Tag Archives: malware

How Easy is it to Obtain Malware When Installing Software?

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As many as 1 million malware threats get released every day, often on third-party sites offering software for download.

As many as 1 million malware threats get released every day, often on third-party sites offering software for download.

Malware is still a vital enemy of any business that wants to avoid downtime. Much like hackers, it seems that those who create malware are eerily several steps ahead of those who create ways to stop it all. According to the most recent reports, 1 million malware threats get released every day in the online world. Last year alone, there were 317 million pieces of malware created, which is just astounding at the level criminals go to in obtaining personal information.

While many businesses choose to turn this kind of information off, it’s even more problematic when downloading software off the net. Even if you usually avoid such downloads, you may need a particular program at the eleventh hour, despite not being sure about its background. This becomes even more of a problem if one of your employees downloads a program you’re not aware of and ends up infecting your system with malware.

Unfortunately, third-party sites offering software is where criminals often place their malware, and it could essentially shut you down in an instant. Some malware could bring extended downtime to your business and cause serious financial harm.

With some astute awareness, however, you have ways to check those online programs so you know they’re safe before you download them.

Finding Information About the Software You Need

Any program you want to download from the net about safety is easy to research on Google. Never download a program instantly without doing that research first since you’re basically doing cyber Russian Roulette. It’s imperative you let all your employees know how to research a program before they go and download one they need in a hurry.

Keep in mind, though, that a third-party site you once trusted before to download software could get impersonated by a cyber criminal. All it takes is just one letter change in the URL, and you could end up on a faux, identical website. Once you start downloading malware, there isn’t any way to stop it.

Your best move is to just download the software directly from the publisher’s main site. You know it’s legit going this route. Still, if you haven’t heard of the program before, do an online search to see what people are saying about it and whether it’s truly safe.

Scanning Software Before it’s Downloaded

You can always use virus software and scan the program for malware if you’re still not sure. Even better is having a managed service provider watching over you for these threats in the first place so you know everything downloaded is safe. An occasional flaw in some virus software is that it may give a false positive on malware. This doesn’t mean the software isn’t safe, yet it’s best to avoid it if your virus software says something is there.

The good news is that when virus software thinks malware is there, it tells you what the malware program is. Just look it up on Google so you know it’s a real threat and not a mistake.

Much of this is easily dealt with when using a managed service like ours here at SystemsNet. Through our Vita, Vita Plus, and Vita Pro packages, you’ll have complete management of your entire system so malware doesn’t become an issue.

We quietly monitor your network remotely so we’re aware of any threats before they even happen. In the event you do get malware unleashed on your computers, we’re there to remove it in minutes so it doesn’t shut you down.

Contact us to find out more about our comprehensive IT services and how we’ll help you overcome the most dangerous cyber threats facing businesses today.

Beware of Ransomeware

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Ransomware is in the news lately -- it's worth it to invest in experts to guard your clients' information.

Ransomware is in the news lately — it’s worth it to invest in experts to guard your clients’ information.

A new type of computer virus, called CryptoWall, a family of ransomware programs that lock up computer files, are making headlines. Typically, virus software has been used to destroy computers or steal files, but according to NBC Nightly News computers hackers aren’t just stealing people’s information anymore, they’re now hacking into computers and locking you out until you pay up. They are accessing files, tax documents, and personal information, and then holding it all ransom with a clock giving you only a short window of time to pay the specified amount. These criminals have their sights on larger targets too, and have hacked into over one million computers including small businesses and even a police department. In Dickson County Tennessee the Sheriffs office had to pay 600 dollars to retrieve their files that were being held ransom. It can happen to anyone and at any level, but security experts say, “don’t pay, if none of us paid the ransom, these guys would go out of business.” By paying to get your files and computer back you’re fueling their fire, and will keep their operation profitable. Protecting personal and work computers from dangerous malware is the most important thing people can do. The experts suggest, prevention through updated anti-virus software, backing up files on external hard-drives and being sure to disconnect the hard-drive after, and being careful of what emails are being opened, are a few of the ways to protect your computer. The hackers often send out an email pretending to be a trusted organization like the United States Postal Service, then require the user to open a file that needs to be downloaded, and, unfortunately, sometimes it’s as simple as one click, and they’re in. From a business stand point, it’s worth the time and money to have experts guarding your clients information. Hackers know they are ahead of the average user when it comes to computers, that’s why having your own well-equipped artillery of experts to ward them off is well worth it. Contact us if you’ve been struck by a disaster and need to get your servers and work stations up and running, or if you are looking to prevent one altogether.

What Malware Is and How to Avoid It

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One of the most nefarious types of malware is spyware, which can result in a stolen credit card, or even a stolen identity

Malware can be a bit of a pain, can’t it?  Nobody really likes malware.  It is malicious software, after all.  It comes in many forms, but it doesn’t encompass all viruses.  Generally speaking, malware does one of a few things.

The first type of thing it does is destroy your system.  None of your information will get sent to the people who made the virus, but your computer can’t be used afterwards without a ton of work or, sometimes, an entire re-install of your Operating System.  These tend to be a pain, but are mostly harmless after a couple of weeks.  There are other viruses that aren’t so forgiving, though.

Those types of viruses are Spyware.  These are usually hard to notice, and they gather your information and send it back to the developers of the virus.  These are the kinds that will do lasting damage to you, usually resulting in a stolen credit card, or maybe even a stolen identity.  The damage done by these forms of viruses can be very difficult to repair.

Credit card companies have gotten better about spyware in recent years, and have made it easier to spot when this happens.  This usually comes in the form of a text message to your phone saying that it’s amazing how you went from California to Italy in 5 seconds, and blocking your card’s use until further notice.

In all of these cases, viruses can often be preventable.  Using an advertising blocker on websites you’re not familiar with can stop viruses leaking through advertisements, and running regular virus scans can help remove any unnoticed viruses before they do too much damage.  If you’d like to figure out more, you can contact us.

Malware Protection and Your Business – Why You Need a Defence

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Malware is a malicious entity that can attack computers and business networks. They’re generally used to steal personal and financial information. The person behind the virus will take this information and use it to steal money, or they’ll sell it on to criminal gangs who will do the same thing.

As a business, it’s your duty to possess some sort of malware protection. The cost of cybercrime to businesses is massive. The UK Government compiled a study that revealed cybercrime costs the IT services industry $1.6 billion per annum. And the figures are relatively similar for other industries, including the aerospace and chemical industries.

Extending Further

The main threat to a business is not what it can do to your operation. It’s how it can extend to the people you serve. Let’s say you get into a position where malware has infected your network and has taken the details of your customers.

All their personal information, such as where they live, can be used for the purposes of identity fraud. Any financial information, such as credit card details, can be used by criminals to empty bank accounts.

Your Reputation

A business lives or dies based on its reputation. If you gain a negative reputation because you didn’t secure your network, this is going to impact the number of sales you make. Your reputation will impact whether customers turn away from you. And this can cause your business to go bankrupt.

According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, 6 in 10 businesses who sustain a major malware attack in the U.S. will go bankrupt within a year.

Security is a big issue for customers. They want to know their online transactions are safe. It’s the main barrier to eCommerce, and it’s why so many people still won’t shop online.

Reopening the Doors

Practically, recovering from a major malware solution is tough. You have to perform a security audit, invest in new security software, provide any compensation due to customers, and might even have to fight off legal cases.

For a lot of companies, this is too much hassle and they close their doors. You don’t want this to happen to you. The cost isn’t just financial (which is what everyone seems to focus upon), it’s also a major time sink.

The longer you’re closed the more customers you’ll lose. If your site is offline, or the shop doors are closed, your regular customers will assume you’ve closed forever. Very few people will check back twice. It can take years to recover lost ground following a major malware attack.

Go for Quality over Cost

And here’s a final word on the type of malware solution you should invest in. Invest in the solution that works, not the solution that happens to be exceptionally cheap. The savings you’ll make from going for the cheaper option will pale in comparison to the cost of a malware file slipping through the cracks.

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