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Scary Cyber Scams Your Business Should Watch Out For

October 14, 2025

Thomas Fox is president of Tech Experts, southeast Michigan’s leading small business computer support company.

Cyber scams don’t need to be sophisticated to cause serious damage to a business.

In fact, many of today’s most effective scams rely on busy people making quick decisions and not having time to double‑check what they’re doing.

Staying informed is one of the best ways to stay protected. So here are five scams we’re seeing right now:

Robocall scams

With artificial intelligence, scammers can clone someone’s voice using only a short audio clip. You get a call that sounds exactly like a supplier or even a colleague, asking you to urgently confirm bank details. It feels genuine, but it isn’t.

Some scams even use this information to carry out a “SIM swap”, tricking a phone provider into moving your number to a criminal’s SIM card so they can intercept security codes.

Crypto investment scams

A convincing email or social media post might offer an incredible return on a business investment. Some of these projects, known as “rug pulls”, are designed to collect funds and then disappear, leaving investors with nothing.

Romance scams (sometimes called pig‑butchering scams)

These might sound unrelated to business, but they’re not. Scammers build trust over weeks or months, often through social media or messaging apps, and then persuade someone to share sensitive information or even send money.

In some cases, they use AI‑generated images or videos to make the scam more believable and later threaten to leak personal material unless they’re paid.

Malvertising

Criminals hide malicious links inside paid ads on legitimate sites. An employee looking for a new supplier or tool could click an ad and unknowingly install malware onto a company laptop.

Formjacking

This is where criminals inject code into an online checkout form to steal payment or login details. If staff buy supplies or services from websites that aren’t secure, those details can be intercepted.

The common thread is simple: these scams exploit human attention and trust.

Regular reminders and training help staff stay alert, question unexpected requests, and think twice before clicking. A little extra caution can stop a scam before it starts.

We can help you make sure your team is vigilant about these scams and more. Get in touch – email info@mytechexperts.com, or call (734) 457-5000

The Hidden Cybersecurity Risk In Your Business

October 14, 2025

It happens far too often. A small business believes its cybersecurity is under control…

…until a routine check uncovers something unexpected, like an old piece of malware quietly running in the background. Or a phishing attack that slipped through weeks ago.

The surprising part? These incidents don’t usually involve cutting-edge hackers or advanced tools. They succeed because simple, everyday safeguards have been missed.

And one of the biggest reasons those basics get missed?

Employee burnout.

When staff are tired, stressed, or stretched too thin, important cybersecurity habits start to slide. It’s not about carelessness – it’s about capacity.

In businesses without a dedicated IT team, employees are already wearing multiple hats.

A manager might put off installing an important software update because they’re scrambling to get quotes out before a client deadline.

An accounts assistant might click a suspicious link late at night while rushing to balance the books.

A senior staff member might skip double-checking security settings on a new laptop because they’re too busy keeping operations afloat.

These small slips may seem harmless in the moment, but they create cracks in the armor. Cybersecurity depends on routine discipline – applying updates, checking access controls, and staying vigilant for unusual activity. When teams are overwhelmed, those routines break down.

Attackers know this. They don’t need to be geniuses to take advantage of exhaustion and stress. Many of today’s most common scams – fake login pages, phishing emails that look like vendor invoices, or texts pretending to be from a bank – rely on one thing: distraction. Just a single moment of inattention can give them the foothold they need.

And the consequences can be devastating. We’ve seen businesses in southeast Michigan deal with payroll delays, compliance headaches, and even the loss of major clients after a seemingly minor mistake opened the door to a cyber incident.

The real cost isn’t just money – it’s the erosion of trust with employees, partners, and customers.

Technology alone can’t prevent that. You can have the best firewall or antivirus in the world, but if an exhausted employee clicks the wrong link, those defenses may not be enough.

That’s why the most effective protection starts with people. Supported employees make fewer mistakes. Realistic workloads, clear priorities, and regular training all help staff stay alert and confident.

Creating a workplace culture where it’s encouraged to pause, question, and double-check can make all the difference.

Think of it this way: when your team feels like they’re sprinting a marathon every day, cybersecurity becomes a chore – just another box to check. But when they have the bandwidth to slow down and follow best practices, those simple defenses work exactly as they should. And more often than not, that’s enough to stop an attack before it begins.

If you’re worried that burnout might be putting your business at risk, you’re not alone. Many small businesses in our community face the same challenge. The good news? You don’t have to manage it by yourself.

With the right IT partner, you can take some of that burden off your team’s shoulders. We handle the updates, monitoring, and security checks in the background, so your employees can focus on their jobs – without sacrificing safety.

If you’d like help staying ahead of cybersecurity threats, we’re here. Let’s talk.

Advanced Strategies To Lock Down Your Business Logins

October 14, 2025

Good login security works in layers. The more hoops an attacker has to jump through, the less likely they are to make it all the way to your sensitive data.

For small and mid-sized businesses, this layered approach can be the difference between a near miss and a costly breach.

The first and most obvious layer is password hygiene. Unfortunately, many businesses still allow short, predictable logins or let staff reuse the same credentials across multiple systems.

That gives attackers a head start. A stronger approach is to require unique, complex passwords for every account. Even better, swap out traditional passwords for passphrases – short sentences that are easier for humans to remember but much harder for machines to crack.

Since most people can’t keep dozens of long, random strings in their heads, a password manager is a smart addition. It lets employees generate and store strong credentials securely, so no one has to rely on sticky notes or memory alone.

But passwords aren’t enough. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) has become one of the most effective defenses against compromised logins. It works by adding an extra verification step, like a code sent to a phone or an approval in an authenticator app.

Even if a hacker does steal a password, MFA forces them to clear another hurdle before gaining access. The key is to apply it consistently. Leaving one “less important” account unprotected is like locking your front door but leaving the garage wide open.

Another important safeguard is access control, often called the principle of least privilege. The fewer people who have administrative rights, the fewer chances there are for those credentials to be stolen or misused.

Keep high-level privileges limited to the smallest possible group, and avoid using those accounts for everyday work.

Instead, maintain separate admin logins and store them securely. The same rule applies to third-party vendors: give outside users only the access they need, and nothing more.

Device and network security also play a role. Even the strongest login policies won’t mean much if an employee signs in from a compromised laptop or an unsecured public Wi-Fi connection.

That’s why company laptops should be encrypted and protected with strong passwords, while mobile devices should have security apps in place – especially for staff who travel or work remotely.

Firewalls should remain active both in the office and for home-based workers, and automatic updates for browsers, operating systems, and applications should always be turned on. Those updates frequently include security patches that close holes attackers are quick to exploit.

Email deserves special mention because it remains one of the most common gateways for login theft. One convincing message is all it takes for an employee to hand over credentials to an attacker.

Advanced phishing and malware filtering can block many of these messages before they ever land in an inbox. On the technical side, setting up SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records makes your company’s domain harder to spoof, reducing the chances of a successful impersonation attack.

Just as important, regular user training helps employees learn how to verify unexpected requests and spot suspicious links before they click.

Finally, even the best defenses can be bypassed. That’s why preparation matters just as much as prevention. An incident response plan ensures your team knows what to do the moment something looks wrong, minimizing panic and downtime.

Routine vulnerability scanning and credential monitoring can catch issues before they escalate. And reliable, tested backups guarantee that even if attackers gain access, your business can recover quickly without paying a ransom or suffering permanent data loss.

None of these steps need to happen overnight. The best way to approach login security is to start with the weakest link – maybe it’s an old, shared admin password or the lack of MFA on your most sensitive systems – and fix that first.

Then move on to the next gap. Over time, those small improvements add up to a solid, layered defense that protects your team, your data, and your reputation.

In the end, good login security isn’t just about keeping hackers out. It’s about giving your employees confidence that when they log in, they’re working in a safe, secure environment. With the right layers in place, your logins become a security asset – not a weak spot.

The Long-Term Costs Of Slow Computers

October 14, 2025

We’ve all been there. You press the power button on your computer, grab a cup of coffee, and by the time it finally boots up, you could’ve answered three emails and called a client back. At first, you tell yourself it’s just a small annoyance. But over time, that sluggish computer quietly chips away at your productivity – and your team’s morale.

The truth is, old or underperforming devices cost businesses far more than the price of replacing them. Let’s break down the hidden ways slow computers impact your company.

Lost productivity adds up

When every task takes longer than it should, productivity suffers. If an employee wastes just 15 minutes a day waiting for programs to load or systems to respond, that’s more than an hour a week. Multiply that across a 20-person team and you’re losing over 1,000 hours of productive time every year. That’s not just inconvenience – it’s real money left on the table.

Employee frustration and morale

Nothing drains motivation faster than feeling like your tools are working against you. Slow logins, constant freezes, and endless restarts leave employees frustrated before they even begin their day. That frustration doesn’t stay in front of the screen – it spills into customer service interactions, team collaboration, and overall job satisfaction. When employees feel held back by technology, their energy and focus shift away from the work that really matters.

Increased support costs

A sluggish computer isn’t just a time waster – it’s a resource drain. Older devices often need more IT support for troubleshooting crashes, replacing outdated components, or recovering from errors. While patching things together may seem cheaper than replacing equipment, those repair bills and lost hours add up quickly. In many cases, businesses spend more keeping an old machine alive than they would on a modern replacement.

Security risks of outdated hardware

It’s not just speed you need to worry about. Older computers may no longer receive security updates from the manufacturer, leaving them vulnerable to cyber threats. Hackers look for weak entry points, and an outdated device without current protections can serve as an open door into your entire network.

Repair or replace?

So how do you know when it’s time to retire a slow device versus investing in a repair? A good rule of thumb is the “50 percent rule.” If fixing the computer costs more than half the price of a new one – or if it’s more than five years old – replacement is usually the smarter choice. Repairs may buy you a little more time, but they rarely restore the performance and security of modern systems.

Think of it like maintaining a car. At some point, the cost of repeated repairs outweighs the benefits, and a new, reliable vehicle is the better investment. The same goes for your business technology.

The smart move forward

Upgrading computers doesn’t just remove frustration – it gives your employees tools that support their best work. Faster machines mean quicker logins, smoother multitasking, fewer errors, and improved security. That translates into happier employees, more satisfied clients, and fewer hidden costs dragging on your bottom line.

If your team spends more time waiting on their computers than getting work done, it’s time to take a hard look at your equipment. A well-planned upgrade cycle saves money, improves morale, and helps your business run at the speed it needs to compete.

Five Simple Ways To Keep Your Business Data Clean

September 23, 2025

Data is everywhere, and if you are not utilizing it to your advantage, you are missing out.

It is found in emails, customer profiles, inventory systems, or basically throughout your entire workflow. But relying on outdated or inaccurate information can lead to confusion, slow down your team, and ultimately cost you a lot of money.

With the right IT partner and these simple steps, you can keep everything clean and running smoothly.

Decide what info actually matters

Identify the key data that keeps your business running smoothly, like customer contacts, order details, or payment terms.

Then, create simple guidelines your team can easily follow. When everyone uses the same format, it keeps things organized without making it complicated.

Show your team the right way to do it

Most data errors occur when people aren’t sure what’s expected of them.

Rather than overwhelming your team with lengthy manuals, provide a simple, clear guide. How should names be formatted? What’s the correct way to enter addresses?

A brief, straightforward session without jargon can make a big difference in maintaining consistency.

Use smart tools to prevent errors

Some mistakes can be caught the moment they happen. You just need the right tools. Use form validations so emails, dates, and numbers follow the right format. Then make certain fields required, like phone numbers or email addresses. If your CRM allows it, set up automatic checks for common errors.

Tidy things up often

Don’t wait too long to clean up your data. A quick monthly review helps you spot duplicates, fix mistakes, and update old info before it creates bigger issues.

Keep your documentation updated

Things change fast with new systems, tools, and team members.

That’s why it helps to keep a simple note on where your data comes from, who handles it, and how it should be used.

Is Your Smart Office a Security Risk? What Small Businesses Need to Know About IoT

September 23, 2025

Your office thermostat, conference room speaker, and smart badge reader are convenient, but they’re also doors into your network. With more devices than ever in play, keeping track can be tough, and it only takes one weak link to put your entire system at risk.

That’s why smart IT solutions matter now more than ever. A trusted IT partner can help you connect smart devices safely, keep data secure, and manage your whole setup without stress.

Here’s some practical steps for small teams getting ready to work with connected tech.

Know what you’ve got

Begin with all of your network’s smart devices, such as cameras, speakers, printers, and thermostats. If you are not aware of a device, you cannot keep it safe.

Walk through the office and note each IoT device
Record model names and who uses them

With a clear inventory, you’ll have the visibility you need to stay in control during updates or when responding to issues.

Change default passwords immediately

Most smart devices come with weak, shared passwords. If you’re still using the default password, you’re inviting trouble.

Change every password to something strong and unique
Store passwords securely where your team can consistently access them

It takes just a minute, and it helps you avoid one of the most common rookie mistakes: weak passwords.

Segment your work

Let your smart printer talk, but don’t let it talk to everything. Use network segmentation to give each IoT device space while keeping your main systems secure.

Create separate Wi-Fi or VLAN sections for IoT gear
Block IoT devices from accessing sensitive servers
Use guest networks where possible

Segmented networks reduce risk and make monitoring easy.

Keep firmware and software updated

Security flaws are found all the time, and updates fix them. If your devices are out of date, you’re wide open to cyberattacks.

Check for updates monthly
Automate updates when possible
Replace devices that are no longer supported

Even older units can be secure if they keep receiving patches.

Monitor traffic and logs

Once your devices are in place, watch how they talk. Unexpected activity could signal trouble.

Use basic network tools to track how often and where devices connect
Set alerts for strange activity, like a badge reader suddenly reaching the Internet
Review logs regularly for odd patterns

You don’t need an army of security experts, just something as simple as frequent check-ins and awareness of odd behavior.

Set up a response plan

Incidents happen; devices can fail or malfunction. Without a plan, every problem turns into a major headache.

Your response plan should include who to contact when devices act weird and how you’ll isolate a problematic devices.

A strong response plan lets you respond quickly and keep calm when things go wrong.

Get to Know Your AI: Generative Vs. Agentic

September 23, 2025

If it feels like every week there’s a new tech buzzword flying around, you’re not imagining it. Between generative AI, agentic AI, large language models, and more, it’s easy to feel like you need a decoder ring just to keep up.

Here’s the good news: You don’t need to understand every acronym. What really matters for small and mid-sized businesses in southeast Michigan comes down to two types of AI that are reshaping how work gets done:

Generative AI
Agentic AI

And no, they’re not the same thing.

Generative AI: The “create-on-command” helper

You’ve probably already crossed paths with generative AI. Think ChatGPT writing emails, or tools that create images or summarize long reports. It’s a great “assistant” when you need content quickly or want to save time on routine tasks.

But here’s the catch: Generative AI waits for you. You have to ask, and then it delivers. It’s helpful – but it won’t tap you on the shoulder when it spots a problem.

Agentic AI: The “take-action” partner

Agentic AI works differently. Instead of just reacting, it acts. You give it a goal, and it can figure out the steps to get there.

For example, imagine AI that helps reduce customer churn. It could analyze client data, test strategies, and even launch follow-up emails – without you needing to babysit it every step of the way.

Of course, with that autonomy comes responsibility. Agentic AI relies on accurate data and clear rules to make sure it’s making the right choices. Without that structure, it can veer off track.

Why should you care?

Here’s the thing: Both types of AI have real potential for businesses like yours.

Generative AI saves time. Drafting emails, creating documents, even building first drafts of policies – all faster.

Agentic AI saves brain space. It can take on repeatable tasks and keep things moving forward in the background.

But – and this is important – neither is a silver bullet. AI should be a tool, not a replacement for good strategy, human judgment, or proper IT oversight.

What this means for someone like you

If you’ve ever felt like technology is running your day instead of supporting it, AI can help lighten the load. But only if it’s introduced thoughtfully with clear guardrails.

Picture this: Instead of scrambling when your CRM crashes or worrying whether backups are really working, you have smart systems in place that not only respond quickly but also prevent problems before they happen. That’s the promise of blending traditional IT with the right AI support.

So, is it for you?

Maybe. The truth is, AI isn’t a magic wand – it’s more like a powerful new tool in the toolbox.

Whether it’s worth using depends on your business goals, your data, and how much oversight you have.

That’s where a trusted IT partner comes in. Someone local who knows the compliance pressures you’re under and who can help you test the waters without risking your reputation.

Because at the end of the day, you don’t need another buzzword. You need peace of mind that your technology is supporting your business – not adding to the chaos.

Curious how AI could actually boost productivity in your office? Let’s talk. We’ll cut through the jargon and help you decide what makes sense – no hype, no guesswork.

When That “Trusting Email” Might Be the Most Dangerous

September 23, 2025

You know how you’d trust an email that looks just like one from your bank – or maybe even from your own team?

That resemblance can lull us into thinking everything’s okay… until a fraudulent link or message slips through. For small businesses, those moments can be costly.

Why it matters more than ever

Phishing isn’t just “someone asking for passwords.” It’s evolved. Messages now tug at urgency, making it harder than ever to spot what’s real. And once an email passes your “looks fine” test, that’s often when trouble starts.

The new tricks

Today’s phishing attacks are slicker than ever:

Polished, professional emails: Gone are the obvious typos and bad formatting. Many attacks now look identical to the real thing, sometimes even mimicking ongoing conversations.

Urgency tactics: Phrases like “act now” or “update immediately” push people into clicking before thinking.

AI-generated voice scams: Fraudsters can now clone voices, leaving phone messages or even “live” calls that sound eerily like someone you know.

These aren’t just theoretical risks. Businesses across industries, from law firms to healthcare practices to financial offices, are seeing these attacks land in inboxes every day.

Five smart defenses

Here’s how to build a stronger, people-first defense against phishing:

Refresh your team’s training: Short, scenario-based sessions go a long way. Ask, “What would you do if?” and keep it conversational. The goal isn’t to scare anyone, but to equip them.

Run a phishing drill: Sending a harmless test email can be a powerful teaching tool. When someone clicks, you have a chance to follow up with gentle coaching – not criticism.

Add technical checkpoints: Strong spam filters, authentication tools like DMARC, and multi-factor authentication all help reduce risk. Passwords alone aren’t enough anymore – they’re simply too easy to guess.

Create a clear response plan: If someone suspects a phishing attempt, they should know exactly who to tell. A quick, confident response is often the difference between “close call” and “serious breach.”

Pause before you click: Encourage employees to take a breath when something feels off. Verifying a request with a quick phone call – or by starting a new email thread – takes seconds but can prevent a crisis.

Why this hits close to home

For small- and mid-sized businesses, phishing isn’t just an inconvenience – it can lead to compliance headaches, financial losses, and damaged reputations. Local firms already face tight budgets, lean teams, and constant pressure to stay productive. A single wrong click can throw all of that into chaos.

That’s why prevention matters so much. These aren’t just IT issues – they’re business continuity issues. Protecting against phishing keeps the doors open, the clients confident, and your team focused on their work instead of scrambling to clean up a mess.

The bigger picture

Cybercriminals thrive on the hope that small businesses will underestimate them. They count on teams being busy, distracted, or unsure of what to look for. By putting a few safeguards in place – both technical and human – you turn that vulnerability into strength.

At the end of the day, this isn’t about technology for technology’s sake. It’s about giving yourself and your team the peace of mind that comes with knowing you’re prepared. Because once your business culture shifts from “reacting after the fact” to “noticing before it happens,” you’ve already won half the battle.

Building A Smart Data Retention Policy: What Your Small Business Needs To Keep (And Delete)

August 25, 2025

Running a business today means juggling more data than ever.

Employee files, vendor contracts, financial records, customer emails, and all those backup files – they pile up quickly. And unless you have a system in place to manage all that information, it can start to feel overwhelming fast.

In fact, a recent study found that nearly three-quarters of business leaders have delayed or avoided making decisions simply because the data felt too overwhelming to sort through. That’s a lot of missed opportunities and wasted time.

The solution? A clear, practical data retention policy. It doesn’t have to be complicated, but it does need to be consistent. At its core, a good retention policy helps you figure out what data to keep, what can be safely deleted, and when it’s time to make that call. And it’s not just about cleaning house – it’s about protecting your business, reducing risk, and saving money.

Why is this important? For starters, there are compliance rules – both local and industry-specific – that require certain documents and records to be retained for a set number of years.

If you’re ever audited or involved in a legal dispute, having the right information available (and easily accessible) can make a huge difference.

Then there’s security. Storing everything forever might seem harmless, but old data can become a liability. The more information you hold onto, the more attractive your systems become to hackers – and the harder it is to protect everything properly.

Organizing your digital files and archiving or deleting what you no longer need is a smart way to reduce risk.

It also makes your systems faster and easier to manage. Imagine trying to run your business with a file cabinet stuffed full of every document you’ve ever handled. It’s no different in the digital world. Removing outdated or unnecessary files frees up space, improves performance, and makes it easier to find the data you need day to day.

Creating a data retention policy starts with understanding what kinds of data your business creates and where it all lives – on servers, in cloud apps, in email inboxes, and maybe even on individual computers. Once you know that, you can start to decide how long each type of information should be kept, who’s responsible for managing it, and what happens to it over time.

You don’t need to go it alone, either. There are tools that can help automate the process and professionals (like us) who can help guide you through it.

Think of your data like your office closet – if you never clean it out, eventually you won’t be able to find anything. A well-thought-out retention policy turns digital clutter into a well-organized, secure, and compliant information system that supports your business instead of slowing it down.

Ready to get started? Let’s put a plan in place to take control of your digital records before they start controlling you.

Could Social Engineering Bring Down Your Business?

August 25, 2025

One phone call could be all it takes to bring your business to its knees.

That’s the chilling reality of social engineering. It’s a type of cyberattack that doesn’t rely on clever coding or fancy tech. Instead, it targets your people. And it’s becoming one of the biggest threats to businesses of all sizes.

Social engineering is when a criminal manipulates someone into giving up sensitive information or access to systems.

It often starts with a phone call or email from someone pretending to be a colleague, a supplier, or even a senior manager. They might sound friendly, urgent, or frustrated… anything to get the response they want.

And if your staff aren’t on high alert, that one conversation could open the door to your entire network.

A favorite target for these attacks? Your customer service team. They’re trained to be helpful and solve problems quickly.

But if someone calls pretending to be locked out of their account and urgently needs a password reset, it’s easy to see how a well-meaning team member could be tricked into handing over access.

From there, it’s game over. Attackers can install ransomware, steal customer data, or snoop around in your systems undetected.

The worst part is this kind of attack is simple to pull off. And highly effective. That’s why even small businesses need to take it seriously.

So, what can you do?

Start by training your team to be cautious of unusual requests, even if they sound legitimate. And don’t rely on memory or gut instinct. Put strong identity verification procedures in place that everyone follows, every time. Technology can help with this by adding extra checks before any sensitive action is taken.

Remember, cybercriminals don’t need to break in when someone will open the door for them. But with the right awareness and safeguards, you can make sure your team knows how to keep it firmly shut.

Need help keeping your team on top of cybersecurity best practices? Get in touch.