How to Use Malware Removal Tools

It’s no secret that cybercrime has become a huge threat in our everyday life. Whether you’re in the office going through emails (that you definitely weren’t putting off until after the weekend…) or relaxing at home, being aware of what websites you visit and the links that you click on is important. Cybersecurity Ventures predicts that cybercrime will cost global business roughly 10.5 trillion US dollars by 2025. As we have all heard, “the best medicine is preventative medicine”. But let’s talk about what happens if you do fall victim to a security breach. So, I guess I should start with the basics. Like what is malware and is it as scary as it sounds? Well, malware is software that’s coded with the intent of causing harm to a user, system, or network. For example, in 2018 a type of malware called “Emotet” was defined by the US Department of Homeland Security as one of the most dangerous and destructive malicious softwares at the time. It was used in cases of financial information theft, and at its peak, infected about 1.5 million computers around the world and caused an estimated 2.5 billion US dollars in damages. Oftentimes, these incidents can happen without the victim even realizing. So, yeah… it’s as scary as it sounds. Here are a few examples of the different types of malware to be on the lookout for: viruses, trojan horses, adware and ransomware just to name a few. You’ve likely heard a few of these terms before, with ransomware in particular growing in popularity among hacker groups. But what happens if you run into one of them? Don’t panic! Malware removal tools can help you not only detect and remove the malware from your computer, but also address any damage caused and offer insight into the details of the attack (such as the amount of infections and the specific ways your systems were compromised). There are three forms of malware removal worth mentioning in this video: standard, behavior-based and sandboxing. Standard malware removal tools check for suspicious activity based on databases of known definitions or “signatures”. What is a signature, you ask? A signature is what outlines what the malware does and how to identify it. But what if the malware changes its signatures? That’s when behavior-based malware tools come into play. This solution is developed with embedded intelligence that can consider deviations from the original malware signatures and is then capable of identifying possible threats contained in incoming files. The last method I want to mention, sandboxing, is great at catching malware in the act. This tool allows users to run programs and open files in an isolated testing environment, which limits its access to a small set of programs. If the file tries to access different resources than intended, the sandbox is then able to block and terminate it. These removal tools, while they are smart ways to protect you and your organization from cyberattacks, aren't necessarily a foolproof solution. It’s important for companies to understand that training and education are also key to keeping sensitive information safe. ► Reach out to Etactics @ https://www.etactics.com​ ►Subscribe: https://rb.gy/pso1fq​ to learn more tips and tricks in healthcare, health IT, and cybersecurity. ►Find us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/etactics-inc ►Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/etacticsinc/​ #Malware #MalwareRemoval