Category Archives: Anti-virus

Keeping it Clean: How to Keep Your Computer Virus Free

Anti-virus, Security, ,
With more and more security threats present on the web, it is important to follow the proper protocol to keep your computer clean and virus-free.

With more and more security threats present on the web, it is important to follow the proper protocol to keep your computer clean and virus-free.

As quickly as computer and network security technology advances, it always seems that the hackers are one step ahead. This is a very important field, because a company’s data can be extremely sensitive. What would happen if a list of your clients and their contact information was to end up in the hands of a competitor? What if your customer’s payment information found its way onto the black market? Obviously, this would be disastrous. Even if it’s something small, a virus can cause all sorts of issues and delays in your day-to-day operation. Here are a few tips for making sure that your company’s computers and network stay virus free.

Employee education

Employees are, surprisingly, one of the biggest holes in the security of your network. Because of this, one of the most important things you should do to make sure your data stays secure is to educate your employees on the subject. Make sure they understand the importance of strong passwords and know what one looks like. Talk to them about phishing and how e-mails that look legitimate can actually be hackers’ attempts to gain access to the system. Make sure they understand how important it is that no one else gains access to the system under their name. Whether you have classes or send memos, do whatever it takes to make sure your employees know how important it is to protect your company’s network, and what their part is in it.

Limit outside access

Many companies allow their employees to work from home. This can improve efficiency and flexibility, but usually requires that the employee has access to the company’s network from home, over the internet. Although this is not a bad idea, you should keep a close eye on who has access, and how strong your security is at that portal. Carelessly granting outside access to your system can allow people who were not intended to have access to gain it.

Anti-virus software

It may seem obvious to some, but it’s important enough to mention anyway. Anti-virus software should be your last line of defense against code that should not be on your network. Anti-virus programs can get a little annoying sometimes, but the truth is that the results of not having it are much worse. Keep in mind that, while free anti-virus software does exist, it is mostly intended for individual consumers and doesn’t do much more than the basics. If you’re running a business, it is more than worth the cost of software that will protect you and your network.

Routine audits

Every so often, perhaps every quarter or so, take another look at your network security. Consider how your employees are doing, and whether or not you feel like they’re protecting your company. Take stock of how many people have access to your network, and how safe that access is. Evaluate your anti-virus software, and decide whether or not it’s still meeting your needs. Look at all aspects of the security of your network, and make sure everything is up to your standards. It may even be a good idea to bring in a security consultant every once in a while to point out anything that you might be missing.

A major breach in your network’s security can cause major problems for the continuity of your business. In some cases, it can even lead to the business closing for good. A virus can be all that it takes for this to happen. Make sure you’re protected against this catastrophe. Not quit sure if your network is as secure as it should be? Contact us. We can answer any questions you have and make sure everything is in order.

Viruses: Like a Ninja Waiting to Take Down Your Business

Anti-virus, ,
Like a ninja, some programs rely on secretly infiltrating your computer, embedding themselves among some of the systems most crucial to your computer, and simply wait.

Like a ninja, some programs rely on secretly infiltrating your computer, embedding themselves among some of the systems most crucial to your computer, and simply wait.

If you’re familiar with your computer, you’ve got a pretty decent idea what programs you have on it. You probably have a word processor, an internet browser or two, some work specific programs, and a few other odds and ends. There could be one or two others on there that you don’t even know about, though, and those are the ones that can cause you major problems down the road.

Hiding in the Digital Shadows

Like a ninja, some programs rely on secretly infiltrating your computer, embedding themselves among some of the systems most crucial to your computer, and simply wait. Often, these programs will not give any sign they’re there, and by the time they do give a sign that they’re in your system, it’s often a losing battle trying to get them out.

They can do anything from corrupt files, to render your computer completely useless, and never do they do anything good. They can even be used to gather information about you or your company that can then be used by criminals. It’s a scary thought.

A Hero to Save the Day

Thankfully, there is a reliable solution: Anti-Virus software. This software works tirelessly to detect and kill those silent, secretive, and damaging virus programs. Most anti-virus programs rely on extensive teams of analysts and coding masters to ensure they identify and learn how to remove new and unique viruses as soon as they come into circulation.

In this internet age, they’re simply essential, and they aren’t something you want to skip out on when it comes to personal or professional computers.

One of our specialties is finding the best anti-virus software available and helping to get you protected. We offer a wide range of protection options, from the more familiar Norton and Windows Defender, to programs that make your computer like Fort Knox against viruses; tools like Webroot and Virpre.

All the Options, How do you Choose?

Figuring out which option would work best for you depends on what you use your computer for, what kind of storage and back-up options you use, as well as some personal preference. If your computer is used to store critical information on clients, for instance, choosing one of the more robust anti-virus systems is likely the best option.

If you use your computer primarily for email, keep secure back-ups of any documents you have, and don’t need tons of options for how your computer is checked, there are more affordable options that will provide you protection, without a significant investment.

If you simply aren’t sure how much protection you need, we’re here to consult with you. Our staff is well versed in getting to know your system, how it works, where your vulnerabilities are, and which program would best serve to protect your important data from those sneaky viruses.

Double Agent ‘Anti’-Virus

What we will caution against, however, is attempting to go it alone in your battle against viruses. While we’re certainly well aware of viruses, that’s a two-way street. Those evil doers that make viruses have spent countless hours preying on people looking for protection from them, going so far as to release ‘free’ anti-virus systems that are, themselves, riddled with viruses. While that isn’t the case for all ‘free’ options, those that aren’t full of viruses often provide sub-par protection, use outdated information on viruses, and often ask for money to remove viruses when they do find them.

We’re Here to Help

By teaming up with a quality team of software professionals like SystemsNet, you can be sure that you’re getting a tested and reliable anti-virus program that will help keep you and your data safe, with professionals on hand to help you understand how to make sure it’s working for you and keeping your computers online and working as intended.

To find out how we can help you protect your computers from ninja virus programs, contact us. We’re here to help.

3 Tips to Keep Viruses Away from Your Small Business Network

Anti-virus, Malware, Security, ,
Following a few basic principles and keeping up on the latest scams should generally keep you save from viruses.

Following a few basic principles and keeping up on the latest scams should generally keep you safe from viruses.

The problem with viruses is that the nature of the threat and the tactics of those who employ them change from year-to-year. Small business owners already have more on their plate than they can handle, so keeping up with the latest antivirus trends isn’t easy.

However, even if you’re not combing the Internet three hours a day to stay up-to-date on the latest virus tech news, if you follow a few basic principles, you can avoid many of the worst virus traps.

These three quick tips will help you adopt essential cybersecurity habits for your small business:

Tip #1: You Are Your Own Worst Enemy

Employees are typically the biggest threat to a business network. Most viruses gain entry because of an unwise action among your staff. Macros malware has had a come-back recently (see this Microsoft report, if you don’t believe me) because hackers now try to trick users into enabling macros.

Or employees open email attachments from unknown senders or click on links in emails that seem legitimate.

Most of it is common sense:

  1. Don’t enable macros unless your IT team is instructing you to do so.
  2. Never open attachments from a stranger. If someone you know sends you an attachment, but the email seems a little off — if you have even the slightest suspicion that maybe the person’s email was hacked — communicate with the person first and confirm it before opening the attachment.
  3. Never click on links in an email claiming to be from a company that is asking you to provide account information (log-in info, personal data, etc.) by clicking on that link.

For example, if you get an email claiming to be from Wells Fargo telling you to click on a link to reset your password because of an alleged security breach, don’t click on the link. If you’re truly concerned about it, follow these steps:

  • go to the bank’s website through your browser (not through any link in the email)
  • log into your account through the normal channels
  • check your account messages to see if there really is an issue

Apply this routine to any email telling you to click on a link. If it appears to be with a company you know — even if it looks legitimate — always log into your account the normal way and avoid the email link.

Another essential habit: keep your software up-to-date. The latest versions of software often have patches that fix holes in security. Neglecting to keep our systems up-to-date is yet another way we become our worst enemies.

Yes, these are basic principles, but sometimes the madness or exhaustion of work short-circuits our common sense. It’s good to be reminded of essential security habits.

Tip #2: Get Some Quick Training Under Your Belt

In a recent news story from May 2015, it was observed that small businesses often bear the brunt of hacker attacks: “According to Symantic’s Internet Threat Report examining trends for 2013, 30 percent of targeted cyber-attacks (called “spear-phishing”) were aimed at businesses with 250 or fewer employees. And one in five small businesses received at least one spear-phishing email during the year.”

If you’d like to get some thorough cybersecurity training tailored for small businesses but you don’t have much time, consider the U.S. Small Business Administration’s free online training course, which only takes 30 minutes to complete.

Tip #3: Be Aware of Unusual Scams

The fake IT phone call is the perfect example of an unusual scam. In a May 12, 2015 report, an ABC News station alerted the public to a scam in which an imposter claiming to be an IT person called individuals and asked for personal log-in information so that he or she could remotely remove a virus on their computer. Of course, the imposter described the alleged virus in apocalyptic terms to stir the person into a state of panic.

In the news report, Kathy Birr, the Director of Dispute Resolution for the Better Business Bureau, said this: “They gain your trust and scare you and convince you that there is a problem and they need to fix it fast.”

At SystemsNet, even our basic service package Vita comes with our top-notch anti-malware assistance and virus monitoring. Contact us for more helpful information about anti-virus practices for small businesses.

Protect Your Small Business-Top 7 Anti-Virus Programs

Anti-virus,
Choosing the right anti-virus package for your business can be confusing, but there are some top contenders you should definitely

Choosing the right anti-virus package for your business can be confusing, but there are some top contenders you should definitely

Small business owners work very hard to make their company well-known and successful. The amount of work required to successfully run your own business is phenomenal, and you want to protect that work from anything that could damage it. Some people might consider just using the free antivirus software that comes with your machines-why not? After all, it’s free, and being a small business owner also means cutting costs… Some of these free options might provide you with adequate protection, but the hassle of installing it separately on each machine and then trusting users not to fiddle with any of the settings-well, that’s where it becomes a real headache. Most top-notch antivirus programs offer easy installation across your entire network, restrict users from being able to change any settings, and give you enhanced management options. Choosing an anti-virus package can be confusing, but consider the following top contenders during your research:

  1. Bitdefender. Bitdefender continuously tops the list of antivirus software for small businesses. The Small Office Security software boasts fast and easy installation, and can be used to protect multiple devices. Features include protection from  malware, rootkits, viruses, phishing, and data loss, as well as a centralized management dashboard. Bitdefender is always on and automatically updates-for added security, users do not have the option to change the settings or deactivate protection. Bitdefender uses Windows Network Discovery to find all network devices through remote, link, or email deployment options.
  2. Kaspersky. Kaspersky is another top name in network security, receiving very high scores in independent testing. Kaspersky Small Office Security is a less expensive choice than Bitdefender, but it does provide excellent protection for up to 25 on Windows-based machines and Android devices. Features include antivirus protection, secure online banking, backup tools, and mobile device protection.
  3. AVG. AVG Antivirus Business Edition is a highly effective choice for safeguarding your business and customer information. Features include AVG’s award-winning firewall, Smart scanner, network antivirus, file server security, and remote management. AVG’s antivirus package offers greater control by allowing you to remotely manage your protection from a single console. Smart scanner only scans PCs while they are not being used, ensuring efficient operation during work time.
  4. Symantec. Symantec Endpoint Protection Small Business Edition is simple to use, and can be installed on a single machine or across the whole network. Symantec has both cloud-management and on-premise management options, and offers the typical protection against viruses, worms, trojans, and spyware without slowing down performance. In addition, Symantec Insight and SONAR technologies are able to detect new and mutating malware, including unknown threats.
  5. Panda. Panda Cloud Office Protection is one of the more expensive options out there, although independent tests rated it as only fair for network protection.  The package does offer many unique features in addition to antivirus and firewall-features such as device control, which allows you to restrict how different devices are used. The top-notch web-based management system offers many installation options and gives constant reports on security status. The package offers more hands-on management options than other security programs, but isn’t top of the line for core antivirus protection.
  6. Avast!. Avast! Endpoint Protection is a good choice for very small business owners who may not be able to afford all the bells and whistles available in more comprehensive antivirus programs. Avast! is akin to ordering food a la carte-you pick and choose and then pay only for options you want. You can choose the most basic antivirus protection and have a very simple product that offers core antivirus, browsing protection, and remote management.  Upgrading to Endpoint Plus will add a firewall and spam filtering and still be less expensive than most competitors.
  7. VIPRE. VIPRE Antivirus Small Office offers small and home-based business owners an integrated patch management that protects against infections from out-of-date software. VIPRE also offers top notch features such as protection from viruses, spyware, trojans, worms, and adware without slowing down your systems, business-class support, and network defense against bad links.

These are some of the top-rated antivirus packages on the market right now, but if you are still unsure of what your business really needs, please feel free to contact us.