Is a Good Anti-Virus Software Enough to Protect Your Business?
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| Is a Good Anti-Virus Software Enough to Protect Your Business? |
Viruses have existed for as long as computers have. They go hand in hand,
and it seems that the problem can never be eradicated fully. The best you can
do is to protect your business from viruses and ransomware and make sure you
are ready for the worst case scenario.
A Vancouver-based small businessman was lost on words when his accounts showed fraudulent transactions. He says that the hackers are "smart and motivated," which is a tough combination to beat.
So what is the solution? Anti-virus is not good enough. They will protect you from regular phishing attacks and normal viruses, but they are nowhere good enough in case someone is targeting you explicitly. In case you are hit badly and lost all your data and months or perhaps even a year of work, you can still use a company like Secure Data Recovery, which offers the type of hard drive recovery Vancouver and other Canadian residents use. This kind of service will help you with the process of recovery and make sure that you are back on track in no time. They are experts and it is their job to recover lost data and secure your network.
What is ransomware?
Ransomware is a relatively new phenomenon where hackers can hold your accounts and important data on your servers for a ransom amount. Until that amount is deposited in their offshore accounts (most likely offshore), your data is inaccessible. It means that the data resides on your server, but you cannot access it until they remove the security obstacles they have put in place. Most hackers are now using Bitcoin, a cryptocurrency that is virtually untraceable to the source making the lives of hackers that much easier.
Ransomware is most commonly spread using emails and websites. They will encrypt your data so that no one but they can access it making you feel helpless and powerless.
But the question is how do you protect yourself from this attack ever happening? The fact of the matter is that good anti-virus software is not strong or prolific enough for the job. You need more. There are some measures that you can take such as:
Data backup
The oldest trick in the book is to regularly backup all your data both in the cloud as well as an offline and separate hard drive that is not connected to external servers. This will ensure that in case of a breach, you do not end up losing all your accounts, contacts, emails, files, and other data that is important to the success of your business. You should also check and see if the restore process is smooth and operational. Otherwise, what good is the backup process if it cannot be restored?
Email security solution
As discussed earlier, one of the most common ways of how ransomware works is through email. So you need to install an email verification system where all incoming and outgoing emails are scanned for malware and ransomware. All attachments are checked before you are allowed to access and store them. Some of the security measures will allow you to scan and stop these emails and attachments even before they hit your inbox. What you are looking for is "real time verification" and "on-access scanning" features.
Blocking executable files
Do not allow executable files to run automatically or it will only make the hacker's life easier. If you are using Windows, you can do so using the Windows Software Restriction Policies or Intrusion Prevention Software which will stop executable files to run automatically from the following locations:
Software vulnerability is another common area which is used by hackers to exploit the target user's systems. Make sure that your software is running the latest versions and that you are implementing patches as and when they are released to fix the known bugs.
Outbound traffic
For this, you will have to use IDPS (Intrusion Detection and Prevention System) which will help you monitor all your outbound traffic and understand if there is any malicious or suspicious activity going on. If some traffic is found to be suspicious, it will promptly alert you and help you take a call on what needs to be done such as reconfigure the firewall, disconnect your system temporarily, work on the source, and so on.
Educating users
If you are running an organization or a small business, there are employees who may also have access to the server. It is imperative that you teach them and educate them about security measures that have been deployed. Users are the last line of defense. Do not allow them to visit torrent and other such sites that can deploy malware on your servers which can cause havoc. Create a training program that will help them understand the process and implement it.
· Do not open emails and attachments from senders you do not know
· Do not click on email links from unknown parties
· Check for misspelled domain names such as microosoft.com
· Incorrect formatting and bad grammar are giveaways and not professional
· Report anything that is out of line to the IT department ASAP
A Vancouver-based small businessman was lost on words when his accounts showed fraudulent transactions. He says that the hackers are "smart and motivated," which is a tough combination to beat.
So what is the solution? Anti-virus is not good enough. They will protect you from regular phishing attacks and normal viruses, but they are nowhere good enough in case someone is targeting you explicitly. In case you are hit badly and lost all your data and months or perhaps even a year of work, you can still use a company like Secure Data Recovery, which offers the type of hard drive recovery Vancouver and other Canadian residents use. This kind of service will help you with the process of recovery and make sure that you are back on track in no time. They are experts and it is their job to recover lost data and secure your network.
What is ransomware?
Ransomware is a relatively new phenomenon where hackers can hold your accounts and important data on your servers for a ransom amount. Until that amount is deposited in their offshore accounts (most likely offshore), your data is inaccessible. It means that the data resides on your server, but you cannot access it until they remove the security obstacles they have put in place. Most hackers are now using Bitcoin, a cryptocurrency that is virtually untraceable to the source making the lives of hackers that much easier.
Ransomware is most commonly spread using emails and websites. They will encrypt your data so that no one but they can access it making you feel helpless and powerless.
But the question is how do you protect yourself from this attack ever happening? The fact of the matter is that good anti-virus software is not strong or prolific enough for the job. You need more. There are some measures that you can take such as:
Data backup
The oldest trick in the book is to regularly backup all your data both in the cloud as well as an offline and separate hard drive that is not connected to external servers. This will ensure that in case of a breach, you do not end up losing all your accounts, contacts, emails, files, and other data that is important to the success of your business. You should also check and see if the restore process is smooth and operational. Otherwise, what good is the backup process if it cannot be restored?
Email security solution
As discussed earlier, one of the most common ways of how ransomware works is through email. So you need to install an email verification system where all incoming and outgoing emails are scanned for malware and ransomware. All attachments are checked before you are allowed to access and store them. Some of the security measures will allow you to scan and stop these emails and attachments even before they hit your inbox. What you are looking for is "real time verification" and "on-access scanning" features.
Blocking executable files
Do not allow executable files to run automatically or it will only make the hacker's life easier. If you are using Windows, you can do so using the Windows Software Restriction Policies or Intrusion Prevention Software which will stop executable files to run automatically from the following locations:
- %userprofile%AppData
- %appdata%
- %localappdata%
- %ProgramData%
- %Temp%
Software vulnerability is another common area which is used by hackers to exploit the target user's systems. Make sure that your software is running the latest versions and that you are implementing patches as and when they are released to fix the known bugs.
Outbound traffic
For this, you will have to use IDPS (Intrusion Detection and Prevention System) which will help you monitor all your outbound traffic and understand if there is any malicious or suspicious activity going on. If some traffic is found to be suspicious, it will promptly alert you and help you take a call on what needs to be done such as reconfigure the firewall, disconnect your system temporarily, work on the source, and so on.
Educating users
If you are running an organization or a small business, there are employees who may also have access to the server. It is imperative that you teach them and educate them about security measures that have been deployed. Users are the last line of defense. Do not allow them to visit torrent and other such sites that can deploy malware on your servers which can cause havoc. Create a training program that will help them understand the process and implement it.
· Do not open emails and attachments from senders you do not know
· Do not click on email links from unknown parties
· Check for misspelled domain names such as microosoft.com
· Incorrect formatting and bad grammar are giveaways and not professional
· Report anything that is out of line to the IT department ASAP
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