It was a good run The End of The World, John Martin, c.1851-53   As the world hurtles toward climatologic and ecologic catastrophe, with many of its nations’ leaders concluding that hitting the accelerator on capitalism’s infinite growth mandate is the best course of action, let’s take a step back and examine the single greatest technological menace to life on Earth. We’ve covered enshittification before, and it shows no signs of abating or reversing course. Generative AI, however, is not merely a byproduct of enshittification: it actively foments and enshittifies by its very nature. Artificial intelligence has become the primary growth engine of the American economy. Harvard economist Jason Furman claims 92% of GDP growth from the first half of 2025  is attributable to AI investment. While the idea that a massively overhyped, still unproven technology underpins the majority of our economic growth is disturbing, the series of events harkens back to the dotcom bubble of the late ‘90s . The parallels are eerie: massive, cross-industry investments; ceaseless marketing and integration of AI features into almost every tech product we use; eye-watering valuations of AI companies that haven’t turned a profit yet . There is no shortage of analysts  who don’t believe AI companies even have a path to profitability. The desperately absurd energy requirements and carbon footprints of new AI datacenters  likewise puzzle and horrify: OpenAI recently struck a deal with Broadcom to develop 10 gigawatts of additional AI datacenter capacity, roughly the energy usage of a large American city. Naturally, AI’s purveyors see nothing but upside here. Additional capacity will enable amazing, incredible features that make your life as a faceless consumer of AI slop better. And, most critically, additional investment will make early investors in AI companies like OpenAI and Anthropic even richer. That’s the headline here, in case you missed it. Sam Altman himself, CEO of OpenAI, is never very long on detail when it comes to just how  AI will change the world, or how it will do so in a sustainable or ethical way, but he’s sure it will. Never mind that his company’s flagship product only exists because of large-scale theft  of creative works produced by actual human beings. And don’t pay any attention to the fact that the world’s largest insurance companies can’t insure the likes of OpenAI because the scale of potential (and pending) legal claims against those companies is so grand.   Meanwhile, Elon Musk’s ever-hallucinatory, increasingly racist and Fascist AI model, Grok, now runs on new xAI datacenter infrastructure in Memphis, Tennessee where its nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions are estimated at 1200 to 2000 tons per year—vastly higher than neighboring fossil-fuel-powered interests. The xAI datacenter is located in an area of South Memphis already known for its high smog levels and state-leading asthma hospitalizations. Politico reports : The turbines are only temporary and don’t require federal permits for their emissions of NOx and other hazardous air pollutants like formaldehyde, xAI’s environmental consultant, Shannon Lynn, said during a webinar hosted by the Memphis Chamber of Commerce. The argument appears to rely on a loophole in federal regulations that environmental groups and former EPA officials say shouldn’t apply to the situation.   Given Elon Musk’s hot-and-cold relationship with current President and convicted felon Donald J. Trump, it may not be too surprising that the xAI datacenter in Memphis retains carte blanche to pollute with impunity, ignoring federal regulations and the Clean Air Act in the process. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin has championed the deregulation  of environmental protection standards, claiming the agency’s goal is now: “driving a dagger straight into the heart of the climate change religion to drive down cost of living for American families, unleash American energy, bring auto jobs back to the U.S. and more,” This hand-in-glove arrangement between the current regime in Washington and the AI-focused companies who have so generously supported them comes at a time when political capital should be spent on driving down emissions, not increasing them. Of course, Sam Altman and Elon Musk’s goals, and the goals of the AI ouroboros, are incompatible with such ‘strict’ emissions standards; if tech continues to have its way, we will likely only see emissions targets further reduced. I appreciate that this topic is fraught and politically charged; AI is being deployed at a scale that precious few had any inkling of even five years ago. But this is rather the point: the longer we refuse to confront the deep interrelations between AI, policy, and our own environment, the closer we walk to cataclysm. Granted, this isn't the bubbly, "I support technological advancement at literally any cost" pseudo ad copy you'll read elsewhere on the Internet, but I don't have affiliate links and I don't make money from lying to you. Generative AI’s growth is unsustainable; its promises are largely unfulfilled; our economy’s dependence on its success leaves us open to existential threats to our current way of life; the politics encouraging the AI bubble are diametrically opposed to the politics needed for a habitable planet; the privacy and safety implications of AI models without actual guardrails are dystopian; AI as a tool can and will be used by hostile governments to identify and punish dissenters. For all its potential, AI is a loaded gun and those most prominently and publicly championing its rapid adoption are confidence-men at best, and deeply malicious, narcissistic grifters at worst.

Cybercriminals aren’t slowing down; they’re getting smarter. A recent industry report found that Business Email Compromise (BEC) attacks surged by 37% in just over a year, from May 2024 to June 2025. That’s not a small uptick: that’s a sign that attackers are finding success and doubling down. If your business relies on email to communicate with clients, vendors, or employees (and whose doesn’t?), this is a wake-up call. BEC attacks are not your typical phishing scams. They don’t rely on mass spam campaigns or clumsy one-off emails. Instead, they involve highly targeted, socially engineered attacks designed to trick your team into transferring money, sharing sensitive data, or revealing login credentials. Think of them as cyber-fraud mixed with impersonation: attackers often compromise or spoof a real mailbox and then send what appears to be a legitimate email--sometimes even from a known executive. Why the surge? The answer lies in attackers’ return on investment. Unlike ransomware, which is noisy and risks triggering incident response, BEC is relatively quiet. It requires little to no malware – meaning it often evades traditional antivirus or endpoint security tools. Attackers have figured out that manipulating human trust yields faster payouts with fewer technical hurdles.     Small and mid-sized businesses are particularly vulnerable. Many don’t have advanced threat protection enabled, don’t enforce multi-factor authentication on email accounts, and don’t have a formal process for verifying financial transactions. A single successful BEC can cost tens of thousands of dollars – not just in stolen funds, but in downtime, incident response, and potential reputational harm. The FBI’s IC3 report consistently ranks BEC as the #1 costliest cybercrime year after year. 📊 Quick Stats: Business Email Compromise at a Glance Average loss per BEC incident:  $125,000+ SMBs targeted in past 12 months:  43% Total reported losses (2024):  $2.9 billion+ Attack entry points: 75% via spoofing or account takeover Prevention potential:  90% could be stopped with better verification processes   The good news: BEC is preventable. A combination of technical controls and staff awareness training dramatically lowers risk. At minimum, businesses should enforce multi-factor authentication across all email accounts, enable advanced phishing protection in Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace, and create a clear “out-of-band” process for approving wire transfers or banking changes. This means no payment should be authorized solely based on an email. Security awareness training is another critical layer. Employees should learn to spot red flags such as urgent requests, unusual banking details, or slightly altered email domains. Simulated phishing campaigns can test your team’s readiness and help identify users who may need extra coaching. The human layer is often the last line of defense – strengthening it pays dividends. Monitoring and response are also crucial. Your IT partner should review sign-in logs for what Microsoft calls “impossible travel” (signing in from physically disparate locations within impossible timeframes) or suspicious activity, setting conditional access policies, and alerting on forwarding rules that may have been maliciously configured. This proactive monitoring ensures that if an account is compromised, you can respond before the attackers cash out. At Geeks for Business, we help businesses implement a layered security approach that includes advanced email protection, identity security, and user training. If this increase in BEC attacks concerns you, you’re not alone, and you don’t have to face the threat alone. Schedule a security consultation with our team today and let’s make sure your business doesn’t become the next statistic. Real-World BEC Examples and Lessons Learned   Case Study 1:  A manufacturing firm lost $240,000 after an attacker gained access to the CEO’s mailbox and sent realistic-looking wire transfer requests. The funds were sent overseas before IT discovered the compromise. Case Study 2:  A California CPA firm suffered a $90,000 loss when a vendor's email account was spoofed. The fake invoice matched previous formatting and was paid without question. The firm later had to cover client losses out of pocket. Case Study 3:  A healthcare provider narrowly avoided a $300,000 loss thanks to a vigilant employee who noticed a slightly altered email domain. The event still cost $25,000 in forensics and recovery efforts.   Case Study 4:  A boutique software development firm in Europe lost approximately $285,000 to wire fraud as a result of BEC. The attacker gained access to the company’s Microsoft tenant via the widely deployed Evilginx phishing toolkit and began reconnaissance and information-gathering. Three months later, the attacker began intercepting and redirecting emails between company executives, a third-party organization, and the company’s internal finance department. The accountant mistook a fraudulent wire request for a legitimate email and mistakenly paid out a large sum of money to the attacker. Unfortunately, the funds were not recovered.  The average costs of one instance of Business Email Compromise Direct Financial Loss $50,000 - $250,000+ per incident Incident Response & Forensics $10,000 - $50,000 Legal & Compliance Fees $5,000 - $20,000 Downtime/Lost Productivity Hundreds of staff-hours Reputational Damage Loss of client trust, potential churn At Geeks for Business, we help organizations implement multi-layered defenses, continuous monitoring, and employee training to stop BEC before it impacts your bottom line. Request your free security posture review today.

The global cost of a data breach last year was $4.45 million . This is an increase of 15% in three years. As we step into 2024, it's critical to be aware of emerging technology threats--threats that could potentially disrupt and harm your business. Technology is evolving at a rapid pace. It’s bringing new opportunities and challenges for businesses and individuals alike. Rapid developments in artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and quantum computing are leading companies across all industries to radically reconsider their approach to cybersecurity and systems management. While these technologies are poised to make our lives easier, they're also being used to launch sophisticated, large-scale attacks against the networks and devices we depend on. In this article, we’ll highlight some emerging technology threats to be aware of in 2024 and beyond. Data Poisoning Attacks Data poisoning involves corrupting datasets used to train AI models. By injecting malicious data, attackers can skew algorithms' outcomes. This could lead to incorrect decisions in critical sectors like healthcare or finance. Some actions are vital in countering this insidious threat. These include protecting training data integrity and implementing robust validation mechanisms. Businesses should use AI-generated data cautiously. It should be heavily augmented by human intelligence and data from other sources. 5G Network Vulnerabilities The widespread adoption of 5G technology introduces new attack surfaces. With an increased number of connected devices, the attack vector broadens. IoT devices, reliant on 5G networks, might become targets for cyberattacks. Securing these devices and implementing strong network protocols is imperative. Especially to prevent large-scale attacks. Ensure your business has a robust mobile device management strategy. Mobile is taking over much of the workload Organizations should properly track and manage how these devices access business data. Quantum Computing Vulnerabilities Quantum computing, the herald of unprecedented computational power, also poses a threat. Its immense processing capabilities could crack currently secure encryption methods. Hackers might exploit this power to access sensitive data. This emphasizes the need for quantum-resistant encryption techniques to safeguard digital information. Artificial Intelligence (AI) Manipulation AI, while transformative, can (and is) being used to facilitate the spread of misinformation. Cyber criminals are already creating convincing deepfakes with AI, and automating phishing attacks. Vigilance is essential as AI-driven threats become more sophisticated. It demands robust detection mechanisms to discern genuine from malicious AI-generated content. Regulatory bodies and watchdog groups have proposed mandatory watermarks for AI generated content to make it easily discernible from human-generated (or human-reviewed) content. Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) Exploits AR and VR technologies offer immersive experiences. But they also present new vulnerabilities. Cybercriminals might exploit these platforms to deceive users, leading to real-world consequences.  Ensuring the security of AR and VR applications is crucial. Especially to prevent user manipulation and privacy breaches. This is very true in sectors like gaming, education, and healthcare. Ransomware Evolves Ransomware attacks have evolved beyond simple data encryption. Threat actors now use double extortion tactics. They steal sensitive data before encrypting files. If victims refuse to pay, hackers leak or sell this data, causing reputational damage.   Some defenses against this evolved ransomware threat include: Robust backup solutions Regular cybersecurity training Proactive threat hunting  Supply Chain Attacks Persist Supply chain attacks remain a persistent threat. Cybercriminals infiltrate third-party vendors or software providers to compromise larger targets. Strengthening supply chain cybersecurity is critical in preventing cascading cyber incidents. Businesses can do this through rigorous vendor assessments, multi-factor authentication, and continuous monitoring. Biometric Data Vulnerability Biometric authentication methods, such as fingerprint or facial recognition, are becoming commonplace. But users can't change biometric data once compromised, like they can passwords. Protect biometric data through secure encryption. Ensure that service providers follow strict privacy regulations. These are paramount to preventing identity theft and fraud. Advanced Phishing Attacks Phishing attacks are one of the oldest and most common forms of cyberattacks. These attacks are becoming more sophisticated and targeted thanks to AI. For example, hackers customize spear phishing attacks to a specific individual or organization. Hackers do this based on online personal or professional information. Another example is vishing attacks. These use voice calls or voice assistants to impersonate legitimate entities, convincingly persuading victims to take certain actions. Ongoing employee phishing training is vital, as well as automated solutions to detect and defend against phishing threats. At Geeks for Business, we believe that a proactive approach to cybersecurity is critical. With our trusted cybersecurity partner, Huntress, we are able to hunt for threats within networks before they become breaches. With complexity in cyberattacks rising, reacting to an attack just isn't enough; our 24/7 managed endpoint detection and response approach allows us to go on the offense against prospective cyber criminals. Tips for Defending Against These Threats As technology evolves, so do the threats that we face. Thus, it’s important to be vigilant and proactive. Here are some tips that can help: Educate yourself and others about the latest technology threats. Use strong passwords and multi-factor authentication for all online accounts. Update your software and devices regularly to fix any security vulnerabilities. Avoid clicking on suspicious links or attachments in emails or messages. Verify the identity and legitimacy of any callers or senders. Do this before providing any information or taking any actions. Back up your data regularly to prevent data loss in case of a cyberattack. Invest in a reliable cyber insurance policy. One that covers your specific needs and risks. Report any suspicious or malicious activity to the relevant authorities. Need Help Ensuring Your Cybersecurity is Ready for 2024? Last year’s solutions might not be enough to protect against this year’s threats.  Don’t leave your security at risk. We help small and medium businesses throughout Central North Carolina manage their IT, reduce costs and complexity, expose vulnerabilities, and secure critical business assets. Reach out to Geeks for Business today to schedule a chat. Article used with permission from The Technology Press.

Geeks for Business is the Triangle's premier managed IT service provider for small- and medium-sized businesses. Let's Make IT Easy Geeks for Business is the Triangle's premier business IT service provider Making technology work for your business shouldn't feel alien Tired of fighting tech complexity in your business environment? We turn IT from a drag into a driver of growth Pricing guide Get in touch Learn more is proud to partner with Microsoft 365 Do you know what your business really spends on cloud services? Are you making the best use of your cloud budget? Are your Microsoft resources secure? Cloud adoption rates are nearly 100% across businesses of all sizes, while managing multi-cloud environments is increasingly complex. From Identity and Access Management to Microsoft 365 backups and on-premise to cloud migrations, we make cloud stress-free. + Learn More Disaster Recovery Business continuity and disaster recovery should be top-of-mind for business leaders. Does your business have a recovery strategy in case of a ransomware attack or hardware failure? Learn how Geeks for Business can design and execute operational continuity and recovery procedures for your company. + Learn More Remote, Onsite Support & Help Desk Each of our Managed IT plans provides convenient Managed Support options for your business. Enjoy unlimited remote tech support, onsite support, outsourced help desk, and tailored tech support and training plans with Geeks for Business. + Learn More Enterprise Networking From design and installation to security and management, Geeks for Business provides comprehensive managed networking solutions for your business. Our implementation team has deep experience in Internet failover solutions, site-to-site VPNs, remote application access, SD-WAN, SASE, enterprise-ready wireless solutions, and more. Don't let legacy networking solutions slow your daily operations down. + Learn More Cybersecurity Ransomware payments exceeded $1 billion for the first time ever in 2023. Business email compromise is a $50 billion industry worldwide. Don't run the risk of costly business downtime in the event of an attack. Geeks for Business leverages next-generation security services, including 24/7 Network Operations Centers and proactive threat-hunting, to protect your company's critical assets. + Learn More Integrations & API Support + Learn More Automate repetitive tasks and supercharge your business's workflows by harnessing the power of your existing applications' APIs. As your business grows, leveraging APIs facilitates efficient data sharing, reduced errors, easier app integration and faster innovation. Testimonials What our clients are saying Cannot beat Matt. He was responsive, on time, quickly identified my problems, explained the fix and resolved the issues in no time. Just first class. I don't believe I will ever look elsewhere. Thanks! - Edward S., Cary

Causes we care about Causes We Support It's no secret: our environment is in dire shape. Pollinators are facing population collapse, fossil fuel pollution continues to propel global climate change, biodiversity and wild areas are under growing assault from human interests. Likewise, vulnerable populations of humans and animals face ever-mounting challenges to lives with dignity and purpose. This is why we feel it's important to be candid about social and environmental causes we support in our area. We want to encourage everyone, client or not, to dedicate some of your time to help the organizations below. info@leaflimb.com 919-787-9551 www.leaflimb.com Donate to Project Pando Project Pando (by Leaf & Limb ) Leaf & Limb, based in Raleigh, NC, describes their vision: "Increase the health and population of trees to help address pressing environmental issues and restore the balance of life on Earth." Project Pando seeks to connect people with trees, providing native trees to any person or organization who needs them. Their goals of outreach, education, and environmental restoration are goals we deeply and actively support. Keep Durham Beautiful Keep Durham Beautiful is a Durham, NC based nonprofit that we want more people to know about. Their work in removing waste from outdoor spaces, establishing community gardens, and restoring our local environment is critically important and more needed than ever. Geeks for Business has worked with Keep Durham Beautiful to plant trees, shrubs, and bulbs in public spaces and at our offices, in addition to volunteering our time to assist in their regular waste cleanup efforts. info@keepdurhambeautiful.org 919-354-2729 www.keepdurhambeautiful.org Donate to Keep Durham Beautiful The Eno River Association Established in 1966, the Eno River Association is an accredited land trust and conservation nonprofit driven by a mission to conserve and protect the natural, historical, and cultural resources of the Eno River Basin. 4404 Guess Rd. Durham, NC 27712 (919) 620-9099 www.enoriver.org Donate to the Eno River Association Independent Animal Rescue "Independent Animal Rescue is a non-profit group in the Triangle region of North Carolina that works to provide homes for hundreds of unwanted cats and dogs each year. IAR is run primarily by committed individuals from the community who volunteer their time to help homeless animals and to keep our support programs functioning. To learn more about how you can help, visit our Volunteer page." Mail: IAR, P.O. Box 14232, Durham, NC 27709-4232 919-403-2221 www.animalrescue.net Donate to Independent Animal Rescue

Geek Housecalls/Geeks for Business outsourced helpdesk and employee technical training information Outsourced Helpdesk & IT Training A full-time IT staff can be expensive. Geeks for Business can supplement your existing IT or serve as a fully-managed IT department for your business. Outsourcing Your Helpdesk Technical Training Is your organization smaller or still growing? Employing full-time IT staff is costly, with average systems administrator salaries in the Triangle area hovering between $72,000 and $140,000 per year, according to Indeed. Geeks for Business provides the additional support that your existing IT department may need, without having to onboard new full-time IT employees. This arrangement, called co-managed IT, typically results in cost savings for businesses while improving ticket response times and resolution times for your users. Our Outsourced Helpdesk service enables your business to offer its employees and clients a robust and responsive helpdesk solution at affordable rates. Geeks for Business supports a full suite of Microsoft products, including Office 365, Windows, Windows Server, Active Directory, Azure, Exchange, Intune, Autopilot, and more. Our service offerings also include support for Linux-based products, including Ubuntu Server and Debian, as well as a wide array of Network Attached Storage (NAS) devices and Storage Area Network (SAN) devices. Whether an employee who needs a password reset during the workday or a customer who's having trouble accessing the website at 11:30 pm on a Sunday, Geeks for Business offers fast turnaround times, ticket escalation, extensive documentation, and the IT engineering muscle you demand to solve problems big and small. Is your organization ready to train new hires or get existing employees up to speed on new software, hardware, or digital services? Geeks for Business specializes in technical training for Microsoft, Linux, BSD, Apple, Android, and select third-party software and hardware platforms. Our technicians are continually updating their skillsets in new and existing technologies in order to offer efficient and accurate technical training. Whether your employees need help with MFA (multifactor authentication) when accessing internal resources remotely, connecting to the company VPN, or synchronizing work email to a smartphone, Geeks for Business is here to support them during and after the workday. Don't let your daily business operations hit a roadblock because of tech. Geeks for Business offers a comprehensive system for protecting your data, maintaining your IT infrastructure, educating your employees, and supporting your clients, on your schedule. Get in touch today to learn what we can do for your business!