BCT News

In 2023, there were over 500 million phishing attacks reported; double the number of attacks reported in 2021, with California ranking as the 4th most affected state. The meteoric rise in phishing attacks over the past few years is no surprise, as it’s the easiest type of scam for cybercriminals to fool people with.

While the internet, and particularly emails, is a digital playground for cybercriminals, it’s no surprise that phone calls and text messages have remained a massive haven for scammers — a haven that’s only getting more sought as technology advances. The advent of robocalls and text-based scamming is part of the new frontier for bad actors to explore. Small businesses, often with limited resources for cybersecurity, are particularly vulnerable to these insidious attacks.

Mobile apps have become indispensable tools for businesses of all sizes. Small businesses, in particular, can reap significant benefits from developing their own mobile apps. From enhancing customer engagement to streamlining operations, mobile app development opens up a world of possibilities.

It’s no secret that communication plays a pivotal role in the success of small businesses. Traditional phone systems have long been the norm, but while some businesses are slow to adopt new standards of communication, others have thrived on branching them. The biggest shift in business communication over the past 30 years has been the advent of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone services. VoIP has revolutionized the way small businesses operate, offering cost-effective, flexible, and feature-rich communication solutions that can significantly benefit small businesses.

Our lives are seamlessly integrated with smartphones; financials, photos, emails, messages, work data, and more are all sitting in your pocket like a digital coin purse, ripe for the taking. As such, ensuring the security of these devices has become a paramount concern. Mobile devices have evolved from mere communication tools to versatile companions managing our personal, financial, and professional lives. The convenience they offer is unparalleled, but so are the risks they pose. As our phones become more and more tethered to our lives, we need to take extra care that goes beyond the traditional means to safeguard them.

Cloud networking has emerged as a game-changer for small businesses. The ability to access and manage data and applications from anywhere, at any time, has irrevocably fueled innovation and growth. However, amidst the many benefits, a significant concern looms large: security. As small businesses increasingly migrate their operations to the cloud, the importance of robust cloud networking security cannot be overstated.

Social media has become an interconnected part of our lives, for better or worse. It provides us with a way to stay connected in a world that is becoming increasingly less social. However, with its widespread use, and rise to prominence, concerns about data collection and privacy have loomed large. Recent events, including the TikTok court hearing, the launch of Threads, and the rebranding of the artist formerly known as Twitter, have further underscored the urgency of addressing these issues.

In an era of rapidly advancing technology, the convenience and functionality offered by tracking devices such as Apple AirTags and Tile cannot be denied. These small, unassuming devices are designed to help individuals keep tabs on their belongings, but their potential for misuse raises significant concerns about personal privacy and security. As more people adopt these devices into their daily lives, it's crucial to recognize the potential dangers they pose in enabling stalking and tracking, and to understand how to safeguard against these risks.

Transparency and trust, those two things are key when it comes to operating a business in today’s privacy-conscious Internet landscape. You may have noticed a significant rise in privacy related news regarding our online footprint. From recent court cases involving TikTok, Facebook data collection outrage, or even cookie consent being needed to view certain websites, privacy regulations are being noticed everywhere.