Talk of common causes of cyberattacks and hacking, and most security experts will talk of malware. Malware is the short for malicious software. Hackers are basically trying to get access into a system, for which they rely on malware. Enterprises need to figure out the basics about malware attacks and must train employees on the same, because frontline employees and privileged users are often the weakest links. If you want to know more on trojan horse prevention and malware attack, below is a guide that may come in handy.
The common malware attack methods
There are two basic ways in which hackers use malware –
- The first one is called network scanning. In this case, the system basically scans a network to find systems, websites and apps that are vulnerable. The success of the hacker depends on how successfully they can exploit that vulnerability with malware.
- The more common method is called phishing. In this case, users are tricked into installing a malware into their system, often without knowledge. This could be a popup or even an unassuming link on an email. Once necessary credentials are shared, hackers may cause many problems, including crypto-currency mining
How to prevent malware attacks?
- Use firewalls. Firewalls work as a barrier between your systems and untrusted networks. All devices and systems should rely on a powerful firewall. There are all kinds of firewalls, and the choice should be dependent on your network vulnerabilities.
- Use network segmentation. Instead of relying on one network, network segmentation divides the entire network into modules with dedicated servers, so that impact on one doesn’t affect others.
- Install new software and firmware updates. Ensure that all software and firmware on systems are checked, updated, and patched on a regular basis. Get rid of the software and apps that are not in use.
- Test your system for vulnerabilities. Once in a while, consider hiring ethical hackers and get them to test your systems and networks for malware vulnerabilities. This could be an expensive affair but work exploring.
- Use complex passwords. A complex password is one that has special characters, uses uppercase & lowercase letters, and is at least 12 characters long. Also, ensure that all default passwords are changed immediately.
Lastly, get your employees involved. Tell them about suspicious links, malware attacks in general, using complex passwords and a password management tool. Being proactive is the best way to stay away from malware.
