As companies across all industries shift more of their assets into digital form, entrusting sensitive information to virtual defenses instead of steel locks, cybercriminals evolve and learn right alongside them. In response to more advanced cyber threats, cybersecurity software companies have shifted their products and strategy from a prevention-based model to a more aggressive one. In today's virtual world, it's no longer enough for companies to defend their networks with traditional antivirus software and secure passwords; they need cybersecurity systems that have the same protections as legacy software but add detection and response capabilities.
Enterprise businesses need to combine the available technology—and employee training—to create layers of protection and keep cyberattacks at bay. At the moment, the integration of next-generation antivirus (NGAV) and endpoint detection and response (EDR) software appears to be the most effective model.
The Next Generation of Cyberdefenses
The next generation of cyberdefenses depends on improving and evolving older technology and protection measures that no longer suffice. For example, cybersecurity experts recommend that businesses switch from traditional antivirus to NGAV software.
Unlike traditional software, NGAV systems, like next generation antivirus software from VMware Carbon Black, utilize artificial intelligence, machine learning, and behavioral and prediction analysis to protect against viruses and malware.
Traditional antivirus stands helpless against zero-day attacks and fileless malware, which now constitute the overwhelming majority of cyberattacks on businesses. That's because traditional antivirus intercepts attacks by comparing them to a list of previously known viruses and malware. NGAV, on the other hand, analyzes data coming in from vulnerable endpoints in real-time and finds trends in behavior that occur before an attack, allowing it to predict and prevent a zero-day attack before it happens. And thanks to advanced machine learning, the more attacks NGAV stops and the more accurate endpoint data it receives, the better it becomes at detection and prevention against new viruses.
Redefining Endpoint Protection
As businesses digitize more of their assets and use technology to increase productivity and efficiency, they require more and more devices for employees to get their work done. In many cases, employee desktops, laptops, tablets, and phones connect to both the company's internal network and the open internet. Each device is an additional access point to the network, also known as endpoints. And now, with an unprecedented number of remote workers using their own devices and networks, protecting these endpoints is even more challenging.
Fortunately, endpoint detection and response software provides a solution to this problem. It monitors data from all endpoints in real-time and notifies administrators if any activity appears unusual. In addition to monitoring and securing endpoints, EDR also employs advanced cyber threat hunting. Threat hunting is the process of continuously searching the network and database for dormant or fileless malware preparing to strike to collect data stealthily.
A Comprehensive Approach to Enterprise Cybersecurity
For comprehensive cybersecurity and the utmost peace of mind, business owners need to integrate both NGAV and EDR technology. On its own, NVAG does a great job at detecting malware, but it falls short when it comes to monitoring real-time data collection.
That's where EDR comes into play as a necessary foundation for the success of NGAV. EDR keeps a close eye on all endpoints and monitors the data entering and leaving them. The analyzed data then helps NGAV make better and more accurate predictions about incoming malware. Utilizing both EDR and NGAV will allow you to cover all necessary aspects of cybersecurity: protection, detection, and response.
Better Together
Cybercriminals work tirelessly to develop new attack techniques that target multiple weak points to hack into networks and databases. To keep up with these ever-evolving threats, businesses need cybersecurity systems that accommodate diverse malware and protect networks as a whole, not just individual devices. The pairing of NGAV and EDR meets these requirements. More importantly, the software becomes increasingly effective as it collects more data and uses artificial intelligence to analyze and hunt new threats.
Online Threat Alerts Security Tips
Pay the safest way
Credit cards are the safest way to pay for online purchases because you can dispute the charges if you never get the goods or services or if the offer was misrepresented. Federal law limits your liability to $50 if someone makes unauthorized charges to your account, and most credit card issuers will remove them completely if you report the problem promptly.
Guard your personal information
In any transaction you conduct, make sure to check with your state or local consumer protection agency and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to see if the seller, charity, company, or organization is credible. Be especially wary if the entity is unfamiliar to you. Always call the number found on a website’s contact information to make sure the number legitimately belongs to the entity you are dealing with.
Be careful of the information you share
Never give out your codes, passwords or personal information, unless you are sure of who you're dealing with
Know who you’re dealing with
Crooks pretending to be from companies you do business with may call or send an email, claiming they need to verify your personal information. Don’t provide your credit card or bank account number unless you are actually paying for something and know who you are sending payment to. Your social security number should not be necessary unless you are applying for credit. Be especially suspicious if someone claiming to be from a company with whom you have an account asks for information that the business already has.
Check your accounts
Regularly check your account transactions and report any suspicious or unauthorised transactions.
Don’t believe promises of easy money
If someone claims that you can earn money with little or no work, get a loan or credit card even if you have bad credit, or make money on an investment with little or no risk, it’s probably a scam. Oftentimes, offers that seem too good to be true, actually are too good to be true.
Do not open email from people you don’t know
If you are unsure whether an email you received is legitimate, try contacting the sender directly via other means. Do not click on any links in an email unless you are sure it is safe.
Think before you click
If an email or text message looks suspicious, don’t open any attachments or click on the links.
Verify urgent requests or unsolicited emails, messages or phone calls before you respond
If you receive a message or a phone call asking for immediate action and don't know the sender, it could be a phishing message.
Be careful with links and new website addresses
Malicious website addresses may appear almost identical to legitimate sites. Scammers often use a slight variation in spelling or logo to lure you. Malicious links can also come from friends whose email has unknowingly been compromised, so be careful.
Secure your personal information
Before providing any personal information, such as your date of birth, Social Security number, account numbers, and passwords, be sure the website is secure.
Stay informed on the latest cyber threats
Keep yourself up to date on current scams by visiting this website daily.
Use Strong Passwords
Strong passwords are critical to online security.
Keep your software up to date and maintain preventative software programs
Keep all of your software applications up to date on your computers and mobile devices. Install software that provides antivirus, firewall, and email filter services.
Update the operating systems on your electronic devices
Make sure your operating systems (OSs) and applications are up to date on all of your electronic devices. Older and unpatched versions of OSs and software are the target of many hacks. Read the CISA security tip on Understanding Patches and Software Updates for more information.
What if You Got Scammed?
Stop Contact With The Scammer
Hang up the phone. Do not reply to emails, messages, or letters that the scammer sends. Do not make any more payments to the scammer. Beware of additional scammers who may contact you claiming they can help you get your lost money back.
Secure Your Finances
- Report potentially compromised bank account, credit or debit card information to your financial institution(s) immediately. They may be able to cancel or reverse fraudulent transactions.
- Notify the three major credit bureaus. They can add a fraud alert to warn potential credit grantors that you may be a victim of identity theft. You may also want to consider placing a free security freeze on your credit report. Doing so prevents lenders and others from accessing your credit report entirely, which will prevent them from extending credit:
- Equifax
- Experian
- TransUnion
Check Your Computer
If your computer was accessed or otherwise affected by a scam, check to make sure that your anti-virus is up-to-date and running and that your system is free of malware and keylogging software. You may also need to seek the help of a computer repair company. Consider utilizing the Better Business Bureau’s website to find a reputable company.
Change Your Account Passwords
Update your bank, credit card, social media, and email account passwords to try to limit further unauthorized access. Make sure to choose strong passwords when changing account passwords.
Report The Scam
Reporting helps protect others. While agencies can’t always track down perpetrators of crimes against scammers, they can utilize the information gathered to record patterns of abuse which may lead to action being taken against a company or industry.
Report your issue to the following agencies based on the nature of the scam:
- Local Law Enforcement: Consumers are encouraged to report scams to their local police department or sheriff’s office, especially if you lost money or property or had your identity compromised.
- Federal Trade Commission: Contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357) or use the Online Complaint Assistant to report various types of fraud, including counterfeit checks, lottery or sweepstakes scams, and more.
- Identitytheft.gov: If someone is using your personal information, like your Social Security, credit card, or bank account number, to open new accounts, make purchases, or get a tax refund, report it at www.identitytheft.gov. This federal government site will also help you create your Identity Theft Report and a personal recovery plan based on your situation. Questions can be directed to 877-ID THEFT.
How To Recognize a Phishing Scam
Scammers use email or text messages to try to steal your passwords, account numbers, or Social Security numbers. If they get that information, they could get access to your email, bank, or other accounts. Or they could sell your information to other scammers. Scammers launch thousands of phishing attacks like these every day — and they’re often successful.
Scammers often update their tactics to keep up with the latest news or trends, but here are some common tactics used in phishing emails or text messages:
Phishing emails and text messages often tell a story to trick you into clicking on a link or opening an attachment. You might get an unexpected email or text message that looks like it’s from a company you know or trust, like a bank or a credit card or utility company. Or maybe it’s from an online payment website or app. The message could be from a scammer, who might
- say they’ve noticed some suspicious activity or log-in attempts — they haven’t
- claim there’s a problem with your account or your payment information — there isn’t
- say you need to confirm some personal or financial information — you don’t
- include an invoice you don’t recognize — it’s fake
- want you to click on a link to make a payment — but the link has malware
- say you’re eligible to register for a government refund — it’s a scam
- offer a coupon for free stuff — it’s not real
About Online Threat Alerts (OTA)
Online Threat Alerts or OTA is an anti-cybercrime community that started in 2012. OTA alerts the public to cyber crimes and other web threats.
By alerting the public, we have prevented a lot of online users from getting scammed or becoming victims of cybercrimes.
With the ever-increasing number of people going online, it important to have a community like OTA that continuously alerts or protects those same people from cyber-criminals, scammers and hackers, who are every day finding new ways of carrying out their malicious activities.
Online users can help by reporting suspicious or malicious messages or websites to OTA. And, if they want to determine if a message or website is a threat or scam, they can use OTA's search engine to search for the website or parts of the message for information.
Help maintain Online Threat Alerts (OTA).