PC Viruses Present Risks to Variety of Businesses
Whether an organization provides its employees with a computer or workers bring their own, they are susceptible to a variety of PC viruses. Malware is becoming increasingly sophisticated, and while protective software is also advancing, deterring damage is more difficult than ever before. As the threats continue to rise, businesses must be cognizant of present risks and their potential effects on critical networks. With these considerations, managers can plan for any situation and incorporate software that will protect their machines from threats.
Viruses are advancing at a rapid pace, with potentially devastating consequences for a business’s bottom line. According to NSS Labs, banks, for instance, are becoming targeted more often by financial malware that will inject Trojans by replacing the command and control servers with blogs and malware suites, TechWeekEurope reported. These methods are extremely advanced and can even encrypt communications with C2 servers to hide stolen data. While many of these risks first appear in Europe and migrate to the U.S., all organizations must be aware of the threat in order to mitigate similar instances and ensure that the company runs as usual. For the financial sector, investing in anti-fraud software and a virus scanner is critical to deterring damage and keeping systems secure.
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For work computers, many organizations will have regular updates commissioned by their IT teams, but if the employee is using a personal device, he or she may be in charge of his or her own maintenance needs. Browsers are crucial programs for owner productivity, and often have upgrades that must be downloaded. However, some malware delivery campaigns could state that you need to have a critical update before proceeding, according to Help Net Security. These viruses can stem from media sites that have malicious ads. If you choose to refuse the critical update spoof, you may be stuck in an endless JavaScript loop. But by accepting, you will probably be downloading a Trojan that steals information from your machine. This situation calls for a virus scanner and PC cleanup software to disinfect the computer.
The best way to avoid the often catastrophic outcomes associated with computer virus infection is to prevent malware and viruses from getting through in the first place. When regularly updated, security solutions that employ both reactive and proactive detection strategies are the most effective.
A reactive strategy detects viruses using published malware signature detection. A proactive strategy uses sophisticated behavior-monitoring techniques known as heuristics to build a general sense of whether a given file or group of files intends to harm your computer.
The PC optimization solution System Mechanic Pro ships with System Shield, an anti-malware solution that deploys both strategies, and is regularly updated with the latest threat definitions to catch specific malware signatures and suspicious behaviors to help keep your computer safe.