In today’s world, cybersecurity must be a priority for every company. Although some businesses rely on digital connections more than others, most utilize email and cloud-based software for their daily operations. Protecting the content transmitted through them is paramount for increasing overall productivity and stability, but, unfortunately, computer viruses remain a significant threat. To protect your company computers or network from accidentally contracting one, take note of the following.
Common Viruses
A type of malware, viruses are essentially a computer code that can replicate itself when it’s accessed or executed. As it multiplies, it spreads to other parts of your computer or network.
One virus type is the direct action virus. As the name suggests, this virus becomes active once someone directly interacts with it. It is usually attached to executable files, such as those with a .exe or .com extension. If an infected .exe file is installed, the virus can spread and make other files inaccessible.
There’s also resident malware, which is one of the most malicious types of viruses. A resident virus latches onto a computer’s memory. Some are slow infectors, while others are fast infectors, making them challenging and dangerous to handle. They should be removed ASAP as they can infect antivirus programs and spread to any files that are scanned.
Polymorphic viruses are also difficult to detect because they have a unique way of changing their code whenever infected files are executable. Since they have this ability, typical antivirus software may not detect anything out of the ordinary when downloading files.
Cybersecurity Prevention Tips
Perhaps the most thorough way to protect your company computers is by installing antivirus and anti-malware software. These programs are designed to run continuously throughout the day to catch and remove any potential threat. Make sure to use the most recent edition too since hackers are developing viruses all the time, and if you have an older version, it won’t be updated and equipped with the means to stop newly developed malware.
However, software isn’t the only effective method of protection. Training your employees to spot suspicious emails or links is also critical. If there’s an email attachment that wasn’t discussed or an awkwardly worded and designed ad on a website, there’s a high chance it could be malicious. If possible, invest in a professional training seminar on cybersecurity too so that all of your employees have a clear understanding of what to do.
Viruses should be the concern of every business entity. Contact C2XCEL to understand how your team can become better informed on ways to avoid cybersecurity breaches. Based in Texas’ Dallas-Fort Worth area, we serve small- to medium-sized companies worldwide. When it comes to cybersecurity, our experienced team offers in-depth security assessments and penetration testing to determine the best solution. You can learn more about these measures online, but if you have questions, call us at (844) 422-9235.