Timothy Velozo

When you download a new app for work, how sure are you that it’s really the genuine thing?

A new wave of cyberattacks is making that question more important than ever.

Hackers are creating fake versions of popular apps. Things like WhatsApp, Chrome, and even secure messaging platforms such as Signal or Telegram.

On the surface these look exactly like the real deal. But hidden inside is malware designed to spy on you, steal data, or even give attackers control of your device.

The trick that makes this so dangerous is something called SEO poisoning.

In simple terms, attackers use search engine optimization (SEO) techniques to push their fake websites to the very top of search results. So even if you’re usually careful online, you could still end up on a malicious site without realizing it.

From there, downloading what looks like a safe installer could also install hidden software that logs your keystrokes, monitors your clipboard, captures your screen, and even bypasses security tools.

The risks are obvious. One mistaken download by a staff member could expose sensitive company data, compromise client communications, or open the door to further attacks.

And because these fake apps sometimes also install the real version alongside the malicious one, people often have no idea anything is wrong until it’s too late.

So how can you stay safe?

The simplest step is to only ever download apps from official app stores or directly from a company’s website you’ve typed in yourself.

Encourage staff to double-check web addresses before clicking on download links. They should look for subtle misspellings or odd characters that give away a fake.

And make sure your security software is up to date so it can help spot threats if something slips through.

Most importantly, don’t forget that awareness is one of your strongest defenses.

Talk to your employees about scams like these and keep them updated on new threats. A quick reminder in a team meeting or an internal email could be enough to stop someone making an expensive mistake.

Fake apps aren’t going away any time soon. But by staying alert and building good security habits across your business, you can make sure your people, and your data, stay safe.

If you need help training your team, or checking your security is up to task, get in touch.

What if I told you that most of the cyberattacks happening right now aren’t being run by people at all, but by artificial intelligence?

That’s the reality of where we are today.

According to new research, 80% of ransomware attacks are now powered by AI. That’s four out of every five.

And it’s not just ransomware. AI is increasingly being used to:

• Create more convincing phishing emails (messages designed to trick you into clicking a link or handing over sensitive details)
• Crack passwords at lightning speed
• Bypass CAPTCHAs (those little puzzles you solve online to prove you’re human)
• Generate fake customer service calls using deepfakes (AI-generated audio or video that mimics a real person’s voice or face)

So why does this matter for SMBs?

The problem is speed and scale. Attackers using AI can try thousands of ways to break into a system in the time it would take a human to attempt just one.

And while a business needs to defend every possible entry point, an attacker only needs to succeed once.

That imbalance is what makes this such a big threat.

Traditional approaches to stopping malware, spotting it, removing it, and patching systems, are struggling to keep up. AI-driven attacks evolve faster than human teams can respond. That means businesses need to think differently about their defenses. It’s no longer enough to rely only on antivirus software or occasional updates.

The good news is that AI is also being used on the defensive side.

Security systems that monitor for suspicious behavior, predict likely attacks, and even set up traps for hackers are becoming more common.

But the real key is a layered approach. Strong security basics like patching and updates, combined with AI-powered defenses, human oversight, and clear governance.

The reality is that AI-powered cybercrime isn’t going away. In fact, it’s only expected to grow. But with the right mindset and proactive defenses, businesses don’t have to be easy targets. Acting now gives you the best chance of staying one step ahead of attackers who are relying on AI to do their dirty work.

If you need help checking your business is secure, get in touch.

When was the last time you found yourself typing something and thought, “There must be an easier way to do this”?

If you or your team ever use voice dictation to capture notes, write emails, or even draft reports, Windows 11 has some good news.

A new feature called Fluid Dictation is rolling out. It promises to make the whole process smoother, smarter, and importantly, less frustrating.

So what is Fluid Dictation?

At its core, it’s an upgrade to the existing voice dictation tool in Windows 11, powered by artificial intelligence (AI).

The big improvements are that it can now tidy up your words automatically. Think fewer “ums” and “likes” sneaking into the text. And fewer missing commas or awkward full stops.

The system will even polish up your grammar as you go, giving you a finished draft that looks a lot more professional right out of the gate.

And while it’s a nice convenience, it could have real benefits for businesses like yours.

Imagine staff being able to dictate meeting notes without spending ages editing them afterwards. Or field workers capturing job details on the go, hands-free, with the text coming out clean enough to send directly to a client.

Less manual fixing means more time saved. And that’s valuable for every business.

If you’re wondering about privacy, Microsoft has been clear. All of this happens on your device. Nothing is sent to the cloud, so your dictated content stays private. Plus, sensitive fields like password boxes have dictation turned off by default, which is reassuring.

There’s one important detail though. Fluid Dictation is only available on the latest Copilot+ PCs. These are Windows 11 machines designed to handle AI-powered features right on the device. So if you’re running a standard Windows 11 computer today, you won’t see it just yet.

Still, it’s a sign of what’s coming. Voice dictation that feels more natural, requires less clean-up, and helps people work faster is only going to become more common. And for SMBs, it could be another one of those quiet upgrades that makes everyday tasks just a little easier.

Are you curious to find out how Copilot+ PCs, or other AI tools could work for your business? My team and I would be happy to have a chat. Get in touch.

When was the last time you stopped to think, “What would actually happen to my business if all our files were suddenly locked away?”

That’s exactly the nightmare scenario the FBI is warning about right now. They’ve issued a new security alert about a nasty ransomware group called Interlock.

If you haven’t heard of them before, don’t worry, this is what you need to know…

They only appeared in September 2024. But they’re already making a name for themselves by going after businesses and infrastructure in North America and Europe.

And Interlock is in it for the money. Their playbook looks like this: Break into your systems, quietly steal sensitive data, then encrypt everything so you can’t access it. Finally, they hit you with a ransom demand, usually giving you a short deadline (about four days) to pay up, or they’ll dump your files onto the dark web for anyone to see.

This “double-extortion” method has become standard practice among ransomware gangs, but Interlock is proving very aggressive.

The way they break in is smart. They set up fake browser or security updates, booby-trapped websites, and other tricks designed to make you click without thinking. Once they’re inside, they drop all kinds of malicious tools that let them spy, steal passwords, move through your network, and lock down files.

They’re not picky about systems either. They’ve developed tools to hit both Windows and Linux machines, which means pretty much any business could be a target.

Now, you might be wondering what this means for your business. The reality is that ransomware doesn’t just happen to big companies you read about in the news. SMBs are prime targets because attackers know security budgets are smaller, and they often see them as an easier win.

Imagine losing access to your client files, financial data, or critical day-to-day systems. Even if you manage to recover, the reputational damage can be just as costly as the downtime.

So, what can you do?

The FBI’s advice is clear:

• Keep your systems patched and updated so attackers can’t exploit old flaws.
• Make sure multi-factor authentication (that’s the extra code you enter after your password) is turned on wherever possible. It’s one of the simplest ways to block them.
• Use web filtering and firewalls to keep malicious sites out.
• Segment your network so if one part gets infected, the whole business doesn’t go down.
• Most importantly, invest in security tools that can detect and stop suspicious behavior before it spreads.

It might sound technical. But acting now is far less painful (and cheaper) than dealing with the aftermath of an attack. The FBI doesn’t issue these warnings lightly. Interlock isn’t going away anytime soon, and this is the perfect moment to make sure your business isn’t their next victim.

Need help keeping your business protected? Get in touch.    

Have you ever gone hunting through your computer’s Settings app, clicking through menu after menu, just to make one small change?

It’s frustrating, isn’t it?

You know the option is in there somewhere… but where?

Microsoft is working on making that experience a lot easier in Windows 11 by adding something new: An AI Agent built directly into the Settings app.

This isn’t a chatbot like Copilot that you open separately. Instead, it’s woven right into the search box inside Settings.

You don’t need to know the exact name of the setting anymore. You can just type what you want in plain, natural language. Something like “make the screen brighter” or “turn on voice control”. And the AI will find the right setting or even apply the change for you.

What’s clever about this is that it all happens locally on your device. Which means the AI isn’t sending your requests off to the cloud or sharing your information anywhere.

It’s powered by a small, fast language model built into the system. The results come back almost instantly. Microsoft has tuned it to focus on the settings people use most, so you’re not scrolling through a long list of irrelevant suggestions.

This might sound like a small tweak. But think about how often your team wastes time figuring out how to enable a feature or fix a basic issue.

Instead of waiting for IT support or Googling instructions, they can now ask the AI Agent in plain English and get an answer right there in seconds.

That means less downtime, fewer interruptions, and employees who feel more confident about using their PCs.

This new feature is still in testing for Copilot+ PCs through the Windows Insider Program. But it’s a glimpse of where Windows is heading: Making technology easier, faster, and more helpful for everyone.

It’s a genuine time saver that can make everyday tasks run more smoothly. And when your people can get back to work quickly without fighting with their computer, that’s a win for productivity and morale.

If you’re looking at upgrading to Copilot+ PCs or just want some advice on the right devices for your team, I’d be happy to help. Get in touch.   

Have you ever opened a document or presentation and realized half the information is locked away in an image or graphic you can’t quite make sense of?

Maybe it’s a complicated chart, or a photo with crucial details, but no one thought to add a description.

Microsoft is working on something that could remove moments like that. Especially for people with accessibility needs.

It’s testing a new feature in Windows 11 called Describe Image, and it’s powered by local AI built right into your PC.

On Copilot+ PCs (the new generation of Windows devices that use AI directly on the computer), you’ll find Describe Image in the Click to Do menu. When you select it, your PC will instantly generate a detailed description of whatever image, chart, or graph you’re looking at.

The first time you try it; your computer sets up the AI models it needs. After that, the whole process runs locally, meaning no images or data are sent anywhere else. The descriptions stay private and secure on your own machine.

Right now, this is being rolled out to Windows Insiders on the Dev Channel who have Snapdragon-powered Copilot+ PCs. But Microsoft has said AMD and Intel Copilot+ PCs will also get it soon.

On first thoughts this might not seem like a big deal. But imagine a team member with a visual impairment being able to understand a complex graph in seconds, without waiting for someone else to explain.

Or picture a busy employee quickly skimming through a report and getting an instant overview of what’s in a set of images, without having to open another app or hunt down the right person to ask.

Microsoft is making technology work better for everyone… removing barriers and helping people be more productive.

Accessibility features like this aren’t about compliance or ticking a box. They have the potential to make a real difference to people’s day-to-day work.

When your employees can access information easily, they can do their jobs better, collaborate more smoothly, and feel included. That’s good for them, and it’s great for your business too.

Windows 11 keeps quietly adding these thoughtful improvements. Describe Image is another step toward a world where technology fits around people, not the other way around.

If you’re already exploring Copilot+ PCs, this is one more reason to be excited about what’s coming next. And if you need help selecting new devices that are the right fit for your business, my team and I can help. Get in touch.   

When was the last time you finished a busy workday and still had plenty of battery left on your laptop?

Feels like wishful thinking, right?

Microsoft knows this, because it’s testing out a new feature for Windows 11 that could give your laptop a noticeably better battery life.

As someone who works with business tech every day, I think this could be a big step forward for businesses everywhere.

The feature is called adaptive energy saver.

Normally, Windows only switches on its energy‑saving mode when your battery level gets low. And you can set what “low” means in your settings. But adaptive energy saver takes a much smarter approach.

Instead of waiting for the battery to run down, your laptop will watch what you’re doing. And if you’re only carrying out light tasks like browsing the web, reading emails, or working in Word, it quietly switches on energy saver in the background.

From what Microsoft has shared so far, this doesn’t affect your screen brightness. Which is good news, because nobody wants their screen dimming and brightening all day.

Instead, it seems to focus on gently slowing down components like your processor and graphics chip when they’re not working hard. Those are two of the biggest power drains in a laptop. Easing off on them could mean you get a lot more time before you need to hunt for a charger.

It’s not switched on by default. You’d need to turn it on yourself in your laptop’s settings. And of course, not every test feature makes it to the final version of Windows 11, but this one feels like a no‑brainer to me.

The benefits for businesses are obvious. Your people can work for longer between charges, whether they’re in meetings, out visiting clients, or working from a coffee shop for the afternoon.

Fewer frantic dashes for a power outlet means fewer interruptions and less stress.

And over time, better battery efficiency could even help you extend the lifespan of your laptops by reducing how often they’re run down and charged up again.

Right now, adaptive energy saver is being tested in the Canary channel, which is where Microsoft tries out ideas before releasing them more widely.

I spend a lot of time looking for small changes that add up to a big difference for productivity. This is exactly the sort of improvement that does just that. It’s early days, but if Microsoft rolls this out, Windows 11 laptops could soon feel like they’ve had a major upgrade without you having to buy a thing.

If it’s time to upgrade your devices and you need expert guidance, get in touch.  

How much time do you waste sorting through emails every day, trying to figure out what really needs your attention?

If you’re like most business owners, the answer is probably “too much”.

Between customer queries, supplier updates, internal messages, and the occasional bit of junk, your inbox can feel overwhelming.

And if you or your team miss something important because it got buried, that can cause delays, confusion, or worse.

Well guess what?

Microsoft is adding a clever new tool to help with this.

Outlook for iOS and Android will soon use Copilot, Microsoft’s AI assistant, to flag your most important emails. It’s called Priority view and will sort your inbox into two simple categories: High Priority and Needs Replies.

That means when you open Outlook on your phone, the emails that matter most will stand out straight away.

We all know how easy it is for important messages to slip through the cracks, especially when you’re busy or juggling multiple roles. With Priority view, you’ll spend less time digging through your inbox. And that leaves you more time for other, more important things.

For employees, it can take away some of the stress of keeping up with emails. No more worrying that they’ve missed something vital buried under a pile of newsletters or group updates.

It’s worth noting that this feature will be rolling out gradually. It could take until late 2025 before everyone sees it. Also, it’s only available to businesses using Microsoft 365 with a Copilot license, as Copilot is a paid add-on.

But if you’re already considering AI tools to help your business work smarter, this is one to watch.

Curious about how Copilot could help your business? Whether it’s with Outlook, Teams, or other tools, or you want to chat about making your email setup more efficient, get in touch. Helping you stay on top of your tech is what we’re here for.   

Here’s a question to make you pause: Do you know exactly who in your business can access your critical data right now?

And more importantly, do they need that access to do their job?

If you’re like most business owners, you probably assume that access is sorted out during setup and that’s the end of it. But new research says otherwise.

It turns out that around half of staff in businesses have access to far more data than they should.

Which is a big problem.

Not just because of the risk of someone doing something malicious, but because mistakes happen. When people can see things they don’t need, it opens the door to accidents, breaches, and headaches with compliance and audits.

This is what’s known as insider risk.

It simply means the risk that comes from people inside your business, whether they’re employees, contractors, or anyone else who has access to your systems.

Sometimes insider risk is deliberate, like when someone steals data.

But far more often it’s unintentional. Someone clicks on the wrong thing, sends information to the wrong person, or keeps hold of access when they leave the business. And that’s when trouble starts.

One of the biggest issues is what’s called “privilege creep”.

That’s where people gradually build up more access than they really need, often because they move roles, get added to new systems, or no one takes a close look at what they can see.

The research shows that only a tiny percentage of businesses are actively managing this properly. And that means huge amounts of data are being left exposed.

Even scarier, nearly half of businesses admit that some of their ex-staff still have access to systems months after leaving. That’s like leaving the keys to your office in the hands of someone who no longer works for you.

The solution is to make sure your people can only access what they need, and nothing more. This is often called “least privilege”.

It means setting up systems so that permissions are limited to what’s necessary. And access is only given temporarily when required. That’s sometimes referred to as “just in time” access.

And just as important, when someone leaves your business, all their access should be removed straight away.

Today’s world of cloud apps, AI tools, and “invisible IT” (where software is used without IT even knowing about it) makes this trickier. But it’s not impossible. It just means being proactive.

Regularly reviewing who has access to what, tightening permissions, and using tools that help automate this can make a huge difference.

The aim isn’t to slow people down. It’s to protect your data, your customers, and your business’s reputation.

If you need help checking how secure your access controls are, get in touch. It’s better to know now than after a breach.   

When was the last time you thought about how you log in to your accounts?

Or how secure those logins really are?

For years, we’ve relied on passwords. But let’s be honest, passwords are a pain. They’re easy to forget, often reused, and a prime target for cybercriminals.

That’s where passkeys come in. And, at last, Windows is making it much easier to use them.

So… what is a passkey?

Think of it as a modern replacement for your password. Instead of typing in a string of characters that could be stolen or guessed, a passkey lets you sign in using something far safer. Your face, fingerprint, or a secure PIN tied to your device.

Behind the scenes, passkeys work using advanced cryptography. There’s no password for hackers to steal, because the passkey is made up of two parts: One stays on your device, and one stays with the service you’re logging into.

They work together like a lock and key. But the key never leaves your pocket, so to speak. And because you can’t accidentally hand it over, it’s much harder for phishing scams to trick you.

Until now, using passkeys in Windows has felt clunky. You often had to rely on third-party apps or websites, and it wasn’t always clear how to set things up or manage them.

But Microsoft is changing that.

It’s started rolling out new features in Windows 11 that make passkeys far easier to use and manage.

One big improvement is a new partnership with 1Password, a password manager. This means you’ll be able to sync your passkeys smoothly in Windows 11.

And if you don’t use 1Password, don’t worry. Microsoft has also released a new tool for other password managers to integrate with Windows more easily.

In simple terms, your passkeys will work better with the tools you already use to keep your business secure.

Right now, these improvements are being tested in the latest Windows 11 preview build, so they’re not available to everyone yet. But this is a clear sign of where things are headed.

Microsoft is serious about moving away from passwords. In fact, the Microsoft Authenticator app is phasing out its password management capability. Instead, passkeys will be the default way to sign in to your Microsoft accounts going forward.

Passkeys are much more secure and far less hassle than managing endless passwords. And with Windows making it easier to adopt them, now’s a good time to start thinking about how your business can make the switch.

If you’d like help understanding passkeys or getting your business ready for a password-free future, get in touch.