Cybersecure California

June 5, 2025

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Category: Blog

  • Out of Office, Out of Luck: Why Reactive IT Support Can Ruin Your California Summer

    It’s a bright June morning from Redding to San Diego. Half your team is on vacation; the rest are hopping between home offices, coffee shops, and beachside Wi-Fi spots. Then it happens: You reach for your phone—only to see your IT contact is also “out of office.” Suddenly, your entire operation grinds to a halt.…

  • Shadow IT: The Silent Cybersecurity Risk Hiding in Your Business

    When most people think about cybersecurity risks, they picture phishing emails, weak passwords, or unsecured devices. But one of the fastest-growing – and often overlooked – threats in California workplaces is Shadow IT. If your employees are using tools or apps your IT team hasn’t approved, your business could be vulnerable to data leaks, malware,…

  • Is Your Printer Your Biggest Cybersecurity Blind Spot?

    When you think of cybersecurity threats, you probably picture phishing emails, malware, or weak passwords. But one of the most overlooked vulnerabilities in California workplaces today is quietly sitting in the corner… your printer. It might sound far-fetched, but printers are increasingly becoming targets for cybercriminals. In fact, during Cybernews’s 2020 “Printer Hack Experiment,” researchers…

  • The Fake Travel Email That Could Expose Your Business

    Summer is nearly here, and with it comes the rise of one of the most convincing cyber scams we’ve seen: fake travel confirmations. These phishing emails are designed to look like legitimate messages from trusted companies – Expedia, Delta, Marriott, and more – and they’re catching even tech-savvy people off guard. But the risk doesn’t…

  • The 4 Biggest Cybersecurity Mistakes California Business Owners Are Still Making

    We’ve all seen the headlines: ransomware attacks taking down hospitals, data breaches costing companies millions, and regulatory fines hitting small firms that didn’t even know they were out of compliance. And yet, after years of working with businesses across California, the most common mistake we still see is this: Treating IT and cybersecurity as an…

  • What Is Zero Trust — and Why Every Small Business Needs to Know About It

    “Zero Trust” might sound like a buzzword or something reserved for big tech companies — but in reality, it’s one of the most important cybersecurity strategies for small businesses in California today. At Synergy Computing, we talk to business owners who think their antivirus software and strong passwords are enough. The truth is, cybercriminals are…

  • The Hidden Cyber Risk in Chatbots: What California Businesses Need to Know Before You Type

    AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Microsoft Copilot, and others are quickly becoming everyday tools for businesses across California. They’re helping busy professionals draft emails, summarize reports, generate ideas, and even respond to customer inquiries. They’re convenient. Fast. Smart.But they also come with a risk that most businesses haven’t even considered. At Cybersecure California, we’re…

  • Business Email Compromise: The $2.4 Billion Scam Hitting SMBs the Hardest

    Think phishing is your biggest email threat?Think again. While most small businesses worry about spam or malware, the real danger is Business Email Compromise (BEC) — a sophisticated scam that cost U.S. businesses over $2.4 billion in 2021 alone, according to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). And here’s the part most small business…

  • The Anatomy of a Phishing Attack — And How to Train Your Team to Spot One in 5 Seconds

    Phishing is one of the most common ways hackers breach small businesses — and one of the easiest to prevent. At Synergy Computing, we’ve seen phishing emails trick even the smartest teams. That’s because modern phishing attacks are well-crafted, well-timed, and emotionally manipulative. They’re not just riddled with typos anymore — they’re subtle, believable, and…

  • The FTC Safeguards Rule Is Now in Effect — What California Businesses Need to Do ASAP

    If your business handles consumer financial data — even as a side service — it’s time to get serious about cybersecurity compliance. The Federal Trade Commission’s updated Safeguards Rule took full effect on May 13, 2024, and it’s already reshaping how businesses across California are required to protect customer data and report data breaches. At…