Category: Cyber Security

Lock Phone to One App

If someone needs to borrow your phone (especially a child) and you don’t want them using anything but one app (a phone call for a stranger, a game for a child), here’s an easy way to keep them on that one app.

Pro tip: this also works for when you’re playing a game or watching a movie and you don’t want to get redirected to a website when you’re trying to close those pesky ads…

Here’s how to Turn On & Use Guided Access / Screen Pinning:

For iPhones (iOS 13+):For Androids (8.2+):
1. Go to Settings.
2. Go to General.
3. Go to Accessibility.
4. Go to Guided Access.
5. Toggle Guided Access to on.
6. Specify a PIN to use to unlock the Guided Access and/or enable Face ID to unlock as well.
7. Run the app/game.
8. Triple-click the home button or side power button (if you don’t have a home button).
9. Click start on the menu at the top for the Guided Access.		1. Go to Settings.
2. Go to Security or Security & Location.
3. Go to Advanced.
4. Go to Screen Pinning.
5. Turn on Screen Pinning.
6. Specify a PIN, pattern, or password to use to unlock the Screen Pinning.
7. Run the app/game.
8. Swipe up to the middle of the screen to open the App Overview.
9. Select the app/game you want to pin.
10. Click on the app icon at the top of the screen.
11. Click on Pin.

Here’s how to Turn Off Guided Access / Screen Pinning:

For iPhones (iOS 13+):For Androids (8.2+):
1. Double-click the home button or side power button (if you don’t have a home button) if you enabled Face ID
-or-
Triple-click the home button or side power button (if you don’t have a home button), enter then PIN, and click End on the menu at the top for the Guided Access.		1. Depending on how you’ve chosen to get around on your phone, you will need to do one of the following:
— Gesture navigation: Swipe up and hold
— 2-button navigation: Touch and hold Back < and Home –
— 3-button navigation: Touch and hold Back < and Over view [ ]
You may need to enter a PIN, pattern, or password if so specified.

Security & Open Source Software

If you or someone on your team decides to use open source software (which has many pros: zero cost, usually minimal coding errors, sometimes free updates), there is one aspect about which you might forget: the security of that open source software.

When you are not using organic software, you are exposing your system(s) to vulnerabilities that can be found by anyone else downloading that same open source software.

As part of your cost savings, make sure to budget for periodic queries about newly discovered security weaknesses in any open source software you’re using.

As always, Eckrich Enterprises stands ready to assist you with organic code, using open source software, and/or evaluating your system security.

Original Story

Heard about that wireless internet vulnerability recently?

The KRACK vulnerability in wireless internet (WiFi) routers is a very real threat (possibility = HIGH) but unless you’re living next to a 13 year old learning about exploits, the threat is not high for you, your business, or your family (probability = LOW).  With that said, you should still update your computers’ operating system and your WiFi routers.

Microsoft has already updated Windows.  Apple will update soon.  Android and LINUX users seem to be the most vulnerable to this attack.  Again, make sure you update your routers as well.

As always, Eckrich Enterprises is ready to help you evaluate your network security (home, mobile, and business).

Original Story

Kaspersky & You

If you happened to hear mention of an antivirus software named Kaspersky and the US Federal Government banning it from government computers, it’s because Kaspersky is made in Russia.  While the software’s origin doesn’t immediately mean it’s compromised, the US Government feels that the likelihood is too high to take the risk.

What does that mean for your computers?  As with any computer, there’s always the >possibility< of your system being compromised.  The >probability< is much, much lower however.  Having Kaspersky on your system is better than not having any antivirus software.  The decision point is whether to have Russian-made software on your computer or software designed somewhere else.  Any software has the >possibility< of containing unwanted capabilities.  Our job is to reduce the >probability< of compromise.

Eckrich Enterprises stands ready to review your system’s architecture and security.  Call us today and let us help you reduce the probability of future problems.

For further information on the Kaspersky issue, please feel free to visit http://money.cnn.com/2017/09/14/technology/kaspersky-software-federal-government-order/index.html .