insurance Archives

AppWizard

December 3, 2025

Driver discount programs, estate classes and multi-player Minecraft offered in Pequot Lakes

Pequot Lakes Community Education is offering several courses for various interests and age groups. Participants can register online at pequotlakes.arux.app or by calling 218-568-9200. - 55+ Driver Discount Program: Scheduled for Wednesday, December 3, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Pequot Lakes Community Library. The class fee is not specified. Pre-registration is required; walk-ins will not be accepted. - Estate Essentials: Q & A with a MN Will & Trust Attorney: An online session on Tuesday, December 9, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. The fee is not specified. Participants can ask questions about wills, trusts, probate, nursing homes, taxes, and beneficiaries. - Multi-Player Minecraft: Theme Park Builder (ages 1-5): Online course on Thursdays, December 11 and 18, from 6 to 8 p.m. The fee is not specified. Participants will create a custom theme park and receive a copy of their world post-class. A PC or Macbook is required; Chromebooks, tablets, and phones are not compatible.

Tech Optimizer

December 2, 2025

Last chance: Get one of our favorite identity theft protection services for 75% off for Cyber Monday

Aura, a leading identity theft protection service, has reduced its annual plans by 75% for Cyber Monday. The premium Family plan costs per month and protects up to five adults and an unlimited number of children and devices. It includes services such as data removal from broker sites, digital account cleanup, spam call protection, home and auto title monitoring, a VPN, a password manager, and antivirus protection. Aura also offers four distinct plans, including one for children at a 52% discount, with discounts for other plans ranging from 50% to 75%. These plans provide services like financial transaction alerts, credit locks, and identity theft insurance ranging from million to million.

Tech Optimizer

November 25, 2025

Protect sensitive data with dynamic data masking for Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL

Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL-Compatible Edition has introduced a dynamic data masking feature that provides column-level protection, enhancing security alongside PostgreSQL’s row-level security. This feature is available for Aurora PostgreSQL versions 16.10 and higher, as well as 17.6. Dynamic data masking allows organizations to maintain a single copy of their data while applying role-based access controls, ensuring sensitive information is protected in real-time without data duplication. The pg_columnmask extension enables policy-based masking and runtime query rewriting, allowing different users to see varying levels of data based on their roles. For example, customer service representatives may see only the last four digits of account numbers, while executives see full details. The feature supports compliance with regulations such as GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI DSS. Users can create masking policies using standard SQL commands, and the policies can be defined to utilize built-in or custom functions for data masking.

AppWizard

November 20, 2025

Allstate Mobile For Android

Allstate Mobile has over 10 million downloads and a rating of four stars. It provides features such as digital ID cards, bill payments, claims management, and access to the Good Hands® Repair Network. Additional features include Drivewise® for safe driving rewards, crash detection, and GasBuddy® for finding gas prices. The app offers weather alerts, climate risk assessments, 24/7 roadside assistance, and identity protection. Electronic proof of insurance may not be accepted by law enforcement in all states, and the Drivewise program is unavailable in California. The app is free and designed for a wide audience, with varying file sizes and Android version requirements.

AppWizard

November 11, 2025

German healthcare aims to replace faxes and phones with secure mess…

Germany's healthcare system is introducing TI-Messenger, an encrypted messaging service overseen by Germany’s National Digital Health Agency, Gematik, to enhance communication among patients, healthcare professionals, and insurance companies. This service aims to replace traditional communication methods like faxes and phone calls, with initial trials showing significant time savings for medical staff. TI-Messenger, based on the Matrix open network technology standard, is designed to allow secure communication across health institutions while maintaining data control. As of July 15, 2025, it became accessible to all German citizens with public health insurance. A trial in Hamburg demonstrated that pharmacists significantly reduced phone calls by using TI-Messenger. There are two versions of the service: TI Messenger ePA for citizens and TI-Messenger Pro for healthcare professionals, which has not yet seen widespread adoption. Challenges in user adoption exist, with potential solutions including financial incentives and simplified onboarding processes. Future developments may lead to automated responses and improved communication practices, with hopes for collaboration with other European countries using similar technologies.

Tech Optimizer

November 6, 2025

DragonForce Cartel Emerges Following Conti v3 Ransomware Source Code Leak

Acronis Threat Research Unit (TRU) analyzed the DragonForce ransomware cartel, which emerged in 2023 as a Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) operation and transitioned to a cartel model. DragonForce utilizes leaked Conti v3 code and has similarities with LockBit Green in encryption and backend configurations. By early 2025, it rebranded as the “DragonForce Ransomware Cartel,” offering affiliates 80 percent profit shares and infrastructure support. The cartel has over 200 victims from various sectors since late 2023 and is known for its attack on Marks & Spencer, collaborating with Scattered Spider. DragonForce employs bring-your-own-vulnerable-driver (BYOVD) techniques to evade endpoint protection and has improved its encryption methods. The group has spawned offshoots like Devman and Mamona, which utilize its enhanced encryptor.

Tech Optimizer

November 1, 2025

Bitdefender Antivirus Protection & Internet Security Pricing 2025

Bitdefender offers a 30-day trial for users to evaluate its antivirus software before purchasing. The company has ten personal plans and four business packages, with five core plans being most relevant for users. Subscriptions are available annually or biennially and can cover up to 20 devices. The plans include: 1. Ultimate Security Plus Extended (5 to 25 devices) 2. Ultimate Security Plus Standard (5 to 25 devices) 3. Ultimate Security (5 to 25 devices) 4. Premium Security (5 to 25 devices) 5. Total Security (5 to 25 devices) 6. Antivirus for Mac (1 to 3 devices) 7. Antivirus Plus (1 to 3 devices) Pricing for the plans typically ranges from .99 to .99 annually. For small businesses, the Ultimate Small Business Security plan supports 2 devices per member and is available in bundles for three, six, ten, or 25 members, priced from .99 to .99 annually. Bitdefender also provides a product called Bitdefender BOX for IoT device protection, with an initial cost of .99 for one year. The company was founded in 2001, has over 1,800 employees, and serves clients in more than 150 countries. It offers a 30-day money-back guarantee for subscriptions. Bitdefender has been recognized for its comprehensive virus detection and competitive pricing.

Winsage

October 30, 2025

What Windows 10 EOS Means for Security

Microsoft will cease support for most versions of Windows 10 on October 14, 2025, while offering temporary Extended Security Updates (ESU) for version 22H2. Approximately 40% to 45% of Windows users globally still rely on Windows 10. The end of support raises cybersecurity concerns as Microsoft will stop issuing updates for vulnerabilities and bugs. Organizations using Windows 10 need to devise migration plans to Windows 11, but the transition can be costly and time-consuming, especially for those dependent on legacy software. Delaying migration poses risks such as regulatory violations, increased IT burdens, escalating ESU costs, and exposure to cyber threats. Organizations should prioritize migrating critical systems, review application support, and evaluate ongoing costs for legacy systems. Bitdefender offers security solutions for Windows 10 environments, including risk management, application control, cloud security, and monitoring services.

Winsage

October 22, 2025

The Windows 10 end-game: how IT leaders can turn migration pressure into strategic advantage

Many small and medium-sized businesses still rely heavily on Windows 10 as the deadline for Microsoft to discontinue support approaches. Microsoft’s hardware requirements for Windows 11, including TPM 2.0, aim to establish modern security standards. Peripheral compatibility issues arise as legacy equipment often depends on outdated Windows drivers. Cyber insurance providers are limiting coverage for unsupported operating systems, leading to premium increases for organizations. Successful migrations to Windows 11 can leverage application modernization opportunities, with cloud-native alternatives providing enhanced functionality and security. Windows 11's security architecture supports zero-trust implementations more effectively than Windows 10. The integration of Windows 11's security features with Conditional Access policies allows for improved security controls. Organizations that migrate early can avoid resource scarcity and higher costs associated with the impending deadline. A structured implementation strategy for late-stage planning includes rapid assessment, strategic pilot design, and parallel track implementation for different user categories. The October 2025 deadline for Windows 10 end-of-support emphasizes the need for strategic migration planning to avoid security vulnerabilities and operational risks.

Tech Optimizer

October 11, 2025

Bitdefender Ultimate Security Plus identity theft protection review: Taking online security to the next level

Bitdefender's Ultimate Security Plus Extended offers a comprehensive suite for online identity and digital device protection, with a monthly subscription priced at .99 or an annual fee of 9.99. The family plan option costs .99 per month. It monitors three credit bureaus—Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax—providing quarterly credit reports from Experian and daily updates from TransUnion, based on VantageScore 3.0. The package includes antivirus, a password manager, a VPN, anti-tracking, ad-blocking features, investment account monitoring, and identity theft coverage up to million. Users receive notifications of data breaches and monitoring for medical records and payday loans. The Ultimate Security Plus Standard plan starts at .99 annually or .99 monthly for the first year, while the Extended plan is priced at .99 per year or .99 per month for the first year. Family plans for the Standard and Extended versions are available at .99 and .99, respectively. The setup process involves account creation and personal information verification, with a user-friendly dashboard for accessing credit monitoring and identity theft protection features. The service covers social media accounts like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram but not LinkedIn or TikTok. The Extended plan includes identity theft insurance up to million, restoration services, and ,000 in ransomware insurance. Users receive alerts for dark web scans and potential fraud, with a web-based dashboard and mobile apps available for iOS and Android, although some features are only accessible online.