SECURITY RISK QUICK REFERENCE
Keep this useful reference guide to understand malware and phishing risk :
Phishing or Malware Type
What is it?
Computer Virus
A program that can make copies of itself repeatedly to infect and corrupt files without the user know about it.
Spyware
Malicious program that once activated, gathers and transmits user's information (such as passwords, personal information, habits, etc).
Spearing
Impersonates employees to trick recipients into giving information or clicking on malicious links.
Whaling
Customized messages for specific individuals or groups, increasing authenticity and success rate.
Smishing
SMS or text messages, tricking recipients into sharing personal information or visiting malicious sites.
Vishing
Using the phone to impersonate organizations to obtain sensitive information or financial details.
Pharming
Manipulating DNS or hosts files to redirect users to fraudulent websites for extracting information.
Cloning
Fake websites resembling legitimate ones to deceive users into sharing personal or financial data.
Man-in-Middle
Intercepting to manipulate data, or impersonate parties to gain access to sensitive information
Botnets or Computer Worm
Sending spam, spreading malware or launching cyber attacks on a combination of computers.
Trojan Horse
Malicious code hidden in an email attachment or program to trick users when they click or install it.
Ransomware
Malware that sends out a message to the user that a given amount must be paid to decript files or remove the malware.
How to Prevent it
Prevention Tips
See it
Watch signs of slowness, extreme hard drive activity, program crashes or unwanted pop-ups.
Gather Knowledge
Educate yourself often to recognize and report phishing attempts.
Double Check Links
Avoid clicking suspicious links or download attachments from unknown senders.
Watch Outside Storage
Scan USB, memory sticks or storage devices with our antivirus software before installing on your computer
Use Known Sites
Look for the padlock icon and "https" in the URL before entering personal information.
Keep Private
Avoid sharing sensitive data unless the request is verified.
Upgrade Software
Use spam filters, firewalls, and updated antivirus software.
Block Pop-ups
Enable pop-up blockers. If you fo want pop-ups, ready them carefully before you click.
Enable 2FA
Enable MFA (multi-factor authentication) for added security.