Antivirus Software Make Windows as Secure as Possible

 Antivirus Software Make Windows as Secure as Possible

Windows is the most successfully attacked of all operating systems, on the one hand, because of its spread and on the other hand also because of its fundamental uncertainty lies. In this article, I would like to list and explain some measures with which Windows can be secured or used safely as far as possible. The post will be continuously updated when new measures are required, so you are welcome to bookmark it so that you can access it again quickly. The links in the article refer to earlier articles that shed light on the respective topic.

Antivirus Software

The most obvious protective measure for Windows is to install antivirus software. Most manufacturers offer at least three basic variants: a free version, a paid virus scanner, and a suite with various additional functions such as firewalls, browser plugins, etc.

One cannot make a basic recommendation as to which variant is preferable and which manufacturer offers the most powerful program. Current test reports incompetent specialist magazines should be used to make a decision. My overall opinion is:

·    In most cases, the free version is sufficient. The free versions of most programs receive signature updates less often (only once a day instead of, for example, every hour), but signatures are becoming less and less important. Nowadays, malware is only actively distributed for a few hours. It can take days, if not weeks, for the manufacturer of the anti-virus software to receive a sample of the malware, create a signature, and distribute it to the programs. Likely, the signature is already out of date, regardless of the update frequency with which it was distributed.
The two other important protective mechanisms of heuristics and behavioural recognition are increasingly being expanded in the free programs. Make sure that the free version also offers these two functionalities.

·       If you do want to purchase protection software, it is usually sufficient to buy a virus scanner. This may be updated more frequently and may contain more sophisticated heuristics and behavioural detection. This may give you a little more security.

·       I usually don't see a good reason to buy a suit that usually includes a personal firewall, browser plugins, and other additional programs. The browser plugins often work poorly, load the browser, and have little to no use. Personal firewalls are no more useful than the firewall already built into Windows, but very often confuse the user with messages that he does not understand.

 

Regardless of which variant you choose, you need to familiarize yourself with the messages of the program and its settings so that you can understand warnings and differentiate them from fake messages in the browser. If you don't know what a virus alert from your program looks like, it's easy to fall for a fake alert such as B. was placed as advertising on a website.

You should also set regular system scans and not just rely on the live scanner checking the currently open data.

In the case of a legitimate report: keep calm. If the program has found malware on a website or in the attachment to an email and reports it, then everything is fine. There is no need to panic. The system has been protected, it has not been infected.

If an infection succeeds, your virus scanner will usually not respond initially. Only when he is later able to recognize the infection through an update can he report, for example during a full system scan. He will then also offer suggested solutions, such as moving files to quarantine or deleting them. In any case, you should first google for the reported pest and find out what it does and how it can be eliminated.

Linux-based bootable DVDs or USB sticks can be very helpful, with which you start the computer instead of Windows and which use one or more virus scanners to check that Windows is not running. Since Windows is not running, the malicious programs are not active either, making them easier to identify and remove.

Settings in Windows Itself

Windows itself is not optimally configured in all cases and can also be adjusted too easily. Sensible safety functions are often switched off for convenience, for example.

The most important setting that you can and should change yourself is showing the file extensions. The article linked here explains how to do this. The fact that Windows hides known file extensions by default and thus unnecessarily obscures the type of a file is one of the main causes of successful malware infections that require user cooperation to install it.

User account control (also called UAC) is the program that reports to users with administrative rights as soon as they try to do something that Windows understands as an administrative action. Usually, you have to confirm a dialog with OK. Under no circumstances should you turn off User Account Control or lower its sensitivity. Do not get used to the Windows reflex (or get used to it again in a hurry) that leads to pressing OK on-screen messages without even trying to read and understand the message. If you don't understand a message, and especially if you don't expect to get one, "OK" is exactly the wrong answer.

Make sure that the Windows firewall is active unless you have bought a suite with your own firewall. You should also check other security settings regularly; the Windows Action Center will point out problems. Do not ignore these messages. You should also not ignore updated messages from Windows or other programs. Updates are important.

A system program that is unnecessary in many cases, but which can be used very well for attacks via scripts in e-mail attachments, is the Windows Script Host. For example, JavaScript normally only runs in the browser. However, if such a script is attached to an e-mail, a double-click on the script file starts the Windows Script Host, which then executes the script independently of the browser. The script can then reload malicious code from the Internet without having to use the browser.

For the vast majority of Windows users, this program is of no use and should therefore be deactivated.

 

 

 

Backups

Backing up your data on separate data carriers that are not permanently connected to the computer is life insurance for your data. You can defuse two threats in this way: sudden hard drive death, in which the hard drive itself simply gives up the ghost, and blackmail trojans, which encrypt your data and only release it again for a ransom.

The right backup strategy consists of a simple method of data protection that you can fully survey and understand and that will still be available to you in an emergency even months and years later. Backup software can be helpful, but too often I see that how it works is not understood, its error messages are not read, etc. A backup that did not take place or that cannot be restored is pointless. A simple manual copy of the data that is repeated regularly is often the easiest and most useful alternative.

Review your backup strategy regularly and don't let it slip.

Set up User Accounts Sensibly

One important measure that is unfortunately ignored by the vast majority of Windows users is to use different accounts for users. Most Windows installations only have a single user account, and this has administrative rights and does not have or require a password.

Until Windows XP, due to the limitations of the system and the lack of specifications for programmers, it was almost impossible to use it without an administrator account. However, since Vista, the situation has improved in this regard.

In a properly secured Windows installation, there should therefore be one or, if necessary, several accounts with administrative rights, but these should only be used for administrative tasks such as updates and software installation. For daily work, surfing, etc., there should be a separate user account for each computer user, which only has limited rights. If malware tries to establish itself on the computer while a restricted user account is active, this malware also only has limited options for the user. That may be enough for a blackmail trojan, but many malware methods to anchor themselves deep in the system then fail.

When a restricted user wants to perform an administrative task, Windows usually display a dialog in which the password of an administrative user must be entered to carry out the action. If such a dialog appears without an appropriate action having been started, you know that you should close this dialog and not enter the password.

The separation of users also has the pleasant side effect that browser histories, cookies, password managers, and many settings are available individually and only for the current user.

Source of Danger Browser

The browser is the program you use to view web pages. It is the window into the Internet and also the window through which a large part of the malware tries to penetrate. Browsers are therefore one of the programs that you should definitely keep up to date.

Internet Explorer is a special case because it is equipped with techniques that make it a particularly high-security risk. Don't use it. In particular, you should no longer use a version before Internet Explorer 11, as Microsoft no longer maintains it. Version 11 is said to be the last version of this browser, with which technologies like Active X, some of which have greater rights in the system than even administrators, are finally being buried. The Edge browser available in Windows 10 is not a cause for concern in this regard, even if it does not yet represent any serious competitor to Chrome or Firefox.

Using browsers other than Microsoft's is already an advantage in terms of speed and security. With extensions such as ad blockers, JavaScript blockers, etc. can also be provided here for additional security. Firefox also has the advantage of its own certificate management, which is not impressive if Windows are slipped with fake security certificates.

My personal recommendation is Firefox with the extensions AdBlockPlus and NoScript, although NoScript, in particular, has to be set correctly in order not to hinder the surfing experience in the long term.

Handling Emails

E-mails are currently being used again to a particularly large extent to distribute malware. You can't trust emails in principle. Aside from phishing attempts, there is a risk primarily from e-mail attachments that pretend to be a document, but in reality, are malware that tries to download malware from the Internet and install it on the system.

Don't trust email attachments. Don't believe emails asking you to pay, logging in to check security settings, etc., and the like. In the Security category of this page, you will find numerous examples of such emails, as well as in the Dangerous Emails gallery.

Avoiding Unsafe Software

Last but not least, as far as possible, you should avoid using software that is particularly exposed to the crossfire of attacks. The list isn't particularly long, check out whether you really need these programs:

·         Internet Explorer: This browser was mentioned above. It cannot be removed, but it can be ignored.

·       Microsoft Office: If you don't really need to use Microsoft Office specifically, there are plenty of free alternatives, such as Libre Office. Outlook can be replaced by Thunderbird. Like Internet Explorer, MS Office has deep roots and permissions in the operating system, and its macro programming is particularly prone to abuse. You should at least restrict this comprehensively if you do have to use this office suite.

·   Adobe Flash: a very popular target is the Flash plug-in for browsers. Fortunately, this technology is becoming increasingly obsolete. If possible, uninstall Flash. Only a few websites still need Flash for basic functions or even the entire display of the website, anyone who still operates such sites has missed the development of the last 5 years. Youtube and other portals now also use HTML 5 as standard and no longer use Flash.
Another advantage of not using Flash: Flash can use super cookies to track user information, which is much more powerful than normal cookies, but remain unnoticed by many, even if they otherwise value privacy and the like. Uninstalling Flash will also stop these super cookies.

·       Adobe Reader: The program for viewing PDFs remains popular, but it is far from the only program that can view PDFs. Since Adobe Reader is also often attacked, the use of an alternative such as Foxit Reader is already a step towards security.

·     QuickTime: This video display technology from Apple has recently been discontinued by Apple and contains serious security holes that are already being exploited to install malware. You should urgently remove QuickTime from your system if it exists. Like other application programs, it can also be uninstalled via the control panel.

·       Java: Java is a programming language that should not be confused with JavaScript. Java is useful, but if you aren't using applications that require Java, then you can do without Java. Since it has not been part of the Windows scope of delivery for a long time, you may not have it installed. If you do, but you don't need it, you can uninstall it in the Control Panel.

·     Windows: It comes as no surprise to regular readers of my blog that I advise against using Windows itself when there is no need to. Absolutely every other operating system is more secure. Not using Windows solves almost all of the security problems mentioned in this post in one fell swoop. As an Apple or Linux user, you can of course also become a victim of a phishing attack; but then the vulnerability is you, not your system.

 

If you implement all of this advice, you will achieve optimal, if not one hundred percent, protection of your Windows system. However, this does not relieve you of the responsibility to continue to be vigilant and to inform yourself as regularly as possible in the field of security. I hope that the contributions on this page will continue to provide you with valuable assistance.

 

A Year Full of Cyber Threats & Lots of Antivirus Solutions

 A Year Full of Cyber Threats & Lots of

Antivirus Solutions

With the threat of the coronavirus, the risk of cyber-attacks also increased. This danger, like the virus itself, will remain. Companies and consumers have to learn to deal with it. The vaccination helps prevent you from getting sick, or at least not getting seriously sick. And which “vaccination” helps against cyber threats?

Nothing shaped the year 2020 as much as the coronavirus. It threatened and continues to threaten people's health and lives. The momentous measures to contain the pandemic endanger the economy as well as stability and cohesion in society. The pandemic also hurt cybersecurity. Because although it was already clear at the beginning of 2020 that the cyber risks would increase, no one could have guessed to what extent the risk situation for companies and consumers would worsen.

Ideal Conditions for Cyber Hackers

Companies sent their employees to the home office and equipped them with a variety of tools, mostly from the cloud. At Zoom alone, this led to a 3000% growth: while 10 million users took part in meetings via Zoom in December 2019, the figure was 300 million by April 2020. Also, employees' private devices were used in many companies. Understandably, the priority was to keep the business going. Many companies were not at all or insufficiently prepared for the rapid change in their way of working. That and the massive increase in online transactions and thus at potential points of attack created ideal conditions for cyber attackers. The opportunities for cybercriminals

300% More Cyber Attacks

The criminals took their chances. The World Economic Forum (WEF) reports that, according to the FBI, the number of reported attacks has increased by 300% since the pandemic began. The number of unreported cases is probably a lot higher. It hit many companies, such as Nintendo, EasyJet, Garmin and SolarWinds. The attack on SolarWinds made international headlines. Because the company, manufacturer of a network and application monitoring platform, was compromised and sent malicious updates to its customers. Affected users included 425 of the US Fortune 500 companies, all branches of the US military, the Pentagon, the State Department, and other well-known companies and universities around the world. The attack is considered one of the worst cyberattacks in the US due to the sensitivity and awareness of the targets and the length of time (9 months) that hackers had access to the accounts. Twitter was also among the victims last year. 130 Twitter accounts, including those of Warren Buffett, Bill Gates and Elon Musk were hacked using spear-phishing tactics. The same thing happened to the Marriott hotel chain. Data from 500 million guests who made reservations at a Starwood hotel was disclosed. were hacked using a spear phishing tactic. The same thing happened to the Marriott hotel chain. Data from 500 million guests who made reservations at a Starwood hotel was disclosed. were hacked using a spear phishing tactic. The same thing happened to the Marriott hotel chain. Data from 500 million guests who made reservations at a Starwood hotel was disclosed.

Cybercrime Is a Lucrative Business.

According to expert forecasts, the volume of cybercrime will exceed the 6 trillion US dollar mark this year. The criminals also cashed in in Switzerland. The average amount of ransomware payments in this country in 2020 was around CHF 100,000, 33% higher than in Q4 2019. In individual cases, however, an attack costs considerably more. The Nikon building technology company Meier Tobler, for example, recorded costs of around 5 million francs. Meier Tobler was not the only damaged company in Switzerland. The industrial group Huber + Suhner was hit in December. After a cyber-attack with malware, the company had to turn off all workstations, which also brought production to a standstill. Swiss windows had to file for bankruptcy, among other things as a result of a cyber-attack. And at Stadler Rail, hackers blackmailed the company by publishing sensitive data. The company didn't give in, the data was released. At Garmin, too, an attack paralyzed many services for millions of users of the popular fitness trackers. Swatch was also slowed down by an attack - for a full two weeks, as was MetallZug, the Brugg Group and the Hirslanden Private Hospital Group. The list could go on for a long time. The known cases represent only the tip of the iceberg. Most of the successful attacks never come to the public. At Garmin too, an attack paralyzed many services for millions of users of the popular fitness trackers. Swatch was also slowed down by an attack - for a full two weeks, as was MetallZug, the Brugg Group, and the Hirslanden Private Hospital Group. The list could go on for a long time. The known cases are only the tip of the iceberg. Most of the successful attacks never come to the public. At Garmin too, an attack paralyzed many services for millions of users of the popular fitness trackers. Swatch was also slowed down by an attack - for a full two weeks, as was MetallZug, the Brugg Group, and the Hirslanden Private Hospital Group. The list could go on for a long time. The known cases are only the tip of the iceberg. Most of the successful attacks never come to the public.

Most Popular Attack Method: Social Engineering

Phishing and ransomware attacks were again the most common types of attacks in 2020. Social engineering remained the undisputed most important attack method. Cybercriminals are still successfully using the "weak point" of humans to gain access to corporate networks and data. It's easy to understand: a link is quickly clicked, a file is quickly downloaded - and it's done. Without the employee in question even noticing, he opened the door to the attackers. Until the employee knows that their device or account has been compromised, the attack or data theft is long in progress. It is not difficult to suspect that social engineering or cybercrime in and of itself will remain a massive problem for the next few years.

"Vaccination" Against Cyber Attacks

The coronavirus cannot be eliminated either. But: The vaccination against the virus ensures that the disease does not break out, or at least does not progress, even in the event of an infection. The same applies to cybercrime: companies can also specifically strengthen their defences against the machinations of cybercriminals and thus protect themselves from the serious consequences of successful attacks. Many companies have already understood this and are investing in better protection. According to the WEF, global cybersecurity spending will rise to $ 433 billion by 2030.

Cybersecurity Is a Priority in The Digitized World

Extensive protection is necessary. Because the corona pandemic has accelerated the digitization of the economy. Numerous companies will keep their home office solutions even after the crisis has been overcome. In a Gartner CFO survey, 74% of companies said they plan to have employees work from home permanently. Facebook, for example, has already announced that it will switch half of its staff to remote work. Improved and consistent cybersecurity is the only way to keep the risks of cybercrime in check in the future. After all, no company can afford unexpected interruptions in operations, long-term productivity losses, and damage to its reputation, especially not several times. Because the number of attacks and their violence is increasing. The risk,

Consistent Security Strategy

Every company needs an effective security strategy like install an ANTIVIRUS that can react to threats in time, prevent them or at least keep the damage to a minimum. The prerequisite is to create an awareness of the threats, and this in all employees, not just in the IT department. With the support of experienced experts, protection strategies and mechanisms can be worked out and established with which maximum resistance can be achieved.

 

Several Behavioural Tips for Security on The Internet via Total Security Software

 Several Behavioural Tips for Security on The Internet via Total Security Software

According to a survey, 71 percent of Americans fear that their computers will be infected with malware such as viruses, Trojans, or other harmful software. 52 percent expect the state or secret services to spy on personal data. This scepticism is not surprising: today everything is tracked, followed, recorded, and used. We are in the middle of the digital revolution - nothing less than the greatest upheaval in (economic) history. Everything that can become digital will become digital. This revolutionary turning point will bring comfort and blessing on the one hand, but also many dangers. Further information: Why is it so important to browse the Internet anonymously?

It is up to each user to take measures to surf the web more safely and more securely and to shape their digital life independently. Nobody is helplessly exposed to tracking or other surveillance measures. Digital self-defence is more important than ever and not as exhausting and complex as you might think.

We'll give you 20 general behavioural tips for more digital security and anonymity on the Internet and show you where you should be particularly careful.

1.    Protect your passwords and never give them to third parties.

2.    Be wary of unknown email senders and protect yourself against phishing.

3.    Back up important data.

4.    Encrypt your communication: while surfing as well as when emailing.

5.    Take care of the settings and updates of your internet browser.

6.    Securely erase your data.

7.    Lost cell phone? If you lose data, don't panic and use data recovery programs.

8.    Protect your computers with firewalls and regular updates.

9.    Protect yourself from malware and PC pests and be sure to remove Trojans

10. Never trade, communicate or buy rashly on the World Wide Web and be careful when banking online.

11. If necessary, use add-ons and tools for anonymization and protection against web tracking.

12. Check carefully which cloud services you want to use to virtually outsource your data.

13. If necessary, use highly specialized anonymization services such as Tor and anonymization hardware.

14. Use WhatsApp, Facebook, and Co. with a sense of proportion. High-resolution photos provided geodata and your private preferences and attitudes can fall into the wrong hands.

15. Maintain your good reputation on the internet and protect your privacy. Be careful with their profiles on the web - even today's hiring managers look to the internet for the presence and appearance of applicants.

16. Secure online banking - get to know the tricks of cyber fraudsters  and follow  ten tips for more security in online banking

17. Protect yourself from unauthorized pirated video downloads.

18. Watch out for internet fraud and subscription traps as well as rip-offs - these are the most important tricks

19. Child safety - protect your children from rash online behavior, harmful content and cyberbullying.

20.  Never open “suspicious e-mails” without thinking and protect yourself against phishing and pharming.

Data protection is very necessary while you are surfing the internet. To fight back against the latest vulnerability you need advanced protection a program like TOTAL SECURITY SOFTWARE.

 

Most Insecure Wi-Fi Router Passwords & Securing by Free Antivirus Software

 Most Insecure Wi-Fi Router Passwords & Securing by Free Antivirus Software

Insecure passwords open the door to hackers, but users and manufacturers are still neglecting the security of their entrance doors to the network and sloppy with passwords.

Passwords are a tiresome subject. Security specialists have now put together the top 10 insecure router passwords. Oldies remain goldies:

Top 10 Most Popular Weak Router Passwords:

1.      admin

2.      root

3.      1234

4.      guest

5.      password

6.      12345

7.      support

8.      great

9.      Admin

10.  passport

 

Routers are the gatekeepers for the network, but these important devices often only use a password to protect against unauthorized access to access the administration interface. This can have fatal consequences: Anyone who knows or easily guesses the password can access the entire network. Too few users probably know that the assigned access code for the configuration and the WLAN network play a key role.

Security experts have evaluated the current telemetry data from the ESET network scanner and obtained worrying results: Several thousand of the more than 100,000 scanned devices use standard passwords. These devices are often in use for many years without modification.

“Users who do not secure administrator access to their routers also in most cases do not protect their WLAN network with secure passwords. Routers should never be operated with factory-set or weak passwords. If possible, the user name should also be individualized, ”explains Michael Schröder, Security Business Strategy Manager DACH at ESET. “Common passwords are the first cybercriminals try and do not offer any protection. WLAN keys and administrator passwords, in particular, should therefore be assigned individually when they are set up. "

The WLAN router is the control center of the home network and is responsible for the Internet supply within your own four walls. Smart home devices from security cameras to heating systems to locking systems are also controlled and managed via routers. According to a survey by the digital association Bitkom, around 30 percent of Germans have already installed a smart home application in their homes. This central role and the rapidly increasing use of such applications make the router a popular target for cybercriminals. Given the often laxity of users with password security, it is not surprising that attacks are on the rise.

The administration interface and the wireless network of a router are each protected by a password. Under no circumstances should the password supplied by the manufacturer with the device be used. A good router password should be at least 8 to 12 characters long. Users should think of a sentence that contains at least one number and is easy to remember. For example: "I prefer to eat pizza with four ingredients and extra cheese!" If you now take the first letter of each word this results in: "AleiPm4Z + eK!". Users already have a secure password.

Followings Are the Tips to Secure a Router:

Keep firmware up-to-date: In many cases, updates bring new functions and close security gaps. If possible, you should enable automatic updates in the router's menu or check for updates regularly.

Deactivate remote access: With remote access, users open ports on their device. While this feature has numerous advantages, it also gives hackers another point of attack. Remote access should therefore remain deactivated.

Activate two-factor authentication (2FA): Modern routers offer the option of activating 2FA. If settings are changed, they must be verified by another source. This confirmation can be done by pressing a specific button on the device or using the telephone.

Change Wi-Fi password: The best encryption method is useless if the associated password is easy to guess. With standard passwords in particular, which are set at the factory, there is a risk that hackers will automatically test known passwords using special programs.

Deactivating the WPS PIN: “Wi-Fi Protected Setup” (WPS) is a standard for setting up an encrypted WLAN network quickly. Users only need a PIN, which can be read on the device. This feature should be disabled as it is easy to crack.

Find FREE ANTIVIRUS for the protection of your computer

Change network name: Users should give their WLAN a new name (SSID). The pre-set network name often contains the manufacturer name and device type. This allows attackers to check directly whether there are known vulnerabilities in the router.

 

Rootkits and How to Cope Up with Them by Total Security Software

 Root-kits and How to Cope Up with Them by Total Security Software

 

Professionals and security enthusiasts already know what rootkits are, ordinary users are unaware of this type of malware that was developed specifically to hide themselves

Professionals and security enthusiasts already know what rootkits are, ordinary users are unaware of this type of malware that was developed specifically to hide themselves and their activity on the infected system. Another cybercriminal who is constantly developing new methods to steal your information.

The ability to hide allows this type of malware to remain on the victim's system for months, sometimes even years, allowing a hacker to use the computer for whatever he wants. Even a machine that does not contain valuable information, which is unusual, can be useful for producing bitcoins (digital currency), sending spam, and participating in DDoS attacks. Rootkit functionality allows hackers to hide their criminal activities not only from monitoring tools built into the OS, but from antivirus sensors as well. That is why we suggest that you look for the anti-rootkits function in your antivirus and web security systems.

Rootkit Variants

There are two main types of rootkits: user-mode and kernel-mode. The former is designed to work in the same place that the operating system and applications operate. They perform their malicious functions by hacking into computer applications or by rewriting the memory used by those applications. This type of rootkit is the most common. Instead, kernels operate from the kernel and provide the cracker with the most important computer privileges. Once the kernel rootkit is installed, the hacker can take control of the infected computer and do whatever he wants on it. This type of malware is more complex than the previous one and, therefore, less common. Furthermore, it is also more difficult to detect and eliminate.

There are also other variants, although less common, such as rootkits. These programs are designed to modify the computer's boot loader, the software that works before the operating system loads. Recently, a new class of mobile rootkits has emerged targeting smartphones, especially Android devices. These rootkits are associated with a malicious application that is downloaded from third-party forums or Appstore.

 

What Makes a Rootkit Invisible? 

The malware integrates its code into the operating system and intercepts all common requests to read the file, obtaining a list of all active processes. A rootkit processes these requests and stores any mention of files, processes, and other traces related to its activity. Other techniques can also be used, for example, a rootkit can insert its code into a legitimate process and use the memory of the process to do its dirty work. This makes the rootkit invisible to less advanced antivirus solutions, which operate at the superficial level of OS requests and do not attempt to delve into other hardware structures.

If the antivirus detects a rootkit, the malware may try to disable protection and delete some delicate components of the solution. The most advanced rootkits use scapegoat techniques, create irrelevant files especially for them to be identified by the antivirus, when the software accesses the file the rootkit tries to take it down and prevent future executions.

How Does It Infect the Computer?

Rootkits can be installed using various methods, but the most common is by exploiting a vulnerability in the operating system or in an application on the computer. Hackers target their attackers against known and unknown vulnerabilities in the operating system and applications; using an exploit that controls the machine. Then, they install the rootkit and configure a few components that provide remote access to the PC. The exploits are usually hosted on a website, previously hacked. Another form of infection is USB. Attackers leave infected USB sticks somewhere a victim will see and pick them up: office buildings, coffee shops, or convention centers. In some cases, the installation is performed using security vulnerabilities, but in others,

How Can You Avoid This Confusion? 

First of all, by identifying any suspicious activity, your antivirus must thoroughly monitor system files to catch malware that attempts to modify the hard drive. You can detect rootkits that remain unidentified by your antivirus just by comparing the activities of your computer's operating system with the results of low-level monitoring. It is also crucial to have powerful antivirus protection like total security so that malware cannot disable it. Last, but not least, an antivirus must remove 100% of the rootkit components, including those inserted in delicate files of the operating system.

So ensure protection that covers these needs before saying "I know what a rootkit is, I am sure that my antivirus solution protects me from this threat."

 

Understanding the Whaling Attack & Free Antivirus Software

 Understanding the Whaling Attack & 

Free Antivirus Software

 

What Is Whaling Attack?

A whaling attack is a method that cybercriminals use to simulate occupying higher-level positions in an organization and thus directly attack senior executives or other important people within it, in order to steal money, obtain confidential information or gain access to your computer systems for criminal purposes. Whaling, also known as CEO fraud, is similar to phishing in that it uses methods, such as spoofing of websites and emails, to trick the victim into revealing confidential information or making money transfers, among other actions.

Unlike phishing scams (which don't have a specific target) and spear-phishing (which target specific people), whaling takes the attack to the next level - it doesn't just target these important people, it also targets them in a way that makes it appear that the fraudulent communications are coming from an influential person or who has a higher-level position within the organization. From this strategy comes the name "whaling" - a targeted attack targeting the "big shots" in companies, such as the chief executive officer (CEO) or finance manager. This brings an element of social engineering to the attack, as employees feel compelled to respond to requests from a person they consider important.

The threat is very present today and continues to grow. In 2016, Snapchat's payroll department received a whaling email that appeared to come from its CEO. In it, information on the payroll of employees was requested. Last year, Mattel (one of the major toy manufacturing companies) was the victim of a whaling attack after a senior financial executive received an email from a scammer impersonating the new CEO and requesting a transfer of money. As a result, the company almost lost $ 3 million.

How Whaling Attacks Work and How to Protect Yourself from Them?

As we mentioned earlier, whaling attacks differ from spear-phishing in that the fraudulent communications appear to be coming from a higher-level person. These attacks take on a more legitimate appearance when cybercriminals carefully investigate available open resources, such as social media, to devise a tailored strategy for each victim they wish to deceive.

One strategy could be an email that appears to come from a higher-level manager and references information the attacker obtained online; For example, they could view photos of the company's Christmas party on social media and send an email with the following message: "Hi John, this is Steve. You were quite drunk at the party last Thursday! I hope you did manage to get the beer stain off your red shirt. "

Also, the sender's email address generally appears to be legitimate, and the email may even include company logos or links to fraudulent websites designed to look like the real thing. Given that these "big shots" often have high credibility and a high level of access within the organization, the cybercriminal has a very good reason to put more effort into designing an attack that appears more credible.

The first strategy to stay safe from whaling attacks is to educate the important people of the organization so that they stay alert to the possibility of being victims of these attacks. Ask key employees to exercise caution when they receive unexpected communications, especially about important information or financial transactions. Always ask yourself a few key questions: were you expecting to receive an email, an attachment, or a link? Does the request have something strange?

They also need to be able to detect typical signs of an attack, such as spoofed (fraudulent) email addresses and sender names. By simply hovering over the sender's name in an email, the full email address can be seen. Thus, it is easy to study it carefully and determine if it exactly matches the name and format of the company. The IT department should carry out whaling tests to assess how key employees react to these attacks.

On the other hand, executives must be especially careful when posting and sharing information online on social media, such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Cybercriminals can use any type of personal information, such as birthdays, hobbies, vacations, job titles, promotions, and relationships, to craft more sophisticated attacks.

A great way to reduce the damage that spoofed emails can cause is to have your IT department automatically flag all emails from external locations for review. Generally, whaling attacks are based on tricking important employees into thinking that the messages are coming from within the organization; for example, a money transfer request submitted by a finance manager. If external messages are flagged, it is easier to detect those that are false and at first glance appear legitimate, even to people who do not have much experience.

It is also recommended to implement phishing protection software that includes various services, such as URL checking and link validation. Another recommended step is to add an additional level of validation for sending sensitive information or large amounts of money. For example, instead of conducting exchanges electronically, an in-person meeting or phone call may be the best way to perform critical or confidential tasks.

Two is better than one when it comes to scams. Consider modifying the procedures so that two people must authorize payments, rather than one. This not only offers the perspective of a second person to resolve doubts, but it also reduces the likelihood that the employee will fear retaliation from that higher-level person in case they feel upset by the rejection of the request as fear is a key social engineering tactic on which attackers depend.

To be sure about the scam one should be aware of it and use the free antivirus software to have complete security and be away from all the scan and “real-looking” emails

 

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Are you tired? Then maybe you should pause your scrolling session rather than take a nap. Because on average we spend 6 hours and 42 minutes on the internet every day.

That means some of us to spend more time online than in bed. And also more time than in the car. Do you actually lock your door in the evening before you go to bed? Or do you buckle up in the car before going to the office? Both are absolutely common security measures. We protect ourselves even though the likelihood of a break-in or an accident is rather low.

Can you say the same about your online life? The risk of a data breach or ransomware attack is just as real as any other risk in your life. Even so, we are often less cautious online, making ourselves a welcome target for hackers and malware.

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Bundled in security software, these functions protect you from a wide variety of online threats. With Protegent Free Antivirus, the following security problem can no longer affect you:

Data Breaches

A data breach is more than a leaked password. If your data falls into the wrong hands, it can have far-reaching consequences: For example, you could be locked out of your accounts or become a victim of identity theft. A hacker attack occurs every 39 seconds. So no protection is no solution. But what can you do if it's already too late and your username and password have been compromised by a data breach? In this blog article, we will show you what to do in the event of data theft and how to make your password really secure.

Outdated Software

Outdated software is found on more than half of all Windows PCs. That's a huge number, but why is that a problem? Admittedly, all these update reminders can be quite annoying. However, there is a good reason why it is so important to keep programs up to date.

Phishing

A phishing attack is hidden behind every 25 apparently official company emails. As these attacks become more common and severe, security software is a must. Hackers often pose as well-known companies in phishing attacks and forge email addresses and websites. So they try to get their victims to give up their personal data.

Promotional Ads

Only 25% of the Internet users surveyed in Europe and the USA find personalized advertising acceptable. However, this method of advertisers is unlikely to change shortly. As a rule, your personal data is not at risk if you see the appropriate advertising for your browser history. And yet it can feel like an invasion of your privacy.

Ransomware

In a ransomware attack, hackers gain access to third-party devices. Then they lock the device or encrypt the data on it. The name ransomware comes from the English word "ransom", in German "ransom". This is the ransom that hackers demand from their victims to decrypt the data and unlock the device. On average, hackers demand a ransom of a good $1,000. Did you know that you can actively reduce your risk of such an attack?

Malware

Malware or malicious software is software that has been specially developed to enable cybercrimes such as data theft or device manipulation. Malware attacks are becoming more common. So the risk of becoming a victim of a malware attack is greater than ever. Sounds scary, doesn't it? Before you worry: In this article, we'll explain everything you need to know about malware and how you can protect yourself.