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How to rid your Android devices of malwareAs much as Google tries to keep their products safe and secure, they’re not immune to malware. If a malicious software infiltrates your Android operating system, it can compromise the sensitive information contained in your device. Here are a few tips on how to detect and remove malware from your Android device. Confirm the malware […]

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24 Aug, 2020 / by Complete Technology Resources / in 2020august24android_b, android, android security, anti-malware, factory reset, malware, prevention, removal, safe mode, signs of attack category
How to rid your Android devices of malware

As much as Google tries to keep their products safe and secure, they’re not immune to malware. If a malicious software infiltrates your Android operating system, it can compromise the sensitive information contained in your device. Here are a few tips on how to detect and remove malware from your Android device.

Confirm the malware infection

Android devices usually exhibit strange behavior when they’re infected with malware. Their speed may suddenly slow to a crawl or the battery may drain faster than expected. Other telltale signs include an abundance of pop-up ads, unusual apps installed on your home screen, unexplained data usage, and unauthorized in-app purchases.

However, it’s not always easy to tell if your device has been compromised since hackers are becoming more proficient at concealing their actions. The best way to check for malware is to run an antivirus scan using a mobile security solution.

How to get rid of malware

If your device is infected with malware, the most important thing to do is quarantine the threat as soon as possible. Start by rebooting your device in safe mode, which can be selected when you hold down the power button. Not all versions of Android are the same though, so if this isn’t an option, try restarting your device and holding the volume-down button when the manufacturer’s logo appears.

Once you’ve entered safe mode, go to Settings, then Apps, and uninstall any suspicious apps. Do a quick Google search or ask your cybersecurity technician to help you determine whether or not an app is dangerous.

If you can’t uninstall the software, it may have administrative privileges. To fix this, open the Advanced settings menu from the Settings app, then select Security, then Device administrators, remove any app that shouldn’t have privileged access, and return to the Apps menu to uninstall it. Mobile security software should also be able to remove hidden malicious programs in your device.

If the malware persists, you’ll have to do a factory reset. This option is usually located in the Backup & reset configurations within the Advanced settings menu. Keep in mind that you’ll lose the apps and files stored in your device, so it’s important to back up your data beforehand.

Protecting your device from malware

After you’ve successfully recovered from a mobile malware infection, make sure to update your device and security software to prevent another infection. Enabling Google Play Protect from within the app store also safeguards your device from rogue apps.

Ultimately, the best defense is to develop good security habits. Be cautious of everything you see online. Make sure to thoroughly vet apps before downloading them, and don’t click on links from unsolicited texts and emails. Also, avoid public Wi-Fi networks or, at the very least, use a virtual private network (VPN) to secure the connection.

Malware attacks can be devastating to your bottom line, but these tips should help mitigate the risks. If you want to learn more about how you can safeguard your Android devices, our experts are always willing to assist you. Contact us today.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

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Fileless malware: Are you at risk?Over the past few years, the security industry has witnessed a rapid evolution in attack techniques, including fileless malware. Now, cybercriminals use legitimate tools and services such as existing software, applications, and authorized protocols to carry out malicious activities like unauthorized data retrieval or data damage. Left unchecked, these types of malware can adversely affect […]

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20 Jul, 2020 / by Complete Technology Resources / in 2020july20security_b, cybersecurity, fileless malware, malware, Security category
Fileless malware: Are you at risk?

Over the past few years, the security industry has witnessed a rapid evolution in attack techniques, including fileless malware. Now, cybercriminals use legitimate tools and services such as existing software, applications, and authorized protocols to carry out malicious activities like unauthorized data retrieval or data damage. Left unchecked, these types of malware can adversely affect your business processes and the infrastructures that run them.

What is fileless malware?

Fileless malware is malicious software that doesn't rely on executable files to infect your infrastructure. Rather, it hides in your computer's random access memory (RAM) and uses trusted, legitimate processes such as Microsoft Office macros, PowerShell, and Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI).

Fileless malware isn’t as visible as traditional malware. They use a variety of techniques to stay persistent, and can adversely affect the integrity of a business’s processes and the infrastructures that run them. Because there are no files to trace, fileless malware escapes detection from most anti-malware programs, especially those that use the databases of precedent threats. Most automated sensors cannot recognize illicit scripts, and cybersecurity analysts who are trained to identify them usually have a hard time establishing where to look.

Fileless malware by the numbers

In November 2016, attacks using fileless malware saw a 13% uptick, according to a report by Trend Micro. Also, in the third quarter of 2016, attacks were 33% higher than in the first quarter. During the first quarter of 2017, more PowerShell-related attacks were reported on over 12,000 unique machines.

Kaspersky Lab uncovered over 140 infections across 40 different countries. Almost every instance of the fileless malware was found in financial institutions and worked toward obtaining login credentials. In the worst cases, infections had already gleaned enough information to allow cyberattackers to withdraw undisclosed sums of cash from ATMs.

In 2018, Trend Micro also detected a rising trend of fileless threats throughout the first half of the year.

Is your business at risk?

It is unlikely that your business has been targeted in the earliest stages of this strain of malware, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. Businesses should practice defense in depth, where multilayered safeguards are implemented to reduce exposure and mitigate damage. But apart from cultivating a security-aware workforce, what actionable countermeasures can organizations carry out?

While your business might not be in immediate danger, you should employ solutions that analyze behavioral trends. It is also wise to invest in a managed services provider that offers 24/7 network monitoring, proper patches, and software updates. Call us today to get started.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

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Myth busted: Macs are NOT immune to virusesIt is common knowledge that Windows computers tend to deal with an assortment of viruses and malware, but many people fail to realize that even Macs face similar threats. As virus creators have become more adept at finding back doors and other vulnerabilities, more and more Macs have also fallen prey to malware. Here are […]

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15 Jul, 2020 / by Complete Technology Resources / in 2020july15apple_b, adware, apple, apple computers, cybercrime, imac, mac, macbook, macos, malware, ransomware, viruses category
Myth busted: Macs are NOT immune to viruses

It is common knowledge that Windows computers tend to deal with an assortment of viruses and malware, but many people fail to realize that even Macs face similar threats. As virus creators have become more adept at finding back doors and other vulnerabilities, more and more Macs have also fallen prey to malware. Here are some threats to your Mac that you should be aware of.

What are the threats that can affect your Mac?

There are several general virus types that hit Apple products, and their effects can range from merely annoying to downright destructive.

  1. Adware – Adware are unwanted programs that bombard users with pop-up advertisements. Some malicious adware piggyback spyware onto their deployment protocols, which can record your typing habits with keyloggers and keyboard sniffers, as well as monitor your browsing behavior.

  2. Sniffers – Sniffers are usually designed to detect certain words on a webpage and in a person’s typing pattern in order to trigger the keylogger. For instance, when you type your password, sniffers can activate the keylogger to copy the information you type and steal your login details.

  3. Trojan horses – Trojan horses can infect both Macs and PCs, and they are often deployed through fake software installers or unsecured updates. They parade as legitimate software that actually contains a nasty surprise once installed. A notorious Trojan horse for Macs is the MacDownloader, which attempts to steal personal data stored in Apple Keychain.

  4. Macro viruses – Macro viruses attack computers by running an executory code that could take screenshots, format hard drives, corrupt files, deliver more malware, and access webcams and mics. They are triggered when a user opens an infected macros-enabled file, hence the name.

  5. Ransomware – Macs held off ransomware for a while, but nowadays, even they can be vulnerable to it. KeRanger was one of the first big ransomware outbreaks for Macs. After remotely encrypting the computer and hibernating for three days, KeRanger would issue a .txt file containing instructions for decryption in return for one bitcoin.

    Does your Mac have a virus?

    Now that you know what kinds of viruses and malware your macOS could be affected with, here are some ways to tell if your Mac is infected with one:

  6. Pop-up ads – If you're seeing more pop-ups on your computer than usual, your computer probably infected. An unusual amount of banner ads and pop-ups may mean that your computer is due for an update and/or a virus scan.

  7. Slowness – Mac users fear one thing above all: the spinning wheel of death. This little rainbow-colored spinning cursor wheel indicates that the computer is having trouble processing at usual speeds. This slowness can often be caused by overwhelming requests from simultaneous processes — likely of dubious origin — running in the background.

  8. Browser issues – Viruses sometimes do weird things to Safari or Firefox such as change its homepage or redirect a preset landing page to a site you’ve never seen before. If your browser starts behaving oddly, crashes regularly, or is often unresponsive, your Mac might have a virus.

Computer security is a matter of importance no matter what operating system you use. Reach out to our experts for an assessment of your network today.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

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Researchers uncover new strain of Android malwareThe Android operating system (OS) relies on an open-source code that allows users and manufacturers to modify their phones’ or tablets’ OSs. The problem is, Android’s open-sourced nature also makes it susceptible to cyberthreats. Recently, security experts found DEFENSOR ID — a new type of Android malware exploiting the system's Accessibility Services. What is DEFENSOR […]

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10 Jun, 2020 / by Complete Technology Resources / in 2020june10security_b, accessibility services, android, cybersecurity, data, defensor id, google play store, malware, mobile, remote access, Security category
Researchers uncover new strain of Android malware

The Android operating system (OS) relies on an open-source code that allows users and manufacturers to modify their phones’ or tablets’ OSs. The problem is, Android’s open-sourced nature also makes it susceptible to cyberthreats. Recently, security experts found DEFENSOR ID — a new type of Android malware exploiting the system's Accessibility Services.

What is DEFENSOR ID?

DEFENSOR ID is a banking Trojan that minimizes its malicious capabilities to sneak past security checks and infiltrate the Google Play Store. The malware’s primary function is to request access to an Android device’s Accessibility Service, which would allow hackers to execute a variety of commands.

For starters, if unwitting users grant access to DEFENSOR ID, the malware can observe any launched apps and send sensitive information back to hackers. This means hackers can steal anything from passwords and private emails to banking information and one-time SMS activation codes for two-step verification processes.

DEFENSOR ID also allows hackers to remotely uninstall apps, launch programs, and perform gestures (e.g., tap, swipe, click) within the launched program. In theory, this feature can enable hackers to empty a victim’s bank account with minimal effort.

What’s more, the Trojan extends the lock screen timeout to 10 minutes so that cybercriminals have enough time to perform their malicious operations.

Beware of apps leveraging Accessibility Services

According to researchers, DEFENSOR ID targeted Brazilian users and was downloaded over a dozen times. But despite its small success rate, it’s possible that more malware will leverage these techniques to steal sensitive information and control user devices. In fact, earlier in 2020, McAfee researchers discovered Android/LeifAccess malware that exploited Accessibility Services to leave fake reviews on the Google Play Store.

Plus, a common Android issue is that many independent software developers can upload their apps to the Google Play Store and easily circumvent security checks. So, if users aren’t thoroughly vetting the apps they download onto their devices, attacks similar to DEFENSOR ID will become more widespread.

Malware that can abuse Accessibility Services may even give rise to more deceptive online scams or massive-scale data breaches that can shut down businesses.

How to defend against DEFENSOR ID

Developing a healthy skepticism of apps in the Google Play Store is the best way to prevent malware attacks like DEFENSOR ID. This involves training your staff to get in the habit of evaluating an app before downloading it. More specifically, they should be verifying whether user reviews seem authentic, checking the total ratings and downloads, and consulting with security experts whether an app is safe.

Businesses should also use endpoint security software to control what apps users can install on their company-registered devices. By limiting downloads to a few, fully verified apps, you can minimize your company’s exposure to mobile malware.

If you want to keep your business safe from malware and other cyberthreats, it’s in your best interest to call cybersecurity experts like us. Not only do we provide top-notch security solutions, but we also offer proactive maintenance services to protect your IT at all times.

Published with permission from TechAdvisory.org. Source.

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