Trick or Trap? 10 Tips to Avoid Halloween Viruses
Halloween is all about candy, costumes and fun, and Halloween viruses are the last things a managed service provider (MSP) should have to worry about today. Thankfully, there are many ways you can stop Halloween viruses. Here are 10 tips from Panda Security that MSPs can use to eliminate Halloween viruses.
![Halloween viruses are scary but there are many ways to avoid them How can you protect your customers from these viruses Halloween viruses are scary but there are many ways to avoid them How can you protect your customers from these viruses](https://eu-images.contentstack.com/v3/assets/blt10e444bce2d36aa8/blt4ae975ea19134f13/65247994cc0091ba3518d311/EmailVirus_0.jpg?width=700&auto=webp&quality=80&disable=upscale)
Halloween viruses are scary, but there are many ways to avoid them. How can you protect your customers from these viruses? Here are 10 tips from Panda Security that MSPs should share with customers to help prevent infection.
If you receive an email or a social media message from an unknown source, it’s always better to err on the side of caution — don’t open an email or a social media message unless you know the sender.
Like emails or social media messages from unknown sources, do not click on suspicious links from unknown senders. Otherwise, you could launch viruses, worms, Trojans or other malware that may put your sensitive data at risk.
What happens if you accidentally click on a link from a suspicious sender? Take a close look at the landing page before you proceed. If you don’t recognize the landing page, exit the browser immediately.
Did you receive an email attachment from an unknown sender? Take the safe route — don’t open the attachment, or else you could put your sensitive information at risk. Panda Security also recommends paying special attention to files that include Halloween-related names.
Think before you download, because any file that looks suspicious could cause serious damage.
Panda Security points out avoiding online purchases from websites that do not have a solid reputation usually is a good idea. Look for the security certificate that is represented by a small yellow lock at the bar of the browser or in the lower right corner to ensure a site is secure.
Looking to complete an online transaction at a local library or school computer lab? Using shared computers to perform transactions that require you to enter passwords or personal data can be dangerous, and if you’re not careful, you could put your sensitive information at risk.
Install antivirus software. And if you have already done so, ensure that this software is up to date.
What will your company do if it suffers a data breach? Every business needs an IT security strategy that is updated regularly to protect its sensitive data against cybercriminals.
Which viruses are affecting businesses across the globe? Find out by checking out MSPmentor for the most recent IT security news.
Which viruses are affecting businesses across the globe? Find out by checking out MSPmentor for the most recent IT security news.
Happy Halloween! Today is all about candy, costumes and fun, and there might even be a few tricks and surprises along the way too.
However, Halloween viruses aren't just a pretend scary thing, and managed service providers (MSPs) must warn their customers that these very real IT security threats can damage computers, networks and servers.
"Halloween is one of the most celebrated holidays, and cybercriminals always want to be part of it," Marta López of antivirus software company Panda Security wrote in a blog post. "Hackers take advantage of the most popular Hollywood titles to launch so-called BlackHat SEO attacks, i.e. false Google and other search engine results with keywords related to popular topics of the time, to trick users into clicking on their links."
López also pointed out that hackers frequently use spam to launch attacks.
"[Hackers] use typical Halloween characters to trick users and bring them to where they want," she said. "This way, in addition to obtaining personal data and revenue through clicks achieved, they redirect the user to other websites selling fraudulent or prohibited products."
Halloween viruses can be terrifying, but there are numerous ways to avoid these problems altogether.
What are the best ways to stop Halloween viruses? Here are 10 tips from Panda Security that MSPs can share with customers to minimize these IT security risks.
Also, I welcome your thoughts via Twitter @dkobialka or email at [email protected].
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