Large scale cyber attacks can halt operations of entire organizations.

A cyber attack on government institutes or public oriented services such as banks, telecommunications and transport can result in temporary economic shut down.

Whether a cyber attack victimizes an individual or an organization, the consequences can be myriad. We therefore need to be aware of how we can secure ourselves, and those around us, from cyber attacks.

What Is A Cyber Attack?

A cyber attack is an offensive action by individuals, groups or organizations to target computer networks and information systems. The intention is to damage or seriously harm these systems, steal data, or perform illegitimate operations. Laptops, computers, smartphones, even devices which are used to operate machinery can be attacked.

What Can We Do To Prevent Cyber Attacks?

Workplace:

First off, realize that your organization, employer or educational institute might get in harm’s way because of a small, seemingly harmless action on your part. For this reason, numerous rules are in place in codes of conduct. Follow the rules strictly, some of which are:

1.       Do not let anyone know of your passwords or security key.

2.       Completely shut down your computer while leaving. Do not leave your system switched on.

3.       Schedule and follow all the anti-virus, anti-malware and anti-spyware software runs on your work computer according to the policies.

4.       Avoid inserting any personal devices, especially USBs and hard drives. They are a major source of computer viruses and malwares, some of which are able to hide from even the best antivirus programs.

5.       Properly report or lodge a complaint to concerned department or staff, if you suspect a malignant activity.

Home Or Personal Usage

1.       Keep your software updated and run regular checks.

2.       Use long passwords often with a mix of alphabets, numbers and symbols. Avoid familiar names or number sequences that are predictable.

3.       Check email addresses; it is quite a common scam. People often use personal or generic email addresses but with a name indicating your mail service provider. Always check the actual email address before taking any action.

4.       Avoid opening emails from suspicious addresses. Remember, every important email will have a clear subject line. Lacking a subject line or a general one such as ‘hello’ indicates scam email. Do not open or save attachments or click on hyperlinks.

5.       Use extensions for your internet browsers. Pop up and ad blockers as well as malware detectors are available for free.

6.       If you suspect that your device is affected by a virus or a malware, immediately scan and delete harmful files.

If you cannot figure out the problem or your software is unable to identify them, consult malware and virus detection services. In case your system shuts down and is unable to resume its operations, contact a reliable computer repair service, such as Rockland County Computer Repair.