Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)
Antivirus & Anti-Spyware
Antivirus Software protects users from many different threats. Anti-Spyware Software aims to detect and dispose of spyware programs.
Antivirus Software
Antivirus Software protects users from many different threats. These include viruses, browser helper objects (BHOs) or browser hijackers, rootkits, Trojan Horses, worms, and ransomware. Antivirus software should automatically look for trouble in the background. Think of it like installing a security alarm at your house – it alerts you when intruders are in the system.
- For your personal computer, use products that offer the right level of protection.
- At work, refer to your helpdesk for information.
Anti-Spyware Software
Anti-Spyware Software aims to detect and dispose of spyware programs that users don’t intend to have on their systems. These spyware programs are installed on the computer without the user’s knowledge or consent and collect information about them. Spyware can cause damage by posing a security risk and reducing system performance.
Examples of companies that offer Antivirus/Anti-Spyware programs include:
- McAfee
- Kaspersky
- Bitdefender
- Norton
How to Protect Your Data
RUN UP-TO-DATE ANTIVIRUS SOFTWARE
Does your computer notify you when you need a software update? As cumbersome as they seem, updates protect against potential security breaches by addressing vulnerabilities.
Install the Updates
Are you on a Windows machine? Do you run Microsoft Security or a third-party software such as McAfee, Bitdefender, or other commercially available antivirus software? If your antivirus software isn't updated, then you are not protected from the most recent vulnerabilities.
When your computer tells you it’s time to update Windows or your cell phone says an update is available, update that device sooner rather than later. Hackers will find vulnerabilities in all software, and patches or updates are responses to these vulnerabilities.
To ensure your Antivirus/Anti-Spyware programs are working correctly, be sure to regularly update your settings and run scheduled scans to check for anything suspicious.
Exercise: For People Leaders And Managers
Reviewing cybersecurity during team meetings throughout the year is a valuable exercise and a 5-minute step toward keeping you, your employees, and the business safe. Consider discussing one of the following topics with your team at the beginning of each week or during monthly meetings. Support understanding with best practices learned from this course alongside providing supporting company policies, training, and documentation.
- Review the protocols of remoting into and using a VPN network.
- Invite IT to visit your team to discuss common misconceptions and the value of keeping the business operating system (laptop/Phone) connected securely to the network for push updates.
Routine Updates
Operating systems periodically release updates to address security issues and improve computer performance.
The three categories that these fall into are high priority, suggested, and drivers.
- High-priority updates are just as their name states: they are critical and should be non-negotiable. Examples of such updates include security patches and bug fixes.
- Suggested updates can help improve the performance of your computer but, typically, do not result in significant problems if not installed.
- Drivers updates provide improved or enhanced information to maintain the performance of installed applications on the operating system.
