All businesses are being targeted by malware, all the time. And it’s estimated there are now one billion pieces of it out there.
What is malware? It’s malicious software that’s been designed to do damage to your IT systems or steal your data.
Malware terrifies most IT professionals. And it should terrify you too.
Back in the day, most computer viruses were written for fun, and for the hacker to show off their skills. They were trying to break into computers and access information for the challenge, not the financial reward.
These days, hacking is a profession. And a very lucrative one for some. The internet has made it very easy to access hacking knowledge and powerful automated tools. There’s also organized crime involved in modern-day hacking. The criminals are systematic, thorough, and ruthless with their attacks.
Believe us when we tell you that all businesses are being targeted by hackers all the time. The automated tools make this easy.
We see cyber-attacks on businesses virtually every day. Mostly we see evidence of failed attacks, as the businesses we look after are well prepared and protected. But occasionally we speak to business owners or managers we don’t (yet) look after, who’s been successfully attacked. And the consequences can be devastating, depending on what has happened to them.
Read our guide to the nine most terrifying kinds of malware:
- Viruses – Viruses can attack by infecting other files, deleting them, or reformatting them and making it very difficult to clean up. Often, viruses work by replicating themselves or by flooding networks, making it impossible for you to perform even simple tasks.
- Worms – Worms have been around since the 90s. They work by just one person opening an infected email… which will then take down the whole network.
- Trojans – also known as Trojan horses after the Ancient Greek story – have replaced worms as popular hacking tools.
- Hybrids – malware with different attributes, such as the disguise of a trojan and the power of a worm.
- Ransomware – It works by encrypting all your data and holding it hostage. You literally have no data at all – no customer records, no files, no emails, nothing.
- Fileless malware – Where ‘traditional’ malware relies on files to spread and infect, this form of malware relies on memory, or other fileless parts of your computer’s operating system.
- Adware – You’re on a website. There’s a pop-up. You click on it. And before you know it, some software is installed on your computer. Or there’s a new plugin to your browser. Or your browser no longer uses your search engine of choice.
- Malvertising – Malvertising occurs when a cyber-criminal pays for an advert on a genuine website. When you click on the ad, you’re either redirected to a malicious website, or malware is installed on your device.
- Spyware – When installed, spyware can monitor the websites you visit, everything you type (this is known as keylogging), and any other information about you and what you’re doing on your device.
The impact that many of these forms of malware can have on a business ranges from simply lost productivity down to total bankruptcy.
Read and Download our brand new guide now. This guide is just a simple summary. We don’t want to terrify you with facts and figures. But it’s safe for you to assume that you don’t want to deal with the fallout of a major attack on your business.
Consult with a trusted IT, support partner, to find out the best blend of software, training, and procedures to keep your business safe.
There’s a lot that can be done to protect your business and its data from attack. But it needs to be done before an attack happens. We’re here to make it very easy for you to take action. Most of the hard work can be done for you.
