s no guarantee that paying the ransom will restore access to the device and/or encrypted data. This is why cybersecurity and law enforcement professionals advise against giving in to cybercriminals’ demands.

Instead, they recommend that you immediately disconnect the infected smartphone or tablet from your business’s Wi-Fi or home network and other devices it’s connected to. This will prevent further infections within your network.

Next, report the incident to your in-house IT staff or managed services provider, who can help you find out what type of ransomware you’re dealing with. They can then figure out the best way to remove the ransomware and help you regain control of your device and everything in it.

How do you protect your business from mobile ransomware?

Remind your employees to download from official app stores only; they should never download from third-party app stores and websites, as well as online forums. Additionally, make sure they turn on Google’s security system, Verify Apps, which scans apps for potential threats before these can be installed. They can do this on their Android devices by going to Settings > Security > Verify Apps, and enabling “Scan device for security threats.”

Also, ensure that all your employees’ mobile devices have antivirus software installed on them, and that it’s always kept up to date.

Finally, back up important files on mobile devices to either a USB drive, a computer, or any cloud-based storage service. This way, your staff won’t lose valuable data if they need to reset their smartphone or tablet.

For more advice on how to protect your business from mobile ransomware and other cyberthreats, get in touch with our experts today.

This post was originally published on this site

Watch out for mobile ransomware on your Android device

How does mobile ransomware work?

What should you do if your Android device is infected?

How do you protect your business from mobile ransomware?

Also, ensure that all your employees’ mobile devices have antivirus software installed on them, and that it’s always kept up to date.

For more advice on how to protect your business from mobile ransomware and other cyberthreats, get in touch with our experts today.

This post was originally published on this site

Mobile device management: A game changer for healthcare

More hospital wireless networks are making use of mobile device management (MDM) software to monitor every device connected to their network, and for good reason, too. Here are the numerous benefits MDM offers to healthcare organizations.

Compliance

Governments have established several regulations, such as HIPAA, to protect patient records, but mobile devices are posing a major challenge to these regulations. If companies violate the rules, they can be penalized with a fine as high as $1.5 million.

The largest compliance risk associated with the use of mobile devices is data leakage. The most common example of this is an employee keeping sensitive data or footage in his or her phone and then uploading it on social media. MDM mitigates this risk by allowing system administrators to set access and usage restrictions for data and applications so employees comply with the company’s security policies.

Cost-effectiveness

Many practices are adopting bring your own device (BYOD) policies, encouraging employees to use their own tablets, computers, and smartphones for work. MDM solutions make it possible for IT administrators to remotely monitor and control these devices. But more importantly, organizations benefit from the reduced overhead and hardware costs, since they don’t have to purchase the devices for their staff.

Better device security

As long as the systems administrator uses MDM, it will be a challenge for hackers to gain access to any confidential information, regardless of where in the hospital the device is. The best MDM applications can encrypt files in a portable device and distinguish corporate data from the employee’s personal information. In the event that the employee leaves the company, the MDM software will remove corporate data on their devices, minimizing the risk of unauthorized access to protected health information. Meanwhile, if the device is lost or stolen, the MDM software can be used to fully wipe the device remotely.

Company-wide updates

One of the biggest challenges of mobile devices is it’s often difficult to keep software updates consistent throughout the company. What’s worse is that employees may put off updates because they’re on a tight schedule. However, these updates are essential in defending against the latest threats.

MDM addresses these problems with company-wide updates. When a security patch is available for business software, MDM makes it easy to track which devices are still vulnerable and lets system administrators automatically administer updates. This way, companies can secure any vulnerabilities in company-registered devices from a central location.

No changes to infrastructure

MDM applications will not demand a change in the Wi-Fi infrastructure of an organization, but if the system cannot handle all the devices logged in to the network, the support team will have difficulties managing all medical applications and individual devices. If a hospital has a strong wireless network, then there will be no need to make changes to the system.

These are just some of the advantages to having MDM in the healthcare industry. If you need more information on MDM, or if you have other technical concerns, feel free to get in touch with us today!

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