In recent months we’ve noticed a remarkable growth in the number of systems requiring treatment due to virus infections and/or threats after accessing the internet. Below you will find steps you can take to help keep your system safe.
Though the message you see on your screen may seem harmless, the background effects can cause trouble, including the possible elimination of all data on your system.
The most common viruses or threats pose as antivirus software that claim to have detected viruses on your system that need to be removed. Oftentimes, the virus requests that you enter your credit card number to purchase the software.
Though precautions are being taken to place more stringent policies on the firewalls for our customers with engineering services, and making sure the antivirus software has the latest updates and systems are patched with the latest Windows updates, we feel we need to also take more precautions to make sure that how you access the internet is also secured.
What you can do
bytes of knowledge recommends everyone do as much as they can to assist:
- Practice caution when working with files and/or internet sites from unknown or questionable sources.
- Do not open email attachments if you do not recognize the sender. (Although you could get viruses via email from those you know).
- Be sure that link you’re about to click in an email actually goes where you think it should. You can find this by rolling your cursor over the link and taking note of what appears in the bottom of your screen.
- Download files only from reputable internet sites.
- Use internet browsers with more security features (see below).
We’ve had effective results with those that switch from using Microsoft Internet Explorer to Mozilla Firefox (www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/new/) with an add-on called “NoScript” (addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/noscript). Many times, it is the scripts that run on the internet pages that allow the viruses entrance in to the system.
The combination of Firefox with NoScript blocks harmful scripts from installing or running in the background of your system if a harmful website is accessed. If the website you access is a trusted site then the scripts needed to access the site will work.
No single application or device can block 100% of viruses and other threats. bytes of knowledge strives to combine the following strategies to ensure reduction of virus/threats to your technology environment so that you can be more productive:
- More stringent firewall policies
- Antivirus software and Windows updates are current
- Internet browsers used offer more security features
For some customers who have Managed Services or have already seen the impact of these viruses/threats this summer, we have already begun to deploy Mozilla Firefox with the NoScript add-on.
If you would like more information on bytes of knowledge’s services and recommendations to detect, remediate viruses and threats before they affect your network and decrease your productivity, please contact us today: 615.383.9005 or help@bytesofknowledge.com.
