malware Archives - Red Level

What is spear phishing and how can my company avoid it?

The average person receives 16 malicious emails per month. A 2018 study of 500,000,000 emails found one out of every 101 emails received were malicious. Are your employees properly educated about this? Or will they click a link that could cost the company millions? Most of the time, the greatest risk to your company’s internet security are the people who work for it (including you). One click on a malicious email—even one that looks like it comes from a friend—could seriously damage your company. New employees are the most at risk for being duped. [1] What is Spear Phishing? Spear phishing is an attack in which hackers trick targeted users into sharing confidential information. It can also involve tricking the recipient into installing malware on their computer or network. Here is how it works: 1. You receive an email with an attachment from what looks like it originated from a ...

Red Level2023-02-16T16:01:31+00:00

PETYA RANSOMWARE: A New Threat To ‘Cry’ About – and a Simple Prevention Tip

It was only a month ago that I wrote in this space about the world’s lucky sidestep of the intended havoc mounted by the WannaCry ransomware attack. As our clients and regular readers of this site know, Red Level takes the ransomware menace very seriously: The damage and the expense such exploits cause is real and considerable, the potential negative impact they pose is increasing, and the exact nature of the threat is constantly changing. For IT professionals, WannaCry, Cryptolocker and their fellow travelers are a continual source of aggravation, unease, and extra work. We know we can’t afford to be complacent, even for a moment. That’s why we were unhappy, but unsurprised, to learn of the new problems caused by Petya, a ransomware variant currently wreaking havoc in Europe, Australia, and in at least one US hospital. Like WannaCry and Cryptolocker before it, Petya functions by unbreakably ...

Red Level2023-02-16T16:01:44+00:00

#WANNACRY: A Happy Accident Is ‘Holding Back The Tears’ – For Now

An unfortunate truth about computer security is that would-be hackers only have to be lucky once, but data security specialists have to be lucky always. Today, it’s looking like we’re very lucky indeed – if only for the moment. If you’ve been following the stories (and the near-panic) surrounding the #WannaCry ransomware attack and have been concerned about your own systems’ potential vulnerability, the good news is that a British malware specialist’s quick thinking and good luck seems to have bought you some time. For those who don’t know, #WannaCry is a particularly malignant bit of malware currently being spread through some highly sophisticated phishing emails. When these are read and acted upon, they trigger the download of an application that proceeds to encrypt a computer’s contents and demand a 300 Euro ($329) ransom, payable in Bitcoin, for the favor of decryption. Here’s what’s made #WannaCry really worth crying about. Firstly, ...

Red Level2023-02-16T16:01:45+00:00

Massive Cyber Attack Moving Quick

As reported by USA Today, as many as 74 countries have been hit by a massive cyber attack. The attack has left hospitals, telecoms, universities and others locked out of their files. The attack is a variation of ransomware that is requiring money/bitcoin to retrieve their files. It hasn't hit Michigan or Detroit yet, but it might not be long before it does. This isn't the first of its kind and certainly won't be the last. But there are things you can do to help prevent becoming a victim of ransomware: Don't open emails from people or companies that you don't know. Don't click on any links or open any attachments with suspicious names. Do use the latest anti-virus and malware software available. Do update your systems with the latest software and patches. Check out our upcoming webinar on mobile security to see how we can help you keep your data ...

Red Level2023-02-16T16:01:45+00:00