The Threat Landscape: What Are We Up Against?

Before diving into specific antivirus programs, let’s take a look at the types of threats lurking out there. It’s more than just old-fashioned viruses these days:

1. Viruses and malware. These are the classic threats that most people think of. Malware includes everything from traditional viruses that replicate to malicious software that can steal your data or even lock you out of your own files (such as ransomware).
2. Phishing and scam websites. Phishing attacks trick you into giving away personal information such as passwords or credit card numbers by pretending to be trustworthy sites or emails. Antivirus software often helps by blocking these sites.
3. Spyware and keyloggers. Spyware hides in the background, watching what you do. Keyloggers are even sneakier, keeping track of what you type, which can put your passwords and sensitive information at risk.
4. Zero-day threats and exploits. These threats take advantage of security holes in software that the developers haven’t yet patched. Good security software can help catch these vulnerabilities before they become a major problem.

READ MORE: Can My Data Be Removed From the Dark Web?

Windows Defender vs. Commercial Antivirus: What Should You Choose?

Now that we know what we’re up against, the next question is: Is the built-in Windows Defender enough, or should you invest in a commercial antivirus program? Let’s compare.

Windows Defender: The Built-In Protector

Windows Defender, which comes free with Windows, has come a long way. It’s built right into your computer and runs in the background without much fuss. Here are the benefits:

1. No extra cost. It comes with Windows, so you don’t need to pay extra.
2. Simple and minimal. It’s easy to use, with no confusing pop-ups or renewal reminders.
3. Integrated protection. Because Microsoft makes it, it fits in seamlessly with your system and is regularly updated.

However, Windows Defender isn’t without its limits. While it’s a solid basic defense, it might fall short when it comes to more advanced threats, such as sophisticated phishing scams or newer forms of malware that commercial packages catch sooner.

Commercial Antivirus: Extra Security, Extra Features

Commercial internet security packages often offer more comprehensive protection. Here’s what they bring to the table:

• Advanced threat detection. These programs usually have more advanced tools for detecting newer threats, including AI-based detection.
• Additional features. Many offer extra features, such as password managers, and parental controls, which can be handy for families.
• Better phishing protection. They tend to excel in blocking fake websites that try to steal your personal information.

Of course, these extras come at a price. You need to pay for a yearly subscription.

What Protection Do You Really Need?

The right level of protection depends on how you use your computer. Let’s look at a few typical situations:

• Casual browsers and email users. If you mainly use your computer for Web browsing, emailing, and light activities, Windows Defender might be enough. It offers decent security for day-to-day use, especially if you already practice safe habits such as not clicking on suspicious links and going to unknown, new websites.
• Families and shared computers. If you have kids or multiple people using the same computer, a commercial antivirus might be a better choice. Additional protection and parental controls can add peace of mind, particularly family members are clicking on things they shouldn’t.
• Heavy online shoppers and work-from-home users. If you shop online frequently, do online banking, handle sensitive work information, or store a lot of important data on your computer such as your taxes, the extra security features of a commercial antivirus package might be worthwhile. They tend to have more sophisticated threat detection and privacy tools that can help protect your information.

READ MORE: 7 Unexpected Ways Hackers Can Access Your Accounts

Final Thoughts: Do You Still Need Antivirus Software These Days?

 Antivirus software is still very important, even with built-in protection such as Windows Defender. The type of antivirus you need depends mainly on how you use your computer and how much peace of mind you want. Windows Defender is great for basic protection, but if you want more features or stronger defenses, a commercial package is worth the investment.Hopedale Technologies recommends VIPRE Managed Antivirus – an effective, hassle-free solution for just $64.99 per year. It runs quietly in the background without annoying pop-ups or slowing down your computer. Plus, we actively monitor it to ensure it’s working properly and hasn’t been disabled by a virus or malicious program. 

Not sure what you need? That’s what we’re here for! Whether you’re looking to install reliable protection or need help removing a stubborn virus, give us a call at 508-478-6010. We’re happy to help.

What antivirus software can do
Antivirus software protects computers and other devices against malicious software (malware). It detects viruses, worms, Trojans, spyware, and adware. It matches known malware patterns and detects suspicious behavior. Then, the program works to block files or websites that might contain malware.

If an infection happens, the software can attempt to limit the threat. It will quarantine or isolate infected files to prevent the malware from spreading.

READ MORE:  6 Signs Your Computer Has a Virus

Many programs actively monitor your systems for real-time protection. Regularly updating your software keeps it current with the most recently identified malware and threats.

If you’re worried about infection, you can typically start a manual scan. This checks your systems, folders, files, and removable storage devices for malware.

What antivirus software can’t do
All those benefits are helpful, but antivirus software is not foolproof. It relies on databases of known malware and current threats and can miss new approaches, and it might only catch some malware variants out there.

The software is also vulnerable to zero-day attacks, whereby hackers exploit a new vulnerability until vendors create and send out updates.

Meanwhile, your antivirus may not remove all malware if the infection is deep or complex. You’ll know it’s there but will need the help of a professional like Hopedale Technologies to remove viruses from your computer manually.

READ MORE:  More Than a Virus, Common Malware to Watch Out For

Working with us, you can cut device downtime. We can identify the problem and prevent data loss. We can also preserve device performance. Otherwise, malware can consume system resources and run processes in the background.

Antivirus software also can’t give you the complete picture of what’s happened. We can help identify the information compromised and help you change your passwords.

We can also set your computer up to prevent data loss in the future. We can protect sensitive files and ensure your data backup or other systems aren’t infected.

In short, we can remove the existing threat and add extra security measures.

Protect your devices online.
Hopedale Technologies offers Managed Vipre Antivirus for home and business. We manage this software to ensure it is always working and up to date. And it doesn’t have popups that try to scare or upsell you.

Antivirus software is only one part of comprehensive device security and is not infallible. Don’t just remove viruses; prevent them from happening with Hopedale Technologies’ help. Contact us today at 508-478-6010. We can help you shore up your security against emerging threats.

Consider this jaw-dropping example. That’s how the Stuxnet malware virus that hit an Iranian nuclear facility started. It’s believed employees at the facility plugged in a USB drive they found in the parking lot.

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From there, the virus could reach the computers controlling the centrifuges, causing them to spin too fast and become damaged. The attackers couldn’t get in directly, as the computers were on a disconnected network.

Risk of Thumb Drive Attack

You might think, “But I’m not an Iranian nuclear facility.” But that doesn’t prevent cybercriminals from wanting to access your network and systems. USB drives are one more way that bad actors can do so. One study found that 60 percent of people were likely to connect random thumb drives found near their building. If the business logo was on the drive, the number went up to 90 percent.

READ MORE:8 Reasons Every Company Is Now a Technology Company

USB stands for Universal Serial Bus. Even with cloud computing, these small, portable drives are used universally. They are compact and convenient. That also makes them an attractive target for criminals.

Hackers can pre-program USBs to act maliciously once connected to the network. They might:

• steal a user’s data;
• gain access to the user’s keyboard;
• monitor the user’s screen;
• encrypt user data in exchange for a ransom;
• spread infection.

Most of these can happen without the user knowing, as the malware runs in the background.

How to Avoid USB Thumb Drive Attacks

How do you keep your business safe from infected USB drives? First, don’t insert unknown flash drives. Hackers will try to exploit human curiosity or their desire to help.

Using different flash drives for personal and professional computers is also good. This helps cut the chances that you’ll spread an infection from one to the other.

READ MORE:  Watch the Little Things in Cybersecurity

You might also enable security measures on USB drives, such as fingerprint authentication. This, and keeping computer software and hardware up to date, can cut vulnerabilities. Also, keep your malware and antivirus protections current (we use Managed VIPRE Antivirus), and patch regularly.

Windows users can also disable the Autorun function. This prevents Windows from automatically opening removable media immediately upon insertion.

Hopedale Technologies is here to help. We offer a wide selection of security protection programs for home and business. Call us at 508-478-6010 if you suspect a security threat or want to update your security.

It’s easy to think cybersecurity is someone else’s responsibility, but IT may not be getting the attention it deserves, and that could be damaging to the business, your career, and your identity. Everyone plays a role in cybersecurity!

A data breach can destroy a business. Cybersecurity Ventures estimates that 60% of small businesses close within six months of a breach. It’s easy to calculate why. In Ponemon’s annual Cost of Data Breach report, the average cost was $161 per record. That adds up. If you’re at a business that can’t recover, you could be out looking for work again.

Of course, you care about your customers. You don’t want their personal information getting out to criminals. But their information isn’t the only thing at risk. Your employer has a lot of personal information about you, too. They’ll have your name, address, salary amount, and bank account details. Plus, they may have health information related to your benefits. They probably also have copies of your identification.

Not only about protection, prevention

If your business tech is outdated, you’re at greater risk of cyber vulnerability. But improving IT isn’t only about protecting data and preventing downtime. Having the right technology to suit your business can also help you be more productive. Speaking up about IT could see the company improve, grow, and gain resiliency. Working with a good managed service provider (MSP) like Hopedale Technologies can help both you and your business:

• We can help with data security or backup and disaster recovery if your company isn’t as protected.
• Are you frustrated by network failures, lagging conference calls, or error messages? Trust us to ensure the business technology is up to the task. When the devices you’re working with aren’t doing what you want them to do, we can suggest the right tools for the job.
• Feel like you’re wasting time on repetitive or mundane tasks?  Managed service could help you embrace automation. Allow machines to take on the routine and leave you free to focus on the more challenging and innovative work.

A slow system is painful to use. Waiting even a few minutes for a computer adds up over a 40-hour workweek. Worrying about the security of your data doesn’t help your focus at work either.

You don’t have to be an IT expert to understand that there is room for improvement with your technology. Connect us with your employer to schedule a free consultation for your business needs! Contact us at 508-478-6010.

Phishing remains a primary way to attack. A scammer sends an email that looks legitimate, and an unsuspecting victim clicks on a malicious link. They might download malware or end up on a webpage that looks credible but is set up to gather their personal data. This can happen to anyone!

Social engineering targets the human desire to help. A hacker might drop an infected thumb drive in the office parking lot of the target business – they need only one well-intentioned person to pick it up and plug it into the office system – or they call, saying they represent a contractor and urgently need important credentials.

Your cybersecurity is only as strong as its weakest link. In many cases, your employees are that weakest link. They are busy working hard, so they don’t stop to question things, or they can be too trusting. A supply-chain attack compromises your vendor. The hackers change the details on the vendor’s invoice so that the money ends up in their bank account. Your people don’t notice because they usually trust the vendor.
 

Educate Employees about Their Cybersecurity Role

Every business needs to educate employees about the part they play in cybersecurity. They need to care, but they may feel that it’s not their concern. They’ll expect IT or someone else at work to handle malware and prevent cyberattacks, but each individual has a role.

It can help to put the potential threat in personal terms. Help them to understand that they are not only protecting work data on the network, and it’s not just client personal details: it’s their names, addresses, and tax numbers, too. Plus, it’s how much they get paid, healthcare records, resumes, and more, which is exactly the kind of information hackers exploit in identity theft. That one hack can have a huge ripple effect.

There’s also the argument that if your business suffers a breach or downtime, everyone could be out of a job. Terrible data breaches or hacks can destroy a business. Of course, the individual didn’t mean to do anything wrong. Still, their ill-advised action costs your company, which can mean downtime, lost productivity, damaged brand reputation, compliance issues, and more. Recovery is difficult.

Cybersecurity Is an Ongoing Concern

It’s also important that you don’t treat cybersecurity training as a one-off. Running through a list of “do nots” in employee onboarding and then moving on will not work. Build cybersecurity literacy into your workplace culture. Remind employees about strong passwords and thinking twice before sharing any sensitive data. Require them to use protected networks for remote access and to encrypt files.

Your business can also show the importance of employees taking responsibility by:

• discussing cybersecurity in hiring processes;
• outlining policies and procedures in the handbook;
• reminding employees to regularly update and upgrade technology;
• monitoring applications downloaded onto work devices;
• having a clear policy for people bringing in their own devices;
• adding multi-factor authentication to remote access.

Ransomware threats are on the rise globally; cybercrime gangs target any weakness, regardless of business size or industry. Enlist your employees in the ongoing fight against hackers.

Here’s how people are making money with computer viruses:

Bank account theft: Virus creators are more than happy to help themselves to your bank details, sneaking in to grab your login details or credit card info. They can either transfer your funds away or use your credit card details to go on a shopping spree. Sometimes they’ll leave the fun to another person though, and simply sell your details to the highest bidder.

Ransomware: Rather than a financial snatch and grab, sometimes a virus will encrypt your files and demand money for the unlock code. Without a true backup plan in place beforehand, you’re at their mercy. You’ll be given very helpful information on how to pay, plus a firm deadline before your files are destroyed permanently.

Ad swappers: A cheeky technique, this is when they create a virus that either puts annoying ads on websites you visit or places affiliate codes on pages so that when you buy something legitimately – eg, from Amazon – they get a percentage as a ‘referral fee’. Their kickback doesn’t make your purchase cost more and you may not even know you’re supporting their activities.

Bitcoin mining: You might have heard of digital currencies being used for payment, but did you know you can also earn them with your computer processing power? Unfortunately, ‘renting’ out your computer’s processing power means paying more in running costs than you’d make – unless you were very clever and sneaky, and used a virus to rent out other people’s computers.

Botnets: Certain infected computers can be remotely controlled to do whatever the virus creator wants. In this case, they’ll usually set the infected bot computers to overwhelm a target web server, like an e-commerce store. Sometimes it’s done as revenge, but more often it’s blackmail. The ‘Botmaster’ says “pay me thousands of dollars or I’ll crash your site during the biggest shopping day of the year.”

Account stealing: Subscription accounts like Netflix and Hulu are often hijacked, leaving you to pay the bill for someone else’s entertainment. But sometimes, virus creators go one step further with online gaming accounts. All those digital items that you fought so hard for (special clothing, weapons, etc.) can carry real-world value and be stolen from your account and sold on a black market. Yes, that’s cheating!

A strong antivirus program is the first step in protecting your computer. Hopedale Technologies recommends VIPRE Managed Antivirus. Since we manage and monitor your account, VIPRE is always up to date. We receive alerts and make sure it is active.

NO!

Do not call the number! Microsoft NEVER includes a phone number on any of their security alerts. This phone number is the number of the people who installed the scammy browser popup. If you call them, the scammers will ask for a credit card number to pay for a tech support plan or service so they can “unlock” your computer and clean it of viruses. They could also install a remote access program on your computer so they can access your computer to remove the “virus.” This remote access allows them to install programs that may run in the background without their victim knowing. They can install malware and viruses to capture sensitive passwords, banking information, and other personal data remotely. Often if someone refuses to pay, they will use scare tactics. Customers have gotten yelled at by irate scammers.

How To Break Out of the Popup If You Haven’t Called

Chances are, if you haven’t called, your computer is not infected by this browser popup. This popup is a trick to get you to call the number. Here’s how you can remove it:

• Open the Task Manager by pressing Ctrl+Alt+Del on your keyboard and then select Task Manager.
• Select your web browser (Chrome, Edge, Firefox, etc.) and left-click on it. Then select End Task.
• The next time you open your browser, do not select “restore browser.”
• Check your browser extensions to make sure nothing new has been added without your permission.
• Do a deep scan of your computer with your antivirus program.
• Still worried? Give us a call at 508-478-6010. We offer over-the-phone tech support.

If You Have Called the Number
Your best bet is to shut down your computer, even if you have to do a hard shut down with the power button, and bring it into us asap. We will ensure your virus protection is up to date and active, remove unwanted remote programs, and check for hidden viruses and malware. 

What Else Should You Do?

• Run Microsoft updates when they become available. Microsoft offers patches and updates for operating systems to help keep your computer secure on the internet.
• Don’t use old operating systems like Windows 7, which are unsupported and obsolete.
• Make sure your virus protection is active and not disabled! Most virus protection needs to be renewed each year. If you have automatic renewals, make sure your credit card information is correct and up to date.

Need a reliable antivirus program? We recommend and install VIPRE. This annual subscription is available unmanaged (you run the updates) and managed (Hopedale Technologies runs the updates).

We also offer managed protection which blocks program installs until Hopedale Technologies approves the installation. This helps prevent accidental installations of rogue programs to your system.

Cybercrime has hundreds of millions of victims. Two-thirds of people online have experienced personal information theft or compromise. A 2018 McAfee Security study suggested that it represents more than 2 billion individuals!

If any of those people work at your business, it could mean trouble for your security, too. Why? People tend to think they have too many passwords to remember. So, they use the same login information again and again. That means a criminal could leverage employee data to access business systems, too.

Cybercrime is a global problem for both individuals and businesses. The bad actors, after all, can make big bucks from their crime with a low risk of discovery. The global cost of cybercrime is an estimated $600 billion a year. And no one and no business is immune.

More people are going online. Businesses are becoming more reliant on digital transactions. Cybercriminals are quickly adapting. They’re motivated, but are you?

Securing Your Business with an MSP

Ultimately, there is no better way to keep your systems secure than with managed services.

A managed services provider (MSP) helps your business stay ahead of security threats. Finding out about risks or vulnerabilities after the fact is no good. That’s like closing the barn door after the prize stallion has already bolted.

An in-house cybersecurity team providing 24/7 protection isn’t workable for most businesses. It’s cost-prohibitive for most small and mid-sized businesses.

Working with an MSP is a more affordable alternative. You avoid investing in the latest technology and building up an on-premises infrastructure. Instead, you pay a consistent fee for the MSP to handle technology patching, monitoring, and assessments.

The MSP uses well-tested, leading-edge tech to stay on top of cybersecurity threats. This strategic partner can:

• set up security on your infrastructure;
• oversee your company’s security systems;
• ensure regulatory compliance;
• track threats 24/7;
• maintain strong data protection.

MSP focuses on continuous monitoring. It keeps up to date on the global threat landscape and any industry vulnerabilities.

Still not convinced that paying an MSP is worth it? The average cost of a lost or stolen record was $148 per record in 2018. You might view working with an MSP as paying for insurance. With ongoing monitoring, an MSP helps your business avoid security breaches. And their devastating costs (including to productivity, compliance, revenues, and brand reputation).

With an MSP, you add dedicated security experts to your team. Secure your technology while gaining advanced threat intelligence and customized security strategies.

A managed services provider identifies vulnerabilities and secures your business environment. Stay ahead of cybersecurity threats with an MSP. Find out more today!