How secure do you think your passwords are? Do you believe that longer is always better? Well, we have some news for you. It’s time for a serious talk about password security.

New research has revealed a sobering truth – even passwords that are 15 characters long can be compromised. Yes, you read that right. It’s time to face the stark reality… length doesn’t always mean strength.

The eight-character password reigns supreme as the most compromised length of password. But don’t breathe a sigh of relief if yours is a longer one. The 15-character password also makes an appearance in the top ten most compromised lengths.

You might ask, “How could this be?” The answer lies not only in the password length but also in the content of the password and whether you use the same password on multiple sites.

The most compromised eight-character password is none other than “password” itself, while the most compromised 15-character password is “Sym_newhireOEIE”.

Doesn’t exactly feel secure, does it?

It’s not just about individual people. Businesses like yours are at high risk too. An alarming 86% of all cyber attacks start with stolen credentials. That’s nearly nine out of ten attacks. Can you afford to be complacent?

Sure, longer passwords do offer more resistance to brute force cracking. An eight-character password can be cracked in five minutes, while a good 15-character one could take up to 37 million years if it’s not following any obvious pattern (i.e., it’s random and uses many types of character). Impressive, isn’t it?

But remember, this is just one piece of the puzzle. Length alone won’t save you from stolen credentials via phishing attacks.

Use a robust business password manager. Not only will it randomly generate long passwords for you, but it will also remember them and fill in the login box for you.

You should also use two factor authentication, where you generate a code on a separate device to prove it’s you. Even if cyber criminals crack your password, they still won’t be able to access your data.

If you need help keeping your business better protected, get in touch.

Picture an AI-enhanced experience that streamlines your business communication and improves overall productivity to unprecedented levels.

Sounds a little like science fiction, right? But with Microsoft’s latest announcement, this future is closer than you think.

Microsoft Teams is launching an ‘AI library’ that promises to revolutionise our Teams experience.

The goal?

To empower developers to integrate Large Language Models (LLMs) into their Teams apps. The most famous LLM right now is ChatGPT.

You might wonder how that will help your business. Well essentially, it could mean you have a sophisticated AI at your beck and call during your Teams meetings.

The AI library, rolling out right now, will provide developers with a suite of code functionalities making it easier for them to integrate LLMs into their apps. This means creating Bots, Message Extensions, and Adaptive Cards for more engaging conversational experiences will be a breeze.

Microsoft assures us that the AI library will also aid the seamless migration of existing Bots, Message Extensions, and Adaptive Cards functionalities into Teams.

Isn’t this the same company that gave us the Copilot tool? Yep! Back in March 2023, Microsoft introduced GPT-4 integration across Microsoft 365 with its Copilot tool, which can whip up emails, compile reports, and, as Microsoft claimed very grandly, “rediscover the soul of work”. Who knew AI could be so poetic?

And let’s not forget the recently unveiled tool which uses AI to generate meeting notes, suggest follow-up actions, and even provide timeline markers for instant access to relevant parts of a call.

Microsoft Teams is on a mission to redefine our experience with AI. This isn’t just about making our lives easier; it’s about unlocking new possibilities for productivity and efficiency. Honestly, we can’t wait to see what the new AI library will bring.

If you need help getting more from Teams across your business, get in touch.

As if Windows 11 wasn’t already packed with enough goodies, it’s about to get even better.

Are you ready for a major upgrade to your favourite tools included with the operating system?

First, let’s talk about the Snipping Tool. This humble screenshotting tool has been quietly serving us for years, capturing our screens one snip at a time. But now, with a new text capture and recognition capability, called ‘Text Actions,’ we’re looking at a drastic game-changer. You can copy and paste text straight from a screenshot. No more typing out information from an image like a caveman (or a more modern version of a caveman anyway).

And that’s not all. A new ‘Quick Redact’ function, lets you hide sensitive information right in the screenshot. Gone are the days of awkwardly scribbling over confidential data with a digital marker.

With integration from Windows 11’s Phone Link feature, your Android devices and PC are going to be best friends too. Syncing will be so much easier.

Now, let’s talk about the Photos app. Just when we thought it couldn’t get any better, Microsoft pulls another rabbit out of the hat. Based on community feedback – yes, they do listen to us – the Photos app is getting a makeover complete with a new Background Blur option.

Want to make your subject pop by blurring out the background? No problem. Need to control the intensity of the blur or select specific areas to blur? They’ve sorted it.

The new ‘Content Search’ capability for photos backed up on OneDrive is a game-changer as well.

Ever wished you could search for a photo based on its content? Wish granted! Using intelligent image detection software, Microsoft will now scan and label your photos with searchable tags. And yes, you can also search for photos based on location, across local files, OneDrive, and even Apple’s iCloud. That’s right, iPhone users haven’t been left out.

Now, we know some people are still smarting from the changes to the Windows 10 Photos app, notably the removal of the Video Editor feature. But it looks like Microsoft may be making amends. The vague mention in Microsoft’s announcement that “Edit and Create Video options are now easily accessible at the top of the gallery view” suggests some video editing functions might be heading our way. We’ll just have to wait and see what that means.

As we eagerly await these updates, one thing is clear: Microsoft is not resting on its laurels. They’re working tirelessly to make our lives easier one update at a time. I’m thrilled, and as a business owner, you should be too. After all, who doesn’t love a good upgrade?

If you’d like to get started with Windows 11 or need a hand spreading its productivity features to your team, we can help. Get in touch.

Did you know that a staggering 60% of phishing websites are only online for a fleeting 10 minutes?

Yes, you read that right. Just ten minutes.

This surprising fact underlines just how rapidly cyber threats are evolving and how vital it is for us to stay ahead of the game.

Phishing sites are fake sites that try to trick you into entering your login details. Or to get you to download malware.

The idea is that cyber criminals drive huge amounts of traffic to them… scam people… then take down the site before it can be detected.

Wouldn’t it be great if we could spot these threats before they vanish into thin air and pop-up elsewhere? Well, Google Chrome has a trick up its sleeve to help us do just that.

Imagine this: You’re running your business, constantly on the move, making split-second decisions. You absent-mindedly visit a website which looks a little… odd. But you don’t panic. You’re using Google Chrome and it scans websites you visit against its list of malicious URLs.

But uh oh. Google’s list of bad websites is only updated every 30 to 60 minutes. That 60% of phishing domains that are active for just 10 minutes may slip through the net.

Enter Google Chrome’s new security tool, Enhanced Safe Browsing.

As part of a recent update, Chrome has switched it on for everyone. It will now check URLs against a list of domains in real time. Think of it as a cyber bodyguard who can spot and neutralise threats at lightning speed.

Google has confirmed that Enhanced Safe Browsing will continue to offer features like deep scans for files and protection from malicious extensions.

So, does this mean Google will know every URL you visit?

Well, yes. But whilst this new feature does share all visited URLs with Google, the information won’t be used to power other features, including advertising. It’s a trade-off between security and privacy. Given the increasing sophistication of cyber threats, isn’t it worth having an extra layer of protection?

We say embrace these new tools and stay one step ahead of the cyber criminals. After all, the safety of all our businesses depends on it.

If you need additional support protecting your business from phishing scams – or anything else – get in touch.