The Power of Cybersecurity Context

context

Auto dealerships have become prime targets for cyberattacks. As technology becomes increasingly integrated into every aspect of selling and servicing cars and trucks, the need for robust cybersecurity measures has never been more critical. While many dealerships rely on traditional security controls like firewalls, vulnerability scans, and endpoint tools, these alone are not sufficient to … Read more

The Clock is Ticking – Why Upgrading to Windows 11 is Crucial

clicking time bomb

Update, October 2026: Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025, and paid Extended Security Updates Year 1 for business PCs ends October 13, 2026. For current dates, costs, and a store-by-store plan, read our Windows 10 Extended Security Updates action plan for dealerships. Microsoft has announced that support for Windows 10 will end on … Read more

The Right Way To Do MFA

Multi-Factor Authentication

As the incidence, severity, and sophistication of today’s cyber threats continues to grow, the appropriate use of multi-factor authentication (MFA) is becoming increasingly important.  Add to this that new government regulations – like the FTC Safeguards Rule – now requires that businesses implement MFA.  The result is a lot of confusion, inefficiency, and quite frankly … Read more

Signs of an Impending Ransomware Attack

Cyber Attack Ahead Sign

The point at which the cybercriminal emerges and demands ransom is the endgame of a cyber-attack – not the beginning.  The key to minimizing – or even eliminating – the impact that a cyber-attack can have on your dealership is to detect the attack early in its lifecycle.  To do this you need the right … Read more

Banning Payments To Ransomware Attackers Gaining Momentum

costs of a ransomware attack

Unfortunately, many businesses have not properly invested in the cybersecurity best practices that are required to effectively defend against a cyberattack.  For many businesses, their defense of choice has been either to: Bury their heads in the sand and hope the cybercriminal stays away. Get cyber insurance and just pass the risk onto the insurer. … Read more

Should You Make A Ransomware Payment?

Ransom Image

According to the Harvard Business Review, in 2020 ransomware attacks grew 150% from 2019 and the amount that victims paid increased by more than 300%!  As a result of the ransomware onslaught, we are all exposed to what feels like a constant stream of ransomware related horror stories.  And, unfortunately, the reality is that for … Read more

Automotive News: Ransomware Is an “Escalating Problem” for Dealers

Attacks are becoming more sophisticated, and many dealerships are vulnerable. Arrigo Automotive Group is one of many auto dealerships that have been targeted by ransomware in recent months, Lindsay VanHulle reports in Automotive News.  In early December 2019, an unsuspecting employee opened a phishing email, launching a successful ransomware attack that halted business for several … Read more

Helion Issues New Warning to Auto Dealerships: Hackers Targeting Social Media Posts, Don’t Click!

Timonium, MD June 12th, 2016 Helion Automotive Technologies, a leading provider of information technology (IT) solutions for auto and truck dealers, today issued a new data security warning for auto dealerships. Hackers are now planting malware inside of social media posts designed to lure employees of organizations to click on the post. If an employee takes the bait and clicks on the social media post, e.g. Facebook and … Read more