December 2015
In this issue:

Why business-class PCs are a smart investment

Crash course: Computer memory

Business after the EMV liability shift

What Is Spear Phishing?

Monthly Trivia

Quote and Cartoon


Cyber Crime/
Hack News:
Toy Maker
Latest Victim

What Is Spear Phishing?
used with permission from Norton by Symantec
by Nadia Kovacs

Spear phishing isn't what you do when you're on vacation in Hawaii. It's a targeted attack on your personal information. An updated version of the old trick "phishing," where scam artists simply ask you for your password or other private information, spear phishing takes this trick to the next level, using social engineering. Before you respond to that email asking for you to verify your address or other personal information, read this article to protect yourself against spear phishing.

What Is Spear Phishing?

Spear phishing effectively uses all the data that's on the Internet about you to lull you into an inappropriate sense of comfort before attempting to get your personal information. Because this technique is so successful, it accounts for approximately 91 percent of all phishing in the United States today.

Read more

 


Why business-class PCs are a smart investment
used with permission from HP Technology at Work

Think back to the last time you bought a new PC or laptop for your business. Did you approach the purchase the same way you would for a personal device? And if you had a problem, were you satisfied with the level of service you received?

Many small and medium-sized businesses purchase consumer-grade PCs and notebooks by default,1 not realizing the amount of difference a business-class model can make.2,3 Consumer-grade devices can work fine for many organizations, but businesses with more stringent performance, reliability, and support needs can save time and frustration by moving up to business-class devices.

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Crash course: Computer memory
used with permission from HP Technology at Work

There are dizzying amounts of memory types in modern computer devices, from DDR SDRAM to L3 caches. And for many of us, understanding all the nuances of computer memory is a bit like understanding how the catalytic converter in your car works: It might be nice to know, but you probably don't have the time to become an expert, even if you use one every day.

But just as it's useful to still know the basics about your car, understanding the basics about computer memory can go a long way towards ensuring you get the performance you want—at the price you need. This quick primer will take you through the basic types of computer memory, and what to look for when making your next PC purchase or upgrade.

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Business after the EMV liability shift
used with permission from HP Technology at Work

What is EMV chip card technology? Is it really more secure than magnetic stripe technology? Is compliance worth the cost of upgrading? It's been over a month since the "EMV liability shift" went into effect in the U.S. on October 1, 2015, but many businesses still have unanswered questions.

To help you get the answers you need to minimize your liability, we've enlisted expert insight from Lorena Kubera, VP & GM of HP Retail Solutions Global Business Unit, and Cory McElroy, Director of Product Management & Marketing for HP Retail Solutions.

Here's what you need to know to master the EMV shift.

Read more

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Monthly Trivia

First person to submit the correct answers by email to anorton@osgusa.com will receive a $20 Starbucks gift card!

Entries are judged by date/time received and correctness. Include your name and phone number, the question number and the answer.

1) Which company made the concept of Santa Claus popular in America?

2) When is Boxing Day?

3) What did W. C. T. Dobson invent?

4) How many ghosts are there in A Christmas Carol?

Cartoon of the Month


Quote of the Month


"Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none.'"

 - William Shakespeare
 (All's Well That Ends Well)

Outsource IT Solutions Group    www.osgusa.com