Even the most innocent Internet user can fall victim to the stray hacking attack, and it?s all thanks to the manner in which malware reverse-engineers software. This process is how a hacker finds vulnerabilities in software. However, a new security concept might be able to protect software from the reverse-engineering method used by hackers. Just like how malware is designed to reverse-engineer software to find flaws, antivirus and anti-malware software is designed to perform the same feat on viruses and malware. It looks for flaws in its code that can be exploited to remove it. Now, what would happen if you prevented malware from using this technique to find exploits in the first place? This is what security researcher, Jacob Torrey, is wondering. He presented his idea for a Hardened Anti-Reverse Engineering System (HARES) at the Singapore SyScan conference this March. The idea behind HARES is that it encrypts the software?s code until the processor absolutely needs to execute it. This means that the software can?t be decoded until it?s being executed, which makes it vastly more difficult for hackers to reverse-engineer the software. According to WIRED magazine: The result is a tough-to-crack protection from any hacker who would pirate the software, suss out security flaws that could compromise users, and even in some cases understand its basic functions. Unfortunately, as most developers of new technology know, there are always ways to turn something that can benefit the online community into a dangerous tool. HARES isn?t meant to create unencryptable malware, but you can bet that hackers will still attempt to use it to their benefit somehow. This puts unsuspecting systems at risk of hacking attacks, and if the technique were to become mainstream in the hacking community, it could lead to even more chaos. HARES obviously isn?t perfect, and it can be tricked through a number of different methods. When an application uses some type of encryption protocol, the decryption key needs to be installed in the computer?s CPU so the program is capable of encrypting it when necessary. A hacker that?s been around the block a time or two can potentially intercept this key while it?s in transit. This can let them decrypt the application and let them see the program?s commands, which allows them to counteract the protocol. One other method that hackers might use is by taking advantage of debugging features found within some hardware. This lets cybercriminals investigate commands made between the chip and the motherboard. The tools required for this kind of procedure are ridiculously expensive, so the average hacker probably won?t be able to afford them; therefore, it?s more logical to assume that this will see use on a national level. As always, it?s best to make sure you?re protected from the latest security threats. A Unified Threat Management (UTM) solution from White Mountain IT Services is the best bet business?s have to ensure maximum network security. The UTM is a comprehensive solution complete with firewall, antivirus, spam blocking, and content filtering functions. This helps keep your network air-tight while online. Give White Mountain IT Services a call at (603) 889-0800 to find out more about this solution.
If you outsource your IT needs, you get the benefit of an entire IT staff from a predictable, easy-to-budget price. This makes it far more cost-efficient than hiring new staff members. However, not all IT agencies are equal, and some are far more professional than others. How can you tell the champs from the chumps? A simple business interview can sometimes be all you need to figure it out. Major IT TrendsA safe question to ask is if they are following the major trends of the IT industry. If the company is paying attention to important discoveries, such as major bugs in software or patch releases, that means that they are passionate about what they do, and that passion can benefit your company greatly. At White Mountain IT Services, we follow many different news outlets and are always aware of recent happenings in the tech community. We know that a good IT staff needs to pay attention to trends, and we adapt our strategies accordingly. Difficult Tasks? No ProblemSometimes your staff might get in over their heads and have trouble operating their technology. Nobody understands how to do everything, and the same goes for your prospective outsourced IT company. A good question to ask them at an interview is how they handle unclear circumstances. Their methods of gaining necessary information or clarifying the situation can tell a lot about the service that a company can provide. White Mountain IT Services works with you and your local IT staff to ensure that there is as little confusion as possible between your party and ours. If something is unclear, we?ll work with you to achieve a level of clarity that is necessary to do a job the way that it needs to be done – right. Hypothetical QuestionsGive your outsourcing candidates difficult decisions to make and watch them squirm. If they struggle to answer and react, they probably aren?t worth hiring. Often times, the answer isn?t as important as the thought process they put into it. You get to see their information-gathering skills on the fly, and analyze the way that they resolve problems. White Mountain IT Services will find the best way to resolve your problems, both timely and economically. We know that some problems can?t be fixed as quickly as you would like, but we put our all into finding the best solution as quickly as possible. Finding an IT provider that suits your needs doesn?t always have to be challenging. Call White Mountain IT Services at (603) 889-0800 today and give us an interview. You can see for yourself just how qualified we are to handle all of your IT needs.
It?s long been thought that the domestic cat?s seemingly spastic behavior was a sign of inferior intelligence. However, the human race in recent years has been quick to forget that the people of ancient civilizations revered cats as gods and spiritual entities for a reason. As it turns out, new research shows that cats are potentially much more proficient with technology than even humans are, opposable thumbs aside. With their superior knowledge, skillsets, and behavioral traits, they are capable of performing quality technology maintenance and support with ease? so long as you don?t mind a hairball or two. Cats Have Exceptional MemoryIt?s been proven that cats have the potential to remember events that occurred up to ten years ago. Considering how most cats alive today have been exposed to technology, it?s logical to assume that these cats have retained knowledge of their exposure to it. Just like the children of today, these felines have a predisposition and innate understanding of technology. This means that they have experience from an early age that they can recall within a moment?s notice. This isn?t unlike the technology professionals at White Mountain IT Services, who have years upon years of experience in the industry. Therefore, feline understanding of technology isn?t such a farfetched theory. In fact, it makes perfect sense. The kittens of today are the IT technicians of tomorrow, and they continue to learn and teach themselves as they grow older. Cats Are CuriousIf cats are anything at all, they?re curious. If they spot something they?re interested in, they?ll dig until they find it. This is a trait that?s found in most IT technicians. The reason they got involved with technology is likely due to their desire to understand how something works. This primal instinct is much stronger in cats, as they aren?t restricted by the rules of logic and reasoning when searching for the fix to an issue. They?ll knock a glass of water off the table to learn about gravity. If they smell something good, they?ll dig through the garbage until they find it. Of course, cats don?t have much capacity for cause and effect, so they might try the same tactic multiple times to no avail. But hey, nobody?s perfect, right? Cats Are ProtectiveOne of the most important traits for an IT worker to have is to be territorial. When something unfamiliar steps into their realm, like viruses or malware, they?re quick to act. They immediately take steps to eliminate the threat from the network. Just like the IT technician, cats pay very close attention to their territory and dislike intruders. They take measures to keep them out, and are prepared to fight in order to protect their realm with tooth and claw. With White Mountain IT Services?s Office Cat Technician solution, we?ll provide your business with a specialized feline technician who keeps an eye on both your company?s technology and cuteness situation. Give us a call at (603) 889-0800 to learn more. Disclaimer: White Mountain IT Services isn?t liable for any damages caused by the Office Cat Technician solution, including: chewed or frayed cords, destroyed technology, medical bills caused by allergic reactions, smelly carpets, and more. Happy April Fool?s Day from all of the technicians at White Mountain IT Services!
As you can imagine, businesses large and small alike are making their network security a top priority. It might not seem like a lot of cash, but Gartner estimates that about five percent of of a business?s annual IT budget is dedicated toward security. Of course, not all businesses need to spend the same amount on IT, since their needs vary by industry; yet, it can?t be emphasized enough that security is an imperative part of your IT infrastructure. There are a lot of threats out there that can potentially ruin your business, but how can you justify investing in a solution to prevent something that isn?t guaranteed to happen at some point or another? The answer is to take preventative measures. By protecting against potential threats, you can avoid expensive repercussions. This is what White Mountain IT Services?s managed IT solutions are all about. We prevent issues from turning into bigger problems. How do you go about deciding how much your business needs to spend on IT? You can start with an IT security assessment from White Mountain IT Services. A Network Security AuditIt?s not always easy to determine how much your business should spend on your IT security. With a comprehensive network security audit from White Mountain IT Services, we?ll take a look at the inner workings of your network and find weak points that need to be patched up. You?ll gain access to our trained IT professionals who know technology inside and out, and we can consult you on how to move forward. White Mountain IT Services?s Unified Threat Management (UTM) SolutionMore often than not, small and medium-sized businesses find that an enterprise-level solution designed for larger businesses is beyond their price range; but with White Mountain IT Services?s managed IT services, we strive to give small and medium-sized businesses the security solution they deserve at an affordable price. We call this security solution our Unified Threat Management (UTM) device. It combines a firewall, antivirus, spam-blocking, and web-filtering solution to take comprehensive security measures against any kind of threat. Backup and Disaster Recovery (BDR)Furthermore, White Mountain IT Services provides a solution that can help businesses like you recover their data rapidly following a data breach, natural disaster, or hardware failure. We call it our Backup and Disaster Recovery (BDR) solution. This device takes multiple snapshots of your data throughout the day, then sends it off-site to await recovery when it?s needed most. The BDR device can also act as a server in the event of a disaster, which means minimal expenses from downtime will accrue. If you?re ready to take advantage of proactive IT solutions that will save your business money, give White Mountain IT Services a call at (603) 889-0800.
Technology is expensive. We know that. That?s why it?s important to identify problems with your hardware, and either correct them or replace the machine before it causes expensive downtime. Here are three signs to look for to detect an incoming hard drive failure. Your System?s Speed Is SufferingYour computer?s speed can be an identifying factor if you think that there?s some sketchy business going on behind those panels. A PC shouldn?t be lagging, especially when at the workplace. These machines should be optimized for productivity, and when the system keeps freezing, you know there?s something wrong with it. In this case, it?s often a hardware-related issue, and should be addressed immediately. Frequent Computer CrashingYou know that the dreaded blue error screen can?t possibly mean anything good, but did you know that this ?blue screen of death,? can signify that your hardware is failing? One way of telling whether it?s the hard drive or not is if you can access files stored on the device. If the computer crashes when you try to open these files, it?s likely that the hard drive is experiencing difficulties. Strange, Unprecedented SoundsNaturally, that clinking sound that your PC is making probably doesn?t hint to normal functionality. In general, the more sound your computer is making, the more likely that your hard drive has just about bit the bullet. If it sounds like there are parts grinding inside your computer, chances are that something is wrong. Listen for abnormalities and contact a trusted technology professional, like those at White Mountain IT Services, to help you assess the damage before it gets worse. The SolutionIf you?re always on the lookout for problems, they can distract you from what your job really is, running your business. You shouldn?t have to put important meetings or tasks on hold out of fear that your technology will stop operating properly. This is where managed IT services from White Mountain IT Services come in. We take proactive measures to ensure that your technology continues to operate even in the darkest of times. If you?re worried about your technology biting the dust when you least expect it, we can monitor it for discrepancies which might cause complications, like downtime, security vulnerabilities, and even problems with core functions. We can implement vital patches and upgrades to your systems to ensure maximum security. Just give White Mountain IT Services a call at (603) 889-0800 to learn more.
