Staying ahead of cyber-criminals and the attacks they make on IT systems is an ongoing war, an ongoing game of cat and mouse where software developers and IT providers identify new or more evasive forms of cyber threat, find gaps and build stronger defences against cyberattacks.
Cyber criminals then rise to the challenge by finding new weaknesses in those defences – and so the cycle continues.
New threats are being identified all the time but some of the most common cyber threats that can evade antivirus software include:
The specific characteristic of a malware is known as its signature. Anti-virus software detects malware by its signature and adds it to a database as a known threat which it then can use to update users. However, this approach is reactionary and means there’s a time lag between identifying the signature of a new threat and updating the antivirus software.
Polymorphic malware also capitalises on this tactic by regenerating its signature once it has been detected, making it harder for traditional antivirus software to detect.
Malicious code can be hidden within a document’s embedded scripts which can then infiltrate antivirus software, going undetected because the software only scans documents and not embedded content. Once the user opens the affected document, the malware is launched and can operate undetected in the background, with the user unaware of its presence.
Some forms of attack search for antivirus programmes on the user’s computer and then try to block the antivirus software or prevent the antivirus software’s update processes, making it easier for the virus to infiltrate.
Malware that is passed through your browser can go undetected. This occurs when vulnerabilities in browsers and browser plug-ins are exploited and downloads are made from legitimate websites. Users don’t need to click anything to begin the malware downloads. Outdated apps, browsers and operating systems are all particularly vulnerable to this kind of attack.
Fileless malware is memory-based, contained in the computer’s RAM, rather than file-based. Antivirus software often relies on file inspection to detect threats but when there is no file, malicious activity can go undetected and once in the system, the virus can spread between devices.
Here, large quantities of new viruses are distributed across the internet over a short period of time, resulting in a large number of new samples for the antivirus developers to analyse. During the time it takes to analyse each sample, cybercriminals hope their malicious code has had the opportunity to attack IT systems.
Apart from testing your IT security generally, penetration testing brings its own specific benefits.
It is so thorough that it can identify specific vulnerabilities and more risks through the different types of techniques it uses.
Cyber-crime moves at a fast pace and the rise of home and remote working has made it harder for businesses to stay ahead and protect the range of devices being used among which security levels can vary greatly.
In addition, keeping ahead of cyber threats created by cyber criminals requires the use of several defence mechanisms rather than relying on just the one, especially when criminals use more than one attack method together to make it harder to defend against.
Apart from being proactive in building defences, businesses can complete security audits, train staff, implement a stronger password policy and keep software updated.
They can also become Cyber Essentials Accredited.
It also provides a much more realistic test of your systems, as testers behave as hackers would, giving a more valuable insight that reflects the real world.
Penetration tests are also conducted by specialists, so organisations using their skills benefit from their experience and knowledge to deliver deeper insights into systems, so that more specific remedies can be implemented to combat threats and deliver greater business continuity.
Being Cyber Essentials accredited means you are working to best practices to protect your business and your customers online.
Many large organisations, NGOs and government bodies require contractors to be Cyber Essentials accredited before doing business with them.
It enables you to learn some simple, yet important, measures to take against cybercrime and develop good practices to ensure you remain on top of your cyber security.
At Syn-Star we can support you to attain your Cyber Essentials accreditation, and with a wider range of training support focused on building your knowledge and understanding of IT threats you can protect your business data and IT systems and ensure you don’t lose money in avoidable cyber-attacks.
If you would like to talk to us about becoming Cyber Essentials accredited or discuss other ways to build your IT defences, then contact our cybersecurity specialists today.
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Team Productivity:
You and your team are able to see where they are using their time and how productive they are actually being. Also they are able to clock in and out, so really good for flexi-working.
Team Monitoring:
If you would like to know what your team is doing and how productive they are being, we are able to monitor them and create screenshots of what they are working on. This can be run in normal or stealth mode.
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We proactively seek opportunities to support good causes for our community.
From sponsoring local community football teams, to engaging with charity fundraiser days, we believe it’s important to continually strive to do good for the better of others.
We have members who volunteer with youth organisations, are engaged with the Round Table, run marathons and volunteer at events where we may be needed. Every charity receives a discounted IT and Telecoms service too.
Protecting your digital data is crucial for every business and this can start with the industry-leading security we offer. The Syn-Star specialists can help with identifying any vulnerabilities within your IT systems and act accordingly to ensure cyber-attacks and data breaches are mitigated.
Your business will never fall behind with its technology when you work with Syn-Star.
We understand IT and Telecoms for your business is an investment, but it’s important to use the best resources available to enable the growth of your business. Our IT Consultancy and Virtual IT Director Services are available to support you with how you use your business technology for years to come.
Syn-Star can conduct quick and easy phishing exercises to identify people within your team who need to improve on their knowledge around fraudulent emails and how they can be alerted to these threats.
At Syn-Star, our experts can proactively work to understand exactly what software you need to support with the business operations. Whether you need a listening ear on what software to choose, or would like to seek some specialist knowledge, we’re here to help where we can.
At Syn-Star, we keep Telecoms simple. There’s so much available to help UK companies with their communications. VoIP systems, fixed landline, cloud phone systems, SIP trunking and more. Contact us for further details.
Desk phones, cordless phones or conference phones, Syn-Star can provide you with whatever you need.
From conference calling facilities to the headsets which work best for your team, we’re able to provide all the equipment you need and complete any telecoms job from start to finish.
There is no need to be in the office to make and receive phone calls from your company’s number. Our market-leading Telecoms platform gives you the flexibility of desk phones, soft phones and mobile apps as standard.
Whether your team works remotely, or perhaps staff are on a business trip anywhere in the world, calls can still be made, and people are reachable via phone wherever they go.
With a range of products, our team can support you by installing exactly what you need for internet connectivity. We work with the very best products to provide speedy bandwidths which play a part in the increased productivity of your team.
