| Three new ways malware infects systems |
There are several ways in which malware can be introduced to your systems, even those protected by anti-virus scanners or other security measures. Here are three you might need to know about:: 1. Attacking remote users Traditionally, business was carried out in a physical office. This means that companies only had to protect internal networks and systems. However, businesses are increasingly going mobile and relying on off-site workers. Problems can arise though when steps are not taken to ensure the security of these endpoints – laptops, tablets, mobile devices, etc. Attackers know this, and have started to attack remote workers who may not be as secure as the company’s internal systems. This becomes an even bigger issue when the infected device is brought back to the office and connected to the network – thus likely introducing the malware into your systems. It’s necessary to ensure that all remote employees and devices are secure in order to protect your core systems and that they are also following the same security protocols used on-site and in-house.. 2. USB infections The majority of malware is introduced to systems via the Internet and websites. This is the reason why almost all virus-scanners focus on web-based intrusions. To a large extent, these scanners do what they are supposed to and keep companies secure. Hackers are always looking for new ways to attack systems though, and one avenue is through USB drives. Some of the more popular USB-based malware takes advantage of Auto-Run – when an external hard drive, or USB flash drive is plugged in, this feature automatically opens the drive. The malware on the drive is configured to install itself when the drive boots up and is accessed, thus infecting systems. To limit the chances of being infected by malware you should either provide drives for your employees to use, or approve drives that come in from outside sources. If you use USB drives to transfer files or share files between computers, try looking into other options like cloud storage drives. Finally, disabling Auto-Run and scanning drives with a virus-scanner, (many programs can actually do this), could go a long way toward deterring infections. 3. Anti-virus misses malware While many companies have anti-virus scanners and software to deter malware infections, in order for these programs to work they often require daily or weekly updates. These updates contain information about new forms of malware discovered, along with detection and handling rules. However, many companies may not be allowing the virus scanners to update. Because of this, systems are at an increased risk of being infected by newer malware. Therefore, ensure that your anti-virus scanners are not only up-to-date but are set to scan on regular intervals. Beyond this, it is important to know that while anti-virus scanners will go a long way in preventing infections, they are often a step behind the newest malware. Taking steps to prevent malware, such as limiting downloads, educating employees and establishing a security policy can also help. Finally, if you are worried about the security of your systems, working with an IT partner can prove to be one of the most successful ways of minimizing security threats that could harm your organization. IT partners can implement a plan to lower infection rates and employ experts who are able to work with you to restore your systems quickly should they become affected. If you are looking to make your business more secure, get in touch with us today.
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As a business owner or manager you likely have many different things on your mind at any given time. One issue that many owners fret over is whether their networks, computers and the data stored within are secure enough. The vast majority of businesses do utilize anti-virus scanners, however, there is still a chance their systems may be attacked. Finding out how may help find a solution.| Navigating the calendar in iOS 7 |
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Apple’s mobile operating system – iOS – is seen by many users to be one of the best mobile operating systems out there. Almost every year the company releases a new version which includes new programs and updates to existing ones. This year many new features were introduced. Most were positive changes, but one has seemed to cause some confusion – the new calendar app.| What is A/B testing? |
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Testing is an integral part of any project. It usually happens near the end of the development cycle and is important in helping businesses figure out what works best and what customers will react best to. One of the more common tests used by companies the world over is the A/B test. While invariably useful, is it really all it’s cracked up to be?| Improving email subject lines |
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A successful business is built on many different essential components. Communication is one of those elements and without successful interactions you likely wouldn’t remain in business for long. The main form of communicating these days is through email, which many business owners and managers struggle with. Sure, they can write an email but they often fall flat with the subject line and the consequence can be wasted time trying to keep track of email content, or the risk that an email won’t be opened by the recipient.| How to poll in Lync |
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The poll has long been a staple method for groups of people to make informed decisions. As many of us are now online and communicate almost solely via chat and video messaging programs, the software we use should have polls. If you use Lync, part of the popular Office 365 suite from Microsoft, you and your group can utilize polls to make decisions easier.
