Ransomware - High Alert (Malware)
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Dear Staff and Students
Please pay attention to details in the attached PDF document.An aggressive ransom ware has invaded several organisations.The ransom ware encrypts your documents and chances of recovery are slim. DICTS has over time, given you tips on securing your computer as shown below.
PREVENTIVE MEASURES TO SECURE YOUR COMPUTER FROM MALWARE
It is recommended that users and administrators take the following preventive measures to protect their computer networks from ransomware
infection:
1) For Systems Administrators: Employ a data backup and recovery plan for all critical information. Perform and test regular backups to limit the impact of data or system loss and to expedite the recovery process.
Note that network-connected backups can also be affected by ransom-ware; critical backups should be isolated from the network for optimum protection.
For the regular end-user: Make sure the data on your computer is backed-up either on an external hard-drive or preferably on the cloud using some cloud storage solution such as dropbox (https://www.dropbox.com/login?src=logout), Google Drive
(https://www.google.com/drive/) , One Drive
(https://onedrive.live.com/about/en-gb/) etc. This will enable you to recover your documents should something go wrong with your computer.Please remember to backup your emails too.
2) Keep your operating system and software up-to-date with the latest patches. Vulnerable applications and operating systems are the target of most attacks. Ensuring these are patched with the latest updates greatly reduces the number of exploitable entry points available to an attacker.
3) Maintain up-to-date anti-virus software, and scan all software downloaded from the internet prior to executing.Please visit http://viruscheck.mak.ac.ug/ to download the University security solution.
4) Follow the links below for:
(i) Information on safe handling of email attachments
https://answers.mak.ac.ug/security/recognizing-email-scams
(ii) Good Security habits
https://answers.mak.ac.ug/security/good-security-habits
(iii) Safeguarding your data
https://answers.mak.ac.ug/security/safeguarding-your-data
4) Do not follow unsolicited Web links in emails. Follow the link below for tips on avoiding Social Engineering and Phishing Attacks https://answers.mak.ac.ug/security/avoiding-social-engineering-and-phishing-attacks
You are encouraged to contact DICTS for ICT related advise and support.
Kindest Regards, Mugabi Samuel