The FBI’s Warning Against Texting – Here’s What to Do.
What the FBI’s advice on encrypted messaging means for your business.
Back in October, there was a large-scale cyber attack on Verizon, AT&T, and Lumen. The NSA has since said that this was an attack supported by China with the goal of accessing phone call and text information from high-ranking US government officials.
As the hack remains unresolved, the FBI recently issued guidelines warning against texting and urged the public to switch to encrypted messaging instead.
What’s Affected?
While iPhones and Androids have their own secure messaging apps, (Google Messages on Android and iMessage on iPhone), these are only secure when messaging others who use the same messaging service, i.e.: Android to Android and iPhone to iPhone. Texting between Androids and iPhones is not secure.
The hack is ongoing, so business leaders should take precautions to secure their internal communications.
A More Secure Option
For personal use, the FBI recommends using an app like Signal to protect your conversations.
If your team uses texting to communicate internally, consider switching to Microsoft Teams. Microsoft Teams offers encrypted messaging (and many other features) and works across your mobile devices and workstations.
While email is not affected by this hack, it’s also a good time to review your email security and filtering. Our team can set up secure messaging through Teams and advanced email security to help protect your business against data breaches.
Want faster collaboration and more efficient work? Let’s get Teams set up for your business.
We decode tech-speak for business leaders and can help you increase uptime with the right tools. Schedule a call by clicking here.
Enter the Cyber Treats Santa’s Helper $100 Giveaway!
We’re giving away a $100 Visa gift card to a Cyber Treats subscriber!
Fill out our form to enter. Get an additional entry for each person you refer to Cyber Treats. Simply have them fill out the entry form and mention your name as their referrer.
For all the rules, visit https://facettech.com/cyber-treats-santas-helper-drawing/.