Ransomware – 7 Tips And Tricks
Ransomware is the fastest growing crime on the internet. Ransomware attacks increased by 4500% in 2014, and are showing no signs of stopping, they are just too profitable for the attackers. How can you stop the attacks? Here are seven things that will make a tremendous difference. • Don’t pay the ransom. Before you ask “But won’t you get your files back if you pay the ransom?” Just like a bully who tires of the keep-away game, you likely will get your files back if you pay. But you may not. If the attacker senses your desperation, you might get asked to pay again and again. • Don’t open attachments in email. There are a lot of different attackers running ransomware scams, using different ways to try and infect you. One of the most popular is using spam emails. The email will ask you to download or install something. Don’t do it, just don’t open anything. • Do keep software up to date. The bad guys know about weaknesses in the software on your PC before you do. And they use them to get on your computer. Patching removes the vulnerability. If you are given the option of updating your software then do it. • Do back up your files. People think nothing bad is ever going to happen to them until it does. Hopefully, you are never affected by ransomware. In the event it ever does, wouldn’t you like to have a copy of all your files somewhere safe? You can tell the attacker to rack off. Everyone knows they need to back up their files but never does it. Now you have one more very good reason to do it. • New ransomware variants are appearing all the time. Always keep your security software up to date for protection against attacks. • Treat any Microsoft Office email attachment that advises you to enable macros to view its content as suspicious. Unless you are 100% sure that it is a genuine email from a trusted source, don’t enable macros and immediately delete the email. • Using cloud services could help mitigate ransomware infection since most retain previous versions of files, which allows you to “roll back” to the unencrypted form. These ransomware attackers are preying on us. But implementing following a few simple dos and don’ts we can protect ourselves from them. And protect ourselves from other malware attackers.
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Remote Desktop Solutions
Netlogyx uses the latest in Remote Desktop Protocol technology, allowing you to open your laptop and access all your work as if you were sitting in front of your computer at home. With an increase in employees working from home and at irregular hours the need for remote desktop solutions has increased dramatically. Our Remote Desktop Solution means you can work anywhere, anytime with all the same resources as if you were in the office. It is as simple as logging in to your office network from your chosen linked device and you’re good to go. In the past remote workstation solutions have presented a security risk for businesses – No one wants someone outside the organisation gaining access to their confidential company files or computer networks. Netlogyx uses the latest in security and encryption technology to ensure your data is safe. We are able to access your network and provide remote support whenever needed and no matter where you are solving any issues quickly and easily. For the larger companies, this removes the need for an onsite IT department as our team can log in to computers across multiple locations and resolve any issues. Smaller companies will notice the benefits of reduced IT support call outs and repair costs. If you require support simply contact your IT expert to access the network and they will access and resolve. Simple. If you would like to receive more information on our Remote Desktop Solutions and how they can help your business increase productivity and reduce your IT costs please contact our team at Netlogyx today!
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Utilising IT Systems To Maximize Your Business Productivity
Businesses need productive and engaged employees working on executing tasks that achieve the goals aligned with the organization’s strategic objectives. And, if execution is the key to running a successful business—How do you increase your business productivity to achieve your strategic goals? ? WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF USING BUSINESS PRODUCTIVITY SOFTWARE: Incorporating the use of technology to maximize your business productivity allows you to create a platform to achieve true business success. Business productivity software gives organizations the tools to overcome many of the challenges executing their business strategy every day. Increasing the productivity of the business involves changes like automation of various processes which allow for faster communication and more efficient time management. CONNECT VIRTUAL TEAMS WITHIN THE COMPANY. The creation of employee portals and team sites aid staff to work productively across the organization, despite their location or team. It opens up the lines of communication making it simple for employees to reach out to others on similar projects or seek information from others within the company. MOTIVATE YOUR EMPLOYEES WITH TECHNOLOGY. Using information gathered from online performance evaluation, managers can review and compare current skills with the skills needed for advancement or other opportunities that present themselves within the company. It can also help uncover employees strengths and help to find them in a position within the company that utilisies those strengths to the best of their ability. If you uncover factors decreasing better performance, the company needs to review the reasons why it is happening and eliminate the issue through the use of additional training or increasing staff. KEEP TRACK OF BUSINESS PRODUCTIVITY AND EMPLOYEE PROGRESS ON GOALS. Online business productivity software solutions enable managers to track progress easily throughout every phase of project completion and be on top of any issues that may arise promptly offering reinforcement and coaching to keep performance and deadlines on track. This will achieve greater business productivity because your organization is staffed with a workforce is continually being educated and expanding their skill set. When your staff are happy and feel a sense of pride in their job, they will work harder for you. Encourage your staff by rewarding them for their successes, using both monetary and non-monetary incentives. REVIEW PERFORMANCE Today’s technology gives us advanced reporting and business analysis capabilities that give you a more in-depth understanding of your businesses performance, your customers profile and preferences and any relevant market trends. You can use that information to develop or redesign your strategy to keep your results on track.
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Ransomware & Tips To Prevent It | IT Services Gold Coast | Netlogyx IT
The concept behind ransomware, the most widely used form of malicious software, is simple – Lock and encrypt the victim’s data, then demand a ransom to restore access. Often there is a time limit set to make payment or the data will be destroyed. Paying the ransom doesn’t guarantee restoration of your software either, it’s a catch 22. They can hold your personal files hostage, withholding your documents, photos, and financial information. Those files are still on your computer, but the encryption makes them completely unreadable. In 2017, the average ransom demand was $5221 — a high price to pay for getting your own property back. TYPES OF RANSOMWARE Ransomware types vary with some being more harmful than others, the common denominator being the ransom. The five types of ransomware are: • Crypto malware. This is a widely known form of ransomware and can cause a lot of damage. One example is the 2017 WannaCry ransomware attack, which targeted thousands of computers around the world and spread itself within corporate networks globally. • Lockers. This ransomware infects your operating system and completely locks you out of your computer, making access of any of your files or applications impossible. • Scareware. This is a fake software that appears to be an antivirus tool. Scareware often claims to have found issues on your computer then will demand money to fix the problem. Some types of scareware lock your computer, while others flood your screen with alerts and pop-up messages. • Doxware. Usually referred to as leakware, doxware threatens to publish your stolen information online if you fail to pay up. As many people have stored sensitive files and personal photos on their computers, it is not things you want leaked which is why so many will panic and fork out the ransom. RaaS. Also known as “Ransomware as a Service,” RaaS is malware that is hosted anonymously by a hacker. The hackers manage everything from distributing the ransomware and collecting the payments received to managing decryptors — which is software that restores data access WHAT TO DO AND WHAT NOT TO DO Ransomware is such a profitable market for cybercriminals and is unlikely to stop anytime soon. Prevention is the best defence in protecting your personal data. To stop cybercriminals and protect yourself from a ransomware attack, think about implementing the following dos and don’ts: • Use a security software. This will help protect your data. Make sure you choose a trusted security suite that does more than just antivirus protection. • Ensure your security software up to date. New ransomware is appearing all the time and ensuring your internet security software is current will help protect you against cyberattacks. • Regularly update your operating system and other software. Software updates include patches for newly discovered security black spots that left unprotected can be exploited by ransomware attackers. • Don’t ever automatically open email attachments. Email is one of the main ways cybercriminals deliver ransomware. Just don’t ever open emails and attachments from unfamiliar or untrusted sources. • Don’t open email attachments that request you to enable macros to view its content. Once it’s enabled, macro malware can infect multiple files. If you aren’t 100% sure the email is genuine, and from a trusted source, delete the email. • Back up important data to an external hard drive. Attackers gain leverage by encrypting valuable files and making them inaccessible to you. Having a back up of your important files takes away their power and will allow you to restore your files after the infection has been cleaned up. • Utilise cloud services. This can be immensely helpful in preventing a ransomware infection since many cloud services keep previous versions of files, which means you can “rollback” to the unencrypted form. • Don’t pay the ransom. Paying the money won’t guarantee your access being restored.
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Netlogyx Monitoring Service
Detect any issues early on and keep your system and server functionality running at the highest level. Let us monitor your computers, servers and network devices and identify and troubleshoot the areas of potential failure. This will minimize the risk to your business and avoid the hassle of system failure and downtime. For more information watch our video and contact the Netlogyx team! https://youtu.be/I40UZrT7Yng
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The Essential Eight – Strategies To Help Your Business Avoid Being A Victim Of Cyber Crime.
That are likely to pose the biggest threat to them. While no one strategy can guarantee to prevent cybersecurity incidents,organisations are recommended to implement eight main strategies as a framework. This framework (referred to as The Essential Eight), tightens overall security and makes system compromise more difficult. If your business decides to actively implement the Essential Eight it will ultimately be more cost-effective in regards to money, time and effort than if you have to respond to a larger scale security attack. Before starting to implement these strategies, organisations need to review the following: a. identify which systems require protection (i.e. which systems store, process or communicate sensitive information or other information with a high availability requirement) b. identify which adversaries are most likely to target their systems (e.g. cybercriminals, nation-states or malicious insiders) c. identify the level of protection your business requires (i.e. selecting mitigation strategies to implement based on the risks to business activities from specific cyber threats). There is a recommended order to implement for each cyber threat that will help your organisation build a strong cybersecurity network for your systems. Once organisations have begun implementing strategies, they need to focus energy on increasing the maturity of their implementation such that they eventually reach full alignment with the intent of each mitigation strategy in the following table. STRATEGIES TO PREVENT MALWARE ATTACKS Application whitelisting of approved/trusted programs to stop the execution of unapproved/malicious programs including .exe, DLL, scripts (e.g. Windows Script Host, PowerShell and HTA) and installers. Why: All non-approved applications (including malicious code) are prevented from executing. Patch applications e.g. Flash, web browsers, Microsoft Office, Java and PDF viewers. Patch/mitigate computers with ‘extreme risk’ vulnerabilities within 48 hours. Use the latest version of applications. Why: Security vulnerabilities in applications can be used to execute malicious code on systems. Configure Microsoft Office macro settings to block macros from the Internet, and only allow vetted macros either in ‘trusted locations’ with limited write access or digitally signed with a trusted certificate. Why: Microsoft Office macros can be used to deliver and execute malicious code on systems. User application hardening. Configure web browsers to block Flash (ideally uninstall it), ads and Java on the Internet. Disable unneeded features in Microsoft Office (e.g. OLE), web browsers and PDF viewers. Why: Flash, ads and Java are popular ways to deliver and execute malicious code on systems. MITIGATION STRATEGIES TO LIMIT THE EXTENT OF CYBERSECURITY INCIDENTS Restrict administrative privileges to operating systems and applications based on user duties. Regularly revalidate the need for privileges. Don’t use privileged accounts for reading email and web browsing. Why: Admin accounts are the ‘keys to the kingdom’. Adversaries use these accounts to gain full access to information and systems. Patch operating systems. Patch/mitigate computers (including network devices) with ‘extreme risk’ vulnerabilities within 48 hours. Use the latest operating system version. Don’t use unsupported versions. Why: Security vulnerabilities in operating systems can be used to further the compromise of systems. Multi-factor authentication including for VPNs, RDP, SSH and other remote access, and for all users when they perform a privileged action or access an important (sensitive/high-availability) data repository. Why: Stronger user authentication makes it harder for adversaries to access sensitive information and systems. MITIGATION STRATEGIES TO RECOVER DATA AND SYSTEM AVAILABILITY Daily backups of important new/changed data, software and configuration settings, stored disconnected, retained for at least three months. Test restoration initially, annually and when IT infrastructure changes. Why: To ensure information can be accessed again following a cybersecurity incident (e.g. after a successful ransomware incident). For more information on implementing these strategies within your business contact Netlogyx today.
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Top 10 Cyber Crime Facts You Need To Know In 2018
HERE ARE 10 OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW WHEN IT COMES TO CYBERCRIME. • 2.51 was the average cost of a data breach in Australia in 2017. This was based on a study of 25 breaches by the Ponemon Institute. The breaches ranged from $0.89 Million for a breach of less than 10,000 records and up to 6.65 million for a breach up to 50,000 records with the average cost per record being $139. • 47,000 cyber-attacks were recorded by the Australian Cyber Security Centre in 2016-2017.More than half of these were malicious or fraud attacks affecting 7283 businesses and 734 notable private sector organisations. • Business losses from malicious emails doubled in the 2016-17 period with losses of more than 20 million dollars reported to the ACSC. • 90% of businesses have been exposed to a data breach or threat and 58% have been compromised at least once. • 24% of companies experience ransomware attacks each month taking an average of 5 hours to resolve not to mention the costs related to downtime. • Symantec report Australia is in the top 10 targeted countries for ransomware attacks which means you need to be extra vigilant about preventing and avoiding your business being targeted. • Cybercriminals are getting savvy – Phishing emails are evolving and becoming more sophisticated, intercepting and replicating invoices for existing services and payment arrangements. This can make it tricky for employees to pick up. • Cybersecurity jobs are tripling in response to the surge of attacks with an expected number of 3.5 million jobs in the field by 2021. All IT positions now require a certain level of security expertise. • New data breach laws were introduced to Australia in February this year in order to improve protection for personal and sensitive information and to create greater transparency. • It is predicted cybercrime will cost US $6 Trillion dollars worldwide by 2021, according to Cyber Security Ventures. This is based on the projected increase in organised cybercrime and foreign government activities. To find out more on how you can safeguard your business against cybercrime contact the team at Netlogyx.
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Improving Productivity In The Workplace – The Ultimate 8 Step Guide
What does a productive day look like? Maintaining a routine and planning ahead will save you time and help manage stress. • Despite common belief, multi-tasking is not a more efficient way to work. Pick one task and work until it is completed then move on to the next item on your agenda. This will help you focus better and keep the quality of your work high. • Take regular breaks, stand up stretch, go make a cup of tea or step outside for some fresh air this will clear your mind and help you re-energize and focus. • Use time management software to help you stay on track. • Expect the unexpected. Despite the most diligent planning, there will always be unexpected tasks that crop up. The key is to be able to know how to prioritize your tasks well and be able to go with the flow. SCHEDULING AND TO-DO LISTS FIGURING OUT HOW TO FIT YOUR WORK IN AROUND MEETINGS, PHONE CALLS AND CONSTANT INTERRUPTIONS CAN SEEM LIKE MISSION IMPOSSIBLE. • Stay focused on one thing at a time • Tackle the biggest task first • Clear your emails at least once per day PROJECT AND TEAM MANAGEMENT • Make the brief clear • Keep meeting short and to the point • Have a daily team check-in • Evaluate your progress INCLUDE DEEP WORK TIME IN YOUR DAY • Make time to hyper-focus • Embrace boredom • Focus on the important stuff MAINTAIN A WORK/LIFE BALANCE BOOK IN DOWNTIME • Get active • Get enough sleep • Find your zen – try meditation or yoga • Utilize Visualization and mood boards IMPLEMENT SOFTWARE TO HELP YOU WORK MORE EFFICIENTLY • Launch apps on startup • Create templates for as many tasks as possible • Utilize tools like grammar checkers and email plugins to help you work smarter not harder. HARDWARE TIPS AND TRICKS • Add a second monitor • Get a headset • Get a good quality mouse and mousepad WORKFLOW AND BUSINESS PROCESS MANAGEMENT • Organize your data • Train your staff • Whenever possible automate • Regularly review and improve your processes For a more in-depth info download our Ultimate 8 step productivity guide here
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Office 365 For Business – Gold Coast IT Solutions
OUTLOOK The email service, task management, calendar application, and contacts manager included with business Office 365 subscriptions are under the Outlook branch of the web brand. It includes Outlook Mail, Outlook Calendar, Outlook People, and Outlook Tasks. Microsoft also introduced an email feature called Clutter with Office 365. Clutter memorises user’s preferences regarding relevance and importance of their emails. It analyses the user’s pattern of behaviour about email subjects, if user keeps ignoring emails from a certain sender or subject, Clutter files those emails to a folder with the same name in Outlook. HOSTED SERVICES The business plans for Office 365 offer access to cloud-hosted versions of Office’s server platforms on a software as a service basis, which include Exchange, Skype for Business, SharePoint, and the browser-based Office Web Apps suite. The SharePoint’s OneDrive for Business program provides each user with 15 GB of online storage. OFFICE APPLICATIONS Some plans for Office 365 do also include access to current versions of the Office desktop applications for both Windows and OS X for the duration of their subscription. For Office 2016 on Windows, it is installed using a “click-to-run” system which allows users to begin using the applications almost immediately while files are streamed in the background. All updates to the software are installed automatically, this includes both security updates and major new versions of Office. If an Office 365 subscription lapses, the applications become read-only and the editing functionality is disabled. Full functionality is restored when the new subscription is purchased and activated. COLLABORATION TOOLS Office 365 includes several productivity applications that are designed to cover collaboration needs at the organizational, departmental and team levels. Currently, the list of collaboration tools includes OneDrive for Business, SharePoint Online, Microsoft Teams, Yammer, Skype, Outlook Online and Delve boards. There are several approaches to defining the role of Office 365 collaboration tools in an organization. The main considerations that influence the choice of a certain tool depend on communication needs, team size, project specifics, and keeping in mind the employees’ personal preferences. Depending on what you need to do, each collaboration tool suits a work situation. SharePoint Online is often used as a platform for corporate intranets and portals, much the same way as SharePoint On-Premises does. At the same time, SharePoint Online comes not only with team sites but also with communication sites and hub sites. Microsoft Teams allow collaboration channels for public and private communication, as well as voice and video conferences. Outlook Online hosts email-based collaboration. Yammer is used for communication with business users outside of the organization and enables forum style team communication. Skype for Business supports instant messaging, VoIP, audio, video and web conferencing. As for Delve boards, they allow creating boards to group together and share related documents. Additionally, there are Office 365 Groups that represent rather a technological capability within the suite than a tool apart. Office 365 Groups allow creating separate collaboration spaces in other Office 365 tools. An Office 365 Group can be organized in Outlook, SharePoint Online, Yammer, Microsoft Teams and other collaboration tools to diversify the native collaboration capabilities of these applications. For example, if a team collaborates in a Group in Yammer, its members automatically get a team calendar, a shared Outlook inbox, a SharePoint library, a SharePoint team site, a shared OneNote notebook and Planner. UPDATES The Office 365 platform have implemented a rolling release model; updates to the online aspects of the service are provided once every quarter.
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How To Grow Your Business Using Big Data And Analytics
Data, particularly big data is a big thing in business circles. It will help your business make smarter decisions based off solid evidence. What data is relevant to your business Choosing a source and type of data to use can be overwhelming for many business owners. The first thing is to work out what insights your business needs and asking the right questions. Do you want to improve your customer service or get feedback on a new product? Do you have a clear understanding of how your customer interacts on your website? The next step is to decide how you want to collect this data. Where will you source your data from? You may not think your small business generates much data but you would be surprised! Have a think about your business activities, common places to source your data are in-store sales figures, your social media platforms, newsletter subscriptions and traffic to your website. These figures will give you a benchmark and put you in a position to do something with the results. This is when we bring in the analytics software and tools to assist you with interpreting your customers’ decisions and movements. Big data tools If your customers are interacting with your product or service via your website you want to understand their movements. Google Analytics is a free tool that will give you data on a range of things from website performance to user behaviors. CRM tools are a great way to track, generate and manage your incoming leads effectively. Majority of social media platforms have inbuilt data analytics capabilities so you can easily track how your social media activities are performing. You will also need a safe place to store this data. Dedicated cloud and hosting services will not only store it securely, but they can also analyze multiple data sources simultaneously. Usually, this is done via a customisable dashboard using simple graphs and charts. This could help you determine the pricing of your inventory, identify new customers and even pinpoint what content your audience takes notice of. The insights you get from big data can help you make smarter decisions that will ultimately grow your small business.
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