How to Protect Your Website From Hackers and Viruses

So What is Hacking?

Hacking is “obtaining unauthorized access to data in a system or computer”. The person who accesses it is called a hacker. Many hackers exploit vulnerabilities in a computer system in order to steal, manipulate, or destroy information. For businesses, this could mean:

• Theft and misuse of company financial information
• Theft and misuse of customer personal and/or financial information
• Deletion of information
• Manipulation of company information
• Access to systems and associated accounts belonging to other companies
• Destruction of an entire website

All of these consequences would cause serious damage to a company's reputation, loss of customers, and loss of income. It could even result in additional costs as a result of legal action following a violation.

What is a Computer Virus?

A computer virus is a malicious software designed and used by hackers to replicate and spread from host to host, altering the functioning of a system and can cause adverse effects such as corruption or destruction of data. Viruses can remain inactive for a period of time, and even when activated, they can go undetected, save, steal, and corrupt a system and the information it contains. Viruses are usually spread in the form of email attachments and downloads. Signs that your computer or website has been infected include:

• Slow performance
• Frequent crashes 
• Frequent pop-ups
• Home page changes
• Emails you did not send

While some viruses can be seen as jovial and cause minor damage to a company's reputation, others are created only to cause significant damage, often for the financial gain of hackers.

General Misconceptions

I Have Nothing of Value to Hack

With so much personal and corporate data stored and shared online and on computers, there is always something worth stealing. Disparate information can be pulled together to form a user profile for criminals to exploit.

Hacking Requires High-tech Skills and Equipment

Hacking is primarily described in film and television as the pursuit of highly intelligent and skilled individuals, attacking large, complex targets. However, the majority of cybercrime is low level and opportunistic, taking advantage of several targets of limited value but with lower security.

Big Companies Are More Secure

As you can see from the names above, larger companies with more resources don't necessarily have the best security. Humans are actually one of the biggest risks to cybersecurity - increased bodies and increased complacency mean increased avenues for criminals.

Don't Lose Your Income Because of Hacking

There are many simple and routine ways to secure your website and system. See below for our tips.

Hacking can affect a business's revenue and reputation in more subtle ways:

• Hackers can sometimes use access to a website to replace links to other sites, increase traffic to the new destination, and reduce the time a user spends at the intended site. Even if the hack fails to generate real business for the destination website, it will increase the traffic statistics for it at the same time as it damages customers' trust in the originating site.

• Google ranking can be adversely affected for hacked sites. Google scans websites for malware and removes them from search lists, blacklisting hacked sites, and reducing a company's visibility in the market.

What Can You Do?

In an increasingly networked market, businesses need to do more to protect themselves against cyberattacks, as well as to protect their customers, especially in light of recent GDPR regulations. The logic is simple: you lock your house, you have to lock your website. There are several simple steps businesses can take, and individuals can take steps to make their website more secure.

Increase Password Strength

One of the most common ways for criminals to hack your computer or website is by guessing passwords. Increasing the strength of your password makes you a much less easy target. You should:

• Increase the length and complexity of your password - for example, by using a 10-digit combination of upper and lower case letters, numbers, and characters
• Change your passwords regularly
• Do not share your words password
• Never write your passwords
• Do not use the same password for multiple sites, devices, etc.
• Consider using a password manager

Keep Up to Date

As mentioned above, hackers can use vulnerabilities in a system to gain access. There is no such thing as a perfect system: every system will have weaknesses and flaws that could eventually be discovered and exploited. Manufacturers will update software that has been found to be faulty, so it is best to update software, themes, and plugins to avoid preventable breaches as knowledge of a fault spreads. Older software will also eventually stop receiving security updates, making it even more vulnerable to attack. Once a website has been hacked, it is essential that you make changes and advancements in software and security as hacked URLs can be shared between hackers,

How to Secure Your Website?

If you've scratched your head to secure your website, there are two main methods. One is to use HTTPS which is a more secure type of domain. The other is to use a website security seal and apply malware detection monitoring.

Let's explore these two methods to learn more about the difference they can make and how.

Secure Https (SSL Certificate)

While this is considered the most basic way to protect your site, it has additional benefits. You will need to use an SSL certificate which will be issued by your web host. Before these sophisticated times, most websites were hosted over HTTP. The challenge that this poses these days is that HTTP is not secure. Hackers can monitor all data transmitted between a browser and your website, including sensitive data. Credit card details, addresses, or login credentials, including passwords, can all be intercepted and captured.

HTTPS provides an encrypted and secure connection between a browser and your website. This makes it impossible to intercept data passing between them. Other benefits come from the fact that Google introduced HTTPS to be a ranking factor in its search engine algorithm. This means that Google likes websites to use HTTPS and will reward them in the form of favorable search rankings.

To switch to HTTPS, you need to secure an SSL certificate. They are reasonably priced and easy to install.

Website Security Seal

This security feature keeps an eye on your website for viruses and malware that hackers can download. In fact, it's like having an antivirus software running on your website. Since most people wouldn't dream of accessing the internet without virus protection on their laptop, it is essential that you give your website the same protection.

If the Security Seal detects a malware, it will notify you so you can remove it as soon as possible. It will automatically send you emails for you to take action.

If you have any questions or need help protecting your website, contact us today.

How Much Does It Cost to Protect a Website?

Website protection is relatively inexpensive. You can buy an SSL certificate for as little as $ 60 per year from your host. For the security seal system, it would cost around $ 70 per year and it would scan your site daily.

If you are managing a complicated site that may be of interest to hackers with many entry points or vulnerabilities, it is recommended that you use a web scanning solution to identify them. It is more profitable to repair risks than to build walls around them. Using a network or website scanner would be the most effective way to secure your site.

If you wish to be accompanied to create or improve your IT security, do not hesitate to read our Web Security section or to contact us to benefit from a free meeting with one of our  Web Security consultants.

Do You Know What is Spyware and How Does It Work | Total Security

Spyware is one of the oldest types of malware and continues to be one of the most dangerous. As the name suggests, spyware is a specific type of software that spy on you when you use your computer. It is important to be aware of the possible signs of spyware so that you can recognize the problem and take action. Read on to learn more about what spyware is, what it does, and how you can protect your devices from it.

What is Spyware?

Spyware is a form of malware that infects your devices, monitors your online activity, and collects your personal information without your knowledge or consent. It collects this information in a variety of ways, such as capturing keystrokes, email addresses, web form data, and credit card numbers. Common symptoms include poor system performance, frequently freezing applications, problems with booting your computer, and problems with the Internet connection.

There are different types of spyware such as:

Password Thieves

This type of spyware collects passwords from infected devices. These include passwords stored in web browsers and login information for your computer.

Banking Trojans

Spyware that records credentials from banks and other financial institutions such as brokerage or digital wallets. Trojans detect vulnerabilities in browsers and interfere with web pages and transactions without informing either the user or the organization.

Info Stealers

A type of spyware that scans infected devices for information such as usernames, passwords, browser history, log files, documents, or multimedia files. The software then transfers the information to another server or stores it on your PC where hackers can access it.

Keyloggers

This type of spyware, sometimes called system monitors, logs your computer's activity. It can track keystrokes, sites you visit, search history, and email conversations. He also takes screenshots of your activities frequently. Certain types of keyloggers can also collect information from other connected devices, such as printers.

How Common is Spyware?

Spyware is an extremely common type of cyberattack, although it has declined somewhat in recent years as ransomware and crypto mining have become more prevalent.

One in ten American consumers has experienced a cyber attack on their home computer, although spyware now ranks below ransomware, crypto mining, and other common types of malware.

What Are the Risks?

There are two main risks associated with spyware. The biggest problem is that spyware steals personal information and can put you at risk of identity theft. It can access your browsing history, email accounts and logins for online banking and shopping accounts, and social media accounts. This is more than enough information to steal your identity. If spyware obtains information about your bank or credit card, it can use that information to make purchases in your name or to sell your data to other parties.

In addition, spyware can cause significant damage to your computer and other devices. It can drain your computer's memory and cause it to slow, freeze, crash, or even overheat. Spyware can also alter search results, change your home page and settings, or deliver malicious websites to your browser.

How Spyware Infects Your Computer?

There are many different ways spyware can infect your device. Some of the more common ones are:

Drive-by Downloads

When booting from the disk, a website or pop-up window will automatically download spyware to your device. You may receive a warning stating the name of the software and asking for permission to install it, but in many cases, there is no warning at all.

Download Software

Certain software downloads over the Internet, in particular file sharing applications, can also install spyware on your devices. This is most common with free versions of software that you usually have to buy.

Fake Anti-spyware

In some cases, spyware disguises itself as anti-spyware. These programs assure you that they will detect and remove spyware from your computer. After you run them, you will get a message stating that your computer is clean, when in fact spyware is installed on it. If you try to uninstall the program, the spyware will remain on your computer.

Links or Attachments

Spyware, like most other types of malware, can be sent via a link or email attachment. Never click on an unfamiliar link or attachment or open an email from an unknown sender. This can download and install spyware on your computer. Clicking on malicious links can also infect your device with a worm. These worms are used to spread malicious software across the network to which your device is connected.

Spyware for Mobile Devices

Some types of spyware are designed for mobile devices. This type of spyware infects iPhone and Android devices when you install an application that contains malicious code. Some of these apps are legitimate but have been modified to contain malicious code, others are malicious, and some have fake download links.

What Can I Do if I Find Spyware on My Device?

Spyware can be extremely difficult to detect. Some warning signs include excessive pop-ups, your browser redirecting you spontaneously, and your browser's home page changing. Another common symptom is that your computer is very slow to boot, open programs, or save files.

If you suspect that your device has spyware, it should be removed immediately. You need to purchase a powerful cybersecurity software like total security that has advanced spyware removal capabilities. This type of program removes spyware from your device and restores any changed files or settings.

After removing the spyware, contact your bank, credit card company, and other financial institutions to warn them that your account might be compromised. In these cases, you may need to request a new bank account or credit card number. In some cases, you may also need to contact law enforcement.

How Can I Prevent Spyware?

If you have a device that connects to the Internet, there is always the risk of spyware and other types of malware. However, there are a number of steps you can take to reduce the risk of spyware on your device. Here are some ways to protect your devices from spyware:

Use Anti-spyware

There are many anti-spyware programs on the market that scan your computer and detect any spyware. However, it is important to make sure that you have purchased your anti-spyware program from a reputable internet security provider. Sometimes spyware disguises itself as anti-spyware, so it's important to use a trusted provider. After you have purchased the program, be sure to update it regularly for maximum efficiency.

Set Up Your Browser Security

Many browsers allow you to adjust security settings from low to high. Find out what options are available for your specific browser. Some browsers may even act as a firewall against the installation of cookies and unwanted operations.

Don't Trust Pop-ups

Often, ads and offers that appear in pop-up windows may contain viruses or spyware. Some of these pop-ups claim to have a virus on your computer or claim to be an extension to improve your online experience. Don't click "Agree" or "OK" to close the pop-up window, always click on the red "X" instead.

Internet Security Practice

As with other types of malware, spyware often comes in the form of a link or attachment. Beware of emails from unknown senders and never click on links or attachments if you don't know what they are.

Conclusion

Spyware is on the decline, although it continues to pose a significant threat to businesses. Spyware is especially dangerous because it can get your confidential information. They can then use that data to steal your identity or incur costly charges on your accounts.

When you use a device that connects to the Internet, there is always a risk of malware. However, by taking the necessary precautions, you can protect yourself and your devices from spyware.

Prevent Cryptocurrency Mining Malware With Total Security

Ransomware, the flagship of malware, has for years spread terror and fear among businesses and users of the threat of data loss. Now, in 2020, Ransomware faces serious competition at the top of the cybercrime food chain .... cryptocurrency mining malware. According to Comodo Cybersecurity Threat Research Labs, crypto-based attacks have become the number one security threat for 2020 to date.

What is Cryptocurrency Mining Malware?

Cryptomining, cryptocurrency encryption malware, or Cyptojacking, terms so new that they have not yet been added to online spellcheckers, are forms of malware that hijack a computer's resources and use them to mine cryptocurrency, like Bitcoin, without the user's permission. . Since mining cryptocurrency is a fairly large task on a PC or server, cryptocurrency mining malware has caught the attention of hackers and data, thieves, by harnessing the processing power of several devices at the same time. Essentially, its malware that creates an army of blindly crypto mining machines is auctioned off from their cybercriminal overlord.

In the first three months of 2020, Comodo said it detected 28.9 million crypto miner incidents out of a total of 300 million malware incidents.

Although Bitcoin is the most popular and well-known form of cryptocurrency, hackers target other types of online currency, such as Monero and Dogecoin. In fact, there are currently over 1,600 forms of cryptocurrencies, with more likely to come in the next few years, meaning this form of malware and illegal activity may be here to stay.

When it comes to devising type, virtually everything is at risk, including servers, computers, mobile devices, and devices connected to the Internet of Things (IoT). Also, as the competition between hackers is expected to accelerate, they will start to focus on high-end devices with more computing power to maximize their investment time.

Why is Cryptocurrency Mining Malware Beating Ransomware?

Cryptocurrency mining malware is gaining ground over ransomware as a means of blocking Bitcoin as it can go undetected for months or even years on a user's system, while ransomware immediately reveals its presence. to the user. Additionally, ransomware attacks are generally considered to be risky, as users can choose to sacrifice their data or restore a recent backup instead of forcing electronic cash. Cryptocurrency mining malware, however, when scattered across thousands of different devices, can generate millions in cryptocurrency.

Additionally, since ransomware has dominated the news over the past few years, many companies have stepped up their ransomware security practices, making it harder for cybercriminals to earn digital coins with common ransomware attacks. This has prompted hackers to seek out new, more profitable methods of deploying their skills.

How Do I Know if I Have Been Infected With Cryptocurrency Mining Malware?

Since this is a somewhat emerging threat, it might be a good idea to take a look if you've been a victim of this type of malware before. Here are some ways to check:

• Monitor devices for high CPU usage
• Install a network monitoring solution
• Remind employees to notify IT if their devices are running slower than usual

Why should I care?

This threat represents another potential exploit in your systems and it also encourages attackers to re-prioritize to achieve stealth and persistence for extended periods of time. Although at first, it is not as damaging and time-consuming as ransomware, cryptocurrency mining malware can cause your computer resources to increase significantly and in some cases render them unusable and even increase your costs. electricity costs. Good security hygiene can help minimize the risk of your organization falling victim to these types of attacks, and you should continue to invest in security awareness training and an advanced antivirus like Protegent360's Total Security and anti-malware solution. Also, don't forget the basics.

How to Prevent Cryptojacking by Free Antivirus?

With the explosion of cryptocurrencies over the past few years, public interest in cryptocurrency has sparked the purchase by companies and individuals of millions of dollars of cryptocurrencies ( Bitcoin, Ethereum, or others). However, this development has inevitably led to the emergence of a malware that infects computers and uses them to mine cryptocurrency unnoticed. This practice is known as Cryptojacking. In order for you to be able to fight Cryptojacking, you need to know more precisely what it is and how to spot it in order to eradicate it.

What Does Cryptojacking Mean?

Cryptojacking is also called in English bitcoin mining malware (or malicious cryptocurrency mining in French). It is a threat that lurks on any computing device (desktop, laptop, smartphone, or touchpad). It uses the resources of the machine to mine cryptocurrency, that is to say, to manufacture virtual currency.

How Does Cryptojacking Escape Detection?

In Cryptojacking, hackers often use more than one means to gain access to your computer's resources. In order to be able to succeed, it must be invisible to your computer's defenses so that it can avoid being detected and accomplish its mission.

Recent minor malware employs many ploys to avoid detection. The Coinminer.Win32.MALXMR.TIAOODAM is one of them. This software masquerades as a classic software installation file for the Windows operating system. By disguising itself as a system file, it is able to pass through the computer's defense system, to settle down and take advantage of the machine's resources to extract the cryptocurrency without being detected.

Further research conducted by cybersecurity experts revealed that this malware installs itself in the % AppData% \ Roaming \ Microsoft \ Windows \ Template \ FileZilla Server folder. Filezilla is an FTP software used in transferring files over the internet. In the event that such a folder does not exist, the malware will set one up.

The deception employed by the Coinminer malware is quite similar to how other Cryptojacking software manages to break into your devices. Below are the methods by which Cyptojacking software manages to enter your device.

Classic Malware Versus Drive-by Cryptojacking

As with most malware, Cryptojacking can be practiced in a number of ways. Let's look at the two most common ways to do this:

Classic Malware

Cryptojacking can be installed on the computer like most malware. Cryptojacking software can be sent as a link to a victim via email. Once you click on the link, Cryptomining software loads directly into your computer, instantly transforming into a cryptocurrency mining tool. The author of the software will then be able to extract the cryptocurrency discreetly, without being detected.

Cryptojacking Drive-by

This approach often used by many hackers uses the JavaScript programming language which is integrated into a web page (example: integration into a free streaming site without registration since this is streaming sites for series and films in VF or sites football streaming ). The users who visit the page are exposed to this threat and unknowingly their devices are being used for cryptocurrency mining. Android

phones like computers are also vulnerable to drive-by Cryptojacking. Most attacks take hold on mobile devices through applications downloaded from unverified sources. In some cases, the processor of phones is so overloaded with operations that it causes overheating causing the battery to swell and permanently damaging the phone.

Drive-by Cryptojacking seeks to attack en masse because the value of attacks is much greater when they are collective than when they are isolated from each other.

It has been pointed out by many cybersecurity experts that although Cryptojacking scripts use the resources of a device to mine cryptocurrency, they do not damage computer data.

Protect Yourself Against Cryptojacking

It is difficult to tell if you have been Cryptojacked due to the ambiguity of the operations. The Cryptojacking process could take the appearance of legitimate software to evade detection. Due to its high use of system resources, it might slow down your system which would make troubleshooting more difficult for you. For larger companies that have multiple Cryptojacked systems, there can be significant financial consequences due to the rising costs of electricity, IT labor, and maintenance, as well as tons of money. '' other damages related to the operation of uncontrolled Cryptojacked systems.

There are several steps you can take to stop Cryptojacking attacks and despite their evasiveness, there are quite a few things you can do to protect yourself and your business. Below are several ways to limit or repel Cryptojacking attacks.

Block Javascript

JavaScript is the computer language on which drive-by Cryptojacking is based. Without it, it would be almost impossible for your device to be Cryptojacked by these methods. Blocking JavaScript on your browsers would interrupt such mining activities on websites using such schemes.

One downside, however, is that blocking JavaScript could likely affect other features you use on your internet browser. Because most modern sites use javascript wisely. To maintain the use of these features while protecting your system from Cryptojacking, use programs such as MinerBlock or NoCoin (extension for Firefox). These programs allow you to make use of your various features while fending off mining threats. The programs listed above are both available as extensions on Chrome, Firefox, and Opera browsers.

Configure Firefox to Block Cryptocurrency Mining

In addition, Mozilla's browser, Firefox, now offers a setting to block cryptocurrency mining.

To activate this blocking of cryptocurrency mining:

• Go to the browser options by clicking on the hamburger menu at the top right of Firefox then click on Options.
• On the left, click in the menu on Privacy and security
• In the Content blocking section, select Custom and then check the box Cryptocurrency miners

Use Cybersecurity Programs

There are tons of cybersecurity software out there including free antivirus like Protegent360 Antivirus created for the sole purpose of detecting Cryptojacking software. With such software installed on your computer, Cryptojacking malware can be detected in real-time and prevented from entering your system.

Cloud Antivirus Versus Traditional Antivirus

Cloud Antivirus Vs. Traditional Antivirus

When we talk about cloud antivirus or cloud antivirus, many people may have certain doubts regarding their operation and if they are a good solution to protect their data. Reality shows once again that antivirus in the cloud has established themselves as a way to protect our data more and more secure, often serving as redundancy for our antivirus PC, or even an alternative.

What are the advantages of antivirus in the cloud compared to other software solutions to install on our desktop? Is a program in the cloud safer than a computer antivirus? Let's enter this interesting debate with some compelling reasons.

Cloud Antivirus Versus Traditional Antivirus

To clarify the concept, antivirus as a service is installed on a remote server, but thanks to our Internet connection it protects all our equipment, as well as our activity when browsing online. Panda Cloud, Bit Defender, and Protegent360 have developed cloud solutions for companies that are very useful when it comes to protecting multiple terminals in a company.

On the other hand, the traditional antivirus is the one we all know; You download it, install it on your computer and it starts working.

It must be said in favor of cloud antivirus that allows you to make your computer not go so slow. They free up your CPU from antivirus activity, and you don't have to constantly install updates. If you have the problem that the antivirus slows down your computer a lot, the best solution is to have your antivirus hosted on an external server.

Cloud antivirus is the most appropriate option to protect your email and all the online programs you use, although most cloud management software already has the necessary security systems on their servers. In addition, following good practices in online security, such as setting difficult passwords and avoiding downloading suspicious files and programs from unknown manufacturers.

Proponents of traditional antivirus believe that the danger of cloud antivirus software is that if malware affects your Internet connection, your computer will be left unprotected. However, it must be remembered that the vast majority of computer viruses enter through the Internet, so the cloud antivirus would stop it before it cut the connection.

A different question is whether or not we are using a good antivirus, since the fact that it is cloud does not mean that the software will be better. However, generally, the most advanced antivirus has a cloud version and is much more modern and efficient.

The experts on online security advise combining antivirus cloud with which we installed on the computer itself, using the traditional version as a backup for the hypothetical case that the Internet connection was cut. However, it should be remembered that surfing the web responsibly and following the best computer practices is the most effective way to prevent the entry of any computer virus.

Top 10 Tips for Information and Internet Security in 2020 | Total Security Software

In this article, we will get to know the most important things that can help a person maintain Internet Security and information security from hackers who seek to obtain it.

Information and Internet Security

Information security and Internet Security has become one of the things that you should pay attention to because the Internet has become the center of all activities these days, such as financial transactions, entertainment or educational tasks, and these are just a few of the things we can do over the Internet.

What is Information Security?

Information security is the science that deals with securing information that is circulated over the Internet from all possible risks that may threaten it.

More than three billion of the world's population already now has access to the Internet. In developed and industrialized countries, the internet usage rate is 81%.

Taking into account the total dependence on the World Wide Web for most of the people, these statistics are not surprising, with the tremendous benefits accruing to people, we also do not forget that there are a number of disadvantages of the Internet as well.

The biggest of these shortcomings is the threat to individuals' privacy and information security. Since most of your information is now available online and the general level of security is not sufficient, the responsibility to protect yourself is great and falls on you. There are several ways in which this can be guaranteed.

What is Internet Security?

Internet Security is all the various methods and means that aim to protect Internet accounts and protect files from hackers or by unauthorized external users to access these accounts or files and threaten Internet Security.

In this article, we will provide you with the most important tips that you should know in order to ensure the safety of your information security and Internet Security.

1. Remember to Log Out

Access to online accounts is one of the biggest information security threats that individuals face today.

Since the use of social media accounts such as Google and Facebook is very widespread and widespread, you may log in to different places but forget to log out.

This means that any time someone opens the browser on that particular device, they are instantly received by your account with full access.

Many of us face this problem frequently but we still forget to log out after using personal accounts on public devices and this is a big mistake.

Make sure to log out of all devices after using these accounts. Also, be careful when handing over your personal device to random people as this puts Internet Security and individual privacy at risk.

2. Do Not Access Confidential Accounts on Networks or Public Devices

For many people, there are different types of sensitive information. It could be like social media profiles, emails, or other family details. Financial data like credit cards and PayPal accounts are definitely confidential to all of us.

Accordingly, you should not open these accounts, which should be kept highly confidential on public devices or networks and thus be able to increase your information security.

Unless you fully trust the service provider or the owner of the device, it is recommended to avoid this habit. Even when you think they are reliable, make sure you are extra vigilant.

Public devices and networks are insecure which means that information can be hacked quite easily. This puts any sensitive data at high risk.

3. Use a VPN

Tracking location by IP addresses is very easy these days. Moreover, internet service providers use it to track browsing sessions and information entered online. The VPN service deals with both of these issues for you.

Instead of your IP address going directly to your local ISP, it points to the secure servers of VPN service providers.

Programs like Ivacy have over a thousand servers in over a hundred countries. The IP address is sent to your preferred server and then received by the local provider making it impossible for it to know your exact location and browsing data.

In order to better keep your information secure, using a VPN service is a good option.

4. Be Wary of Services That Ask for Your Details in Exchange for Information or Rewards

Information security, Internet Security, electronic security

Many sites that rely on online popup ads require users to fill out some surveys in exchange for coupons or prizes. These links are not always reliable.

Often times, it's an attempt to gather as much email addresses or contact information as possible, to create marketing guides that can be sold to companies.

In other cases, it can also be used to claim unwanted downloads that contain viruses or any other harmful content.

There are many methods used by these services to obtain sensitive details targeting information security, allowing them to significantly penetrate individual privacy.

If you end up entering important details into a website of this nature, the consequences could range from sending an unwanted email to identity theft, and impersonation.

5. Be Careful When Sharing Your Location

This is the most common information security related security threat on mobile devices. Almost every application requires the ability to allow access to location services for one reason or no.

User location can provide a lot of information regarding their whereabouts on the go, residential address or workplace, etc.

For some services, we allow them to track our location, but others can use our IP addresses to find out where we are. For example, Google uses geolocation to display homepages related to your country.

In cases of trusted apps, location tracking may not pose a serious threat to information security, but in the event that cybercriminals obtain private details such as your home or business address, the results can sometimes be very disastrous.

6. Do Not Interact With Suspicious Emails

Email messages are now the most common method of fraud and spoofing information security. In 2018, ransomware became a major nuisance causing billions of dollars in damage.

This included both multinational companies and individual users. Ransomware was sent to these systems through email attachments, in reliable formats like Microsoft Office software formats.

Users downloaded these attachments, out of curiosity, and immediately, all of their private files began to encrypt. Ransomware, as the name indicates, contains information about ransomware. You pay the required amount and get your data back.

This is just one of the information and Internet Security disasters that may result from interacting with suspicious emails that may reach you.

Some random surveys may collect data from you and use it in various ways that may not be legal. So, be sure to check the email sender and read only the ones you can completely trust.

7. Use a Strong Password

Most accounts require users to set passwords that include letters, numbers, and symbols for added security. Simpler passwords can be easy to remember, but they are vulnerable to hacking.

The more difficult the password, the more difficult it is to guess. It can be difficult to remember but there are a number of ways to make sure you don't forget your password.

The safest thing is to type the password in a separate application, such as the notes application, on your phone. This is the most secure option, then this app can then be encrypted so that it requires a passcode, or a fingerprint scan to unlock it.

8. Manage Your Cookies

Websites are becoming more powerful because they have to cater to a lot of information. In order to maintain customer attention levels through fast browsing, some websites store large chunks of data on your computer.

This is usually the information that will be used frequently. So, instead of downloading this information from the website's server every time, it is downloading from your computer.

As a result, browsing becomes smoother. These pieces of data are known as cookies.

Once cookies are stored on your computer, cyber hackers have the ability to target your digital and information security, especially if the system you are working on contains an error or a virus.

Therefore, always use your browser settings to request permission before allowing cookies to be stored. And to keep more information secure, avoid cookies from all websites except for those that are completely reliable.

9. Browse Anonymously

The user's IP is always visible to internet service providers and government agencies which means they can track anything you do. Also, other services such as HBO, for example, use location services to block their services to anyone outside the United States.

This can be a nuisance for a number of people at times. Using a VPN and masking your identity is the easiest solution to this problem.

10. Be Careful What You Share Online

Facebook has recently come under fire for improper use of the information of a large number of people registered on the platform. This incident revealed that the things we share online are vulnerable to abuse.

This is why it is imperative that users be wary about Internet Security and the things they post online.

Details that we previously posted online can be misused in a number of ways.

Conclusion

Along with the above tips, this is very necessary to install security software (for example- total security software) to protect your data from internet threats like malware.

Prevent 7 Malware Belong to Ransomware Families | Antivirus Software

7 Families of Ransomware

1. SamSam

This crypto-ransomware encrypts user data with AES / RSA and then demands a ransom of 1 bitcoin or more to get the files back.

Original title: SamSam.

The file says samsam.exe.

Remote attackers use the JexBoss hacking tool to automatically detect vulnerable systems with outdated JBOSS versions and then launch an attack to remotely install SamSam ransomware on victims' computers. The malware supplied by SamSam is distributed to Windows systems by exploiting vulnerabilities in unpatched JBoss servers. Then it installs a web shell, identifies other systems connected to the network, and implements the SamSam ransomware to encrypt files on the network devices.

Source - https://id-ransomware.blogspot.com/2016/03/samsam.html

SamSam attacks started appearing in late 2015. In the past few years, they have seriously increased. For example, large enterprises such as the Colorado Department of Transportation, the city of Atlanta, and numerous medical institutions around the world have been affected by this ransomware attacks. SamSam is a great example of how the organizational prowess of attackers is just as important as their programming skills. SamSam does not indiscriminately look for a specific vulnerability, as some other variants of ransomware do, but rather works like a Ransomware-as-a-Service, carefully checking pre-selected targets for weaknesses, as well as applying holes that can be exploited to exploit vulnerabilities in the FTP and RDP protocols on the IIS server.

Initially, security researchers assumed SamSam was of Eastern European origin, as the vast majority of its attacks were directed against institutions in the United States. In late 2018, the United States Department of Justice indicted two Iranians who they claimed were behind the attacks. The indictment says the attacks resulted in more than $ 30 million in losses. But it is unclear exactly how much of this amount the authorities paid to the extortionists. At one point, the city government of Atlanta provided local media with screenshots of ransom messages that provided information on how to contact the attackers. This action led to the loss of a communication channel with the scammers, which may have prevented Atlanta from paying the ransom.

2. Ryuk

Ryuk is another variant of the ransomware virus that became widespread in 2018 and 2019. Its victims were organizations for which downtime is extremely critical. For example, the editors of the daily news, as well as the North Carolina water utility, which at the time was struggling with the aftermath of Hurricane Florence. The Los Angeles Times has written a detailed account of what happened when their own systems were infected with the virus. One of Ryuk's most insidious features is that it can disable Windows System Restore on infected computers, making it even more difficult to obtain encrypted data without paying a ransom. The requirements for capping were especially high, which corresponded to the level of the selected victims. The wave of attacks during the holiday season showed

Analysts believe Ryuk's source code is largely taken from Hermes, which was developed by the North Korean Lazarus Group. However, this does not mean that the Ryuk attacks themselves were carried out from North Korea. McAfee believes Ryuk was built on code purchased from a Russian-speaking vendor, in part because the ransomware virus does not support computers running Russian, Belarusian, or Ukrainian. But how exactly this Russian hacker (s) obtained the code from North Korea is unclear.

3. PureLocker

PureLocker is a new variant of ransomware that was the subject of this article jointly released by IBM and Intezer in November 2019. Running on Windows or Linux computers, PureLocker is a good example of a new wave of targeted malware. Rather than infiltrating computers with widespread phishing attacks, PureLocker appears to be tied to more_eggs backdoor malware, which has been used by several well-known cybercriminal gangs on more than one occasion. In other words, PureLocker is installed on computers that have already been compromised and are under some control of attackers. And instead of immediately starting to encrypt all the data it can access, it first runs a series of checks and identifies the most critical information. PureLocker does not show itself when run in sandboxes or malware research programs.

While IBM and Intezer did not disclose how widespread PureLocker infections are, they did show that most of them occurred on corporate production servers, which are obviously very important targets. Security researcher Intezer Michael Kajiloti believes that PureLocker is ransomware as a service, which is only available to criminal gangs that can pay in advance, as attacks using this software require participation and constant monitoring of highly qualified specialists.

4. Zeppelin

Zeppelin is a descendant of a family of viruses known as Vega or VegasLocker (another ransomware as a service) that has caused havoc among audit firms in Russia and Eastern Europe. Zeppelin has a number of new technical tricks, in particular, according to its configuration. But the main distinguishing feature of this ransomware from the Vega family is the ability to carry out targeted attacks. While Vega was distributed chaotically and mainly operated in a Russian-speaking environment, Zeppelin was not designed to run on computers in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, or Kazakhstan. Zeppelin is distributed in several ways, including in the form of EXE, DLL, or PowerShell loader, but at least some of its attacks have been carried out using compromised managed security providers.

Zeppelin became widespread in November 2019, and a carefully curated list of its victims is further proof of its difference from Vega. The victims were healthcare organizations in North America and Europe. The ransom requirements were prepared to take into account the specifics of the area and specific to the infected organization. Security experts believe the move away from Vega's behavior is the result of a new and more ambitious actor, probably in Russia, using the codebase. Although the number of infections is not that high, experts believe what we have seen so far is confirmation of the possibility of more attacks using this virus.

5. REvil / Sodinokibi

Sodinokibi, also known as REvil, first appeared in April 2019. Like Zeppelin, Sodinokibi is a descendant of another virus family called GandCrab. He, too, had rules against enforcement in Russia and several neighboring countries, as well as in Syria, indicating his Russian origin. It had several distribution methods, including exploiting holes in Oracle WebLogic servers or Pulse Connect Secure VPN.

The spread of Sodinokibi again pointed to an ambitious team of creators, possibly also positioning the virus as ransomware as a service. Its spread caused problems in 22 small towns in Texas, but it gained notoriety when it shut down Travelex currency exchange in the UK on the eve of 2019, forcing operators to use calculators and notebooks instead of computers. The extortionists demanded a crazy $ 6 million ransom, although Travelex refuses to confirm or deny this.

6. Robinhood

In early May, the administration of the American city of Baltimore was confronted with ransomware that infected a number of municipal computers. Some of the city services were completely paralyzed. Soon a message appeared on the city's website stating that the authorities could only be contacted by phone. The culprit is a ransomware program called Robinhood. The impact of the virus was estimated at $ 18 million.

In particular, in Baltimore, they wrote about such problems as:

the opportunity to submit an appeal to the mayor's office was lost since officials lost access to e-mail;

transactions for the sale of real estate were suspended (about 1.5 thousand);

the possibility of online payment of fines for incorrect parking and traffic violations was lost, which led to a violation of the payment deadlines;

the databases of the system of payment of utilities and taxes on real estate were affected. As a result, it turned out to be impossible to write and pay bills, as well as to receive a receipt on the absence of debts from the persons selling houses and apartments.

Source - https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/baltimore-city/bs-md-ci-ransomware-email-20190529-story.html

7. LockerGoga

On March 18, 2019, one of the world's largest aluminum producers, the Norwegian company  Norsk Hydro,  was attacked by a ransomware. All factories were successfully isolated, the processes were transferred to manual control where possible (at the factories for extrusion of aluminum profiles, it was possible to establish only 50% efficiency). The investigation into the attack required the involvement of local authorities and law enforcement agencies (National Security Authority / NorCERT, Norwegian Police Security Service, National Criminal Investigation Service), as well as a number of commercial companies. The reconstruction of the infrastructure has not yet been completed and some production facilities (for example, extrusion of aluminum profiles) are still operating at half their capacity.

According to the Norwegian Computer Emergency Response Team (Norwegian Computer Emergency Response Team), this is ransomware called LockerGoga.

Total

All existing ransomware works in a similar way: they penetrate the attacked system by hacking through an unprotected RDP configuration using e-mail spam and malicious attachments, spoofing downloads, exploits, web injections, fake updates, repackaged and infected installers, encrypt files from certain extensions, which can supposedly contain useful information, and then require a ransom to the cybercriminals' crypto wallets in order to return the files. Vulnerabilities in software and network protocols were often exploited for attacks against large objects, as attackers were willing to spend more resources to achieve large benefits.

In general, we can say that at the present time there is a high probability of targeted attacks on large organizations that are capable of paying large ransoms to cybercriminals. That said, hackers don't always develop hacking solutions and malware on their own. Attackers choose areas of activity in which disruption of business processes leads to maximum losses (for example, transport, critical infrastructure, energy).

How to Prevent this Malware

To prevent ransomware attacks, there are the following guidelines:

• Timely update of the software used;
• Conducting briefings with personnel, forming their understanding of which program can be ransomware;
• Maintaining a backup policy and protection of backups;
• Use of antivirus software from major vendors, as well as a ban on changing antivirus policies by an ordinary user.

From all of the above, we can conclude that the threat of ransomware is more relevant today than ever. Attackers take advantage of the fact that information owners are concerned with both its integrity and availability and confidentiality. Now they are telling the victim not only “you will not get your data back until you provide the ransom”, but also “we plan to post your confidential information on the Internet or sell it on the darknet to those who offer a higher price”. This takes ransomware to the next level in the business model they use and is also the most important innovation in their standard behavior. This restructuring of the business model ushers in a new era of hyper-targeted and custom-designed ransomware that will reach new and dangerous depths.

Follow 8 Steps to Protect Your Small Business From Fraud | Antivirus Software

For companies large and small alike, the threat of hackers is important. This means that having a solid defense system is pressing and imperative in the modern business world.

Here are 8 simple steps to help you protect your business from pirates and cybercriminals:

1. Don't Store Credit Card Data on the Server:

Mark Ackerman and Elliott Boom made $ 95 million in revenue last year, after using the CardCash gift card platform. They did not access the credit card information of their customers and approved instead On PayPal to process payments, Bohm explains: “Here is the best way to outsource the company.

2. If You Sell Goods Electronically, You Should Work With a Reputable Third-party Sales Platform:

Kevin Steco, founder of an online clothing store (80sTees.com) in 2012 was exposed to hackers by thieves who gained access to his customers' data. He is now using the Order Motion platform and the e-commerce platform Shopify. “These companies handle transactions worth billions of dollars, and thus have the ability to hire smarter people, who focus their attention on security in particular,” he explains.

3. Buying Advanced Anti-virus and Malware Programs:

It may seem at first glance that it is not worth all this thinking, but having a protective shield against threats and penetration attempts is the key to the solution. Also, do not download free antivirus software, in order to protect against messages and malware on the site, even if that means saving some money.

4. Make Sure Your Employees Know the Nature of the Risks:

"Your people may be the weakest link in facing piracy. Whether you have two employees or 100 employees, a small business," says Scott Schauber, President of Berkeley Varitronics Systems. Senior mum- having a trained and security-conscious team is very important. " In general, workers should have the basic knowledge to know what to watch out for, so that they are not fooled by e-mails and malware, or by disclosing passwords.

5. Choose a System (2-step Authentication).

It may be annoying to have to add an access code to the work center, but it is a great way to add more than one layer of protection to the company’s system and all its other devices.

6. Install Security Cameras on the Site to Catch a Glimpse of Potential Criminals:

This method enables you to detect people who are trying to access the company's server rooms, and who is lurking outside your office to penetrate your wireless routers.

7. Monitors Are Part of the Defense Force:

There must be someone in your organization who looks at the security reports and makes sure that things are going as they should be.

8. Test Your System Regularly:

The best way to make sure the defenses are effective is to test them by getting professional security experts to try to breach the system.

Cybercrime: How to Face and Prevent Virtual Attacks?

The network virtual crime or cyber-crime, broke boundaries and is present throughout the world. The invasions are constant and at a high level. It is a ubiquitous danger, which is widespread anywhere and can invade various media, such as cell phones, computers, tablets , among other devices connected to the internet .

Types of Internet Crimes

Invading a computer with malicious codes to crack passwords, stealing and manipulating documents and information, destroying data, altering information, carrying out pedophilia , money laundering, financial fraud , harassment, espionage, blackmail, among other crimes, are common criminal practices in the virtual environment .

The criminal does not need to be armed with a firearm or physically present at the crime scene. It just needs to access your computer, a network, software or hardware. And for that there are several ways.

The most common practice is through malware that invades e-mails, software and websites through the technique phishing to influence the click on links infected by viruses.

Both the hacker and the cracker have computational skills at an exceptional depth level. The difference in nomenclature is that the cracker uses this knowledge to practice illegal activities on computer systems connected to the network. And the hacker can use his ability to work honestly, but that also does not prevent him from committing the crime, since he has this knowledge.

Proactive and Preventive Management Against Cyber-crime

To combat and solve cyber crimes, the criminal experts of the Institutes of Criminalistics of Brazil carry out the following proactive and preventive actions:

•     Implementation of new technologies information security to prevent the action of digital criminals;
•     Acquisition or development of computer tools with forensic technology to perform expert examinations;
•     Monitoring by court order of computer networks with suspected fraudulent practices;
•     Direction, strategy and joining forces of national and international institutions;

Virtual Security Tips

Check out important proactive and preventive actions you need to take to improve virtual security both in the corporate environment and on personal computers:

•     Invest in information security: it is a preventive action to protect data, files and information that are on any device or even in the cloud . Make all users of the same network aware of the importance of accessing the internet correctly. In companies, implement security policies and contingency plans.
•     Take the digital inventory: this tip can be used more in a corporate environment. Map and make a detailed listing of all equipment in use for monitoring and checking for possible threats.
•     Create secure passwords: choose more complex passwords with numbers, letters and special characters and do not use the same security key to access multiple virtual accounts.
•     Be careful with emails and websites: access links and emails from trusted and well-known sources. Download and trade on reputable sites.
•     Install a reliable antivirus and activate the firewall: install and keep the antivirus updated to check and block threats and eliminate viruses. Activate the firewall to prevent malicious code from being hacked. Use an advanced antivirus like total security to combat the latest cyber attack.
  
•     Back up periodically: the best protection to prevent the loss of files and data is to regularly back up data to hard drives or remote servers.
•     Perform security updates: keep your operating system and software up to date to avoid program vulnerability and protect against threats.
•     Use secure Wi-Fi: networks networks for internet access may be infected. Therefore, access and perform financial transactions on trusted networks.
•     Monitor and have a critical sense of use: constantly check applications and use the internet wisely. Be wary of 'incredible' promotions , awards, discounts and any other type of action that could be fraudulent. Never register your personal and bank details on untrustworthy sites or send them by email.

In view of the significant number of cyber attacks, we experience a shortage of specialized experts to solve this type of crime. To combat cyber-crime , the digital expert needs to have higher education in the area of ​​computing , information technology or other related areas and a constant update of knowledge through training and specializations in the area of ​​computer forensics to keep up with new technologies, investigate crime and identify the cracker.

Tips for How to Safely Save on Video Games

The risks of pirated games, activation codes from gray market sites, and ready-made accounts from official stores.

Modern games can be quite costly, and not everyone can afford to get them at full price. Some players believe that entertainment, in general, shouldn't cost that much. Even so, many do not want to miss out on the games and are therefore looking for other alternatives, including those that flirt with illegality. If you are one of this group of gamers, you should be careful because unpleasant surprises can lurk around the next corner.

Pirated Copies

A common way to get a game cheaply is by downloading a pirated version. It's neither legal nor ethical, but let's be honest, it doesn't stop many from doing what they want. However, these types of free games can come at a high price: scammers spread malware, often disguised as game crackers or activation keys, and their traps can be difficult to circumvent.

Fraudulent Activation Codes

At first glance, another and completely legal way of saving money on games is to buy an activation key in an unofficial shop. The prices there are usually lower than on official websites and thus attract the bargain hunters among gamers.

The gray market, however, is dubious; therefore the name. Aside from honest sellers who buy keys in bulk and offer them at a discount, there are also a few scammers in this world. To distinguish them from normal sellers is not always easy.

The activation keys for sale could have been stolen or only intended for journalistic purposes. Such keys tend to be revoked by publishers, with the result that the key either doesn't work in the first place or the game suddenly disappears from the account. It is possible, after much back and forth, to prove that the activation key was purchased in good faith, without having known about its dubious origin. But are these few toads worth all of the inconvenience?

Anyway, the main argument for buying games is to help the developers so that these multiplayer servers can maintain and develop new games and sequels. If you buy a stolen key, the money goes straight into the pockets of the thief and the developers get nothing.

Also, both developers and publishers have to invest a lot of resources to investigate such cases and also grapple with affected customers and claims for damages. Because of this, some independent studios have even advised gamers to download a pirated copy rather than pass money to the gray market sellers.

Ready-to-use Accounts

It's not hard to find a great offer for a ready-made account that is teeming with games on a platform like Steam or Origin. Compared to the price of each game, such accounts can be real discounts. The sellers explain their generosity z. B. with the fact that they have stopped playing and want to recoup at least some of their expenses.

What can go wrong there? A lot. First, the seller could be a bald scam who steals your money and then disappears, leaving you with no account and a hole in your wallet. The real disadvantage is that you can no longer turn to anyone: the gaming platforms expressly prohibit the sale of accounts, which makes buying them illegally.

Second, the account could turn out to be stolen. The real owner could ask for this account back sooner or later (which is logical). In this case, you lose the money you paid to the criminals. The same applies here: If the initial purchase has violated the rules of the platform, legal action is pointless.

Third, even if the account exists and is owned by the seller, and even if the seller hands it over to you, you are still not guaranteed a smooth transaction. After receiving the money, the seller could request an account recovery claiming you stole the account.

Fourth, gaming platforms are hostile to such “shadow trade”. If the system detects the transfer of the account, it could simply block the account "until the circumstances are cleared up." That is, you will never see this account again.

Last but not least, trading accounts through gaming platforms is prohibited. So if a transaction goes wrong, you are wrong. That's why buying a secondhand gaming platform account is perhaps the riskiest way to save on games. It is better not to mess around with this option.

Play in Official Stores

If you want to save money without taking any chances, then stick to the law (which we recommend anyway). This also includes keeping an eye out for possible discounts and special offers or downloading inexpensive or free games from official websites.

Patience also helps a few years after initial release, you can get games between 80 and 90% cheaper, so you can save a lot of money with a little patience.

In any case, it is always essential to remain careful; even Steam is not immune to malware. In 2018, for example, scammers uploaded a miner disguised as a simple platform operator.

Also, in some cases, cybercriminals create fake game pages, either by setting up a separate website or on Steam itself. If you accidentally land on a fake page, you run the risk of infecting yourself and losing your account. In short: check everything carefully!

How to Save on Games - Without Any Risk

To avoid the hassle of finding discounted games, we recommend the following:

• Only buy games from official websites and wait for discounts. These are available at regular intervals so that you usually don't have to wait long for them.
• Don't buy the first offer that opens up to you. At least read some reviews of the offer. If something is fishy, ​​people will likely find out.
• Use reliable total security software that won't let suspicious programs on your computer, no matter how interesting.

Tips for How to Trade Safely in Online Games?

Many gamers have made trading in-game items a solid source of income. Some sell items that they cannot use for their character class, while others try to get rid of the wealth they have acquired before giving up the game entirely.

Unfortunately, there are also scammers in the gaming community who use cunning schemes to leave honest gamers out in the rain. Keep in mind that some game publishers, including Valve, have refused to return items to players who have voluntarily given them to scammers.

Observe the Rules of the Game

First of all, not all developers allow players to trade in-game items, let alone sell them for real money. So before looking for a buyer for your Golden AK-47 or buying the Sword of a Thousand Truths, it's a good idea to check out if this could cause your account to be suspended.

For example, the developers of the MMORPG RuneScape prevent both the sale of accounts and items for real money. There are several reasons for this, ranging from legal issues (the game and the items it contains are the property of the publisher) to security issues (accounts and items put up for sale are often stolen or obtained dishonestly).

If you are caught in a prohibited transaction, regardless of whether you are a seller or a buyer, you will be banned because the rules have been violated in each case. The likelihood that an item for which you paid real money will be confiscated is also quite high: This type of transaction looks very suspicious to the administrators of the game and the payment made is not registered in the game and therefore cannot be verified.

At the same time, trading in armor, weapons, and other items within the game as part of the in-game trading system is usually not prohibited.

May the Buyer Be Careful

The second important rule is to trust intuition and stay away from overly attractive deals. Just like in real life, cyber scammers will try to win your trust and promise incredible discounts. The only goal behind this, however, is to persuade the buyer to buy or to elicit the password.

There are several signs that caution should be exercised. So you should be careful of sellers who knock on the purchase decision, but the buyer under pressure, or want to lead the sales process outside the official platform. Even if it's a friend texting you, be careful: scammers may have hacked the account or are using a character with the same name as your longtime buddy but with a barely noticeable period at the end of the name.

Pay attention to the exchange window to make sure that the promised hundred thousand gold coins don't turn into [Boar Tusk x 1] at the very last minute. And in general, make sure that you are offered the exact item you want to buy, not just a similar one. Of course, the item should also be for the right game.

Some scammers posted articles on Steam for their own games that looked exactly like much more valuable articles for much more popular games. For example, a shady guy managed to sell a fake Dragonclaw hook from Dota 2. The fake was a perfect copy of the original: same appearance, same name. The scammers even copied Dota 2's description and logo.

The only problem with the fake was that it had nothing to do with Dota. The item could only be used in a game called Climber, which was later removed from Steam.

After several similar cases, the moderators of the gaming platform began to pay closer attention to which game an item belonged to. Still, it's always a good idea to take care and check everything in advance.

Be a Smart Seller

Scammers try to deceive not only buyers but also owners of valuables. If another player asks you for the trade item to confirm the “quality” or wants to borrow it for a “trial test”, then they are most likely trying to let them go. If someone's keys offer in exchange for an expensive item, you should also be on guard, as the Keys probably stolen were.

Game providers and game shops advise against trading items for real money via third-party payment services such as PayPal. If you still want to make a transaction and purchase an item with cash, first make sure that the buyer is trustworthy. Do you have the slightest suspicion that you might be ripped off? Then reject the deal. Even if you have agreed on a prepayment, a fraudster can retrospectively cancel a transaction by contacting the payment system's support service. So in that case you will get nothing.

Storage Tips

• Whether you are the buyer or the seller, shield your computer and account properly. If you get hacked, scammers will quickly empty your account, It is recommended to have total security installed in your PC if you're a full-time gamer.
• Therefore, do not use the same password for online games that you use for other services;
• Do not click any links to external sites in the game chat and carefully check the address of any resource that prompts you for your username and password as the site may be fake.
• Never turn off your computer protection. Contrary to popular belief, certain antivirus packages will not affect your game's performance. Rather, if you leave them running, they will detect and block threats.

5 Reasons Why the Performance of Your PC is Very Slow.

When buying a new PC, or just after formatting it, we can see how luxurious the computer is. Everything opens fast, everything runs instantly, and is a pleasure to use. But as the months go by, it suddenly becomes harder for you to start up, it takes forever to load your desktop or use it to surf the Internet is a tedious task because of how extremely slow it goes. Is something wrong? Well yes, of course, but it can be from a virus that is annoying us to a simple problem of having the hard disk full of things. We are going to check  5 reasons why the performance of your PC is very slow and how to fix it.

Scenario 1: Reboot

We open with one of the simplest. Does the PC go to four frames per second in every action it performs? Well, save what you are doing and restart it, because with this simple action it may already work well again and the Internet goes at a decent speed. Why? Well, simply because perhaps the memory was very saturated with parallel processes, open programs, and/or heavy applications. In this way, with a simple reboot - not off and on - we erase memory, eliminate resources, and make the operating system load more optimally.

Scenario 2: Too Many Programs at Startup

On a computer, when Windows starts, a variety of programs that are necessary, such as drivers, antivirus, etc., are started along with it. But it may also start a lot of programs that we will not need - especially if the PC is a brand - or that does not have to be loaded as well. Do we need to load Steam, Adobe's manager, Nero Burning to burn discs? No, and that is why we must open the Task Manager in Windows (right-click on the Task Bar or search for it in the search bar), look for the Start tab, and start removing the ones we don't need, although be careful because you can remove some necessary driver.

Scenario 3: Hard Disk Without Free Space

One of the most common reasons for poor performance and extreme slowness of a computer may be that the poor hard disk is up to capacity, with just megabytes of free space and full of disks, series, games (installed and not installed), of programs that we use little or not, of thousands of images ... Of clicks (not to say shit) in general that does not go anywhere. Take a moment to examine everything you have downloaded and installed and what you don't use just delete it, or uninstall it and free up precious space on the HDD. If you want to keep some of everything you accumulate/have downloaded, a large-capacity external hard disk or USB will solve the problem and thus you allow the PC to breathe a little and therefore can process at a higher speed. Even a defrag would do great after lightening it.

Scenario 4: New OS, Old Equipment

Having the latest software and operating system is something that many users love. But if you have a PC with several years, without physically updating any of its components and you have put Windows 10 Anniversary in it, then it is normal that it goes slow. You can try adding more RAM, a Flash technology SSD hard drive, and a newer graphics card. Or go to Settings and reduce the part of the visual effects and transitions that Windows has activated and that make any action or operation look fluid and beautiful, but at the cost of system performance. Open the start menu, type Performance, and click where it says to adjust the appearance and performance of Windows, and there you can remove effects such as maximization - minimization of Windows windows for example.

Scenario 5: Heavy Programs

Panda, Avast, Norton, Google Chrome, are part of the so-called heavy programs since they consume a huge amount of system resources unnecessarily and therefore slow down the computer. Like everything, there are alternatives in the form of programs that consume less. Try removing Norton and installing Protegent as antivirus software, or installing Chrome and trying to navigate with the Opera Browser.

Emergency Measure: Factory Values

Have you tried this and it is still slow? If this is the case or worse, if what you have is a PC full of malware and other malicious content, the most expeditious way to solve it is to reinstall Windows, deleting everything in the process. With this, you will have a clean copy and a PC ready. Yes, it is a pain to have to reinstall all programs and make a backup, but it is better than suffering a slow PC in constant agony. Another option, if you bring it, is to return the equipment to ' Factory settings', which leaves it as if we took it out of the box again and turned it on for the first time.

10 Simple Ways to Protect Your Computer

Fear of being infected by the plagues of the internet is increasingly common. The more technology develops, the more things are done by personal computers, such as paying bills, files with personal information. In this way, it also increases the interest of hackers to break into systems. What must be done to protect the machines is always a question. "If I already have antivirus, why was I still infected?" It is not a program, but a set of activities that allow the PC to be as defended as possible. See 10 practical tips to increase your security.

1)Antivirus

Antivirus may not be solely responsible for computer security, but it is certainly one of the main and first steps for those who want to protect their machine.

It is possible to find good antivirus software - the paid ones that exist in the market are superior to the free ones since they offer wide support. 

2)Firewall

The firewall works, in a way, together with the antivirus. Since he is responsible for expelling what is doubtful before he enters the machine. Once inside (when the firewall fails) you still have the antivirus that will do what it can to eliminate.

3)Antispyware

Antispyware is responsible for performing scans on the computer to try to eliminate spyware from the system - programs left by hackers on your computer to collect your information.

4)Updated Operating

system When the system is out of date it is much easier for hackers to infiltrate the PC. Always keep it updated. Updates can be configured to be performed automatically or even manually - whenever the user wants it.

5)Do Not Access Unknown Links

In e-mails, websites, chat programs, or practically everything you have access to on the internet, it may, at one time or another, have a malicious link. Care and precaution in this situation are essential and directly helps to protect the machine.

6)Do Not Send Personal Data by E-mail

With the password of your e-mail, the hacker has, like you, access to all e-mails that have already been sent or received. Try, as much as possible, not to send your data, such as a bank account password, for example.

7)Unlikely and Different Passwords on Each Website

Placing different passwords on websites is an extremely important step in protecting your accounts. Even if someone finds out your password and login for a particular website, you will not be able to access others with the same digits. If you were unable to protect one account, at least you will be able to preserve the others.

8)Beware of Downloads

Downloads are one of the main reasons for the insertion of pests in machines. Occasionally, when looking for a special program, the site may imply that the download will be made via a link that will lead to viruses. Even if all the steps have been done perfectly, still pay attention to any additional software that the program indicates during installation. Avoid accepting everything during the process. Even if you don't have any malware, additional ones can still decrease the effectiveness of your machine and make it more vulnerable.

9)“.exe” and “.scr” Files

A simple trick, but not always effective, to check if the link contains viruses is to hover over it (without clicking) and check - in the lower-left corner the browser status bar - where you will be taken if you click on it. If it is a ".exe" it means that it is an executable, that is, a program, probably, and not a website. So, the possibility of being malware is very great. The ".scr" usually refers to screen savers, which often confuse the user. Avoid, whenever possible, clicking on the links that appear with such extensions.

10)Trusted Sites

It is common, especially when using search engines, to be directed to unknown shopping sites, to watch videos, or other actions. Some users have enough malice to be able to operate on such sites without acquiring viruses, but for laymen to avoid such pages, at least in the beginning, it is essential.

How to Protect Your Data Backup From Ransomware?

Ransomware gets smarter by attacking backups to prevent recovery. To prevent this from happening, take a few simple steps.

Despite the recent decline in the number of attacks, ransomware still poses significant threats to businesses. Such attacks become more dangerous. In particular, ransomware authors understand that backups are significant defenses and modify their malware to track and destroy backups.

Reducing the Number of Ransomware

The company McAfee reported a decrease in the number of malware samples, and over the past year. According to the latest report, in the third quarter of 2019, the number of ransomware samples was less than half of the number of samples at the end of 2018, when their number reached about 2.3 million. According to Kaspersky Lab, 765,000 of its users were thrashed by malware that encrypted files over the past year, compared with more than five million that were attacked by crypto miners.

BitDefender Threat Research Director Bogdan Botezatu says the main reason for stopping ransomware attacks is because security companies are better protected against them. “There will always be new versions of ransomware, some of which will be more cultivated than others and some more difficult to catch, but we do not wish the ransomware to become much larger in scale,” he says. "At least not more than last year."

“For several years, ransomware has been the main threat, but the numbers have declined significantly,” said Adam Kujava, head of malware research at Malwarebytes. However, the ransomware that is there is evolving, he says. For example, malware authors take advantage of the latest exploits such as the ones leaked from the NSA. “We see them popping up in many relatives of malware,” he says. “When you use this kind of exploit, if you infect one system, you can infect a lot more using these exploits. You're creating a much bigger goal - that's a trend. "

Backup is the New Target of Ransomware

According to Kuzawa, the Ransomware now deletes all backups that come along the way. For example, a common ransomware tactic is to delete automatic copies of files that Windows creates. “So if you go to system recovery, you can't go back,” he said. "We've also seen how they access shared network drives."

Two recent examples of ransomware that have a sight on the backups, - Samsam and Ryuk. In November, the US Department of Justice indicted two Iranians to use malware SamSam to extort more than $ 30 million in more than 200 victims, including hospitals. The attackers maximized the damage by launching attacks outside business hours and "encrypting the victims' computer backups," the indictment says.

Most recently, Ryuk hit several major objectives, including the Los Angeles Times and the provider of cloud data Data Resolution. Ryuk includes a script that removes shadow volumes and backup files, according to security researchers at Check Point. “While this particular malware variant is not specifically designed for backups, it compromises simplified backup solutions that result in storing data on file shares,” says Brian Downey, senior director of product management at Continuum, based at Boston. a technology company that offers backup and recovery services.

The most common way is to use a Microsoft Windows feature called "Previous Versions," said Munir Hahad, head of threat research at Juniper Networks. This allows users to restore earlier versions of files. “Most ransomware variants delete shade copy snapshots,” he says, counting that most ransomware attacks will also attack backups on connected network drivers.

Ransomware Attack on Opportunistic, Untargeted Backups

However, this does not mean that all backups are vulnerable. According to David Lavinder, chief technology officer at Booz Allen Hamilton, when ransomware uses backups, these are not intentional targets. Depending on the ransomware, it usually works by scanning the system looking for certain types of files. “If it locates the extension of the backup file, it will encrypt it for sure,” he says.

Ransomware is also trying to spread by infecting as many other systems as possible, he says. This is a type of worm, as is the case with WannaCry, where more activity is expected to be seen in the future. “We don't desire to see deliberate targeting of backups, but we do expect to see more attentive efforts,” he says.

You can protect your backups and systems from these new ransomware tactics by taking a few basic protection.

Supplement Windows Backups With Extra Copies and Third-party Tools

To protect itself from ransomware that deletes or encrypts local file backups, Kujawa suggests using additional backups, third-party utilities, or other tools that are not part of the default Windows configuration.

Isolate Backups

The more barriers live between the infected system and its backups, the more difficult it will be for the ransomware to get to it. One common mistake people make is that users use the same authentication method for their backups as elsewhere, according to Landon Lewis, CEO of Pondurance, a cybersecurity consulting firm in Indianapolis. “If your user's account is compromised, the first thing an attacker wants to do is to elevate their privileges,” he said.

Store Multiple Copies in Multiple Locations

Lewis recommends that companies keep three different copies of their important files using at least two different backup methods, and at least one of them should be in a different location. Cloud backups provide an easy-to-use off-site backup option, he says. “It is very inexpensive to block online storage. It's hard to argue why someone wouldn't use it as an additional backup method. And if you use a different authentication system, that's even better. " Addition to cloud storage companies should rely on cloud antivirus for any potential vulnerability.