The media are making a very big deal about a cyber attack that is allegedly going to hit within the next two weeks. We thought it was important to clarify this story and what is really going on.
The attack they are referring to is malicious software that can capture bank details, re-direct money transfers, and steal personal data from your computer. It has actually been around for quite some time now but recently the National Crime Agency (NCA) took control of the systems behind it. What the media are talking about is that the criminals involved won't take long to setup systems elsewhere and continue to exploit vulnerable computers. It is nothing new, and our advice which follows should be standard all of the time:
1. If you receive any alerts suggesting there are outstanding updates, your antivirus needs something, or there's a problem with a backup - please don't ignore these.
2. Be wary of email attachments, this is the biggest way of falling foul of malicious software. If you receive a suspicious attachment or an email containing a link from someone you do not know, do not just open the attachment or click the link. Even if an attachment or link from someone you know looks suspicious, please check before assuming it is safe. The Inland Revenue will never send you a tax refund in an email, delivery companies and Companies House don't email you files at random, and airline companies won't send you tickets you haven't ordered - be wise to these scams, most things that are free or too good to be true generally are and more often than not they contain malicious software.
3. Never store passwords, bank details or debit/credit card details on your computer - this is the information they're after and you have a responsibility to keep this data secure.
Please pass this blog post onto your colleagues and anyone else who would benefit from this advice. If you want more information on our solutions for IT support, antivirus or backups then do not hesitate to contact me on 01226 736673, by emailing dawn@cultrix.co.uk, or use our contact form.
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