Despite lower employment and economic uncertainties due to Covid-19 some enterprises are booming… Cyber Crime… Many previously dormant bots and other malware are coming back to life. One of these threats Emotet, which had been dormant for awhile, started back up October 14.
Emotet is a sneaky Trojan Virus that is activated from attachments claiming to be word docs. When the attachments are opened it tells you that Microsoft Updates are needed for Word. When the shown link is clicked on, the embedded javascript installs a loader software that then brings in other malicious programs, which includes the possibility of ransomware.
Ransomware has been one of the most costly and disruptive malware employed recently by cyber criminals. Ransomware encrypts and locks files stored on your computer or servers with a nearly unbreakable encryption. The decryption key is held by the criminal who extorts a ransom from the victim for the return of the files. Payments can range from hundreds to as much as over half a million dollars that was paid out by the City of Rivera Beach in Florida. The actual malware used was a different software but the mechanism is very similar.
These types of sneaky, malicious viruses can be prevented with the right combination of protective softwares, policies, and best practices.
Call us today to schedule your assessment and find out how to protect yourself and your business.
I have attached some additional info from our partner Kaspersky for further reading.