How to Protect Your Endpoint Devices From Malicious Attacks
The cyberthreat that non-cyber security experts are most familiar with is likely malware. Because of its popularity, malware is a pervasive and constantly changing threat to computers, networks, and businesses all around the world. Experts found over 150,000 new malware variants in 2019. That number increased to 270,000 by 2020. Security teams must stay up to date on the most effective ways to thwart malware attacks because the threat posed by malware is growing yearly. (Endpoint security Malaysia)
This page will define malware, go over the many varieties of malware, offer you examples of recent malware attacks, and provide you with a current list of malware prevention advice.
What Is Malware?
Malware is harmful software that online criminals employ to disable, harm, or take advantage of a network or endpoint. It can be used to extort money, take control of a system, encrypt data, steal or destroy data, spam users, spy on people, and more. Malware can enter computers or networks through a number of different channels, such as corrupted email attachments, ads, software, and websites.
Let’s examine the many sorts of malware before moving on to measures to prevent it.
What Kinds of Malware Exist?
The key malware categories that all cybersecurity experts should be familiar with are covered in the list below.
Viruses:
Viruses are a common type of malware that operate very similarly to their biological namesake. They have the ability to spread throughout the system, infect an endpoint, and alter how it functions. In a network, they can also grow and spread from system to system.
Worms:
Worms spread via network endpoints by infecting, growing, and behaving much like viruses. They can spread without being tied to a programme or activated by a user, unlike viruses, which makes them particularly harmful.
Ransomware:
This widespread malware employs encryption to prevent authorized users from accessing their devices, systems, or data. If their demands are not satisfied, the attacker will not transfer control back to the legitimate users. Cybercriminals frequently threaten to release or destroy the data in order to increase pressure.
Spyware:
This is malicious software that can track user activities, including specific keystrokes, and steal data. Spyware can also eavesdrop on computer microphones and cameras. When login credentials are stolen, for instance, the information collected through spyware may be useful or may even aid in gaining access to the system.
Adware:
Adware can be quite frustrating even if it is less hazardous than the other infections on our list. Once adware has infected a computer, it compromises the user’s online activity data and uses it to coerce the user into viewing adverts.
Trojans:
Trojans pose as something a user desires, like a software update, to obtain access to a system, much like the legendary warfare strategy. Additional cyberattacks like ransomware or spyware may start as a result.
Rogueware:
Rogueware, like trojans, deceives people into allowing it to compromise their computers. The fake in this instance is a malware warning. The device becomes infected as soon as the user clicks on this alert.
The best way to stop malware attacks
To prevent malware from spreading within their company, Endpoint security Malaysia should implement security software, good password habits, multi-factor authentication, employee education, and micro segmentation technology. In addition, they want to mandate secure email and web browsing, update IT hardware and software, and uninstall unused programmes. A full-court press is needed to effectively prevent malware; numerous components must cooperate.
Let’s now examine each of these malware avoidance best practices individually.
Make use of security software
Security software is a crucial component of your virus protection, even though it is not the entire answer. Protect your network and each of its components from the initial infection of a malware attack by using antivirus, anti-malware, anti-ransomware, and other anti-exploit tools. To prevent your browsers, Endpoint security Malaysia, servers, and the entire network from being compromised, you should have the necessary tools.
Authenticate securely and use strong passwords:
Make sure you create passwords using best practices. In addition to using different letters, numbers, cases, and symbols, passwords should be longer than eight characters. Your password needs to be special and changed frequently. Additionally, they shouldn’t be written down anywhere that could be found. Because keeping track of all this information can be challenging, think about utilizing a password manager to manage your login information.
Use multi-factor authentication to add an additional layer of security because even the strongest passwords can be stolen, preventing privilege escalation during the earliest stages of malware penetration.
Educate your users:
Every user on your network, including those who aren’t directly involved in security, is essential in defending the company against cybercrime. Users can only fill those shoes if they are knowledgeable about cybersecurity. Your users should get familiar with typical cyberthreats, cybersecurity best practises, significant trends, warning indicators, and reporting procedures. You may efficiently increase the number of your security staff by organizing regular training sessions that cover these important themes.
Enforce secure email and browsing:
By ensuring consumers employ safe browsing habits and keep an eye out for odd-looking emails, you can mitigate much of the damage that malware poses. Make sure users carefully review any emails they receive, keeping an eye out for strange email addresses, odd text style or spelling, or strange demands, such as asking them to share sensitive information. Internet use should be scrutinized with the same care as other activities. They ought to avoid using free Wifi networks and staying on any website that doesn’t start with “HTTPS.”
Maintaining current software and searching for shadow IT
Install any new versions of the programmes, operating systems, browsers, etc. that you use as soon as possible. Updates frequently come with additional security features and fewer vulnerabilities, so not installing them leaves your network vulnerable to attack. In order to further limit the risk of compromise, make sure to remove any outdated technologies from use because older software frequently has various vulnerabilities. You should also search for shadow IT (technologies utilized outside of IT’s supervision).
Edge micro segmentation implementation
As we mentioned above in our analysis of current ransomware assaults, depending just on endpoint protection software to stop malware from spreading over networks is insufficient. By leveraging hardware, edge micro segmentation offers a physical layer of defense that can’t be overridden or compromised by an infected endpoint. Edge micro segmentation improves threat containment by physically isolating nodes from one another and segmenting a network into nodes, which stops malware from spreading later in a penetration.
Summary
Endpoint security Malaysia is essential for preventing malware attacks and protecting your network. By authenticating securely, using multi-factor authentication, educating your users, and enforcing secure email and browsing habits, you can help mitigate the risk of malware penetration. Additionally, by maintaining current software and searching for shadow IT, you can further limit the risk of attack.
Finally, edge micro segmentation offers a physical layer of defense that can help contain malware and prevent it from spreading over a network. If you think you may have malware on your device, please contact Spectrum Edge for help immediately. We will work to clean your device and protect your information from future attacks.
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