RANSOMWARE and internet security were among the subjects discussed at Bizz3228\u2019s latest networking function, held at RACV Torquay Resort last week.<\/p>\n
Nick Clift and Jeni Clift from DWM Solutions \u2013 which has an office in Torquay \u2013 were the guest speakers at the event.<\/p>\n
Bizz3228 has first-hand experience with targeted online attacks, with their website hacked only a few weeks ago (but since fully restored).<\/p>\n
Mr and Mrs Clift spoke about their experiences in helping their clients deal with ransomware, which infects computers through malicious code and effectively holds a user\u2019s data for ransom, to be paid in cryptocurrency.<\/p>\n
The WannaCry ransomware attack affected as many as 400,000 computers around the world earlier this year.<\/p>\n
Mr Clift said the average ransom paid was between $500 and $1,200, with ransoms sometimes doubling each day until payment.<\/p>\n
\u201cAustralia\u2019s one of the highest-paying nations \u2013 I have no idea why we trust people so much, but we pay the most ransoms. About 30 per cent of ransoms get paid, and of those, only 50 per cent get their data back.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe medical industry seems to be the target at the moment; anything that holds client data that if you don\u2019t have access to it and you have a legal obligation, you\u2019ve got a problem.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mrs Clift said the number one rule was \u201cthink before you click\u201d, and it was essential to educate staff about how to spot a malicious email.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s always one person in the business who will click on anything,\u201d Mr Clift added.<\/p>\n
Other important steps a business can take to protect itself include setting up email gateway filtering software, installing up-to-date anti-virus and anti-malware software, and having an offsite backup to enable data to be restored in the event of an attack.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf I have a client come to me who says \u2018I\u2019ve been crypto\u2019d\u201d, I just say \u201cwrite off your data, you aren\u2019t getting it back,\u201d Mr Clift said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
RANSOMWARE and internet security were among the subjects discussed at Bizz3228\u2019s latest networking function, held at RACV Torquay Resort last week. Nick Clift and Jeni Clift from DWM Solutions \u2013 which has an office in Torquay \u2013 were the guest speakers at the event. Bizz3228 has first-hand experience with targeted online attacks, with their website […]<\/p>\n