As the internet gradually becomes the cornerstone of all industries and processes, cyber attacks simultaneously increase as unwanted by-products.  Each network or attack has vulnerabilities that make them vulnerable to malware. Below, the article will discuss some of the common cyber-attacks and threats. It will also discuss how you can avoid them.

Malware

Malware is an all-encompassing term that covers a wide range of cyberattacks. These attacks can include viruses, Trojans, and others. Malware is a code that sneaks into your system with malicious intent and steals and destroys the data on the computer. How malware goes about doing its damage can help categorize the kind of malware you are dealing with. To understand the prevention and response strategies for malware, you have first to understand the common types of malware.

Viruses

Like their biological counterparts, viruses attach themselves to clean files and infect them. They can also similarly spread uncontrollably, damaging your system’s core functions. They are also responsible for deleting or corrupting files. You will find them as executable files, and most commonly, users will download them from the internet thinking that they serve a different purpose.

Trojans

This kind of malware acts as a spoof. A spoof is a disguised threat, usually under the name of different software. Most commonly, you find Trojans included as a part of legitimate software. It tends to discretely expose access points in your network security for other malware to attack.

Worms

Worms can have a drastic impact on the entire network of devices. It uses the network interfaces to do damage, along with each consecutive machine as well.  They are similar to botnets, which are also malware attacks that are networks of the infected computer that work collectively under the control of a perpetrator.

Ransomware

Ransomware is a cyberattack that is becoming increasingly popular today. You can find all types of businesses, institutes, and companies having to deal with ransomware. Once ransomware enters your network, it encrypts the hard drive’s contents with a key or password that only the attacker has.

Once it locks users out of their system, it asks them for payment or ransom in the form of a cryptocurrency to release and decrypt the valuable data. This cybercrime targets organizations with high-value data.

How to Fight Against It?

Each type of malware has its way of infecting computers and compromising data. Thus, each attack requires a different malware prevention method. The best way to protect your network against malware is to avoid clicking on links or downloading attachments from unknown senders.  This is a prevention method for stopping malware attacks and prevents malware from entering your system in the first place.

You can also prevent malware by deploying an updated and robust firewall. This prevents the transfer of large data files across the network to filter out attachments that may contain malware. It is also important to ensure that your computer’s operating system integrates the upgraded security settings.

This is because security threats keep advancing as time progresses, and older versions of security features do not have the compliance or resilience to work for newer malware threats. Updates, therefore, help fill in all the holes in your network’s security.

Response in the instance of an attack

Most importantly, as you face the cyber attack, make sure that you react. This can mean unplugging the machine, disconnecting your servers, or doing whatever you can do at that moment. If one of your PC has been affected by ransomware, then it might be slowly working its way across the network.

If the breach has emerged from a compromised email, you can lock the email from external access control. Moreover, you can also change the passwords of any email that you think has been breached. Once you have located the source of the attack, you can then move on to fixing it.

Strengthen Your System Before Malware Strikes!

Once malicious attacks have struck you, you are likely to feel helpless. If your business is heavily reliant on your network, you may have to stop all operations and suffer from the downtime costs that come with attacks. This is why you should not wait for viruses to strike and prepare beforehand. Contact Prescient, and incorporate your business with smart IT security solutions.