News
Colin Tankard, Managing Director Digital Pathways: Ransomware Not New
November 2013 by Colin Tankard, Managing Director Digital Pathways
As the general public are being warned to be on their guard against the latest virus, Ransomware, that disguises itself as a legitimate email alert about suspicious payments or invoices, Colin Tankard, Managing Director of data security company, Digital Pathways, highlights the need for everyone to be more vigilant when it comes to email accounts.
“This kind of attack is not new’ says Tankard. ‘There have been many such viruses that feed on the ‘spammers’ ability to access an individuals (or in this case tens of millions of individuals) contact lists.
“ Many people don’t consider that they have anything of value when it comes to their digital footprint. However, to a ‘spammer’ this is far from the truth. If they can gain access to an individuals email account, by that person responding to the fake mail, then they have gained access to that entire persons contact list. They are then able to mail to that list disguised as the person whose account it is and thereby increase the likelihood of the recipient responding to it.
“ It is my opinion that many of these attacks come via friends and colleagues machines in the first place. We all need to become much more vigilant in our on-line dealings.
“For example, be highly selective about what you download. If the mail looks, or ‘feels’, not quite right don’t click on it.
“If there is a hyper-link within the mail hover the curser over it to see the full link description. Again, this may reveal that all is not what it seems. If in doubt don’t click on it.
“ If you are in any doubt about a mailing call, or email separately from your contact list, the so-called recipient and check that it has indeed come from them.
“Only by becoming more security savvy with regard to our on-line activity can we stamp out this kind of threat.”
