Tag: Malware

Control 10 of CIS Critical Security Controls version 8 is focused on malware defenses. It describes safeguards to prevent or control the installation, spread and execution of malicious applications, code and scripts on enterprise assets. (In CIS version 7, this topic was covered by Control...

Server Message Block (SMB) is a Microsoft communication protocol used primarily for sharing files and printer services between computers on a network. SMBv1 dates back to the LAN Manager operating system and was deprecated in 2013 — so why should you care about it? I can answer in one word:...

The second most common type of malware incident is the notorious ransomware attack. According to the Verizon 2020 Data Breach Investigations report, the primary aim of a ransomware attack is “to disrupt operations badly enough and long enough that the organization will pay the ransom.” The...

According to Verizon’s 2019 Data Breach Report, 28% of data breaches involve malware. This dangerous software threatens every organization and is becoming more common every day. Companies must work hard to prevent malware infections in order to: Protect sensitive information and critical...

Malware — computer viruses, worms, Trojan horses, ransomware, spyware and so one — is a continuous threat to organizations because it can damage devices and enable unauthorized parties to access the network remotely to collect and transmit sensitive information. Windows Server 2016 includes...

Everyone knows how important it is to back up their data, right? Sadly, I feel like I should laugh after saying that because I know many people that don’t understand this basic concept. If you are reading this though, you are likely in the IT field, so should know that old saying: If you aren’t...

Are your employees or colleagues caught up in the Pokémon GO craze? Surely, most of them are. However, in the hunt to “catch ‘em all,” Pokémon GO users expose themselves to a variety of security risks. Moreover, playing the game presents major security risks for corporate information. In...

There is currently much talk about Cryptolocker and other kinds of ransomware. Cryptolocker is such kind of malicious program that, once it is active, starts encrypting files it can access on a local system or on network shares and then threatens to hold your data hostage until you pay. Users...

PCs sold by Lenovo between September 2014 and January 2015 came pre-installed with Superfish VisualDiscovery, a piece of malware claiming to improve users’ Internet experience by adding visual results to Google search and other websites. But in reality, the main purpose of the software was to add...

Those who study epidemics, talk about the spread of disease through what they call “vectors”. Some are spread through food, water, human contact, and so on. In the computer world, viruses and malware spread through vectors. Most are rather familiar, like viruses from downloading things you...