Welcome to your weekly dose of all things IT and AI, curated to keep Charleston’s small businesses, entrepreneurs, and home users in the loop without drowning you in tech talk. This week, we’ve got a brand-new mini PC that’s small in size but big on performance, a retail giant opening its doors to U.S. entrepreneurs, potential shifts in AI chip export rules, landmark legislation tackling deepfake abuse, a Windows 11 preview update to patch a pesky blue-screen bug, the top cybersecurity threats targeting small teams, insider tips from last week’s security headlines, a sneaky WordPress backdoor campaign, and a surprising drop in zero-day attacks on browsers and phones. Let’s dive in — no sudo required!
News For The Week:
- Intel NUC 15 Pro Cyber Canyon Now Available for Pre-Order
- Source: Simply NUC
- Full link: https://simplynuc.com/cyber-canyon
- Intel’s latest mini PC, the NUC 15 Pro Cyber Canyon, packs an Intel Core Ultra 7 processor, Thunderbolt 4 ports, and support for up to 64 GB of DDR5 memory into a chassis small enough to fit behind a monitor — ideal for home offices, point-of-sale systems, and any workspace where desk real estate is precious .
- Pre-orders opened April 28, 2025, with shipments slated to begin in Q2 2025. Simply NUC offers customizable storage and memory options, so you can tailor performance to your specific needs without breaking the bank .
- Walmart Wants to Help U.S. Entrepreneurs Get Their Products on Its Shelves. Here’s How to Get Your Stuff in the Door.
- Source: Entrepreneur
- Full link: https://www.entrepreneur.com/business-news/walmart-program-aims-to-help-us-small-businesses/490882
- Retail giant Walmart has launched its “Grow with US” program, designed to guide American-made product creators through e-learning modules, expert mentorship, and national open-call events to pitch shelf space at Walmart and Sam’s Club .
- Applications open June 24, 2025, with the main Open Call event in Bentonville, Arkansas, on October 7–8 and pop-up pitch events nationwide. Over 60% of Walmart’s 2024 suppliers were small businesses, underlining the program’s focus on homegrown enterprises .
- Trump officials eye changes to Biden’s AI chip export rule, sources say
- Source: Reuters
- Full link: https://www.reuters.com/world/china/trump-officials-eye-changes-bidens-ai-chip-export-rule-sources-say-2025-04-29/
- The Trump administration is considering revising Biden-era regulations that restrict exports of advanced U.S.-designed AI chips, potentially removing a tiered system that limits shipments based on destination country .
- If enacted, smaller AI developers and startups could gain broader access to high-performance chips, reducing costs and speeding innovation — though critics warn of security trade-offs in loosening controls .
- Inside the First Major U.S. Bill Tackling AI Harms—and Deepfake Abuse
- Source: Time
- Full link: https://time.com/7277746/ai-deepfakes-take-it-down-act-2025/
- On April 28, 2025, Congress passed the Take It Down Act, criminalizing non-consensual AI-generated deepfake pornography and requiring platforms to remove such content within 48 hours of notification .
- The bipartisan law leverages FTC enforcement rather than Section 230, balancing rapid takedown requirements with free-speech considerations; Meta and Snapchat have already pledged cooperation, while privacy advocates watch closely for overreach citeturn0news62.
- April 25, 2025—KB5055627 (OS Build 26100.3915) Preview
- Source: Microsoft Support
- Full link: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/april-25-2025-kb5055627-os-build-26100-3915-preview-9324a361-965a-4496-8fd8-ba8a9de9fc38
- Microsoft’s KB5055627 preview update fixes a blue-screen exception (0x18B) triggered by the April 2025 security roll-out on Windows 11 devices, resolving unexpected restarts after update installation .
- To apply immediately, check Settings > Windows Update for optional updates or download the standalone package from the Microsoft Update Catalog; staying on preview updates can stop critical errors before they hit general release .
- The 3 biggest cybersecurity threats to small businesses
- Source: Malwarebytes
- Full link: https://www.malwarebytes.com/blog/news/2025/05/the-3-biggest-cybersecurity-threats-to-small-businesses
- Malwarebytes identifies unpatched software exploits, phishing attacks via remote-work tools, and ransomware as the top dangers for small teams this week; patch management and disabling unused ports like RDP are critical first steps .
- Always-on endpoint protection and intrusion prevention can block malicious encryption attempts, and regular staff training on phishing recognition rounds out a solid defense without requiring a full-time security team .
- A Week in Security (April 21 – April 27)
- Source: Malwarebytes
- Full link: https://www.malwarebytes.com/blog/news/2025/04/a-week-in-security-april-21-april-27
- Highlights include a Zoom-based malware trick that gains remote access, Android malware turning phones into tap-to-pay fraud devices, and a 4.7 million-user data leak at Blue Shield of California .
- Also in play: a Shopify privacy lawsuit over customer data and a novel Gmail replay attack; users should verify call authenticity, install apps only from official stores, and enable two-factor authentication across accounts .
- WordPress plugin disguised as a security tool injects backdoor
- Source: BleepingComputer
- Full link: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/wordpress-plugin-disguised-as-a-security-tool-injects-backdoor/
- A malicious WordPress plugin masquerades as an anti-malware tool, creating hidden ‘WP-antymalwary-bot.php’ files that give attackers persistent access and remote code execution while evading dashboard detection (WordPress plugin disguised as a security tool injects backdoor).
- If deleted, the plugin re-creates itself via a modified wp-cron.php on the next visit; site owners should audit installed plugins, remove unknown extensions, and scan with a reputable security plugin like Wordfence (WordPress plugin disguised as a security tool injects backdoor).
- Zero-day attacks on browsers and smartphones drop, says Google
- Source: Malwarebytes
- Full link: https://www.malwarebytes.com/blog/news/2025/05/zero-day-attacks-on-browsers-and-smartphones-drop-says-google
- Google’s Threat Intelligence Group reports a decline in zero-day exploit success against browsers and mobile OS—from 98 last year to 75 this year—reflecting improved vendor defenses .
- Despite the drop, end-user devices remain lucrative targets; users should install updates promptly, enable heuristics-based security tools, and avoid untrusted downloads to stay ahead of emerging exploits .
Windows Tips For The Week:
- Keep Windows 11 patched: Go to Settings > Windows Update weekly to check for both security and optional preview fixes.
- Use Snap layouts: Hover over the maximize button to quickly organize multiple windows side by side—perfect for juggling email, spreadsheets, and web research.
- Enable Storage Sense: In Settings > System > Storage, turn on Storage Sense to auto-clean temporary files and free up space after big updates.
- Pin frequent apps: Right-click apps in the Start menu and choose “Pin to taskbar” for one-click access to your most-used tools.
- Activate Focus Sessions: Use the Clock app’s Focus feature to set work and break intervals, boosting productivity without distractions.
AI Prompt Ideas:
- “You are a friendly IT consultant. Help me explain Windows 11 update procedures in layman’s terms for my small-business newsletter.”
- “Act as a retail coach and draft a 150-word pitch to Walmart for my custom-designed phone stand product.”
- “Generate a step-by-step security checklist for my home office, including plugin audits, backup routines, and malware scanning.”
Whether you’re sizing up new hardware, navigating AI policy changes, or shoring up your cyber defenses, Holy City Computer Services is here to help. Need hands-on support with Windows 11 updates, AI tool integration, or website security? Reach out at 843-670-4153 or support@holycityit.com, or visit https://www.holycityit.com. Let us handle the tech so you can focus on running your business!