You’ve heard us talk a lot about hackers and how to protect your computer, BUT how do you know when you’ve fallen victim to a cyber attack and what should you do if it happens to you?
Remind me, what IS Ransomwear?
It’s basically when a hacker locks you out of your computer and you have to pay a ransom (usually in bitcoin) to regain access – not cool at all right?
Due to Covid-19 (booooo!), more and more companies are putting themselves at risk due to not having the right processes in place to work from home – in fact, it’s estimated there are more than a hundred calls to insurers every day relating to problems caused by ransomware…
So, how do I know if I’m under attack?
Ok, here’s the scary bit, it could have already happened. If a hacker gains access to your systems, they won’t strike straight away, they’ll bide their time and wait for the right moment. They’ll watch for your weaknesses, investigate your database and work out how best to maximise their profit… yep, we REALLY hate hackers.
Check for open RDP links (Remote Desktop Protocol) – it’s Microsoft technology that allows a local computer to connect to and control a remote PC over a network or the internet. RDP links left open to the internet are a very common route for cyber criminals to enter your network. Scan for open RDP ports regularly, and utilise multi-factor authentication for your links (multi-factor authentication is where you generate a code on a separate device to prove it’s really you). Or have them behind a VPN (Virtual Private Network), which gives you a private network from a public internet connection.
Keep an eye out for unexpected software – Often, cyber criminals will take control of just one PC first, perhaps using a phishing email to persuade someone to click on a bad link without realising it. Once they have control of one PC, they can then target the entire network.
Monitor your admin – What’s the best way for hackers to download the applications they need? They create a new administrator account for themselves. Then they can download whichever tools they need to compromise your network. You need to be aware of software such as Process Hacker, IOBit Uninstaller, GMER and PCHunter. These are all legitimate tools which could be used by any IT specialist.
Check out any disabled tools and software – You can tell that an attack is close to being launched if Active Directory and your domain controllers are disabled. Next, any backup data the criminals have found will be corrupted. And any systems that automatically deploy software will also be disabled, to stop your attempts to update your computers after an attack. Something called PowerShell will then be used to spread everything across your network.
Help, I’m under attack! What do I do?
Ok, don’t panic. Firstly, it’s important to regain control of your RDP sessions (remember, the remote access we mentioned earlier on). This will stop attackers coming in again. And will also cut off their control access. You can force a password change across your core systems, which will also throw your attackers out. However, it’s worth noting that this is pointless if your RDP access is not cut off and controlled, as the attackers will just re-enter.
Pick up the phone and get directly in touch with your IT support team (like us!). We’re the specialists who can stay calm in a crisis and get to work ensuring you win this battle vs the hackers.
We’ve got you covered.
If you’d like more info on the systems and tools we’ve mentioned in this blog, don’t hesitate to get in touch here and we can provide that for you, OR if you’re looking for an IT support team who work at expert level, then give us a call for that to..
To us, IT Support don’t end when we close a ticket. We continue to work right alongside you to ensure you have all the insights, the strategies and the tactics to ensure you’re achieving tangible results every single step of the way
Our IT Support Services:
We provide a full IT Support Service for businesses across the North West. From bespoke to c all-encompassing, we’ve got your sorted. We pride ourselves on being ‘that tech support with a personality’, on our super fast response times, our scalability, our innovation knowledge. We’re your IT provider with a difference, the ones you didn’t know you and needed our until you couldn’t live without us
Managed IT Services
We get it, IT can feel like an ongoing headache, that nagging feeling at the back of your mind, that one last point that never leaves your to-do list – until now. your The AGT way means we take the wheel, we manage everything from beginning right through until, well… ongoing! You can concentrate on everything else, confident in the knowledge that your IT is working perfectly in tune with your business.
Supercharged Managed IT Support
Doing IT better We’re the Tech Experts with a heart Here at AGT, we’re not your standard IT Support Company, oh no! We’re the superheroes of the tech world, the elite, the focused, the tech experts with a personality and a heart. We want nothing more than you and your company to achieve ultimate success, and we’re here to help.
You deserve better! When you and your tech partner work together, then your business is improved it’s as simple as that! We take the time to analyse every single aspect of your IT infrastructure and then we make it our mission to uncover any hidden away opportunities to grow the business. Analysis which makes a REAL difference.
You deserve to have an IT support company that’s in sync! Let’s hit fast forward and speed things up. With us, you have a dedicated team of tech wizards, who are pros in having everything up and running as fast as possible. Our cloud-based systems make the onboardIng process super easy and straightforward, in fact rather than wizards, we’re ninjas, you barely notice we’ve been in and out, just your new systems working at effortless speed.
Check out what our existing customers say about us here:
We’ve got it! We’ve got the key, we’ve got the secret!!! (High five if you sang that too)
Ok, we’ll level up with you here. As IT professionals, we’ve seen things, things that would horrify you, things that would bring you nightmares, things that you would never ever wish to encounter in your own business…
We’re talking security breaches, data theft and file corruption. It only takes one click by a team member on a bad link before your whole world comes crashing down around you – and that’s something NOBODY wants to deal with.
So, what’s this top secret behind keeping your data as secure as possible?
Other than ensuring you have a top notch IT service provider team on hand (oh, hi there!), we also recommend that every business should invest in cyber security training for their team annually.
Yep, everyone should take part in data secure training every year from entry level to CEO because a strong cyber security culture is one of the best ways to keep your business safe from the increasingly sophisticated threats out there. After all, the hackers don’t rest so neither should you.
Do you know the lingo?
The hackers are ALWAYS trying something new, but here’s a few key terms of what they can get up to given half a chance:
Crypto locking: When they access your data and then lock you out of the access
Spear fishing: Instead of phishing, which is aimed at anyone, this is targeted at specific individuals. Typically the attacker has spent time learning a lot of information about you (your name, role, company information, etc). And then uses this to their advantage.
Whaling: Also known as CEO fraud, this is when the hackers target the person at the top of the company, the one with the most sensitive data. Whaling attacks are often planned for a long period of time. And when they work, give huge financial gain to the cyber criminals.
Pharming: When you’re asked to take an action on what looks like a familiar website. Except if you look very carefully, the website address is slightly different to normal. It’s a scam site, and any information you enter will go to the criminals. There is a scarier version of pharming where the criminals manage to divert traffic going to the real website. These are really hard to detect. But often there are tiny little clues that give the fake sites away, if you know what to look for.
Spoofing: the term for when you receive an email pretending to be from someone you know – such as your accounts department. And it’s asking you to go to a link to reconfirm your details. This type of scam is often used to download malware or ransomware rather than to steal your credentials.
Smishing: Phishing with text messages (SMS)
Vishing: Phishing on the phone, or voice phishing. You receive a phone call from a blocked or unusual number. The caller will pretend to be from somewhere familiar and ask you to carry out actions, or make a payment.
Want to stay safe, secure and hacker-free? Yep, get in touch here and we’ll get onto this for you stat!
We know what you’re thinking; you’re thinking, where can I find everything I need to know about backing up Office 365… are we right? Thought so! Luckily, we had the same idea so we put everything down in one place for you right here…
As a platform, Office 365 is super secure BUT it’s crucial that you’re aware that your data is NOT backed up as it should be. There’s no trawling through your recycle bins here, with only a 30 day retention period, once it’s gone, it’s gone, zilch, nada, eliminated forever.
Well that’s not cool right?
It’s up to YOU, the user, to safeguard your data on office 365, particularly as Microsoft cannot be held accountable for protection and data retention – which can lead to some pretty serious problems later down the line. What would happen if you lost it all, your spreadsheets, your word docs, your emails, your diary? Exactly, you need to back it up and quick!
How can I back up my Office 365? It’s actually pretty straightforward once you get onto it – there’s a ton of solutions available and your talented IT service provider (who, us?) can advise on the best way forward for you and your business data. The Office 365 solutions are also pretty darn flexible which means you can keep your data for as long as you like, plus you can tailor it to ensure you meet the compliance needs of your business, including GDPR. They’re also easily scalable so it can grow with your business as it expands. You can restore info directly to the form required such as an Office 365 mailbox, an email attachment or a PST file.
Great! So, how quickly can I install the Office 365 backup procedure? The good news here is that it takes barely any time at all meaning there’ll minimal disruption to your day and your business once you’ve set it going.
What does the Office 365 backup mean for my data safeguarding?
All of your data on the platform will be safe and secure, plus a number of the solutions available also support Exchange Online, SharePoint Online and OneDrive for Business too.
So, I need to recover data, how easy is that to do? Very! You can find and restore specific data sets, plus on some of the solutions available you can enable quick search and item recovery including mailboxes, folders, messages and tasks in existing or archived – there when you need it!
How often should I back it up? We always advise backing up your data on the regular. They run in the background and have no impact whatsoever on how you use the Office 365 platform. Most of the available backup solutions are done automatically which means you can cross that one off your to-do list!
So now that’s all your questions answered, we can give you a hand in finding the very best Office 365 backup solution for you! Simply drop us a line or give us a call here and we’ll get straight onto that for you.
Multi-factor authentication – are you using it yet?
We recommend you absolutely should be!
Here’s why:
Those annoying cyber criminals are repeatedly coming up with new ways to target businesses and their data, and so the more security you have in place, the less likely you are to be hacked, it’s as simple as that.
So what is Multi-factor authentication?
It’s basically another level of safety for you when you or your team are logging into apps. You’ll recognise it from things like logging into your bank account or anything which requires a high level of security.
How does it work?
You enter your password, then when you move onto the next screen, you agree to have a code texted to your phone with a second, single-use only password. This ensures it’s you who is requesting access and not a hacker from another location.
You can use it to access a variety of apps that hold any data which you’d rather not fall into the wrong hands.
It’s also incredibly easy to set up.
What do you need to know?
There’s tons of different ways to do multi-factor authentication to protect your business’s data and these include:
Text message approach – in all honesty, it’s better than having nothing at all BUT it’s also the least secure of them all so try these instead…
Generating a code to your mobile phone – a safer method.
Using a small (but extra special) USB device which must be plugged into your laptop.
Need a hand setting it up? You know where to find us, but just in case, here’s our details
Still using Windows 7? STOP! ?
It was good while it lasted, it was a great operating system, it really was but if you’re still using it then you could be putting yourself at risk! Now we’re not the kind of people who employ scare tactics but we are incredibly passionate about data security which is why we’re giving you the heads up.
Some data we recently saw from research company, Net Applications revealed that Windows 7 is still being used on 23.4% of PC’s. That’s almost a quarter… not cool.
Why is it such an issue?
When it was discontinued in January of this year, that meant that there are ZERO security patches, software updates or tech assistance from the people at Microsoft.
Because of this, hackers (yeah, we hate these guys) are actively targeting Windows 7 users, because it’s an easy way in. In fact, over in the US, the FBI have released a formal warning highlighting the dangers.
What do you need to do?
If any of your machines are still on Windows 7, then you need to make it a priority to upgrade to Windows 10 immediately! Let’s get that sorted for you ASAP. Give us a bell here
Who knew we’d be living in a world of social distancing and supermarket shopping in face masks 9 months ago?
It’s been a huge time of change for everyone, in some ways bad but also there’s been some promising elements to come out of it all too.
As we settle in for that brand new cliche of the ‘new normal’, many businesses have been able to test out and see that working from home and flexible working is actually a viable option for them long term, and now is a great opportunity to look at how you and your teams will be working in the future.
Firstly, there are three main questions to consider here:
How will your business be dealing with these new working patterns?
Will your team be returning to as it was pre Covid-19?
Will some of your staff members be continuing on with remote working full or part time?
Secondly, have you thought about these issues when it comes to your IT support?
Will they have a work issued device to use at home and a computer for the office?
Will they bring their laptop back and forth?
Will they use a personal device at home and a work device in the office?
There’s much to think about right? Whatever you decide, security should always be at the very forefront of your mind.
Your IT support provider should be able to provide you with a FULL security checklist to ensure your data is NEVER compromised in the process. This should include whether your devices are up to date with their operating systems, any procedures for stolen devices, whether you can remotely restrict access to data, and even who will take responsibility to ensure all of these new processes are followed correctly.
They should also be advising you on best practice when it comes to internal communication such as Microsoft Teams (check out our blog on that here)
Plus, there’s your new IT infrastructure to consider too. E.g. Does your current VPN suit your needs? Do your devices work well together? Have there been any IT or comms problems your employees have encountered during the lockdown period?
Done properly, it should very well be a smooth transition, if it’s not, then it’s time to take a deeper look. Which is where we come in.
Your friendly, local IT support team, on hand to provide you with all of the above. Let’s have a conversation and see what needs to be done for you. Get in touch here
Have you heard of Ransomwear? It’s basically a form of malware (malicious software) that holds your business to ransom… that already sounds not cool at all!
So what happens?
Cyber criminals take control of your files, photographs, and any other data that’s important to you. They encrypt it, and deny you access until you’ve paid a ransom of their choosing. You’ll know quite clearly if you’ve got ransomware. You’ll be locked out of your computers. And there’ll be a message on your screens telling you to pay a “fine” or the crime gets worse.
Sounds like a bad 90’s action movie… but unfortunately it’s happening to many businesses from small to large, and it could happen to yours if your security isn’t up to scratch.
The stats speak!
Did you know that:
Up to 88% of UK businesses have suffered data breaches in the past 12 months?
1 small UK business is successfully hacked every 19 seconds?
These breaches cost an average of £25,700 to clear up?
48% were attacked with ransomware in the last year?
13% of these businesses paid the ransom?
How does it happen though?
Without you even realising. It’s as simple as an email. More than half of infections occur when someone clicks on a dodgy link in an email.
That’s not surprising, given that one in every 3,722 emails in the UK is a phishing scam. And 55% of UK email is spam.
How can you prevent it?
Bring in the experts – Your IT service provider is a pro at handling these situations and ensuring your company is 100% secure at all times.
Stay on top of your updates – Yes, it’s a pain, but running all of your updates when they’re due, every time will keep your data safe as houses. Also make sure you’re running the latest version of your security protection software. The same goes for your operating system and all other software or applications that you use. Malware and other types of attack are always evolving and becoming more sophisticated. Your security protection, apps and operating software companies spend huge amounts of money to keep on top of these threats and adjust their software accordingly to keep you safe.
Beware of emails – spam email is responsible for almost half of cyber-attacks, so be vigilant when it comes to opening unusual emails or clicking on links or attachments that you’re not anticipating. Pay particular attention if an email asks you to enable macros to view its content. If it’s not an email you’re expecting do not enable macros. Delete the email immediately and tell your IT provider asap!
Back up – This is the single most effective way to protect you and your business from data loss. Because even if a cyber-criminal hacks you and encrypts your files, you’ve got another copy of them safely in the cloud. Constantly backing up and checking data means you can access versions from before you were attacked, minimising the chance of reinfection.
Train your team – Investing in IT training for your team means they know what to look out for and have their guard up for any spam type emails, even if they look like the real deal!
If you think you’ve been targeted then remember:
Stay calm
Do not pay the ransom
Call us straight away
Breathe
Is your current data security triple locked secure and up to date? If you have any doubt whatsoever, don’t leave yourself with the risk. Get in touch with your friendly, local IT service team (hey!) and get things double checked. You know where to find us…
You’ve taken the leap, picked up the phone and decided we’re the ones for you (Hurrah!) So, what’s next? Usually, we hear these three Qs from our new clients:
1. How long will it take to move away from my current provider?
2. How long will my systems be down for?
3. Will it go smoothly?
There are five steps we follow to bring you onboard, it’s pretty straightforward and even better we tend to complete this in just ONE weekend. That’s right, your staff can finish work on a Friday and arrive back on a Monday to everything done, dusted and ready to go! That’s zero downtime and minimum disruption right there.
Here’s how we roll in the onboarding process:
Get to know you
We come down to your offices to check out the environment. We find out from you what it is that’s had you throwing your hands up in despair and make a decision to give us a call. We then work with you to decide which would be the best solution for you. We take a look at your phones, servers and computers, we investigate what’s not working and why not and we discuss with you what you want from your IT systems to ensure an awesome streamlined way of working in the future.
As part of our initial process we also take over liaising with your current IT providers, we send them a document to fill in so we can ensure all services and IP are transferred smoothly during the switch over period. If you don’t have a current IT company then we can still gather all this info from your bills and systems and include it in our documentation process (which we cover a little bit further down) That’s one fewer headache for you to worry about then!
2. In-depth
We conduct a full and extremely thorough site documentation. We take a look at all aspects including things such as
• Who you pay for broadband
• Who you pay for website domains
• Who has control of your website and design
• Passwords for computers and servers
• Phones/Phone numbers
Documenting everything as the first job enables complete organisation, accessibility and control for us and you going forward.
3. Clense
This bit for us is like a day trip to a spa, except we’re cleansing your systems instead. Once we know what’s going wrong, we don the proverbial rubber gloves and get down to business. We clean up all the systems, remove any unnecessary applications or temporary systems which are slowing you down and strip everything right back down to the basics.
4. Optimisation
Time to bring things back up to speed. We take a look at your core systems and ensure
they’re working at their top levels. We ensure they’re both quick and reliable, after all time is money right!
5. Advise and teach
Once everything’s complete, updated and switched over, we’re 100% available to teach your staff everything they need to know about the systems, we’re at the end of the phone to answer any questions and provide ongoing support. Educating your staff is crucial to ensure you get the best out of your new IT service, so we’re able to offer training workshops on anything and everything they need to know.
So basically, a switch over to AGT is faster than a Sunday morning jog with Usain Bolt, easier than 1+1= 2 and as straightforward as A to B.
You’re all set up for your 11am video call with your client, things are going well, pleasantries have been exchanged and you’re just about to start screen sharing that big presentation and…
They’ve gone, you’ve lost them and your internet connection has failed you!
Is there anything more frustrating than a broken con…sation when… can’t …. hear… sorry what was that?
It was to be expected, with more people now working from home, video calling, working online, streaming music, films and TV, all at the same time.
Things were never going to be working at the optimum levels you expect in an office but it’s not exactly helpful for your productivity is it?
So, what can be done for you and your team?
Check what services and coverage are available in your locations. Are you and your staff with the best provider or would a move be a better solution?
Could you subsidise your team members to move to a better and faster internet provider?
Check the routers. Is there a better option for the kind of work you do? Would a range extender solve any issues?
We understand this remote working life presents its own problems, but there’s usually a way around it when you’re given the right tools for the job.
What can we do?
We can check these for you.
We can provide advice on upload and download speeds.
We can find the best providers for you in your area.
We can basically ensure your internet connectivity at home is as top notch as it would be back in your office (those were the days, hey!)
Here at AGT, we’re your IT support system wherever and whenever you’re working, your handy go to people for ‘Help, why is this not working?’, your ‘maybe I need a better way of working’ team. We’ve got your back. Need a hand? Get in touch via our contact details here
Ok, that’s a major understatement! Things have been completely turned upside down for many, including the transition to working from home. How’s that gone for you? Has it been smooth and straightforward or has it catapulted your business into a world you never expected?
On the bright side, it’s also given a lot of companies the opportunity to work with new systems and find better ways of communication between the staff.
If remote working is still looking like a longer term prospect for you, then you may have questions such as:
How will I continue to conduct meetings professionally?
How can documents be shared, added to and refined easily?
How will I keep staff motivation and morale up without face to face contact?
That’s where a programme like Microsoft Teams steps in.
This month, we’ve created a step by step guide for you to use this programme really effectively from now right up until you’re back in the post Covid-19 world (whenever that may be)
Step 1 – Download! If you have Microsoft 365, then you already have it (you’ll just need to
download it). If not, there’s a free plan if you’d like to suss it all out before making a commitment. And a month’s free trial for businesses.
Log in to OneDrive to access your docs
Add the app to all your devices to access wherever you are.
Step 2 – Create your teams! This can be done via department, management level, project team etc…
Step 3 – Create your channels! For example, yours might consist of a channel for product development, one for marketing, one for sales, another for design, etc.
Or it could be made up of different projects, such as one for each different product in the range. All of the docs, conversations, apps and meetings that relate to a product or project would be held within that channel and everyone in the team can access it.
Step 4- Set up a meeting! Using the Meet Now function, you can schedule a catch up, decide if you’re using video or audio and invite people to join at a specific time and date – as straightforward as that.
Step 5 – Save on time! If you’re a member of various projects and teams across the company, you can pin the ones you deem as most important or most used to ensure you can access them quickly and easily.
Step 6 – Get personal! Teams allows you to personalise your view to make it easier for you on a daily basis. Oh and if you’re a fan of a GIF, there’s even a handy little button for that.
Step 7 – Stay updated! Turn on your notifications to ensure you never miss out on any important updates. You can select the relevant people to receive a notification and you can keep an eye on what’s been going on recently using the activity function.
For the full step by step usage guide, we’d be happy to send this to you! Simple get in touch via our contact details here and quote ‘Microsoft Teams AGT assistance’ and we’ll get that straight over to your inbox!
Any questions in the meantime, then just shout! We’re here to help.
We come down to your offices to check out the environment. We find out from you what it is that’s had you throwing your hands up in despair and make a decision to give us a call. We then work with you to decide which would be the best solution for you. We take a look at your phones, servers and computers, we investigate what’s not working and why not and we discuss with you what you want from your IT systems to ensure an awesome streamlined way of working in the future.
