Help Protect Your Office From Malware and Ransomware Threats

KSB has recently discovered a new type of virus attack that is being deployed in such a way as to trick unsuspecting users into downloading and launching a .zip file containing malware or ransomware. This method is particularly dangerous as it masks the sending address to appear as though it is coming from an already approved (whitelisted) source. For example, when checking your email you might see either a new or “replied to” message from an existing parent’s address, open up the email, and then see a short sentence asking “Could you take a look at this?” which refers to the .zip attachment that contains the virus software. However, there are ways to guard against these types of emails. First, do not click any .zip file unless you are positive the email is legitimately being sent to you, and have checked the source inside the email itself to confirm that it matches the name on the original address (we also want to stress that staff should always double-check with the sender if they are uncertain about any type of file that has been sent to them). As they say, it is way better to be safe than sorry!!! Second, ensuring you have an up-to-date anti-virus software subscription can help prevent a downloaded file from infecting the entire office network. Finally, running regular backups for your database will help prevent catastrophic data loss in the event a ransomware file is accidentally opened. You can read more about protecting your practice from cyber threats here. If you have any questions regarding your email security or anti-virus protection, please contact Danny at KSB.