Please take the time to read this important message
Why are you seeing this message?
Several groups from across the City of Sunderland have recently been badly hit by a range of computer threats, some of these threats have had VERY SIGNIFICANT and damaging impact. On investigation some of those attacks may have been avoided if staff were aware of some useful information and we would like to offer you the following.
How does it happen?
Attacks to your network happens mostly in two ways
1. Downloading of files, programmes and attachments from email which contain the virus or other problem.
2. Individuals plugging in other devices, such as hard drives and memory sticks, into your computers.
Reducing the risk
What can humans do?
If staff receive an email from an unknown source they should give it serious thought.
• Is it asking for a password?
• Does it have ANY attachment and if so do you TRUST the sender?
• Is it from an unknown source
• Does it start ‘to whom it may concern’, ‘to the recipient’ or other non-personal comments?
• Is it offering something too good to be true, for example ‘click on this link to win a holiday’?
If anything looks or feels wrong it probably is. Staff should be advised to take a moment to consider the consequences to opening that email, downloading that attachment or clicking that link. In many cases it is human error which introduces the risk.
What can technology do?
A computer is just a machine; it can only be as good as its users and those who look after it.
• Are antivirus and other protection software installed up to date?
• Do you backup your important files to ensure you have a copy in case your hardware fails or is infected?
• Have you considered moving your work to the cloud, working online with tools such as Office 365 or Google Apps which will give you the ability to work from any location on any device?
What’s the worst that can happen?
There can be consequences to inaction!
• You permanently lose business critical information
• You may be legally liable for losing important customer data
• You may be unable to offer your service for an extended period of time
• You may incur considerable cost to resolve your problem
• Without learning why/how it happened and taking action it may happen again
Here are some useful links we have found covering the topic of security:
BBC news article about rise of ransom ware with a useful explanatory video:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-36459022
5 practical tips to avoid ransom ware in your email:
http://www.welivesecurity.com/2015/05/12/5-practical-tips-avoid-ransomware-email/
Sophos Security Made Simple: How to Protect Yourself against Ransomware (comprehensive document):
https://www.sophos.com/en-us/medialibrary/Gated%20Assets/white%20papers/sophosransomwareprotectionwpna.pdf?la=en
