The 5 Controls of Cyber Essentials – Malware protection

Leo Daniels • December 1, 2020

Malware has become the most common form of computer virus; its purpose is to cause harm by attacking legitimate software, making copies of itself, and sending itself to any computer associated with the host.

Most attacks are used for financial gain; “The estimated cost of ransomware attacks: 2020 – £14 billion” – this is the appeal to attackers – made easier for them as many businesses do not understand what a virus is capable of when it manages to get deep into an operating system. They can cause untold damage to your computer and any device that is connected to the same network. The problems vary when a system is infected from malfunctioning systems and data loss to causing onward infection and damage elsewhere as well.

The Cyber Essentials objective

To prevent harmful code from causing damage or accessing sensitive data, you must restrict the execution of known malware and untrusted software.

How to fight back against Malware

There are precautions you can take to fight back against malware viruses.

Be sure to only download apps from manufacturer-approved suppliers when shopping on your mobile and tablet. Do not allow your staff to download apps from unknown sources as it is unlikely that they have been checked for malware.
USE ANTIVIRUS SOFTWARE! This is the most important measure to take – use it on all computers and laptops at home and in the office. Some more popular operating systems include it for free! No need to worry then, right? Wrong! These are often more basic and offer very limited levels of protection. Beyond viruses, consider whether your software specifically filters and defends against malware threats and whether your device is protected by a firewall.
There is also another option that is slightly more technical. Certain apps and programs can be run in a ‘sandbox’, further protecting them by stopping them from communicating with other parts of your device or network.

Cyber Essentials requirements

At least one of the three options above are needed as requirements to achieve the Cyber Essentials accreditation.

We’re 1-fix, we can help you secure your business

At 1-fix, we take a realistic approach to technology – ensuring our client’s systems are best protected.

If you have any concerns, questions or simply want to explore how to better secure your business, please do get in touch with the team for a FREE demonstration, consultation to explore how exposed your business might be and identify actions to take. If you have any questions, concerns or would like to discuss how we might help you with your regulatory challenges, we’d love to chat. Please click the banner below to book a call, or contact us straight away on 0118 926 0084 or by email to info@1-fix.com.

Thank you for reading.