Tag Archives: Recent News

Posted on Author Atlantic Computer Services Categories Blog

Cybersecurity Attack Hits U.S. Healthcare System

On October 4th, 2022 a cybersecurity incident has disrupted CommonSpirit Hospitals. With more than 150,000 employees, 20,000 physicians, and serving 21 million patients, CommonSpirit Hospitals is the second-largest nonprofit hospital system in the nation. In 21 states, CommonSpirit operates more than 1,000 care sites and 140 hospitals.

CommonSpirit Hospitals announced it is investigating an “IT security issue.” While the full extent of the attack is unknown, it has already caused significant disruptions for patients and staff at CommonSpirit Hospitals.

Some of MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center’s IT systems, including access to electronic health records, have been shut down. In addition, CHI Health, a subsidiary of CommonSpirit based in Nebraska, reported outages across its Omaha hospitals.

Although it is not entirely clear how the incident occurred or what kind of information was compromised, it does illustrate the vulnerability of the U.S. healthcare system to cyberattacks.

The healthcare system in the United States has been the target of numerous high-profile attacks, including University Medical Center Southern Nevada, Eskenazi Health, and Kaiser Permanente. In 2022, at least 15 U.S. health systems were affected by ransomware, and 12 of those incidents involved compromising personal health information.

Cybersecurity attacks on healthcare facilities can seriously affect patients, staff, and the hospital’s operations. These incidents can lead to the loss of essential data, disruptions in care, and financial damages.

Healthcare organizations can prevent cyberattacks by adopting strong security policies, investing in robust security technologies, and training employees to identify and respond to threats. As a result of these measures, healthcare organizations can reduce the harmful effects of cyberattacks on patients, staff, and facilities.

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Posted on Author Atlantic Computer Services Categories Blog

Updated Malware Attacks Point of Sale Devices

This year, security experts have found three updated versions of Prilex malware that target point-of-sale systems.

In 2014, Prilex was a type of malware that targeted ATMs. It switched to PoS (point of sale) devices in 2016, but it wasn’t until 2020 that the malware reached its peak. After that, it faded away in 2021.

Analysts at Kaspersky say that Prilex is back, and it looks like a more advanced and dangerous version of the malware has resurfaced this time. The latest version of this malware can create EMV (Europay, MasterCard, and Visa) cryptograms, which VISA introduced as a transaction validation system to help find and stop payment fraud.

The Kaspersky report explains that it lets threat actors use EMV cryptograms to do “GHOST transactions” with credit cards protected by CHIP and PIN technology.

The infection starts when a spear phishing email pretending to be from a technician from a PoS vendor says that the company needs to update its PoS software. Next, the fake technician goes to the target’s location and installs a malicious upgrade on the PoS terminals. The attackers could also tell the victim to install the AnyDesk remote access tool on their computer and then use it to replace the PoS firmware with a version that has been tampered with.

After the machine is infected, the operators will check to see if the target does enough financial transactions to be worth their time.

The new version of Prilex has a backdoor for communication. The backdoor can do many different things, like open files, run commands, end processes, change the registry, and record the screen. Once the information is encrypted and saved locally on the infected computer, the malware sends periodic requests to the control server.

Kaspersky concluded that the Prilex group knows a lot about how credit and debit card transactions work and how software used for payment processing works. This knowledge allows attackers to keep updating their tools until they find a way to get around the authorization policies and carry out their attacks.

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Posted on Author Atlantic Computer Services Categories Blog

Google Unveils New Products at Pixel Event 2022

During a press event in New York City, Google unveiled the new Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro devices, the brand-new Pixel Watch, and a teaser for a forthcoming 2023 Pixel Tablet. Although the devices are similar to those from last year, there seemed to be some welcomed improvements, like additional camera functions, a better screen and battery, and an upgraded Google Tensor processor.

Pixel 7 and Pixel 7 Pro

With its 6.3-inch display, face recognition as an alternative unlocking method, and Google’s G2 Tensor processor, the Pixel 7 boasts enhanced AI-driven capabilities. These capabilities include the ability to see a menu while making a call, have emoji ideas suggested to you based on your voice, and have audio messages transcribed in Google’s Messages app.

The Pixel 7 new camera features include Cinematic Blur, Guided Frame via voice assistant for individuals who have limited vision, and a pretty neat feature called Photo Unblur, which effectively unblurs old photographs.

The Pixel 7 is available in three colors: obsidian, snow, and lemongrass. The device is available for preorder and has a starting price of $599.

The Pixel 7 Pro offers many of the same features included in the base model, with a few improvements over the display, weight, and battery life. Still, the camera is what significantly distinguishes the 7 Pro from the base model. The 30x telephoto lens on the Pixel 7 Pro works with cutting-edge software to provide clear images at all zoom levels. Additionally, the 7 Pro includes a Macro Focus feature that enables you to snap close-up pictures with HDR+ quality for detailed photos.

At its base price of $899, the Pixel 7 Pro is available in obsidian, snow, and hazel colors. Like the base Pixel 7, the Pixel 7 Pro is available for preorder.

Google Watch

The Google Pixel Watch comes with new health-tracking functions, such as a heart rate sensor, ECG monitoring, and sleep tracking, which keep with the current trend toward smartwatches and other wearable electronic devices.

The Pixel Watch starts at $349 for the WiFi-only device and $399 for the WiFi plus LTE model. Preorders for the watch are currently available.

Google Tablet

We didn’t receive much information on the Pixel Tablet because it won’t be available until 2023, but Google revealed some information.

The Pixel Tablet will function with a speaker dock that doubles as a charging station and will use the same G2 Tensor technology that drives the Pixel 7. Based on the fact that the Pixel Tablet is being marketed as a smart home manager and creative tool, we can probably expect some cool features to be announced before its release next year.

The Pixel 7, Pixel 7 Pro, and Pixel Watch’s improved AI-driven functionalities will certainly change the way we use our smart devices. Although the Google Pixel Tablet will not be available until 2023, there is no doubt that these new Google gadgets will cause a stir in the technological world.

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Posted on Author Atlantic Computer Services Categories Blog

Tesla Introduces Optimus Robot Prototype

Tesla introduces the humanoid Optimus robot prototype and claims to be aiming for a price of under $20,000.

After the event started, Tesla’s eagerly anticipated humanoid robot was unveiled. The prototype walked unfettered across the stage. Tesla’s CEO, Elon Musk, stated that the team is working to make the robot accessible as soon as possible for less than a car at under $20,000.

According to Musk, Optimus is being developed to be a strong robot that can be produced in large quantities. During the event, a video showed the robot moving packages throughout a workplace and watering a plant, among other simple chores.

Tesla also displayed a fully built prototype showing the design of a potential final product. This prototype had a slick, cutting-edge design similar to what was showcased at the event last year.

The Optimus’ hands are designed to have a complete range of motion in their fingers. However, the humanoid movements are not restricted to the hands; the entire robot’s operation is fashioned after a human body. According to a Tesla engineer, the robot will have a human form, a broad range of motion, and strength. The Optimus will be programmed to have human brain-like capabilities, including vision processing, decision-making on the fly, and communicating; this is made possible by Tesla employing autopilot software and a battery pack from its vehicles in the robot.

CEO Elon Musk was passionate about the positive impact Optimus could bring to society and the economy. He stated, “It’ll be a fundamental transformation for civilization as we know it.”

When questioned about an exact timeframe, Musk responded that Optimus deliveries will be “probably within three years and not more than five years.”

The public has been hesitant toward technology since the humanoid robot announcement. After all, the scenario does resemble the ending of a sci-fi horror film in which machines might take over. However, Musk said that despite his attempts to get it out as fast as possible, safety is still a top priority in response to these worries.

It’s anyone’s guess whether a Tesla Bot will ever become a reality since Tesla has a history of fanciful ideas that never materialized. But the company is not where it is today because it decided to produce everything it invented.

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Posted on Author Atlantic Computer Services Categories Blog

Firefox 105.0 Update, The End of Low Memory Crashes and Other Features

The most recent version of Firefox, version 105, was made available for download on September 20, 2022. This version is a minor update that does not offer as many new features as previous versions.

However, the most striking improvement in Firefox 105 is that Mozilla has drastically decreased the number of out-of-memory browser crashes the Windows and Linux users experience.

When the system’s memory becomes low, the improved protection guarantees that the browser’s primary process is not disrupted. In addition, to free up RAM, Firefox 105 will stop content processes in pages that have not been used for an extended period. When the content processes are terminated, only the webpage, rather than the entire browser, becomes unresponsive.

Mozilla’s software developers have also improved the browser’s performance in several ways. Firefox 105 supports multi-finger gestures that allow users to quickly and easily switch between touchpad platforms. There have also been enhancements made to the touchpad scrolling experience on macOS. A new printing option has been added that enables users to print directly from the current page without printing excessive irrelevant information.

Mozilla offers some developer-focused improvements, including optimizing searching in large arrays. This enhancement, along with others in Firefox 105, is aimed at increasing the functionality and efficiency of developers. Furthermore, Firefox 105 Stable resolves seven security concerns classified by Firefox as high vulnerabilities.

On September 23, 2022, Mozilla released an update, Firefox 105.0.1, which addresses a bug reported in the original 105 version. In most circumstances, Firefox will update automatically. However, you can manually verify that you have the most updated version by selecting Menu > Help > About Firefox to perform a manual check for the update.

The next version of Firefox, version 106 and ESR 102.4, is expected to be available for download on October 18, 2022.

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