Have you heard the saying, "A picture is worth a thousand words"? It seems cyber criminals have too, and they're using it to their advantage.

In a new twist on phishing campaigns, cyber criminals are luring victims to click on images rather than downloading malicious files or clicking suspicious links.

Let's dive into the warning signs, so you can keep your business safe from these sneaky attacks.

Update: This controversial image enhancement feature now seems to have been removed by Microsoft, following privacy concerns.

Don't be mistaken, we love Microsoft Edge (and think you will too), but lately, something has come to our attention that we wanted to share.

It's always a good idea to be aware of what your browser is doing behind the scenes. And there’s an Edge setting that you might be interested to learn about. It’s one that sends the images you view online to Microsoft.

While this might not seem like a big deal on the surface - it’s done to enhance the images - some business owners might be concerned about the privacy implications. After all, you never know who might be looking at your browsing history.

When you replace old computers or external drives, do you delete data and then just… get rid of them? You could be putting your sensitive data at risk. A new study by a data recovery specialist shows that millions of deleted files can be recovered from improperly wiped hard drives that are sold online.

It isn’t just buyers who can access your old files. Cyber criminals often buy used hard drives and attempt to recover data from them. This could include anything from confidential business information to client details. It’s easy to forget about old data when you’re excited about shiny new technology. However, it’s important to consider what’s on that old drive before selling it or disposing of it.

Even if the drive is encrypted, it’s still possible for data to be recovered. And if the drive is damaged, there’s a chance that some of the data is still salvageable. It’s better to be safe than sorry when it comes to sensitive information.

Think about it this way: Would you leave important documents lying around for anyone to see? Of course not! Your digital information deserves the same level of protection.

So what can you do to protect yourself?

Microsoft has announced that the current version of Windows 10, released in 2022, will be its final release.

If you're currently using Windows 10, you might wonder what this means for your day-to-day operations. The good news is that your computers won’t suddenly stop working. The current updates and security patches for Windows 10 won’t disappear anytime soon either.

However, you may want to consider upgrading to Windows 11 sooner rather than later. Microsoft has made it clear that it will be devoting all its attention to the new operating system from now on, so future developments and innovation will be focused on Windows 11.

You know those charging points you find in airports, hotels, cafés, and even shopping malls? They're super handy for boosting your phone or laptop battery on the go. But lately, they've been making headlines for all the wrong reasons. The FBI recently tweeted some advice, warning people to stop using these charging points. Apparently, some clever criminals have figured out how to take advantage of the USB ports and sneak malware onto your devices while they charge.

Now, you might be thinking, "Wait, is this 'juice jacking' thing for real?" Well, it used to be more of a theoretical concern, but the technology needed to pull off such an attack has become smaller, cheaper, and easier to use. As a result, even less tech-savvy criminals are getting in on the action.

AI chatbots have become a dominant force in recent times, but beware, their rise has given cyber criminals the tools to create even more frightening scams. These malicious actors have discovered how AI can make their phishing attacks more insidious and terrifyingly effective.

Ironically, the phishing emails generated by a chatbot feel more human than ever before – which puts you and your people at greater risk of falling for a scam. So we all need to be even more careful.

The typical red flags that people are used to looking out for in suspicious emails, such as spelling and grammar errors, are now being eliminated by AI-powered phishing emails. The technology can even construct entire email threads that appear legitimate and trustworthy, making it even more difficult to distinguish between what's genuine and what's not.

When you think about tools for remote working and chatting online, one of the first names in your mind is Zoom. But its popularity has opened the door for cyber criminals. They’re using its name to steal sensitive data.

Researchers have discovered at least six convincing-looking download sites. They’re not the real thing. They’re designed to tempt you into downloading FAKE Zoom software, containing ‘info stealers’ and other forms of malware (malicious software).

Accidentally use one of these sites thinking that you’re downloading a Zoom update… and you risk having sensitive data stolen. Possibly your banking info, passwords, or browser history. Some can even steal your multi-factor authentication details. That could give cyber criminals access to your most sensitive data.