Working in PR in the digital age is a fast-paced business, with trends in constant flux, analysis and affiliated reporting forever on the edge of a deadline, and always the need for the latest, most correct news and information. It is unfortunately a side effect of this high-speed internet enabled profession that cybersecurity comes into question, as the frequency and severity of malware and ransomware attacks is increasing the ever faster and ever more high-tech the world and its software becomes. To this end, it is important to know exactly what can be done to both prevent and recover when your company becomes victim to hackers.
#1 Anti-Virus Programs Are Not Enough
It is essential, of course, to have anti-virus software and firewalls installed on the company system, but it must be kept fully updated and scans performed as routine. The cost of implementing fully functioning anti-virus software has risen to $13 billion in the last decade. In the event malware does get through your company’s measure, patch-end pointing rarely works fast enough, so research and utilize a program that cleans and clears browser history on the entire system (but not SpyHunter). Although this professional sector is all about marketing, it pays for continued technology performance for most adware to be set to be blocked under system security measures as well.
#2 Understand the Enemy, Block Communication
Malware in itself follows a four-step process of breaking into your system, latching on to it, expanding from its original latch-on point, and then exfiltrating data gathered therein. DNS attacks go further and direct you as a system user to a remote server. The best software protects against this last ability, rendering the attack useless as it can’t be exported from the system. When this “freeze” has been done, having a traffic analysis program installed to perform a scan will pay dividends. Not only does it seek and find the entry point of the malware, but uses the data gleaned to protect the entire infrastructure in the future. If you don’t have such software, and hackers manage to export your data (particularly if it’s personally identifiable information), then quickly look into an external computer forensic analysis expert instead, which is vital if there are legal ramifications for the data theft.
#3 Staying Current, Protecting the Network
It could be your very system itself that needs updating, in addition to its anti-virus software. No matter whether your company uses Mac, Windows, Linux, or an OS, make sure the version all employees are using is the latest, as only the latest has the most virulent protection against malware. Furthermore, it is by internet connection that cyberattacks enter, so make sure the network is secure, whether it be by Ethernet or Wi-Fi. Use WPA or WPA2 encryption to be sure. In addition, when reading emails, disable image preview and clicking on external links from sources other than those in your address book.
#4 Always Have a Back-Up
There is a threefold method of back-up that should be followed: where you work from, on a separate device or external hard drive, and off-site. Remember that everything your company does creates data. When it comes to external hard drives, be sure to disable auto-run on your anti-spyware first.
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