Business Solutions for Spring 2018

SPRING 2018 7 SOLUTIONS Prevention is key when it comes to protecting your business from ransomware. Follow these six prevention tips: 1. Install a reputable antivirus/antimalware software that features on-demand scanning. However, remember that antivirus software alone may not be able to prevent a ransomware infection and can do nothing once your system is infected. Good antivirus protection is only one part of a smart prevention program. Schedule your antivirus/antimalware software to automatically run scans at least once per week. 2. Ensure all your software is up to date. Software includes your operating system, browser (including plugins), and all applications. Malware makers commonly exploit software vulnerabilities, and keeping yours up to date decreases the likelihood of this method being used on your system. 3. Never open an email attachment unless you know exactly what it is and trust the sender. Also, don’t click links within emails unless you know where the link is going. Email attachments and website links are two of the primary ways ransomware is transmitted. 4. If you use cloud services such as Google Apps, Microsoft Office 365, or Microsoft Azure, consider investing in a cloud-to-cloud secure backup solution. Cloud-to-cloud backup solutions offer an additional secure copy of your data that maintains prior versions, which, in the event of an attack, gives you the unencrypted files without the ransomware infection. 5. Install a “next-generation” firewall that is capable of unified threat management. It can help prevent suspicious traffic from reaching your internal network. 6. Most importantly, back up your data. Imagine the worst happens, and you’re not able to access your data due to a ransomware attack. You’ll still have all your information readily available. The key is making sure your data is backed up regularly with a reliable service. While the ransomware can be removed, prevention is crucial for pro- tecting your data from being encrypted or restricted. If your system does become infected, don’t pay the ransom! Instead, remove the affected system from your network, and restore your backed up files. To learn how Panora Telco and Guthrie Center Communi- cations can help with network security, call (641) 755-2600 to schedule your one-on-one consultation. Six essential tips for avoiding malicious computer attacks Your Guide to Ransomware Prevention Ransomware is a type of malicious software (malware) that can restrict access to files on your computer system, or encrypt data, making it unreadable. It then demands that you make a payment by a certain date and time to un-restrict or un-encrypt your information. Once you pay (up to several hundred dollars), you get your files back. Ransomware, such as CryptoLocker, typically propagates as a trojan and is usually disguised as a legitimate file attached to an email or on a USB drive or website.