What You Need To Do If You’re A Victim Of Malware

Learn T Protect Your Company

The internet has evolved over the past twenty years. What was once a novelty, has become an integral part of the everyday life of consumers and the daily operations of businesses. The internet has totally changed everything from how consumers shop, how people learn, socialize, and communicate. It has come to a point where it will be hard to imagine life without it.

Even if the internet has become an indispensable tool, using it leaves you vulnerable to all kinds of online threats. These include ransomware, adware, bots, Trojan horses, spyware, macro viruses, rogueware, phishing attacks and worms that target users of internet on a daily basis. Crimeware attacks as well as identity fraud can happen to anybody at any given time. The more you use the internet, the more vulnerable you become to these threats.

There are different kinds of computer security measures that you can set in place to reduce the risk of malicious attacks. In case you’ve fallen victim to it, here are the steps you need to do.

Crimeware

Disconnect

If you have suffered a crimeware attack, you have to disconnect from the Internet right away. In case you are connected through an Ethernet cable, phone, or Wi-Fi, you have to disable the connection right away to stop data from being transferred back to the criminal. Breaking the internet connection is an excellent way to stop an attack.

Disconnect your internet by unplugging the connection physically from the network connection or the router. You can also disable your device’s connection to the internet through these steps:

• -       Click on the start menu
• -       Choose settings
• -       Choose network connections

-       Right click and choose the disable option

In case an attack takes place while you are still at work, you must get in touch with an IT department right away. The IT experts of your company must be informed about the infection so they could stop it from compromising or spreading your company and personal data. Your IT department will do what needs to be done to deal with the damages incurred. In case an attack happens on your personal device, you have to get in touch with your internet service provider.

Scan Your Device

Having an anti-virus installed will be helpful during this kind of situation. Anti-virus and anti-spyware software help protect against crimeware. You should perform periodic scans using your software; schedule automated scans regularly to provide further protection to your device.

Aside from being able to detect crimeware threats from your device, which may be unnoticeable on your part, antispyware and antivirus can often get rid of the threats, too.

In some cases, the software may even detect the crimeware by may not be able to get rid of it. When this happens, you can refer to the removal tool listings of Symantec for you to see if there is a dedicated tool to remove that threat.

Create a Backup

You have to create regular backups of your folders and files. You can use a backup software, a removable media, or hard drive.

Track Your Online Behavior

Make sure that you know what you are clicking on. Don’t click on suspicious adverts and websites. Also, if something looks too good to be true then it probably is. It’s better to avoid it than to get yourself into bigger problems.

Reinstall Your Operating System

Depending on how severe the attack is, you may have to reinstall your computer’s operating system. Some online threats are complex and have the ability to conceal themselves in your system through rootkit techniques. You may still be able to recover your files by reinstalling your operating system.

Online Fraud

Close all your accounts

If you have been a victim of identity theft or online fraud, you need to close all the accounts that have been affected right away. If you move immediately, you can close your accounts even before the hacker tries to access them. Freezing or closing your accounts can save you time and stress when the time comes that you have to dispute any fraudulent purchases.

Set up fraud alerts

There are three consumer reporting agencies and you can set up fraud alerts so that creditors will get in touch with your right away before they make any changes to your accounts or before letting you open new ones.

Monitor your credit report

Keep track of your credit reports from all the credit reporting agencies. It may take some time for fraudulent activities to appear on your reports and that is why you need to monitor them regularly.

Watch out for signs of identity theft

You should be extra vigilant especially if you have become a victim of identitytheft. Be wary of things you get that you haven’t applied for like a new credit card and get in touch with your vendor right away.

Additional steps and precautions

It’s also a good practice to avoid using unsecured networks, create strong passwords, and stop oversharing on social media platforms. Install a good internetsecurity software, and backup your data regularly.

Call SpartanTec, Inc. if you need help in setting up effective cybersecurity measures to protect your company and client information from online threats.

SpartanTec, Inc.
Fayetteville, NC 28304
(910) 745-7776
http://manageditservicesfayetteville.com

Cities Served:
Fayetteville, Spring Lake, Hope Mills, Dunn, Aberdeen, Southern Pines, Pinehurst, Sanford, Clinto