“Change your life today. Don’t gamble on the future, act now, without delay.”
– Simone de Beauvoir – Writer, Philosopher (1908 – 1986)
Welcome to April. Writer’s Block has a strangle hold on me. Here are some random news items that crossed my desk recently.
Kaspersky:
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-cyber-kaspersky-idUSKBN1E62V4
In December 2017, President Donald Trump signed into law legislation that bans the use of Kaspersky Lab within the U.S. government, capping a months-long effort to purge the Moscow-based antivirus firm from federal agencies amid concerns it was vulnerable to Kremlin influence
This has created a controversy concerning whether or not you should uninstall Kaspersky.
A user on reddit says: The FSB (former KGB) can requisition any Russian company to obey and collaborate with them. And Kaspersky is a Russian company. (https://www.reddit.com/r/antivirus/comments/t18hp7/should_i_uninstall_kaspersky/)
A second user rebutted: Kaspersky moved its databases too Switzerland to prevent this government/KGB info/malicious tactic.
If you want to play it on the safe side and replace your Kaspersky subscription, Comp-U-Talk can give you a 10% discount on Anti-Virus. Just say you saw it in the newsletter and we send you a download link to Avast. (Regularly $30/year, after discount: $27/year)
Ransomware as a Service (RaaS):
I highly recommend you take 5 minutes to read the complete story at: https://www.crowdstrike.com/cybersecurity-101/ransomware/ransomware-as-a-service-raas/
The Condensed Version:
RaaS is a business model on the dark web. Ransomware creators sell “kits” to affiliates lacking the skill or time to create their own ransomware. RaaS kits can include 24/7 support, bundled offers and user reviews. Kits can be purchased for as little as $40/month. That’s a large return on investment considering the average ransom request is $200,000.
https://www.varonis.com/blog/ransomware-statistics-2021
Crowdstrike says ransomeware revenues in 2020 were about $20 Billion which is almost double the $11.5 Billion reported in in 2019. Don’t become a victim.
Prevent the Attack:
Use reliable Endpoint Protection (Anti-Virus/Firewall/Anti-Malware). Perform Daily Backups. Test Backups. Keep systems patched, Teach users to be suspicious. Don’t open random emails or click random links.
If you would like to automate the security of your environment, give me a call. I would love to help. Until next month.
Stay Safe,
Stay Healthy,
Happy Easter!
~Janet
Because It Made Me Laugh
