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Just in 2018, security budgets across industries have increased significantly and at a faster rate than any other investment category. Thus, it’s safe to say that there has never been a greater time to prioritize protecting your networks and devices from cyber attacks, particularly malware. No matter how big or small your company is, there must be surrounding concerns about this threat.

Unfortunately, some small businesses may be unaware of the gravity of the situation. While others may actually use malware protection software, many business owners are unsure of what to do if it detects a problem.

Whether your small business has a malware detection and removal plan in place or is still learning about it, the following information is critical.

 

Understanding Malware

Malware is a broad term that refers to a wide range of software that is intended to cause harm to the recipient, who could be a specific person or a random person who clicked on a malicious link.

Malware is typically developed by hackers with the goal of profiting or disrupting networks and users. It is capable of stealing data, shutting down systems, and causing a variety of minor to severe annoyances. The “infections” display a wide range of behaviours and include the usage of viruses, trojans, worms, ransomware, adware, and botnets.

 

Malware Targets Small and Medium-Sized Businesses (SMBs)

According to Small Business Trends, 43% of cyber attacks target small businesses. It was also discovered that an alarming number of small businesses are ill-prepared to defend themselves, with only 14% of small businesses believing their defences are effective.

 

Businesses Can Suffer Bankruptcy from Cyberattacks

Unfortunately, small businesses frequently lack the resources required to defend themselves against malicious malware and other cyberattacks. Small Business Trends reports that 60% of small businesses fail within six months of a cyber attack.

 

Prevention is Key

Preventing malware attacks on your network and devices should always be a top priority. To aid in the prevention of malware attacks, ensure that your network is protected by strong antivirus and firewall software. Malware detection, quarantine, and removal software of the highest quality will be capable of detecting, quarantining, and removing malware.

You must also keep up with all system and software updates–among the numerous updates are security and bug fixes.

You should also train and inform your employees on how to detect and report suspicious activity. Be vigilant and never use unidentified programs or interact with anything that does not appear to be from a trustworthy source.

What to Do If Malware Is Discovered

 

  • Step 1: Turn off the internet.

When malware is discovered, block access to the internet immediately. This prevents data from your network devices from leaving the network. It can also be used to keep malware from spreading from one device to another. If your antivirus software does not include a malware removal tool, disconnect from the internet after downloading one.

 

  • Step 2: Safe mode should be activated.

Put the computer in safe mode. Only programs that are absolutely necessary for the operation of your computer are permitted to run in Safe Mode.

 

  • Step 3: Make sure you’ve logged out of all accounts.

Log out of any additional accounts until the malware or virus has been completely removed.

 

  • Step 4: Suspicious activity should be looked into.

You should also be aware of the applications that are running on your computer. This can help you detect malicious software or applications. You should close any suspicious applications you find.

 

  • Step 5: Identify and remove malware.

You can run a malware scan from here or use your device’s antivirus program to check for malware. Once the malware has been detected by your preferred scanner, you can remove it from your system.

Scanning should be continued until the program gives you the green light. After that, some experts advise running a scan with a different program.

 

 

When in doubt, erring on the side of caution could save you from bad outcomes. If your antivirus software is unable to resolve the malware problem effectively or permanently, it is time to call in the experts. Larger operations should always do this, as the difficulty in mitigating malware threats increases through time.

 

If you’re interested in learning more about digital risk protection, FraudWatch is at your defence with experience of almost two decades. We’re a team of experts who specialize in digital brand protection against phishing, malware, and impersonation. Get in touch with us today!