10 Things I Never Do as a Cybersecurity Expert and why you should copy me

Gigabit Systems

August 28, 2025

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20 min read

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10 Things I Never Do as a Cybersecurity Expert and why you should copy me.

Cybersecurity isn’t only about firewalls or expensive tools — it’s about habits. The wrong move in everyday life can expose you or your business.

Here are 10 things I avoid at all costs (and why you should too):

1️⃣ Hand Out My Real Birthday, Name, or Phone Number Online

Hackers collect these details to build identities for fraud and phishing.

2️⃣ Create Online Accounts I Don’t Need

Every extra account is another attack surface waiting to be breached.

3️⃣ Post Vacation Pics While I’m Still Away

Telling the world you’re not home? A free invitation to criminals.

4️⃣ Trust Free Wi-Fi or Free Apps

“Free” often means your personal data is the real currency.

5️⃣ Save Logins in Notes Apps or Browsers

These aren’t secure. Use a password manager with encryption.

6️⃣ Use Mom’s Maiden Name for Security Questions

Public records make it easy to guess. Opt for multi-factor authentication instead.

7️⃣ Skip Software Updates

Updates fix critical security flaws. Skipping them leaves the door wide open.

8️⃣ Plug Into Random Phone Chargers

Juice jacking attacks install malware in seconds. Carry your own cable or use a power bank.

9️⃣ Think Hackers “Aren’t Interested in Me”

Small businesses and individuals are prime targets — low-hanging fruit.

🔟 Overshare on Social Media

Hackers weaponize what you post: from your pet’s name (password clues) to your schedule.

🚨 The Bottom Line

Security isn’t just tech — it’s behavior. If your employees or family do any of these, you’re increasing your risk of attack.

70% of all cyber attacks target small businesses. I can help protect yours.

#CyberSecurity #CyberAwareness #MSP #SmallBusinessIT #DataProtection

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Don’t Put All Your Eggs in One Vault

September 8, 2025

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20 min read

Don’t Put All Your Eggs in One Vault

Password managers: lifesaver or liability?

Every IT pro has said it: “Just use a password manager, it’ll make life easier.” And they’re right—managing 200 unique passwords without one is nearly impossible.

But convenience comes with risk. A password manager is like a shiny vault:

Great if secured properly.
Dangerous if treated like “set it and forget it.”

⚖️ The Double-Edged Sword of Password Managers

Friend:

Stores all credentials securely in one place
Syncs across devices for ease of access
Encourages strong, unique passwords instead of reuse

Foe:

A single point of failure if compromised
High-value target for hackers (why steal one password when you can steal them all?)
Risky if not updated, monitored, or configured correctly

🔐 Why It Matters for SMBs, Healthcare, Law Firms, and Schools

SMBs often lack the staff to enforce secure password practices, making vault oversight critical.
Healthcare IT requires HIPAA compliance, where a breach could expose sensitive patient data.
Law Firm IT involves client confidentiality—one leaked password could jeopardize entire cases.
School Technology teams must safeguard both staff and student records, often across outdated systems.

In each sector, a poorly managed password manager is not just inconvenient—it’s catastrophic.

🚨 Best Practices for Vault Security

✔️ Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) on your vault

✔️ Regularly update the password manager app and browser extensions

✔️ Monitor for suspicious login activity

✔️ Train employees to never share master credentials

✔️ Partner with a Managed IT and Cybersecurity MSP to configure, audit, and monitor

The Bottom Line

Password managers are not the enemy. Mismanagement is.

With the right configuration, updates, and oversight, they can be your Fort Knox. Without it? Just a candy jar with a flimsy lock.

70% of all cyber attacks target small businesses. I can help protect yours.

#CyberSecurity #Technology #MSP #ManagedIT #SmallBusinessIT

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The Scariest Phone Scam You’ve Never Heard Of

September 9, 2025

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20 min read

The Scariest Phone Scam You’ve Never Heard Of

A husband gets a call from his wife’s number. The caller ID shows her name, her picture — everything.

But it isn’t her.

On the other end of the line is a stranger claiming to be holding her hostage, threatening to kill her unless money is wired immediately through Zelle.

In reality, she was at the hospital with their child. Safe. Unaware.

But for five terrifying minutes, her husband was convinced her life was in danger.

This wasn’t a random glitch. This was phone spoofing.

🔍 What Is Phone Spoofing?

Phone spoofing is when scammers disguise their number so that your caller ID shows something familiar — like your:

Bank
Local police department
Family member
Even your own number

The goal is simple: gain instant trust and create panic.

⚠️ Why It Works

Scammers prey on urgency.

The call looks real.
They reference personal names or details (often scraped from social media).
They demand immediate action — often through wire transfer apps like Zelle, Venmo, or gift cards.

Victims are pushed into making decisions before they have time to think.

🛠️ How to Protect Yourself (and Your Loved Ones)

1. Set up a PIN with your carrier.

This prevents criminals from easily porting your number or changing account settings.

2. Ask your carrier to enable anti-spoofing protection.

Most major providers (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile) offer free or low-cost tools that block obvious spoofed calls.

3. Establish a family code word.

In an emergency call, ask the caller for the code. If they don’t know it, hang up.

4. Slow down and verify.

If someone is demanding money or threatening harm, hang up and call your loved one directly. Spoofed calls can’t stop your real call from going through.

5. Educate elderly parents and relatives.

They are frequent targets. A single conversation could prevent a devastating scam.

💡 Why This Matters for Businesses Too

Spoofing isn’t limited to personal calls.

Law firms may get fake client calls demanding urgent transfers.
Healthcare providers may receive spoofed calls posing as patients.
Schools may face threats or scams from “parents.”

For SMBs, spoofing can lead to financial loss, compliance issues, and shaken trust.

🚨 The Takeaway

Scammers don’t need to hack your phone to exploit you. They just need to pretend to be someone you trust.

Protect your number, protect your people, and make sure your loved ones know:

Not every familiar call is really from family.

70% of all cyber attacks target small businesses. I can help protect yours.

#CyberSecurity #PhoneSpoofing #ScamAwareness #MSP #DataProtection

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Must-Read

From Playgrounds to Phone Screens: The Anxious Generation.

September 8, 2025

•

20 min read

From Playgrounds to Phone Screens: The Anxious Generation

If you raised your kids on smartphones and social media, then you were doubling and tripling their chances of being depressed, anxious, and suicidal.

We have overprotected our children in the real world and underprotected them in the digital world. Parents, you are re-wiring your children to be more anxious and depressed.

In his book The Anxious Generation (2024), psychologist Jonathan Haidt makes a striking claim: the sharp rise in youth anxiety and depression over the past decade is tied to a cultural shift — from a play-based childhood to a phone-based childhood.

🧩 The Shift: From Outdoor Play to Online Scrolling

For centuries, children developed resilience, social skills, and independence through free play — climbing trees, riding bikes, navigating conflicts face-to-face.

But around 2012, something changed. Smartphones and social media became constant companions. Instead of climbing monkey bars, kids scroll feeds. Instead of face-to-face conflict resolution, they text.

The result? Higher reported levels of:

Anxiety and depression
Social isolation
Sleep disruption
Difficulty managing real-world stress

⚠️ Why It Matters for Parents, Schools, and Businesses

This isn’t just a parenting problem — it’s a societal challenge.

Schools face students struggling with focus and mental health.
Healthcare systems are treating record numbers of young patients with anxiety.
Businesses hiring Gen Z see employees who may excel digitally but struggle with communication, resilience, and boundaries.

The digital childhood shapes the digital workforce.

🔒 A Cybersecurity Angle

There’s also a hidden risk: a phone-based childhood produces adults who are more digitally dependent, often less skeptical of online risks.

Phishing attempts succeed more when users can’t separate real from fake.
Oversharing on social media fuels identity theft.
Dependence on online validation can make individuals more vulnerable to manipulation.

The mental health crisis and the cybersecurity crisis are not separate stories — they are intertwined.

🌱 What Can Be Done?

Haidt argues for a return to play-based principles:

Encourage outdoor, unsupervised play to build resilience.
Delay smartphone ownership until later adolescence.
Limit social media exposure during critical developmental years.
Foster offline communities where kids — and adults — can connect face-to-face.
We need play-based play dates instead of screen-based play dates.

The Takeaway

The anxious generation didn’t appear overnight. It’s the byproduct of a society that traded play for phones, resilience for scrolling, and connection for notifications.

Rebalancing won’t be easy, but it’s essential. The future of mental health, education, business, and even cybersecurity depends on it.

70% of all cyber attacks target small businesses. I can help protect yours.

#CyberSecurity #MentalHealth #TheAnxiousGeneration #TechAndSociety #DigitalWellness