What is the best way to prevent malware from attacking a business?

October 18th · 9 min read

Guardio Research Team
Guardio Research Team

Malware is a type of intrusive software that is meant to disrupt and damage computer hardware and is a huge problem for businesses of all sizes. If you are not properly protected, your business could be at risk of a data breach, ransomware attack, viruses, worms, trojans, spyware, and adware. Luckily, there are many successful ways to protect your business.

With Guardio extension, you can prevent harmful problems caused by cyber attackers and find a solution to previous problems before they can cause the worst damage. This blog post will discuss the best ways to prevent malware from attacking your business, and we will also provide tips on responding if your business is already infected.

What happens if Malware attacks your business?

Last year, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said it received 847,376 cybercrime complaints with potential losses approaching $6.9 billion - a 64% increase from 2020. The expense of restoring an organization's systems and data while upgrading its security after a cyberattack is substantial, as well as the fines, penalties, or ransom involved.

Many cybercrimes are motivated by theft, frequently in the form of money or data. When your computer has been infected with Malware, this not only does slow down your system significantly but also opens up possibilities for data leaks and thefts of personal information. Furthermore, it allows cybercriminals to hack into your accounts and use them to launch attacks against others.

Sign up for a 14 days free trial

Guardio is a Chrome extension that monitors suspicious activity and blocks hackers from stealing your data.

Verified by Google Chrome.

Instant Results.

4.6/5 based on 3,127+ Trustpilot reviews

Data breach

A security incident in which information is accessed without permission is known as a data breach. Hackers look for personally identifiable information to either make money themselves, steal people's identities, or sell the information on illegal websites. Because they have such a large store of data, corporations and businesses are excellent targets.

There are several reasons a data breach can occur, but most targeted attacks fall into one of these categories:

  • Exploiting system vulnerabilities
  • Weak passwords
  • Drive-by downloads
  • Targeted malware attacks

Guardio can help you avoid identity theft by detecting previous leaks and alerting you in real-time so that you may act quickly. Guardio blocks malicious and harmful downloads during the initial security scan and sends you notifications if they encounter a malicious download.

Ransomware attacks

Ransomware is malware that encrypts the victim's data and important files and then demands payment to unlock them. Victims can fall into a ransomware attack by clicking a link, visiting a web page, or installing a file containing malicious code designed to install malware.

Cybercriminals are very good at making fake websites look real, but Guardio does a superior job of revealing the truth. Guardio's protection team creates in-house features to enhance phishing and other fraudulent website detection.

Computer viruses and trojans

A computer virus is a form of malware that attaches itself to another program. Viruses may destroy data, slow down system resources, and record keystrokes.

A Trojan can be a virus disguised as a computer program, its purpose is to sneak onto your computer and deliver malware. It might be downloaded from the net or opened as an attachment to an email.

Consumers can prevent most malware threats by avoiding clicking on suspicious links or opening attachments. Guardio detects phishing attacks and blocks these harmful sites warning you about the situation.

Sign up for a 14 days free trial

Guardio is a Chrome extension that monitors suspicious activity and blocks hackers from stealing your data.

Verified by Google Chrome.

Instant Results.

4.6/5 based on 3,127+ Trustpilot reviews

Worms

Worms differ from viruses because they can traverse networks of any connected system without human interaction. Worms deposit malware to consume system resources, such as memory and bandwidth. This can slow down a system to the point it stops responding. Antiviruses and firewalls can detect and remove worms.

Spyware

Spyware is malicious software that gathers information about you without your knowledge, including the sites you visit, the things you download, and your personal login information. Spyware secretly infiltrates your computer to carry out many illegal activities, such as identity theft or data breaches.

Hijacking happens when an unauthorised person changes your browser's settings or replaces your go-to search engine. With Guardio, any hijacking attempts will be sent to your chosen search engine instead.

How do I know if my computer has a Malware infection?

Malware may manifest itself in a variety of strange ways. Here are some of the most common indicators that your system has malware:

  • Your computer runs slow.
  • You get intrusive notifications and annoying ads. Guardio is effective in both identifying the source of notifications as well as getting rid of them.
  • Your system crashes.
  • You have mysterious loss of disk space.
  • Your system’s Internet activity weirdly increases.
  • Your browser settings change. This happens when you have been hijacked. Guardio deflects any attempts to hijack your search engine to your preferred search engine.
  • Your antivirus product stops working.
  • You cannot access your files or your entire computer.

The best ways to prevent Malware

Add an extra layer of protection to your browser

The best approach to avoid malware from infecting your computer is to use a browser add-on that adds another layer of protection. That’s where a browser protection tool like Guardio can help.

Guardio is a Chrome extension that protects your computer by detecting and stopping malware before it reaches it. It works similarly to an online bodyguard, allowing you to have a safe and uninterrupted online surfing experience.

Sign up for a 14 days free trial

Guardio is a Chrome extension that monitors suspicious activity and blocks hackers from stealing your data.

Verified by Google Chrome.

Instant Results.

4.6/5 based on 3,127+ Trustpilot reviews

Use a Firewall

A firewall is a network security mechanism that monitors and regulates traffic both in and out. It is used to guard your computer against unauthorized access as well as malware infection.

Most routers come with a built-in firewall, but you can also use a software firewall. We recommend using both a hardware and software firewall for maximum protection.

Keep Your Software Up-To-Date

One of the most important things you can do to protect your computer from malware is to keep your software up-to-date. This entails your operating system, web browser, plugins, and applications. When software developers release updates, it’s usually because they’ve found a security vulnerability that attackers could exploit. By keeping your software up-to-date, you’ll close these security holes and make it more difficult for malware to infect your computer.

Use a Strong Password

A strong password is one of the most effective tools you have against malware. To make a strong password, you should use at least eight characters. The password should include both uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. It should be something that would be difficult for someone else to guess.

You may use a password manager to generate strong passwords for you and store them in one place. This way, you won't have to keep track of them all on your own. We know being aware of changing your password can be easy to forget with all the other tasks you have during the day, but don't worry! Guardio reminds you when it's time to change your password.

Backup Your Data Regularly

One of the worst things that can happen if your computer gets infected with malware is losing all your important data. That’s why it’s important to back up your data regularly.

You can use an external hard drive, cloud storage service, or even a USB flash drive to back up your data. There are many methods to choose from, so be consistent with whichever one you pick.

Educate your employees on data security best practices

One of the best ways to prevent malware from infecting your business is to educate your employees on data security best practices. They should know how to identify phishing emails and what to do if they think their computer has been infected with malware.

Get an SSL certificate for your website

If you have a website, getting an SSL certificate is one of the best ways to protect your visitors from malware. SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer, and it’s a protocol that encrypts communication between a web server and a web browser.

When you have an SSL certificate, your website will be served over an encrypted connection, making it much more difficult for attackers to intercept traffic and inject malware. Visitors to your website will also see a green padlock in their browser when they connect to your site, which builds trust.

What can you do if your business is infected with Malware?

1. Turn off the internet:

If you want to protect your devices and data, cut off internet access as soon as malware is discovered. By doing this, you stop information from going out of your network devices and also keep the malware from infecting other machines. Most antivirus programs don't have a tool to get rid of malware, so once you've downloaded one, sever your connection to the internet.

2. Activate safe mode:

In Safe Mode, only those programs that are absolutely required for the proper functioning of your computer are allowed to run. This will allow running your antivirus program to scan and clean your system.

3.Log out from all your accounts:

Malware can often steal your login credentials, so it's important to log out of all your accounts as soon as possible. This includes email accounts, social media accounts, and other online services.

Change all your passwords after logging back in, and be sure to use strong passwords. For an extra layer of security, you can enable two-factor authentication.

4. Be aware of the applications running on your computer:

You may use this to see whether or not there's any malicious software or applications on your system. You should remove any suspicious programs as soon as possible.

5. Identify and remove malware:

To remove malware from your device, you can run a scan with Guardio or use your antivirus program. If either of these options detect malware, follow the instructions to delete it from your system.

6. Get professional help:

Last but not least important, get professional help. If you're not sure how to remove malware from your system, it's always best to ask for help from a professional. They can help you clean your system and get rid of the malware for good.

Bottom line

Preventing malware from infecting your business is essential to protecting your data and keeping your operations running smoothly. By following the tips above, you can make sure your business is as safe as possible from attacks. Guardio can also help by providing an extra layer of security and peace of mind. Remember that preventing a malware attack will save money, time, and concerns. With the rapid increase of cyberattacks is better to make sure you are taking adequate measures to protect your business. Take action now, and don't wait until it's too late. Malware can cause a lot of damage, so it's better to be safe than sorry. Remember that Guardio can help you protect your business from malware and other online threats.

Sign up for a 14 days free trial

Guardio is a Chrome extension that monitors suspicious activity and blocks hackers from stealing your data.

Verified by Google Chrome.

Instant Results.

4.6/5 based on 3,127+ Trustpilot reviews

Be the first to know!

Subscribe to our exclusive mailing list and get the freshest stories from the Guardio team

You may also like