Is Anti-Virus Software Enough to Keep Your Data Safe?

Since the release of the first anti-virus software in 1987, cybersecurity has become a well-known staple for all computer users. Whether you use Apple, Microsoft, or Linux, your PC or laptop will come pre-installed with the proper tools to keep you safe. Otherwise, you’re told to visit the website of a trusted anti-virus company to install their software on your machine. Though anti-virus software is still used by many, it has been deemed irrelevant by some IT specialists since viruses have become more and more intricate. Take the Trojan virus, for example. It began circulating in the 1980s and has now evolved to the point where it’s used to hack smartphones. Now, the newest and often most effective attacks are file-less. As their name suggests, file-less attacks infect a machine without any trace of files, making them difficult to detect and eradicate. Plus, hackers have become competent at writing code that can sneak past a traditional anti-virus software's virus scan. However, completely ditching McAfee, Norton, or any other anti-virus software you use should not be on your radar. Sure, they may not deliver all the protection your machine or business needs, but they definitely provide some much-needed back up. There are some steps you should take in harmony with maintaining updated anti-virus software. These will fill in the cracks left by even the most antiquated anti-virus programs.

Run a current system and keep it up-to-date.

Ensure your operating system is always running on the most recent update. Don’t ignore messages reminding you to download the next OS version. These new versions generally contain security upgrades that can be helpful in keeping your files safe. For example, the WannaCry ransomware attack that spread last year mainly affected Windows users who hadn’t performed the proper updates for Windows Vista and 7. Outdated XP users were left completely susceptible to the attacks while Windows 10 users remained untouched.

Encrypt your data.

From confidential employee information to sensitive client data, it’s important you encrypt data you don’t want a hacker to get their hands on. Encryption is essentially a method of adding extra passwords to the information you need to protect. Whether you learn how to encrypt files on your own or hire a third-party company to do it for you, it’s a necessary step in protecting data from ransomware attacks and other hacking techniques that thwart traditional anti-virus scans.

Invest in online data recovery.

Any information you can’t afford to lose should be backed up and stored in a place where you can easily recover these files. StorageCraft helps you back up by replicating your data and storing it on our cloud, giving you easy access in case of a cyber attack. This also helps lower the risk of extended periods of downtime and make it easier to get your business back on its feet in case something does happen. Contact us today for more information on our solutions or request a free trial of ShadowProtect.