Securing Your Data from Viruses, Malware, and Ransomware
What is the difference between Ransomware and Malware?
Malware means “malicious software” and refers to any type of malicious software that invades or corrupts your computer network with the intent of stealing information or just sabotage. This includes ransomware, viruses, worms, trojan horses, spyware, adware and more.
Ransomware, though classified as malware, functions differently by encrypting the victim’s data and requiring the victim to pay ransom to a hacker. The hacker will only send a decryption key to restore access to the victim’s data once this ransom is paid.
Explaining the Different Types of Malware
Virus:
A computer virus is malicious software that infects other files or programs and causes harm to the system. Viruses rely on additional files and programs as it cannot survive independently and needs a host to spread.
Trojan horse:
Malicious code or software that runs on a device disguised as a legitimate application or file without the user’s knowledge.
Worm:
A computer worm duplicates itself across the network and transmits the virus across a wide area. The worm operates independently. It is capable of spreading without the need for other files or programs.
Adware:
Software that shows harmful banner ads. It functions a lot like spyware without installing software on the device or capturing keystrokes.
Spyware:
Software that secretly gathers data and sends it to a third party. Cybercriminals have the ability to spy on you through your computer’s camera or record your keystrokes using a type of spyware called a keylogger.
Cryptojacking:
Illegally using someone else’s computer to mine virtual currency. This can be accomplished through phishing or by placing JavaScript code into websites that run on your computer automatically.
How to Prevent Viruses, Malware, and Ransomware
INSTALL ANTIVIRUS SOFTWARE
Antivirus tools are critical for users to have installed and up-to-date because a computer can be infected within minutes of going online without antivirus protection.
The current top rated antivirus software includes:
- TotalAV
- ESET
- Bitdefender
- Norton
USE STRONG AND UNIQUE PASSWORDS
Using strong and unique passwords is an effective way to protect against malware. Strong passwords are at least 16 characters long and contain a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers and special characters. Passwords should not have any consecutive numbers, birthdays, or be used for more than one account.
PAY ATTENTION TO EMAILS AND ATTACHMENTS
Giving extra focus to email security is crucial. Avoid opening emails from unknown senders, emails with suspicious attachments or links, and emails containing grammatical mistakes or offers that seem too good to be true.
REGULAR DATA BACKUPS
The best way to regularly back up your data is to store it all onto encrypted cloud storage. This guarantees that your information remains encrypted at all times, preventing others from knowing its content, and that you’ll be able to access your data online from anywhere on any device due to it being stored in the cloud.
DOWNLOAD SOFTWARE FROM TRUSTED SOURCES
Downloading software from official sources is an important aspect of protecting against ransomware and malware. Use official websites and trusted app stores and avoid downloading from third-party websites and unverified links. It is essential to verify the authenticity of the sources as malicious software or altered applications can lead to ransomware infections.
ENABLE MULTI-FACTOR AUTHENTICATION
Once you have set strong passwords for your accounts, make sure to activate Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). This provides an extra level of security to your accounts by demanding one or more methods of authentication in addition to your password to access your account.
EDUCATE EMPLOYEES ABOUT CYBERSECURITY AWARENESS
Educating and raising awareness among employees about cybersecurity is essential for protecting an organization against ransomware attacks. Regular training should be conducted to thoroughly educate employees on how to identify phishing emails and refrain from clicking on questionable links and attachments.
How to Choose Antivirus Software
IMPORTANT FEATURES TO LOOK FOR
Real-time Protection
You should not have to manually scan your device for security software to detect and prevent viruses from infiltrating or spreading on your system. To prevent malware from infiltrating your system, your antivirus program should be constantly active in the background.
Full System Scanning
Your antivirus software should scan your devices thoroughly in addition to checking new files for infection. These comprehensive system scans can search for and eliminate existing problems.
Regular Updates
To keep up with the constantly increasing number of new viruses created each year, look for antivirus software that receive regular updates. In order for signature detection and heuristic detection to be effective, they must be equipped with the most up-to-date information available.
Low System Impact
When using any kind of software, you want to ensure that it does not cause your device to run slower; and this applies to antivirus software as well. During a free trial, observe the speed at which your computer or device launches programs and performs normal tasks.
Phishing Protection
Anti-phishing features validate websites and safeguard your personal data. Look for security software packages that specifically provide phishing protection or some form of identity theft protection.
EXTRA SECURITY TOOLS TO CONSIDER
VPNs
A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is a piece of software that maintains the privacy and security of your internet activity. When running, a VPN establishes a secure, anonymous connection between you and the internet so that your activities and location details are hidden.
Password Managers
A password manager is software that helps users generate strong passwords, save them in a secure digital storage area accessed by a single master password, and then retrieve them as needed when logging into accounts.
Firewalls
A Firewall is a device used for network security that observes and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic in accordance with security policies set by an organization. A firewall acts as a barrier between a private internal network and the public Internet. The primary function of a firewall is to allow non-threatening traffic in and to keep dangerous traffic out.
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