My epic canvas by Tylah Barron https://padlet.com/barront/cddgy4p0vso2 Made with a stroke of good luck en-us 2017-12-07 16:55:01 UTC 2017-12-07 17:20:16 UTC hello@padlet.com File Infector Virus barront https://padlet.com/barront/cddgy4p0vso2/wish/214216096 This type of virus is the most common. The bug settles within a specific file on your computer and begins to do damage. It can overwrite the file where it is located, replace parts of the file (making it harder to detect), or it may be executed in place of the intended program or file]]> 2017-12-07 17:00:55 UTC https://padlet.com/barront/cddgy4p0vso2/wish/214216096 PoS Dexter barront https://padlet.com/barront/cddgy4p0vso2/wish/214217009 can be very devastating for any business using point-of-sale systems (POS).  It is customized malware that has infected hundreds of systems in 40 countries around the world. Its purpose: to steal data from bank cards used for payment.]]> 2017-12-07 17:02:03 UTC https://padlet.com/barront/cddgy4p0vso2/wish/214217009 Devices on network barront https://padlet.com/barront/cddgy4p0vso2/wish/214217307 Some malware-infected smartphones are designed to spread exclusively through Bluetooth networks. The bug automatically searches for other devices connected through Bluetooth and attempt to infect them. A worm known as Hamweq.A took a different approach. Designed to spread when a phone was connected to a computer through a USB port, as soon as an infected phone was plugged in to either charge or transfer files, the virus would attack the computer.]]> 2017-12-07 17:02:36 UTC https://padlet.com/barront/cddgy4p0vso2/wish/214217307 Disgruntled Employees barront https://padlet.com/barront/cddgy4p0vso2/wish/214219236
“Internal attacks are one of the biggest threats facing your data and systems,” states Cortney Thompson, CTO of Green House Data. “Rogue employees, especially members of the IT team with knowledge of and access to networks, data centers and admin accounts, can cause serious damage,” he says. Indeed, “there [were] rumors that the Sony hack was not [carried out by] North Korea but [was actually] an inside job.]]> 2017-12-07 17:06:02 UTC https://padlet.com/barront/cddgy4p0vso2/wish/214219236 Unpatched or Unpatchable Devices barront https://padlet.com/barront/cddgy4p0vso2/wish/214220998 hese are network devices, such as routers, [servers] and printers that employ software or firmware in their operation, yet either a patch for a vulnerability in them was not yet created or sent, or their hardware was not designed to enable them to be updated following the discovery of vulnerabilities,” says Shlomi Boutnaru, cofounder & CTO, CyActive. “This leaves an exploitable device in your network, waiting for attackers to use it to gain access to your data.]]> 2017-12-07 17:09:12 UTC https://padlet.com/barront/cddgy4p0vso2/wish/214220998 protect yourself barront https://padlet.com/barront/cddgy4p0vso2/wish/214221715 Shred your documents. Don’t toss bank statements and credit card receipts in the trash. Dispose of them using a cross-cut shredder or shredding service.

2. Strengthen your passwords. Use random combinations of letters, numbers and special characters. Create different passwords for each account and change them frequently.

3. Check your credit reports. You’re entitled to one free credit report every year from each of the three major credit reporting bureaus. Request one report every four months and review it for suspicious or incorrect information.

4. Guard your Social Security number. Avoid sharing it when it’s not absolutely necessary, and don’t keep it, or your Social Security card, in your wallet.

5. Be smart about social media. Consider leaving personal details, such as your birthday or address, off your profiles. Strengthen your privacy settings and be cautious about whom you accept as a connection.

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The mom whose laptop was locked down by a ransomware attack

Two days before Thanksgiving, Alina’s mother got hit by a ransomware attack. 5,726 files got locked by CryptoWall, an encryption malware so powerful it is technologically impossible to break open.

Alina’s mom contacted the attacker through the ransomware’s communication feature and told her she can either pay to get her files back or lose them forever. Despite backing up her files 6 months ago, she decided that losing half a year’s worth of photos, documents and other files was too much, and so decided to pay the ransom.

The price to unlock her files was 500$ in the first week and 1000$ in the second one, after which the files would be deleted. Payment was to be done in Bitcoin, an obscure and unfamiliar process which she had to learn on the fly.

Because of a major snowstorm that closed down the banks, Alina’s mom couldn’t pay the ransom in the first week, and ended up having to plead with her attacker to not increase the price to 1,000$. Surprisingly, he accepted and gave her the key to unlock her files.

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