PCR Tech and IT retail, distribution and vendor news
This week, we look at how you can limit ransomware threats, why firms rely too heavily on blind trust when it comes to cloud security, and more.
HOW TO LIMIT RANSOMWARE THREATS
Symantec has revealed that malware has increased at a staggering rate, with 430 million new variants discovered in 2015.
“This sheer volume of malware proves that professional cyber criminals are using their vast resources to overwhelm defences and enter corporate networks, with the UK suffering up to 2,215 attacks per day,” commented Dick O’Brien, Security Response, Symantec.
Here are his top tips on how to limit ransomware threats:
– Be mindful of keeping systems backed-up and ensure you use strong and unique password for all online accounts
– Always think before you click and remain wary of any suspicious e-mails, pop ups or websites
– Keep an offline backup of all data and use an up to date multi-layered advanced threat protection software
– Organisations in particular need to ensure they have an advanced threat and adversary intelligence solution that would enable them to find indicators of compromise and respond faster to incidents
28% OF UK MILLENNIALS DON’T KNOW WHAT INFO APPEARS WHEN THEIR NAME IS SEARCHED ONLINE
Norton has partnered with recruitment firm Reed to launch a new research about Millennials who are job searching.
The report found that more than one-quarter (28 per cent) of Millennials in the UK do not know what information appears when their name is searched online.
A fifth (22 per cent) were shocked to discover content published online without their permission, and just under a quarter (23 per cent) were surprised to find embarrassing pictures or videos of them.
CLOUD SECURITY STRATEGIES REST TOO HEAVILY ON BLIND TRUST
Iland has announced findings of a new cloud security survey it, revealing that companies now consider cloud security to be superior to on-premises environments, but often expose themselves to risk by blindly relying on a glut of technology they are unable to actively manage.
Analysing insights from 100 IT decision makers and security experts who leverage cloud infrastructure and/or Disaster-Recovery-as-a-Service in North America, the findings revealed that 47 per cent of security personnel “simply trust” their cloud providers meet security agreements without further verification.
“Companies can no longer combat security threats by simply throwing technology at perceived vulnerabilities,” said David Monahan, research director, security and risk management at Enterprise Management Associates – the firm commissioned by iland to conduct the survey.
“Though teams are using more security tools in the cloud than on-premises, they still face major risks as they struggle with staffing and skills shortages that make it extremely difficult to adequately evaluate, integrate and manage solutions.”
KASPERSKY SAVED $53M FOR ITS CLIENTS IN 2015
Kaspersky Lab has announced that in 2015, its solutions protected 443,920 users and corporate customers worldwide from crypto-ransomware, depriving cybercriminals of nearly $53m in illegal earnings.
Crypto-ransomware, and the cybercriminals that use it, can create a lot of trouble for its victims. Once on the device, important files are encrypted (documents, photos, etc.) and a ransom is demanded from the affected person or company to decrypt the files.
The removal of a malicious program does not help to decrypt the damaged files, and in most cases, it is impossible to restore the documents without a secret key.
Data can be protected by preventing infection in the first place, or by restoring data from a backup copy. If there is no backup copy, however, the victim often has to either accept the loss of files or to pay ransom – with no guarantee of retrieving the lost files.
