Russian Hackers Bypass Two-Factor Authentication

Russian-backed hackers pose a huge cyberthreat to America on a daily basis. Now, that threat is especially elevated due to Putin’s unyielding attack, crossing western red lines by invading Ukraine.

“Cyber is a capability that Russian security forces have used in the past and as the decision calculus changes, that may change what’s in play,” former Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency director Chris Krebs said.

Two-factor authentication, also referred to as 2FA, is a vital aspect to secure accounts and data. However, it is not flawless. Russian hackers have successfully beaten the secure system by disguising their access, pretending to be legitimate account holders.

Hackers exploited accounts as early as May 2021 that were linked to an unnamed non-governmental organization. In the breach, hackers accessed sensitive data, according to a report from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the United States Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).

Victims were mostly those with weak passwords or long-dormant accounts. Once the hackers were able to break into the accounts, they enabled 2FA. After the systems viewed the hackers as legitimate, they ran widespread viruses. One of which was the “PrintNightmare” Windows Print Spooler vulnerability.

Roughly three-quarters of ransomware money ended up in the hands of Russians, according to the BBC.

Is your computer or laptop secure from hackers? Contact the experts at Creative Programs and Systems to lock down your personal information today. We can help protect your vital information and thwart hackers’ attacks.

Founded in 1994, Creative Programs and Systems provides professional results for all computer needs. We design, create, and code an array of custom software programs and websites; offer top-notch digital marketing services including enhanced Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and paid advertising; repair and provide support for computers of both residential and professional nature; build custom systems and servers, and offer secure data backups. Need assistance or want to learn more? Call us at 810-224-5252 or e-mail info@cpsmi.com.

Written by the digital marketing staff at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com.

ASTRO’s Top Six Trends in Radiation Therapy

At this year’s American Society for Radiation Oncology’s annual meeting, the following radiation therapy technology trends were labeled as the most up-and-coming. 

Flash Therapy
Labeled a “revolutionary” way to treat cancer, flash therapy has been under the radar for the past few years. Rather than giving fractions of radiation to patients over days or weeks at a time, a full dose is delivered swiftly. Healthy tissues react differently to high doses of radiation as opposed to smaller doses over time; the tissues recover well, and cancer cells are rapidly destroyed. This therapy can potentially revolutionize radiation therapy, making patient treatment slots more available. 

Image-Guided Radiotherapy Systems
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) guided linear accelerators (linac) systems gained popularity through the past few years thanks to their ability to allow real-time imaging during radiation therapy. With this process, patients are more aligned with the therapy through changes in tissue movement, breathing, food intake, bowel gas, etc. Though the results are more accurate and safer, they take longer to perform, and are being reserved for certain types of cancers. 

Proton: A Mainstream Treatment
Becoming more widely available, this therapy is highly accurate and performs better than the best photon therapy systems. Randomized trials will soon compare proton therapy versus photon therapy in prostate, lung, and breast cancer. Proton therapy interacts with cell biology differently than photon beam therapy. Proton flash therapy also makes proton systems more economically viable, since many more patients can be treated at once. 

PSMA PET For Prostate Cancer
Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA) Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging for prostate cancer can monumentally improve the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer. In male patients with prostate cancer, the drug for PET nuclear imaging of PSMA-positive lesions was approved by the FDA. 

Synthetic CT from MRI Is Cost-Effective for Radiotherapy
New software can convert MRI databases into synthetic CT image datasets to assist in treatment plans. Since separate CT scans are not needed, costs can be reduced and care can be sped up. MRI is preferred for diagnosis compared to CT, as it can help provide a better understanding of the disease extent. 

AI (Artificial Intelligence) in Radiotherapy
AI is being used mainly as a time saver, as it speeds up routine tasks, automates treatment plans, offers alternative options, and more. AI can target tumors, identify tissues to avoid using radiation on, and provide information to suggest better treatment decisions. 

Acceletronics is an industry leader in delivering the best equipment performance and service reliability from CT Scanners and Linear Accelerators across all major brands and models. Call 610-524-3300 or visit our website: https://www.acceletronics.com.

Written by the digital marketing staff at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com. 

What’s the Difference Between Contractor Bonds & Insurance?

Contract workers are required to attain a license or permit bond from a surety bonding company, such as ourselves. They are also required to obtain worker’s compensation and liability coverage for their crew. The difference between bonding and insurance can be a bit confusing and unclear. Read on to learn how to decipher between the two.

What is Workers Compensation and Liability Insurance?

Worker’s Compensation is a type of insurance policy that guarantees the injured employee to receive medical care, disability/rehabilitation, and have expenses related to the injury covered. Typically, while having worker’s compensation coverage, employees have their right to sue for negligence waived.

Some employees may opt-out of their employer’s worker’s compensation policy. Certain employees may have a pre-existing condition or injury not covered by worker’s compensation. In either of these cases, it’s important to maintain liability coverage, as the employee may file suit against the employer. Liability insurance protects employers from instances listed below.

Workers’ Compensation & Liability Insurance Covers:

  • workplace injuries
  • injuries occurring during work-related travel
  • injuries due to workplace violence
  • natural disasters
  • illnesses
  • fatalities

What is a Contractor License Bond?

Each state holds its own requirements for permitted construction work, but all require at least a permit bond and/or a license bond. Contractor license and permit bonds are a type of surety comparable to a line of credit and allow the contractor to perform work within that jurisdiction. The bond is an agreement between the contractor, the state licensing agency, and the surety company stating that the principal contractor will provide services in accordance with state and federal law (adhere to building codes, etc.)

If the contractor fails to fulfill the terms, a claim can be made against the bond, and the surety will investigate. If the surety concludes that the claim is legitimate, it will usually pay compensation to the claimant, up to the bond’s total value. The contractor remains liable for their obligations and must repay the surety, even though the surety company initially covered the claim. Therefore, these types of bonds are associated to a line of credit rather than insurance.

Summary of Contractor License Bonds, Workers Compensation, and Liability Insurance

  • A contractor license bond protects the contractor’s clients and the public. It’s a line of credit that, if used, requires the contractor to repay any compensation the surety had to extend out to the claimant(s).
  • Worker’s compensation is an insurance policy that covers employees in cases of work-related injuries.
  • Employer liability insurance protects/covers employers from lawsuits that may arise in cases of work-related injuries.

Understanding the requirements for permitted construction work can be complicated. At Construction Bonding, bonds are all we do. Call us today for professional, straightforward, and sound surety advice.

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At Construction Bonding Specialists, we work with new and experienced contractors to find the most satisfactory bond solutions. As a distinct surety-bond-only agency with decades of bonding experience, we work to discover surety solutions for all types of cases ranging from ordinary to challenging. Call us at 248-349-6227 or visit us at www.bondingspecialist.com today.

Bus Plugs 101

Bus plugs are electrical instruments used to allocate power throughout large electrical areas. Flat copper conductor plates are enclosed in a metal casing, which creates a compact design. Bus plugs are typically beneficial in areas where cables cannot be wired in large industrial factories. The plugs are connected to busways or bus bars to provide electrical power when needed.

Since bus plugs have a wide variety of uses and advantages, they are considered more effective than electrical cables. Given that they have no physical electrical wires within the building, the entire system can easily be disconnected and rearranged to fit almost any floor plan.

Bus plugs are used for a variety of reasons, most notably:

  • Streamlined Current Distribution: Cabling is usually chaotic throughout most industrial plants. With various manufacturing aspects requiring electricity, distributing power can be a challenge. However, with bus plugs, electricity can be installed almost anywhere…and they are easy to move.
  • Safety and Security: Bus plugs are guaranteed to be safer than cable systems due to their metallic casing, which reduces wire damage and electrocution.
  • Easy Installation: Typically low in complexity, bus plugs do not require holes, cable cutouts, or any other special equipment. Ceilings or walls do not require support for heavy cables, and the installation time is relatively quick.
  • Energy Savings: Bus plugs are compact, which means the copper conductors are placed next to each other. Energy is conserved due to the reduction in induction resistance.
  • Flexibility and Maneuverability: More flexible than a typical cable system, bus plugs are light, easy to carry, and do not need ceiling or wall support. They can also be transferred to a new location effortlessly.
  • Compact, Concealed Design: Bus plugs appear much more organized than a traditional cable system since everything is concealed inside the casing. There are no more twisted, dusty, entangled bundles of cables running throughout your building.

Electrical components should only be purchased from a reputable company. At J&P Electrical, bus plugs are our business. Contact us today to learn more about our products and pricing.

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J&P Electrical is a full-service electrical supply company. At J&P, we source contractors, end-users, and supply houses with new surplus, quality reconditioned, and obsolete electrical equipment. We also purchase a wide range of heavy industrial electrical equipment such as bus plugs, bus duct, transformers, circuit breakers, fuses, and switchboards. Call us at 877-844-5514 or visit us at https://www.jpelectricalcompany.com.Written by the digital marketing staff at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com

April 2022 Newsletter- Launch of Wolf Survival Website

Creative Programs and Systems is proud to announce the launch of a new website for Wolf Survival Gear! This e-commerce website is powered by Shopify, a proprietary platform for online stores. The owner of Wolf Survival Gear needed a turnkey, ready-to-go system that could handle a significant yet relatively quick import of all their various products, and we accomplished this using Shopify. It took us less than two months to design the website and build out the specifics.

Wolf Survival Gear is an online source for camping, prepping, and survival supplies. They are an authorized reseller for Readywise (high-quality dehydrated and freeze-dried foods) and Rothco (wholesale military, tactical, and outdoor clothing and gear.)  All products are drop-shipped, direct from the warehouse to the consumer, and are easily coordinated using the admin panel set by Shopify’s software.  

Since Wolf’s new site has been up and running, the digital marketing team at CPS has worked diligently to boost their social media presence and online advertising. We grew their Facebook followers by almost 3k and generated over 50k ads through Google and Bing, bringing in over 10K users since February 2022. According to Shopify reports, Wolf Survival Gear was rated in the top 7% of stores launched the same week in obtaining website traffic. They have sold multiple products via the platform – all in a short amount of time!  

Contact Creative Programs and Systems to strategize a new website design and digital marketing plan customized to meet your needs and help your business grow. Do you have a current website or marketing campaign that is not producing results? We can assist! Our team is terrific at identifying issues and finding solutions to optimize your brand while staying on point with your budget. 

Build Me a Website Too!

Founded in 1994, Creative Programs and Systems provides professional results for all computer needs. We design, create, and code an array of custom software programs and websites; implement internet marketing strategies for enhanced Search Engine Optimization (SEO) results; repair and provide support for computers of both residential and professional nature; build custom systems and servers, and offer secure data backups. Need assistance or want to learn more? Call us at 810-224-5252 or e-mail info@cpsmi.com.

Europeans Stock Up on Survival Gear

Due to concerns over the crisis in Ukraine, Europeans are flocking to stores in droves to stock up on survival gear such as sleeping bags, camping cookers, canned, dehydrated, and freeze-dried food. Some of the purchases will be donated to Ukrainian refugees, while others are hoarded due to widespread fear of supply shortages or future conflict.

According to a spokesperson, in a Swedish hardware store, products such as plastic cans, camping gear, batteries, flashlights, solar chargers, etc., skyrocketed sixfold in the past two weeks.

The representative stated, “It’s clear that people want to be prepared for crises. The biggest increase is for products recommended to have at home during a crisis are radios.”

Grocery store sales noted an increase in purchases of milk powder, pasta, grains, and canned foods by more than 20 percent, according to Ica Gruppen, a Swedish grocer.

Various Ukrainian organizations are swooping up the products to send overseas, while some consumers are shopping for themselves.

Jimmy Bakker, an employee at Dumpstore Amsterdam, an outdoor supplier said, “When the war broke out, people were buying emergency blankets, emergency food rations, radios, and stoves. Last week, people rented vehicles, and they were going to drive to Ukraine to hand out there.”

Poland has taken in more than half of the three million Ukrainian refugees, and its convenience stores reflect the influx. The chain Zabka reported higher sales of canned goods, rice, groats, bottled water, etc., in certain regions.

Rossmann, a popular Polish drug store, has also been selling out of wet wipes, gels, soaps, toothpaste, deodorant, and the like.

175,000 Ukrainian refugees have been registered in Germany thus far, sparking sales of sleeping bags and mats from a popular sports chain called Decathlon.

Dimitar Margaritov, Chairman of Bulgaria’s Consumer Protection Commission, said, “We live in difficult times, but at the moment there is no room for panic.”

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Wolf Survival Gear is a hub for your prepping and survival needs. We are your trusted resource for concerned families, avid hunters, or serious preppers. Make us your one-stop-shop and prepare now, before you’ll need it later. Visit our website for more information.

Written by the digital marketing staff at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com.

Dormant or Dead? Spring Grass Explained

It’s that time of the year again, when Michigan grass awakens from a long winter dormancy. At quick glance, brown grass can be incredibly confusing, since it can signify both dead and dormant grass.

Before you can address the brown grass, you’ll need to know whether it’s still alive and assess the cause. While dead grass will not return to life in the spring, dormant grass will turn lush and green in no time.

If you’re wondering how to tell the difference between the two, read on to learn more.

  • The Tug Test: find a section of brown grass and pull on a small section with your hand. If the grass comes out of the ground easily, it’s dead. If there is some resistance, your grass is dormant. If dead, consider contacting a professional lawn company to reseed your grass and help with landscaping.
  • Scan for Patterns: If your entire lawn is brown, it is more-than-likely dormant. If you spot small patches or areas of brown grass, it is probably dead. Before you start reseeding your lawn, contact a lawncare specialist who can test for pests and diseases that can cause similar issues.
  • Varying Temperatures: weather conditions have a major impact on your lawn. Certain types of grasses will go dormant during seasonal periods, such as prolonged cold or heat. To ensure your grass stays luscious year-round, plant a mix of cool- and warm-season types.
  • Water Regularly: Maintaining a consistent water schedule ensures your grass has the chance to grow green again if it can. If the grass is dead, it will maintain its brown appearance. 

Though dead and dormant grass have similar qualities, they don’t necessarily have the same outcome. The best way to determine the state of your grass is to hire a lawn care company to assist in figuring out the issue that plagues your lawn.

After your lawn has a proper diagnosis, the lawncare specialists can help suggest the best ways to treat your lawn, making it as luscious as ever.

Is your commercial lawn brown? Let the professionals at T&T Property Maintenance correctly assess the situation and bring your lawn back to vitality.

T&T Property Maintenance has been visualizing, creating, and maintaining commercial properties since 1997. We offer a vast number of services for our clients, including lawn and landscape maintenance, irrigation set up and repair, fertilization, weed and pest control, snow plowing and salting, and tree trimming and stump grinding. We are licensed with the Michigan Department of Agriculture, so you can rest assured we will do the job right – every time. We work with commercial businesses of any size and offer our services in seasonal or yearly packages, and a la carte. For over 20 years, we believe a satisfied customer is the only kind of customer. Check out our website, call, or e-mail us today to learn more.

Written by the digital marketing staff at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com.

Electrification Viable Solution to Climate Change

Extreme temperatures such as unordinary polar vortexes and heat domes have plagued the United States – a classic example of climate change. As the situation worsens around the globe, we are afflicted with more frequent extreme weather caused by greenhouse gas emissions.

To help remedy the situation, Congress is considering a new bill that presents a historic opportunity to significantly lower emissions, improve home efficiency, slash bills, and create hundreds of thousands of new jobs.

Replacing appliances run by fossil fuels with electrical appliances will improve efficiency and create clean energy, one of the most viable solutions to lower emissions and remove toxic indoor air pollutants. Some examples of these technologies include fully electrical heat pumps, dryers, and induction stoves.

To help the electrification effort, incentives are sprouting up country-wide. Scientists agree we must reach net-zero emissions to ensure Earth stays livable by 2050.

Unfortunately, this goal might be more difficult than anticipated, as over one hundred million buildings burn fossil fuels daily, contributing to 13 percent of the total amount of emissions. Almost 1.4 million new homes that were constructed in 2021 were made with fossil-fuel-driven gas heating or appliances.

The average home appliance lasts 10 to 15 years – buildings total roughly 50 years – so each new build that includes fossil fuels will result in higher costs for decades to come. To reach the goal of net-zero by 2050, all new buildings should have electrical appliances by 2025 or replace old equipment by 2030.

Fully electric homes can reduce homeowner costs in addition to toxic emissions. Research conducted by Rewiring America showed that 85 percent of all United States households would save money on monthly energy bills by converting to electrical appliances.

Electrification is much more than just appliances – electric vehicles are also a monumental factor when trying to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Contact the professionals at State Electric Company today to learn how we can help you reduce your carbon footprint and help fight climate change.

State Electric Company is a leader in the electrification of the nation. Our highly educated and experienced team of professionals uses industry-leading software technology and has partnered with manufacturers to deliver affordable solutions for all your electrical needs. State Electric Co. is also an exclusive distributor for Enel X JuiceBox EV chargers for residential and commercial use. We are fully licensed, insured, and bonded to install charging stations for homes, offices, hotels, and more. With our extensive knowledge in renewable energy, our team provides customers – large or small – with efficient electrical solutions. Contact us today to learn how we can safely and affordably meet your energy needs.

Written by the digital marketing staff at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com.

Sleep Apnea Affects More Than Your Mood

According to the National Sleep Foundation, more than 18 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea. Sleep apnea causes many people to stop breathing while sleeping, often multiple times per night. Those who suffer from this condition generally have ocular irritation, risk of floppy eyelids, dry tear ducts, and an increased risk of developing glaucoma.

There are different types of sleep apnea, the most common being Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), which causes the airways to be partially blocked because of relaxed muscles in the nose and throat. Apnea (the absence of breathing) or hypopnea (slow, shallow breathing) is twice as common in men. It also generally affects people with obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and/or heart disease.

When the muscles in the back of your throat relax too much to allow regular breathing, sleep apnea occurs, causing lower-quality sleep. The body’s oxygen supply is also greatly affected, which can typically lead to serious health conditions. Contrary to the popular misconception, not all those who snore suffer from sleep apnea.

Interrupted sleep can cause a variety of issues such as fatigue, daytime tiredness, irritability, depression, headaches, difficulty concentrating, distractedness, or sore throats.

When it comes to the eyes, sleep apnea can cause several major issues:

  • Glaucoma: increased pressure within the eye can damage the optic nerve, leading to vision loss or blindness.
  • Floppy Eyelid Syndrome (FES): marked by an unusually large and floppy upper eyelid, FES can cause eye redness, irritation, discharge, and blurry vision.
  • Non-Arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy (NAION): symptoms occur when there is significant vision loss in one or both eyes without any pain, caused by a loss of blood flow to the optic nerve.
  • Retinal Vein Occlusion (RVO): also called an eye stroke, it is categorized by a blockage within the small veins that carry blood away from the retina.

Other eye conditions correlated to sleep apnea include papilledema, keratoconus, and central serous chorioretinopathy.

Getting regular eye exams can prevent vision issues; contact Dr. Rohr’s office to schedule an appointment.

Rohr Eye & Laser Center offers the most advanced technology available to provide personalized and extraordinary care to our patients. Whether your goal is to maintain or improve your natural vision, we are here to help you. Call us at 877-579-0202 or visit https://www.michiganlasik.com/ to schedule an appointment today.

Written by the digital marketing staff at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com.

Viable Alternative for Diagnosing Coronary Artery Disease on the Horizon

According to a new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, Cardiac Computed Tomography (CT) can potentially provide a safer alternative to coronary angiography for assessing patients who suffer from stable chest pain or have undiagnosed Coronary Artery Disease (CAD).

Researchers used a randomized trial to conclude that more than 3,500 patients with stable chest pain in a randomized trial had a lower risk of major procedure-related complications with the use of CT. In contrast, initial cardiac CT and coronary angiography had similar cardiovascular risks.

Marc Dewey, MD, head of the Department of Radiology on Campus Charite Mitte, said, “The trial confirmed that the CT-based examination is safe in patients with stable chest pain and suspected coronary artery disease. Among the patients referred for cardiac catheterization and included in this trial, the risk of major cardiovascular events was found to be similar in both the CT and catheterization groups, occurring in 2.1% and 3.0% of patients, respectively. The incidence of major, procedure-related complications was found to be lower in patients managed with an initial CT strategy.”

The study was conducted between October 3, 2015, to April 12, 2019, by 26 European medical centers and involved 3,667 patients who were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to undergo CT or invasive coronary angiography.

Patients eligible for the study were required to be over 30 years old and referred due to stable chest pain with a high probability of obstructive CAD.

The study’s primary outcome focus was on major adverse cardiovascular events, some of which include cardiovascular death, nonfatal MI, or nonfatal stroke. Secondary procedure-related complications that took place either during or within the first 48 hours after CT invasive coronary angiography were also of interest.

A total of 90 major adverse cardiovascular events occurred among the study participants during the follow-up period.

Henryk Dreger, Deputy Head of Charite’s Department of Cardiology and Angiology said, “Now that it has been standardized and quality tested as part of the trial, this method could be made more widely available as part of the routine clinical care of people with intermediate CAD risk.”

RadParts is the world’s largest independent distributor of OEM replacement parts. We specialize in low-cost parts for repairing linear accelerator and radiation equipment. Our mission is to provide high-quality, user-friendly, low-cost parts and support for linear accelerators and radiation equipment. Contact RadParts at 877-704-3838 or visit us on the web: https://www.radparts.com.

Written by the digital marketing staff at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com.