By Jake Nonnemaker

Although AXICOM ’s primary focus is on small business IT solutions, it’s still important for us, as IT providers, as well as our clients to understand the direction and the issues of IT on a national level. In my opinion, there are three major issues that face our country today and which might be addressed during the election and in the presidential debates.

Important Security Updates
Adobe Flash Player: Adobe has released version 23.0.0.185 to fix at least 12 vulnerabilities. Updates are available from Adobe’s website.

Adobe Reader: Adobe has released version 2015.020.20039. Updates are available through the program’s Help menu/Check for Updates or from Adobe’s website.

Individuals at Risk
Identity Theft
Unsecured database lets hacker expose 58 million plus records from data management firm: A hacker scanning for unsecured databases was able to compromise at least 58.8 million records – and possibly as many as 258 million – from Modern Business Solutions (MBS), a data management and monetization firm primarily serving the automotive, employment and real-estate industries.

Important Security Updates
7-Zip: 7-Zip.org has released version 16.04 (32-bit and 64-bit). Updates are available from 7-Zip’s website.

Avira Free Antivirus: Avira has released version 15.0.22.54 of its free Antivirus. Updates are available from Avira’s website.

Individuals at Risk
Cyber Privacy
Facebook enables encryption for mobile Messenger app’s 900M users Facebook this week said the roughly 900 million account holders who use its mobile Messenger app each month can now make their conversations illegible to eavesdroppers after it finished rolling out a feature that uses end-to-end encryption to protect private messages from prying eyes.

Individuals at Risk
Cyber Defense
How to pick a password manager: After the Yahoo breach exposed personal data about 500 million users, many people are looking for ways to protect themselves online. That’s where password managers come in. Christian Science Monitor, September 30, 2016
Information Security Management in the Organization
Information Security Management and Governance
10 Things You Need to Do if your Business Gets Hacked: What’s worse than a massive data breach? Not reporting it.

Important Security Updates
7-Zip: 7-Zip.org has released version 16.03 (32-bit and 64-bit). Updates are available from 7-Zip’s website.

Adobe Shockwave Player: Adobe has released version 12.2.5.195 of Shockwave Player running on Windows and Macintosh.

Individuals at Risk
Identity Theft
Yahoo Says Hackers Stole Data on 500 Million Users in 2014: SAN FRANCISCO — Yahoo announced on Thursday that the account information of at least 500 million users was stolen by hackers two years ago, in the biggest known intrusion of one company’s computer network.

Important Security Updates
Apple iOS: Apple has released version 10.0.2 of its iOS to fix at least 1 vulnerability reported in previous versions. Updates are available through the device or through Apple’s website.

Apple macOS Server: Apple has released updates for macOS Server 5.2 for macOS Sierra v10.12 and later to fix at least 2 vulnerabilities, some of which are highly critical, reported in previous versions.

Individuals at Risk
Identity Theft
Identity Theft: How To Protect Yourself Or Resolve It: Identity theft impacts more than 17 million consumers every year, and consumers over 50 can be particularly vulnerable. This year is on track to exceed the 780 data breaches of 2015, according to the Identity Theft Resource Center.