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Month: June 2016

Web Content Filtering: Types And Benefits

30 June, 2016

Web content filtering is one of the most important elements of an organization’s cyber security policy. Also known as “Information Filtering”, it involves screening a website and restricting access if deemed harmful or objectionable. It not only helps to prevent unwanted internet access by the employees, but also protects the corporate network from online threats. Web content filtering works by checking the credibility of a portal, when a user attempts to visit it.  If the website has been blacklisted by the administrator, the user is barred from accessing it. Content filtering is important to restrict access to webpages which can have pornographic content, malware, keyloggers, botnets, proxy server etc.

Types Of Web Content Filtering

  • Client Side Filter: In client side filtering, software is installed on computers that require content filtering. The admin can customize the list of blocked websites or specify guidelines according to which the content needs to be filtered. Client side filters are a good option for small businesses that have a limited number of employees.
  • Server Side Filter: In this type, content filtering software is installed on a central server computer that monitors the security settings on other systems on the same network. The business owner or network administrator can apply the same filter rules for all computers.
  • Content Limited ISP: In this type of filter, the internet service provider has the authority to regulate the type of content that can or cannot be viewed by the users. Apart from blocking malicious websites, it also monitors emails, chats and web traffic to prevent Denial of Service (DoS) as well as man-in-the-middle attacks.
  • Search Engine Filters: Many search engines like Google and Bing also offer content filtering options to the users. They can block inappropriate content and text from being displayed in the search results.

Benefits Of Web Content Filtering

  • Increased Employee Productivity: As the unwanted websites are blocked, the employees are likely to be more focused towards work. They would not get distracted which, in turn, increases their overall productivity at the office.
  • Better Network Protection: Web content filtering helps to block malicious websites, emails and programs that are likely to infect a computer system with malware. Preventing these online threats safeguards your corporate network against a potential security breach.
  • Bandwidth Usage Reduction: With a high speed internet connection, employees may engage in undesired activities like streaming videos, downloading movies, peer-to-peer file sharing etc. This increases the network’s bandwidth usage which can be controlled by using a content filtering software.

For more information on the benefits of web content filtering, feel free to contact Centex Technologies at (855) 375 – 9654.

How To Protect Against Spyware

24 June, 2016

Spyware is a general term for the malicious programs aimed at gathering information from a computer system without the consent of the user. They record keystrokes or monitor user’s internet activity to collect sensitive data such as usernames, email addresses, passwords, credit card numbers etc. The data is then transmitted to the hackers who may use it to initiate various online attacks. Spyware may infect a computer system through a malicious email attachment, visiting a spam website or in the form of a drive-by-download.

Listed below are some useful tips to protect against spyware:

Install anti-spyware software

The most critical step in protecting your computer system is to install a reliable anti-spyware software. Most anti-virus programs may detect and remove malware, but they may not be able to identify the diverse variants of spyware. Make sure you update it regularly and configure it to check for the latest versions available. Enable a complete scan of your computer’s hard drives on a regular basis to detect any spyware program that may have discreetly infected the system. It will add an additional layer of protection.

Be cautious while surfing the web

You should not click on unknown URLs or visit malicious websites. The browser plugins included in the anti-spyware software should be enabled to protect against infections. Software should be downloaded only from reliable sources after carefully researching about its reviews and information that it may access on your computer.

Keep operating system updated

An updated operating system will make your computer less vulnerable to the online threats. Software vendors often release the security patches to fix any flaws that may be exploited by the cybercriminals. Enable automatic updates so that your computer automatically scans and downloads the latest software versions periodically.

Do not click on ads or pop-ups

Flash advertizements and pop-ups are common ways through which spyware is downloaded into a computer. To avoid this, make sure you do not click on or enter any confidential information in these windows. It is possible that the hacker may be tracking the way you respond to these ads or tracing the data you enter. If you want to close an unwanted ad or pop-up, click on the ‘X’ icon instead of the ‘close’ link within the window.

Centex Technologies is a leading IT firm providing complete online security solutions to the business firms in Central Texas. For more information, you can call at (855) 375 – 9654.

Protecting Your Information On Social Networks

17 June, 2016

Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest etc. have exploded in popularity in the past few years. These social networking websites provide a convenient platform to connect with friends and stay updated about the world. However, these portals are quite commonly targeted by cybercriminals to access confidential information that can be used for scandalous purposes. It is imperative for the users to stay cautious to minimize the potential risk of hacker attacks.

Here are some do’s and don’ts that must be followed while using social networking websites:

Do’s

  • Configure your privacy settings: Make sure you set your account privacy settings to the maximum. This will help to protect your information from being viewed by anyone you do not know. Restrict the number of users who can view your personal details, status updates, pictures, tweets or pins.
  • Keep password strong: Create a strong as well as unique password and make sure you set a different one for all your social networking accounts. Do not use your personal information such as name, date of birth, home town, pet’s name etc. as the password as these can be easily cracked by the hacker. Consider making your password lengthy by combining alphabets, numbers and symbols to increase the security of your social media accounts.
  • Verify friend/follower requests: It is important to be selective about who you accept as a friend or follow on social networking websites. Cybercriminals may disguise or falsify their online identity to seek out sensitive information that may otherwise not be accessible. If you interact with unknown people, limit the information that you share with them.

Don’ts

  • Share too much information: Be cautious about how much personal information you are sharing on social networking platforms. The more details you provide, the easier it will be hackers to use the data to breach your account or initiate other cybercrimes. Also, geo-tagging your photos may put you at risk from burglars and stalkers.
  • Open unsolicited images or links: You must not click on any links or open images that appear to be suspicious, even if they are shared by people you know. Also, do not open a social networking website through the embedded link in an email or text message. It may redirect you to a fake website to steal your login credentials.
  • Download third party apps: Many social networking websites give you the option to download apps and programs to enhance user experience. However, these may be used by the cybercriminals to infect your system with a malware or track your online activities.

For more tips to increase your safety while using social networking websites, you can contact Centex Technologies at (855) 375 – 9654.

What Is Spear Phishing?

June 9, 2016

Spear phishing is a form of cyber-attack targeted towards an individual or organization to obtain confidential information. It is a social engineering technique that involves sending a spoofed email, which appears or claims to be from a legitimate source, asking the user to visit a website or click on a link. Though often intended to steal data that can be further used to initiate an attack, cyber criminals may also use spear phishing to install malware on the victim’s computer system.

Key Characteristics Of A Spear Phishing Attack

  • Multi-Course Threat: Spear phishing uses a combination of spam emails, zero day application vulnerabilities, spoofed website URLs and add-on downloads to circumvent detection by the security software.
  • Leverages Unknown Software Vulnerabilities: In a spear phishing attack, the hackers tend to exploit the unknown security loopholes in the users’ browsers, applications and plug-ins.
  • Lacks Spam Characteristics: The cybercriminals usually send personalized emails to the target users, hence making them different from the prevalent high-volume security attacks. Therefore, the anti-virus and anti-spyware programs are less likely to perceive these emails as a threat.

How Does Spear Phishing Work?

In order to launch a spear phishing attack, the hacker first needs to gain some insights about the target user so that a personalized email can be crafted. The information is often accessed through the user’s social media profiles and posts. After this, they send a well-crafted email to a user, often claiming to be from a bank or other authorized entity, provoking the user to take an action. These may involve:

  • Clicking on a link that redirect to a fake website asking the user to enter his user ID, password, bank account number, social security number etc.
  • Downloading attachments, usually PDFs, Office documents, zip folders or executable files, which install malware on the users’ computer.

The content shared in a spear phishing email is highly customized to compel the users about the authenticity of its sender and increase the likelihood of exploitation.

Tips To Protect Against Spear Phishing Scams

  • Make sure you do not provide any personal information in an email. Most companies/ financial institutions do not ask for such details in an email.
  • Never click on links embedded in an email. Instead, type the URL manually in your browser’s address bar.
  • Keep your security software, browsers and applications updated to the latest version. An obsolete program is more likely to be targeted by the cybercriminals.

Centex Technologies provides complete IT support to the businesses in Central Texas. For more information, feel free to call us at (855) 375 – 9654.

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