Even If Your Company Is On A Managed IT Services Contract, There Are Extra Precautions You Should Take

There is a new type of ransomware spreading and the facts are still not 100% as to how.  Currently it is being distributed through malicious e-mail attachments and through a vulnerability that occurred in ALL versions of Microsoft Windows.  Although this vulnerability was fixed with a patch Microsoft released in March, computers that aren't being monitored with Managed IT Services may not have had this update applied.

The working theory is that the vulnerability was part of a set of tools stolen from the NSA by a Russian hacking group.  These tools were recently released publicly.  The malware has currently been thwarted but the hackers could easily change the code and redistribute it.

If your company is under a Managed IT Services contract with us, we have implemented security measure to protect you and our antivirus solution will keep you as safe as possible from an infection.  Despite these measures, however, you should never have a false sense of security and it may be possible for your computer to become infected if you open a Microsoft office document or a link.  These links can even appear to come from someone you trust.

Below we have listed some additional measures you can take in order to protect your data:

• Avoid using public services for sharing documents (i.e. Drop Box, Google Drive, etc.), especially between staff.
• The use of your wireless network should only be for approved devices.
• Avoid using public Wi-Fi networks if possible. They will be a hot bed of this activity till the wave of infections subside.
• Don’t update or respond to prompts to update your software on public networks (i.e. Starbucks, Airport, etc.).
  
• Be careful opening attachments, links, or emails.  If you were not expecting an email or document do not open it. It’s ok to contact us if you are unsure.
• Do not open links on social media or search pages. You are better off copying the link and pasting it into your address bar.
• Be mindful of what information you share online. Having your email address prominently displayed on your company website can make you a target - use contact forms instead.
• Reserve white listing email addresses and domains for specific occasions.
• White lists are need to be reviewed/removed regularly.
• Create regular backups of important data.

• You use your computer at home to connect to your work computer.
• You are not sure how to install updates on your home computer.
• You are worried about your personal computer security.

To learn more about this service, or how  we can protect your business in nyc, schedule a conversation with a member of our team: