While millions of Americans fret over what Meghan Markle said about the Royal Family, and millions of others spend a chunk of their day trying to cancel a celeb, brand, or executive, it’s becoming very clear there’s some bad people finding new ways to launch an all-out cyber war on our businesses, government and organizations.

Microsoft is in the middle of a cyber-crisis right now.  Hackers targeted weaknesses in Microsoft’s Exchange Server which is used by small and medium-sized companies.

Here’s more chilling details on the size and scope of this hack, and some tips from experts on what can be done to protect yourself from potential future attacks…

To comprehend the scope of the breach, Axios quoted Brian Krebs of Krebs on Security who said over 30,000 Exchange customers in the U.S. were affected and thousands of others around the world.

Security experts point to China, and Axios quoted other top security executives who weren’t holding back in describing the size and scope of this cyber attack. 

Chris Krebs, the former director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency tweeted “This is a crazy huge hack.”

Another researcher told Wired “the humber of victims was astronomical and China just owned the world.”

Microsoft flat out said the hack came from a group tied to the Chinese government called Hafnium.

Microsoft delivered a patch to customers who have frantically tried to install which will prevent future attacks.

However, hackers often times install back doors to allow a return visit and there’s nothing those patches can do to prevent it.

President Biden will have some decisions to make quickly, and all eyes will be on him to see how he handles Russia for their involvement in the SolarWinds hack in 2020, and now this new Chinese backed breach of Microsoft products.

Securing the data and digital domain for businesses and corporations are the responsibility of highly-trained and experienced professionals, but here’s some easy tips to remember to protect your personal data, especially if you are an entrepreneur or run a small side hustle business.

  1. 1. Use two-factor authentication wherever it’s possible or offered. Always use it on your most important accounts.

2.  Don’t re-use passwords on important accounts. It might be easier to keep track of, but you don’t want hackers to have easy access into other accounts of yours if one were to be compromised.

3. Don’t provide your data to sites that ask for it.  Experts say there is no necessary reason for anyone to have your address or social security number.  Instead, provide alternate facts.

4.  Use burner email accounts that don’t trace directly to your personal information.

5.  Try to choose platforms that use end-to-end encryption for your data. Photos and files sitting in cloud storage aren’t 100% safe from hackers.

6. Check to see if you’ve already been involved in a data breach. 

Go to www.haveibeenpwned.com

Change the passwords for any accounts that may have been compromised.

7.  Test the strength of your passwords and regularly change them. 

Passwords to avoid:

-chronological numbers. ( 123456 987654  1111 )

-don’t use the word password

8. Be on the alert for suspicious or deceitful emails.  Don’t interact with them.

9.  Install anti-virus and anti-spy software on your advice and set the device to

10. Secure your Wi-Fi networks

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