Blue Frog Technology, LLC

12/05/2018

06/28/2017

Could Your Backups Survive A Ransomware Attack?

More and more businesses and organizations are getting stung by ransomware demands. Hospitals, schools, social networks…some days it seems like an epidemic that leaps around arbitrarily, and hackers are raking in millions.
Tallied across the word…billions.

Ransomware attacks are devious in their simplicity. A user in the target business is tricked into opening a file, usually through a phishing email or download. The file contains malware which instantly encrypts your data and demands money in exchange for the password.

No payment = no password = no data.

All of the target businesses should have backups, which they could simply revert to without paying any money, but the FBI reports more than $209 million was sent to hackers in the first quarter of this year alone. Keep in mind, this was just payments within the US, and only counts those who came forward.
Last year it was only $25million.

Aren’t backups helping?
Sometimes the backup solution fails and the data can’t be retrieved. This is particularly true in cases where the solution has been in use for years and something failed along the way.
In other instances, the target business has a backup that can be restored, but it doesn’t include everything they need for full recovery.

Finally, and the most common reason so many businesses are forced to pay the ransom: the ransomware attack affects the entire system – including attached and synchronized backups. If the backup is also caught in the ransomware encryption, it becomes useless as a recovery method and the only options are to pay or lose the data forever.

Each day spent trying to recover the data is a drain on valuable business resources and in many cases, results in massive revenue loss.

The only defense is to block the malware before it can infect the first workstation, and then continue the protection with a comprehensive backup strategy for all workstations and servers.

Give us a callat(318) 379-4433 to discuss how we can help secure your business against ransomware today!

06/26/2017

Frustrated with your computer and afraid you'll damage it by smashing the Enter key?

Buy the BIG ENTER BUTTON!!!

06/25/2017

There's a wealth of information in this article but my recommendation is to buy either and Asus or Huwaei phone via Amazon/eBay. You can get a very nice brand new phone for $200 (or more if you want). The hardware specs are nearly identical to anything coming from Samsung or Apple. You'd own your phone and not have to pay $20/$40 a month for years.

Two-year cell phone contracts are officially dying

06/25/2017

5 Red Flags of Phishing Emails: Think Before You Click

A single click can be the difference between maintaining data security and suffering massive financial losses. From the moment just one employee takes the bait in a phishing email, your business is vulnerable to data breaches and extensive downtime.
Quickly spot the red flags and put phishing emails where they belong:

1. Poor spelling and grammar
While occasional typos happen to even the best of us, an email filled with errors is a clear warning sign. Most companies push their campaigns through multiple review stages where errors are blitzed and language is refined. Unlikely errors throughout the entire message indicate that the same level of care was not taken, and therefore the message is likely fraudulent.

2. An offer too good to be true
Free items or a lottery win sure sound great, but when the offer comes out of nowhere and with no catch? There’s definitely cause for concern. Take care not to get carried away and click without investigating deeper.

3. Random sender who knows too much
Phishing has advanced in recent years to include ‘spear phishing’, which is an email or offer designed especially for your business. Culprits take details from your public channels, such as a recent function or award, and then use it against you. The only clues? The sender is unknown – they weren’t at the event or involved in any way. Take a moment to see if their story checks out.

4. The URL or email address is not quite right
One of the most effective techniques used in phishing emails is to use domains which sound almost right. For example, [microsoft.info.com] or [pay-pal.com]
Hover over the link with your mouse and review where it will take you. If it doesn’t look right, or is completely different from the link text, send that email to the bin.

5. It asks for personal, financial or business details
Alarm bells should ring when a message contains a request for personal, business or financial information. If you believe there may be a genuine issue, you can initiate a check using established, trusted channels.
While education is the best way to ensure phishing emails are unsuccessful, a robust spam filter and solid anti-virus system provide peace of mind that your business has the best protection available.
Give us a call to discuss how we can secure your system against costly phishing attacks. (318)379-4433

01/05/2017

A lack of sufficient defense to stop cyber breaches is why hackers view small businesses as easy targets. Are you protected? Give us a call, we can help. http://ow.ly/GbhL306J0gM

Cybersecurity isn’t just good practice; it’s good business.

11/01/2016

Proud to be an American! Get out and vote!

10/26/2016

Another BEAUTIFUL day on Cane River! We're so grateful to be able to provide IT Services to such a wonderful small town. If you need PC Repair, Systems Management, or Web Development, let us know! No matter what you do, get out and enjoy this lovely weather!

09/29/2016

Just showed to clients house and they thought I was the roofer. Lol. To be fair, a pearlsnap shirt, a rodeo cap, and driving an F350 doesn't exactly scream "computer nerd"

07/22/2016

If you need help getting upgraded, please let us know. We highly recommend any Windows 8 machine get upgraded before its too late. Most Windows 7 machines would benefit as well. Don't wait too late and have to pay the $120 for the upgrade!

For the past year, Microsoft has been annoyingly aggressive about getting people on board with Windows 10. If you’ve some how come this far without upgrading,. the time has come to cast your die. The software is getting a big price hike starting July 30th, from $0 to $120.

06/12/2016

So, this is a major problem with PCs today. There are 48 different pieces of completely unnecessary sofwares being installed during this "factory restore". Junkware happens but it happens way too much on HP and Toshiba.

06/07/2016

Blue Frog Technology gladly accepts CobblerPay. Thank you, Ms. Linda!

02/17/2016

is very proud of our friends, colleagues, and clients that were nominated and winning awards at the Natchitoches Chamber of Commerce Awards Luncheon. Rhodes Properties and Development was nominated (and should have won) for Best Small Business of the Year, J & J Specialty Lawn and Landscaping LLC won Best Mid-Size Business, and Alliance Compressors, LLC won Best Large Business!!

All of these are top notch businesses run by top notch folks that are truly making Natchitoches a better place for all of us.

02/05/2016

****Another Public Service from your Friendly, Local Nerds*****

Do not buy cheap USB cables, folks. The new USB standard is amazing, but with great power comes great responsibility. Manufacturers are skimping on quality and that may set your computer ablaze!

02/03/2016

Please share so people don't panic when it happens to them...

***Windows 10 is now set to automatically download and install on your Windows 7/8 machine***

If you'd like this prevented, we can help!

If you'd like someone to help with the transition, we can help there too!

Either way, let people know because being prepared is way better then being surprised!

Microsoft's Windows 10 push starts today. The OS has been reclassified as a

01/12/2016

Geaux (Clemson) Tigers!!

01/06/2016

This is a glorious event for anyone in the IT Support or Web Development fields. THE BEAST IS DEAD!

Microsoft is ending support for Internet Explorer 8, 9, and 10 next week on January 12th, releasing a final patch encouraging users to upgrade to one of the company's more recent browsers. The end...

12/31/2015

This has been confirmed. If you have AT&T and are due for a phone upgrade in exchange for a 2-year contract, now is the time to do it. Starting January 8th, you'll have to pay full price or sign up for their NEXT payment plan for a new phone.

Starting on January 8, 2016, AT&T plans to introduce a "pricing simplification effort" that will see the end of device subsidies and...

12/17/2015

Tired of your terrible computer? Let us bring it back to a "Like New" state. But let's be honest, that's not always possible. When it isn't, we offer Computer User Therapy in the form of explosives...Like or Share if you'd like to do this to your PC sometimes :)

12/16/2015

...when your new Web Development tools make it feel like Christmas came early :)

12/15/2015

Excited about the new Star Wars movie but worried about people spoiling it before you get a chance to see it? There's an app for that...Well, more accurately, there's a Google Chrome Extension for that... Share and enjoy :)

Block pages containing spoilers from Star Wars: The Force Awakens, with smart pattern detection and a whitelist for false alarms.

12/07/2015

10/30/2015

********Flashback Friday***********
A whole 10mb?!?!? Sign me up! Take my money!

10/28/2015

**Web Design Wednesday: Common Sense Web Design for your Small Business**

Be Straightforward, Be Available, Be Helpful, Be Found, Be Local, Be Mobile.

Customers have changed and businesses have changed. For your small business, it is either time to create or revamp your online presence.  As a small business, the objectives of a website should be: Be found  Build trust  Inspire the next step To help you meet those

10/27/2015

**Tech TipsTuesday: Tidbits to Make Life Easier**

We're in love with Windows 10. It runs better than Windows 7 did on every piece of hardware we've tried it on.

What about you? Have you made the jump?

Windows 10 is chock full of handy, hidden new features worth exploring. Check out the best tips and tricks here.

10/26/2015

**Marketing Monday: The Information Your Small Business Needs to Reach your Customers**
Want a jump on the competition? Sit down and develop an online marketing strategy and stick with it. Most small business owners, including myself, get so busy working IN our business that we fail to work ON our business. Online marketing is the best possible use of our precious time if done properly and consistently. Develop a strategy and STICK TO IT! Need help? Let us know!

https://www.quicksprout.com/the-beginners-guide-to-online-marketing/

Online marketing moves at the speed of light. To keep up, you need a strong foundation with the judgment to think critically, act independently, and be relentlessly creative. That’s why we wrote this guide — to empower you with the mental building blocks to stay ahead in an aggressive industry.

10/26/2015

Follow us on LinkedIn, the Facebook for super "grown ups"!

Blue Frog Technology offers a wide variety of services to give Consumers and Small Business Clients the best in emerging technologies. Services include: *Repair Services ~ Computers, Tablets, Phones *Network Services ~ Routers, Switches, Wireless *Managed Services ~ Dedicated Support, Monitored Anti…

10/20/2015

Your iPhone or iPad seems to be slowing down? This could be the cause.

10/13/2015

Seen on an IT security vendor ad:
"Passwords are like underwear:
- Change them regularly
- Don't leave them on your desk
- Don't loan them to anyone"