Showing posts with label Anti-Virus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Anti-Virus. Show all posts

Monday, May 29, 2017

5 Steps to Prevent Ransomware

WannaCry Ransomeare
Ransomware attacks are on the rise and in the news again this year.

The recent WannaCry ransomware infected hundreds of thousands of computers around the world.  Most notably, the British National Health System (NHS) was severely impacted when thousands of doctor and hospital computers were rendered useless by WannaCry.

For the uninitiated, ransomware is a type of malicious software designed to block access to a computer system until a sum of money is paid.

Paying the ransom is no guarantee that you'll get your PC data back either.

So what can you do to prevent a Ransomware attack?

The best defense is a good offense.

Here are our recommendations to prevent a ransomware or other malware from infecting your PC or mobile device:

1. Keep Your System Up to Date

Ransomware attacks, like other malware and viruses, often exploit well-known operating system vulnerabilities.  In most cases, there are already updates available to patch the weaknesses of the operating system.  But you need to ensure that your PC is up-to-date.  Ensure that your PC is set to automatically install updates and check that your PC is current.

2. Don't Click Suspicious Emails, Attachments or Social Media Links

Stop an attack by avoiding suspicious and unexpected emails, attachments and unknown links on social media.  Ransomware often spreads from PC to PC by email.  Always be wary of suspicious or unexpected emails and attachments.  And with the rise of social media, be sure of attachments and unknown websites from social media posts on Twitter and Facebook.

3. Back Up, Back Up, Back Up

If you love it, back it up.  Don't let your cherished family photos,  videos and financial records disappear.   Back up your data consistently.  And keep copies in other locations than where your computer is located.  You should also retain all operating system disks in case the it needs to be reloaded.  If you own a business, be sure you have a disaster recovery plan in place that also requires backups and offsite storage.

4. Install and Update Anti-Virus software

Maybe you think it can't happen to you.  Whatever the reason, be sure to have a legitimate up-to-date anti-virus software installed on your PC.  And check periodically that it is still active and has the most current virus signature files loaded to discover the latest viruses and malware.

5. Disconnect PC if infected

If you think you've been infected by Ransomware on your PC or other PCs on your home or business network, you can limit the damage by disconnecting each PC from WiFi and/or the cable connection.  This will help to limit the spread of the infection to other machines, especially via email and contacts.

Hopefully, you'll never face the harsh reality of a ransomware attack.  But with these precautions, you limit your risk.


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#ransomware #wannacry #cryptolocker #virus #bitcoin #malware

Monday, November 23, 2015

Is Your Anti-Virus Software Up-to-Date?

Check anto-virus software is up to date - One Cool Tip - www.onecooltip.com
Have you checked that your computer's anti-virus software is running and up-to-date?

Virus and malware can sneak into your PC at anytime.

Every website and email is a potential new threat.

Up-to-date anti-virus software will help keep the problems to a minimum.

But only if it is running and current.

Make it a regular habit to check each week.  

Usually, you can right mouse-click the software's icon in the task bar to check and update the definitions if they are not current.

Be prepared.  Don't wait until it's too late.

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#Security #antivirus #virus #software

Saturday, April 12, 2008

Don't Let Your PC Catch a Virus

Personal Computer Virus Spyware MalwareMost PC problems stem from viruses and malware. But both can be easily prevented by safe computing practices and up-to-date software.

Many new PCs come with free trial versions from McAfee or Norton. And there's nothing wrong with using either of those solutions.

However, many users forget to renew their subscriptions or think that bad things will never happen to them online.

Wrong.

But there are other options out there that can cost less. For anti-virus protection, users should check out the free version of AVG, (http://free.grisoft.com/) This is a free version with basic protection and no technical support. But it's good and the price is right. AVG also offers free and paid versions of Anti-Spy software.

For spyware/malware, PC users should check out the free Windows Defender software from Microsoft.
Windows Defender is a free program that helps protect your computer against pop-ups, slow performance, and security threats caused by spyware and other unwanted software. It features Real-Time Protection, a monitoring system that recommends actions against spyware when it's detected and minimizes interruptions and helps you stay productive.
It's very nice of Microsoft, after developing operating systems that are exploitable, to offer free software to try to fix the problem.

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