17 May Ransomware Threat: How you can keep your files safe
A cyber attack recently spread to over 150 countries and infected over 230,000 computers. The global threat takes advantage of computers that are not running up to date software.
Ensuring the safety of your Windows PC is easy to do. Making sure that your computer is up to date is one of the best methods of defense against this particular attack. In fact, Microsoft released the patch for this exploit on March 14, 2017, so if you’ve been receiving Windows updates since then, chances are you have been protected from the exploit.
We want you to stay protected during this time, and have put together a set of links to help you get up to date, and safe from any current threats. If your computer frequently displays the update screen at start up and shutdown, then you may skip this next section.
Automatic Updates
To turn on automatic updates, you will need to know which version of Windows you are running (e.g. Windows 7, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, or Windows XP) . If you are unsure of your current version of Windows, there is a simple guide to finding you version here. After you’ve found which version of Windows you are running, find your instuctions on enabling updates on Microsoft’s official page.
Web Browser
Once you’ve ensured your Windows OS is being updated automatically, you will need to ensure you are running the most updated browser possible. If you browse the web with Internet Explorer, you may want to consider swapping to a more modern browser, such as Firefox or Google Chrome.
Adobe Flash
If you choose to browse with Firefox or Internet Explorer, you will want to update your Flash version. Flash is a common plugin used to stream videos. Many sites use Flash. Keeping your Flash up to date is very important, as this is commonly used as a method of infection. You can update your Flash version here. If you do not want to bother updating Flash, Google Chrome has Flash built in, and updates it automatically.
Antivirus
Finally, you will want to have a good antivirus installed. You can find a good free antivirus online, easily. There is a great up to date list here.
