Protection from Ransomware like Wanna Cry

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There have been many news headlines in the last week about the latest ransomware called WannaCrypt, aka “WannaCry.”  This new malware drew a lot of attention with how quickly it spread using a newly discovered software bug.

So, you probably wonder, how did this malware infect and spread through so many computers to cause these headlines?  If a user opened a phishing e-mail with an infected attachment the malware would encrypt files and make them unusable until a ransom was paid.  Then the malware would also spread the same infection through any computers it could reach over the local network or Internet that weren’t patched.

This malware used a vulnerability found by the NSA in Windows 7, 8, 10, server editions and even Win XP.  However, details of the vulnerability were leaked and used to create this malware.  Microsoft was informed of the bug and released updates in March before this malware was spread, but many computers were not updated and were still vulnerable last week when this malware was spreading rapidly.  If the bug didn’t have a patch available this situation could have been much worse.

The big question to ask yourself is how do you keep the next ransomware outbreak from affecting you or your company?  Protection can include backups, antivirus, intrusion prevention, updates, firewalling and several others.  You want to make sure you have the right combination of tools for your situation, including checks that ensure that protection is active and up-to-date.  If backups stop working or antivirus updates stop downloading you need to know before there is a problem.

At OACYS Technology, we can help you make sure your systems are protected and monitored.  We have a team of technicians experienced in the tools necessary to give you confidence in your IT security setup, so you can focus on your main business.  Whether you’re interested in a Managed IT service where OACYS provides the full solution and monitoring, or in other IT Consulting from our team to get you started, we are here to help.  Give us a call at 559-781-4123 to get your office protected.