Mackey Information Technology

Bad actors often try to trick users with phishing emails that look legitimate. At first glance, an email may appear to come from Microsoft with an address like noreply @ rnicrosoft . com, but a closer look at the domain reveals the first character is not “m” but “r n “ to appear as the letter m. Attackers frequently use fake or look-alike domains to impersonate trusted organizations and steal credentials through password reset requests or malicious links. Always verify the sender’s domain before clicking any link. A small detail can prevent a big security.

Attention Houston area businesses! Are you struggling with your IT support?

We specialize in helping companies keep their computers and systems running efficiently, so you can focus on what's most important to your business, your bottom line. Do you own a manufacturing business? How about a law practice? A sports venue? You name it, we can support it.

Heads up for Gulf Coast businesses and partners from Florida all the way to Texas!

Forecasters are tracking a low-pressure system (Invest 93L) currently off Florida’s east coast, with a 30–40% chance of developing into a tropical depression/storm in the Gulf by mid to late week.

📅 Timeline:

Wed–Thu: System crosses Florida, enters Gulf — warm waters and lighter wind shear may support development.

Friday onward: Increased tropical moisture, likely bringing heavy rainfall, scattered storms, and localized flooding in parts of Southeast Texas (Houston, Beaumont, Port Arthur) through the weekend.

Potential Business Impacts:

· Operational delays due to flash flooding or downed branches/power outages.

· Supply chain interruptions, especially for deliveries via coastal roads.

· Increased risk of property or equipment damage (e.g. back‑up generators, servers, inventory in flood-prone spaces).

Recommended Action Steps:

🔒 Secure outdoor equipment and warehouse inventories.

📝 Review business continuity and backup strategies — ensure key data and power redundancies are in place.

📲 Communicate with staff and clients about potential weather-related delays proactively.

🧰 Prepare for minor office closures or remote work options, if needed.

Stay updated this week. Even if it doesn’t become a named storm, heavy tropical downpours could still disrupt operations. Let’s keep our teams and assets protected!

Hackers don’t always break in, sometimes, they trick their way in. If your team doesn’t know what to watch out for, your business could be just one click away from a serious data breach.

Here are the most common social engineering scams used by cybercriminals, all designed to exploit human behavior:

📩 Phishing – Fake emails that look real, luring you to click links or give up your login info.
📱 Smishing – Text messages pretending to be from your bank, a delivery service, or IT support.
📞 Vishing – Phone calls from scammers posing as company executives or tech support.
😱 Scareware – Pop-ups that scare users with fake virus alerts and push them to download harmful software.
🎭 Deepfakes – AI-generated videos or audio of someone you trust, used to mislead or manipulate you.

But that’s just the beginning... Other social engineering tactics include:

🧠 Pretexting - when someone pretends to be a coworker, vendor, or authority figure to gain trust
📎 Baiting - leaving infected USB drives in public places to tempt curious employees
👨‍💻 Quid pro quo - offering fake helpdesk services in exchange for access
🔍 Shoulder surfing - stealing passwords or sensitive info by watching someone work
🚶 Tailgating - physically following someone into restricted areas without authorization

Educating your team is the first step toward protecting your business. Want to train your staff and secure your network?
Visit our website or send us a message today.

Let’s keep your business safe from the real threats that firewalls and anti-virus alone can’t stop.