WAMS Alert: Beware of New Virus

Sep 23, 2014|WAMS, Inc.|

We find it imperative to bring to your attention a recent rise of a particular virus/malware called CryptoWall, which is different than the damaging CryptoLocker virus from last year.

We have seen the this particular virus strand multiple times in just this past week, EVEN in cases where the firm had proper anti-virus and malware protection in place.

(PCWorld article about the virus can be read here: http://www.pcworld.com/article/2600543/cryptowall-held-over-halfamillion-computers-hostage-encrypted-5-billion-files.html) 

It is critical to be aware of these type of threats and keep in mind that even the best anti-virus software cannot guarantee 100% protection.

PLEASE review the following bullet points to ensure your network is taking all measures to safeguard against this threat.

  • Ensure Proper Server Level Backup. If your network does contract this type of virus/malware, the ONLY sure way to recover your data is from a valid backup of your entire server, not just the files. If you do not have a managed backup system by WAMS, please contact us immediately to review your current backup process and make sure you would be able to recover from a virus/malware attack. In some cases even your onsite backups can become infected, so be sure you have safe offsite copies of your backups.
  • Proper Antivirus / Malware Installed. Be sure your servers and desktops have anti-virus and anti-malware software installed and that it is up to date.
  • Employee Awareness. Ensure all computer users understand these threats exist. Be vigilant when receiving suspicious emails. In many cases,they are disguised as credit card notices or shipping confirmations asking you to download a file. Infected webpages or social media sites asking you to download a file, click on a link, or install updates can also be a source of the virus. If users notice anything out of the ordinary, ask them to not click any link and contact your IT help desk immediately.
  • Firewall / Spam Filtering. Make sure your firewall is up to date with its firmware and that your spam filtering is functioning.

These are very basic measures you should take to help prevent and/or recover from a virus/malware attack. We appreciate your cooperation and vigilance during this heightened period of virus attacks.

If you have any questions about the virus or about your ability to recover from such an attack, please reach out to us ASAP.

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WAMS, Inc.

The experts at WAMS, Inc. all have a background in the legal industry and understand the software and the demands that come along with it. That’s why all our clients receive a dedicated account manager and engineer with specific planning that works for your business needs. We didn’t break into the tech world to pinch pennies from clients. We go into every partnership to help their business scale gracefully. Your company growth is our company growth, always.