1. Antiviruses and Anti-malware

Cyberattacks have risen to become among the
most pressing concerns today. Given the potential damage that these
attacks may cause, ordinary users and large enterprises and
organizations alike should be worried. Practically everyone who
uses computers or connect to the internet must take precautions not
to fall victim to such attacks.

Many of these attacks are caused by malware –
malicious software that performs various processes that compromise
security. In 2018, there were 10.52 billion malware attacks^[1] recorded. As such, it’s
important to know the ways how these malware-based cyberattacks can
be prevented through various security measures including using
malware detection and removal
platforms^[2].

Among the most concerning malware, today are
ransomware, trojans, and information stealers. This malware can
cause data loss, downtime, and even business closure. Ransomware
outbreaks, for example, have crippled business and government
operations all over the world.

Source: Tero Vesalainen/iStock^[3]

Trojans and information stealers are often used
by advanced persistent threats^[4] – hackers who stealthily
infiltrate the infrastructures of large corporations – to
continuously siphon data from the network. Through malware, these
malicious actors have successfully stolen customer and financial
data in massive security breaches, the victims of which are now
exposed to fraud and identity theft.

With the rise of malware attacks and the
negative effects they can cause, it’s critical for users to
implement measures that can protect them from malware. Here are
seven ways users can thwart malware-based cyberattacks.

1. Antiviruses and Anti-malware

Antiviruses are widely-available software that
can protect against most malware. They can be used to perform
routine malware scans. Most personal and home users can benefit
from features such as real-time scanning and removal.

These functionalities can readily stop common
and widespread malware from infecting their devices as long as
these tools are kept updated. Some antiviruses, however, are not
enough to counter sophisticated malware so it’s also important to
choose solutions from reputable providers.

2. Firewalls

Firewalls can regulate traffic that’s being
sent out or received on devices, servers, or web applications. They
can block malicious traffic that tries to access these devices,
preventing hackers from successfully implanting malware into the
devices.

Source: Traitov/iStock^[5]

If a computer is infected with malware,
firewalls can also block the outgoing traffic that this malware
tries to use, stopping Trojans and information stealers from
transmitting stolen data back to hackers.

3. Sandboxing

Sandboxing is used to protect computers and
networks from more advanced threats that typically evade antivirus
software. Hackers have become quite clever at disguising malware.
They can even embed malware into legitimate files.

In order to screen for such threats,
organizational users can use sandboxes – dedicated workstations
that are used to scan and test files, email attachments, and
storage devices if they contain malware. Malware can be freely made
to cause damage to the sandbox. But since sandboxes are isolated
devices, malware can be identified while being prevented from
coming into contact with the rest of the network.

4. Content Disarm and
Reconstruction

Content disarm and reconstruction (CDR) is an
advanced malware protection method that is currently used mainly by
enterprises. CDR essentially sanitizes the files by removing just
the malicious code and keeping the document usable.

Source: gorodenkoff/iStock^[6]

This mechanism makes it more versatile and
capable compared to antiviruses and sandboxing as it can recover
potentially important information from the infected files.
Odix which specializes in File-based attack
protections and CDR was recently awarded a grant of 2 million euros from the
EC^[7] to further develop their
technology to SME’s.

5. Email Scanning and Spam
Filtering

Emails have also been used by hackers to
execute cyberattacks. They try to trick users into downloading
malware disguised as attachments or clicking on malicious web
links. A way to prevent this is to use email services that have
built-in antiviruses that automatically scan attachments. Email
services can also feature advanced spam filtering that could also
screen out mass-sent emails that contain these malicious
attachments and links.

6. Phishing Training

Another way malware can get into systems is
through social engineering attacks like phishing. Malware can be
spread through phishing emails or instant messages which are
designed to fool users into downloading and running
malware.

Users can help avoid falling for such ruse by
learning to spot and discard phony emails and messages.
Organizations can also implement anti-phishing tools that can train
users on how to react to suspicious emails and phishing
attempts.

7. Browsing and Download
Protection

Plugins and web extensions can also be
installed as an added protection. Safe browsing plugins can help
users avoid malicious web links by marking which links are safe to
click.

Source: bymuratdeniz/iStock^[8]

Likewise, download protection web extensions
can determine if the files downloaded from the internet are free
from malware and are safe to execute. These safety measures can
help users avoid getting malware into their devices.

Conclusion

As malware-based attacks continue to grow,
everyone should do their part in equipping themselves with the
right tools to keep their data secure. Cybersecurity should be a
priority and it is high time that everyone looks for capable
security solutions that will protect their data and mitigate any
possible damage that malware-based attacks can cause.