Hospitals Hit Hard by WannaCry Ransomware

Uncategorized
22
May 2017

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Due to their activities, hospitals need to be highly secure. However, a recent ransomware hack on UK hospitals has questioned just how secure they are.

Huge swathes of data are held by hospitals and the majority of it is highly personal and sensitive. Not only that, but hospitals rely on their IT systems to carry out highly important work such as maintaining operating equipment, retrieving patient information and even refrigerating blood samples.

Therefore, anything which even slightly impedes these operations can have a huge, disruptive impact. Unfortunately, for the UK’s hospitals (mostly run through the government NHS system), they have been hit hard by the WannaCry ransomware. Let’s take a look at how this major hack happened.

What’s WannaCry?

WannaCrypt

WannaCry is a form of ransomware that exploits a vulnerability contained within the Server Message Block (SMB) which is a network protocol to help facilitiate access to shared files and printers etc. It’s not yet been revealed exactly how WannaCry has managed to infect the UK’s hospital systems, but it’s rumoured to be through the usual infection methods of Microsoft Office attachments or suspicious links.

Once WannaCry is executed in the SMB it begins to encrypt almost all the files on that PC with an extension of “.WRCY” and then displays a ransom window which demands payment of $300 worth of bitcoins to decrypt the compromised files. A ransom note is also placed on the users system in the form of a text document to detail the ransom demands once more.

What’s surprising about this attack is that the SMB vulnerability was actually patched by Microsoft almost two months previously in March. Those users and networks who implemented this patch will have survived the WannaCry attack, but countless others failed to install the patch. It’s suspected that many of the UK hospitals attacked were unable to install this patch due to the number of legacy systems involved.

And it’s not just the UK’s hospitals which felt the wrath of WannaCry. Car giant Nissan found that their UK manufacturing plant was also attacked and this led to production of their cars being halted. However, it isn’t just the UK which was targeted as reports show that over 40,000 similar attacks have now been registered in over 70 countries.

Avoid the Ransom Demands

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It may seem difficult to combat such a huge, global cyber-attack which is capable of bringing government organizations to their knees, but prevention can make a real difference in these situations.

The most important lesson to learn from WannaCry is that updates issued by software manufacturers must never be ignored. Sure, it may require a quick reboot, but surely a few minutes inconvenience is preferable to having all your files compromised and in the hands of an anonymous attacker?

It’s also vital that you have up to date antivirus software and network protection as, in the case of WannaCry, these can identify the ransomware before it has a chance to take hold of your computer. Again, these can be inconvenient due to the cost, but the long term benefits to your organization can be immense.

For more ways to secure and optimize your business technology, contact your local IT professionals.

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5 Ways to Prevent Total PC Failures

Repairs and Upgrades,
02
May 2017

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PCs carry out so many tasks and use a number of different pieces of hardware and software, so the potential for failure is high, but it can be prevented.

Even if there’s just a small failure in one of your PCs tasks, it can create a snowball effect which eventually leads to a total PC failure. And, when this occurs, you’re left with a PC which is unable to contribute to your productivity.

Therefore, it makes sense to pre-empt these major disasters by taking a number of preventative measures, so that’s why I’m going to share 5 ways to prevent and treat total PC failures.

  1. Use a Firewallwhat-is-a-firewall-post

If an unauthorized user gains access to your network then they have the potential to bring your entire network to a halt. And, for modern businesses who rely on IT to operate, this is their nightmare scenario; that’s why it’s essential that you have a trusted firewall to operate as your first line of defense.

  1. Make Sure Your Backups Work

It’s a very rare and lucky business which doesn’t experience a total PC failure at some point, so backups are a crucial procedure to ensure that all your data remains safe. However, not all businesses make sure that their backups actually work and, if necessary, are capable of restoring operations. Therefore, by using a test system to regularly perform backups, you can increase your confidence that a total PC failure can be easily remedied.

  1. Install an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)

Businesses have very little control over failures with the power supply, so your put in a tricky position when the power suddenly goes. Thankfully, it’s possible to keep your PCs connected to a UPS which will provide emergency power in the case of a power cut. Although it won’t provide enough power for all your IT equipment to perform indefinitely, it will give you time to carry out essentials and save relevant data safely.

  1. Use Backup RotationBackup_hero-970-80

You shouldn’t rely on just one set of backup materials as, if these become damaged, then it’s impossible to retrieve your data. For example, many businesses use a DVD+RW each day for backing up their data and nothing more. What you need to do, though, is create a backup at the end of the week as well which compiles all this data together. And, just to be extra safe, you should compile all these weekly backup into one monthly backup. This provides three generations of data which you can rely on in the case of a total PC failure.

  1. Carry Out Fresh Installs

PCs can build up junk and unnecessary files over time due to the number of installs and uninstalls which take place. Whilst you can use free applications to clear out some of these files, they’ll never conduct a thorough clean of you system and, in the long term, it can begin to slow down due to what’s known as ‘Windows Rot’. This is why it pays to carry out a fresh install of Windows once a year to prevent your PC from failing on you at the most inopportune moment.

For more ways to secure and optimize your business technology, contact your local IT professionals.

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5 Ways to Fix a PC Which Won’t Start Up

Repairs and Upgrades, ,
25
Apr 2017

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There’s nothing more frustrating than a PC which won’t start, and its impact on productivity is immense. Therefore, knowing how to remedy this is crucial.

When a PC fails to start up, however, it can seem as though there’s no hope due to the lack of indicators towards the actual problem. Thankfully, there are a number of steps you can take to investigate the fault and start forming solutions to get your PC back up and running.

And that’s why, today, I’m going to share 5 ways to fix a PC which won’t start up.

  1. Check the PowerIMG_5626b

One of the most common reasons for a PC refusing to start up is that age old favorite of electrical appliances: no power. Luckily, it’s also one of the simplest to fix. Just check your power cable or power adapter to make sure it’s plugged in.

  1. USB Drive Plugged In?

PCs can fail to start up correctly when a USB drive has been left plugged into the system; the reason for this is that a PCs BIOS will often be set up to boot up through any USB devices rather than heading straight to the hard drive. And, seeing as your USB drive is unlikely to have the correct software to load up your operating system, this will be why your PC fails to boot up. Therefore, remove any USB devices and try again.

  1. Listen for the Beeps

If there is a specific issue with your PCs hardware, then there’s a good chance that it will make a series of beeps as it tries to load up. Make sure you count these as it will provide you with the cause of your issues, but bear in mind that these beep codes can vary between PC manufacturers e.g. 5 beeps on a Hewlett Packard could indicate a problem with RAM, but on a Dell it could mean a processor failure.

  1. Check for Loose Hardware

Over time, your hardware can come loose and once it reaches a certain point, this can render your PC unusable. Therefore, if you can’t identify the specific fault, it’s worth opening your PC up and checking that the following components are secure:

  • RAM should be fitted into the motherboard securely
  • Check that all internal data cables such as power cables and motherboard ribbons are secure
  1. Access Safe Modeimage37

If you can get far enough into your PC to access Safe Mode then this can often help resolve any issues. You usually need to hit F5 or F8 as your computer starts up to access Safe Mode, this will give you access to your desktop and its most basic functions e.g. accessing control panel and system restore. Once in here you should be able to investigate faults with your software and, if necessary, perform a system restore.

For more ways to secure and optimize your business technology, contact your local IT professionals.

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4 Tips to Keep Your Laptop Working Out of the Office

hardware, ,
18
Apr 2017

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Laptops make remote working a real possibility for your employees, but this also means they need to be maintained correctly to remain effective.

Obviously, any issues with a desktop PC in the office can quickly be rectified by your IT team. However, when employees are away from the office with their laptop, it makes any necessary fixes that little bit harder to implement. And the delay in addressing these issues could put a real dent in your employees’ productivity.

Therefore, it’s essential that you know every little trick for keeping your laptop productive when IT support is out reach. And that’s why I’m going share 4 tips to keep your laptop working out of the office.

  1. Get a New Battery

After a couple of years, lithium-ion batteries struggle to be as effective as they once were. Where your battery would once hold enough power to keep your laptop running for three hours, now it may only work for an hour. And this is no use to an employee working on the move.

Many businesses make the rather kneejerk reaction of scrapping the laptop and purchasing a new one. Whilst this also provides a number of other upgrades, it’s also an expensive move as the cost of a battery will be a fraction of the cost of a new laptop. Not only is a new battery more cost effective, but it will also prolong the life of the laptop.

  1. Always Install Updates6-installing-updates

As those employees with laptops will be working off site for long periods of time, it puts them at risk of security threats much more so than those working from a central location. And this is why it’s imperative that laptop users install ALL updates as soon as possible, this provides the best protection from having their laptop compromised.

  1. Protect Your Keyboards

There’s nothing worse than losing a key from your keyboard or suffering a non-responding key, especially when – with a laptop – it’s your only typing option to hand. Thankfully, there’s a preventative measure you can take to prolong the life of your keyboard.

Silicon keyboard protectors are a relatively cheap solution which fit over your keyboard and helps to protect the keyboard from knocks, dirt and grime. And, believe me, it’s a lot less labor intensive than taking a laptop keyboard to pieces to repair!

  1. Prevent OverheatingThermaltake-Massive-V20-Laptop-Cooling-Pad-Effective-cooling-performance-with-high-quality-material

Whilst laptops are, naturally, suited to sit in your lap, this position should always be restricted to short periods of time. And this is because, nestled in your lap, your laptop’s air vents can become blocked and this causes overheating which can soon lead to system failure.

The simplest solution, of course, is to invest in a laptop stand which will hold your laptop a few inches off the ground and provide plenty of airflow. They’re simple devices which fold up quickly and provide the minimum of fuss whilst protecting your laptop.

For more ways to secure and optimize your business technology, contact your local IT professionals.

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5 Tips to Keep Your Printer Working at its Best

Office IT,
11
Apr 2017

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Although paper usage has fallen in the past decade, printers remain crucial for all businesses, so you have to know how to keep them working at their best.

After all, paper and toner can be very expensive, so you want to make sure you’re not wasting any of these materials. Additionally, there’s nothing more frustrating than a printer which isn’t working, so, instead of chucking it out the window, wouldn’t it be great if you could quickly fix it?

Well, now you can and it’s all thanks to our 5 tips to keep your printer working at its best.

  1. Shake that Toner!shake_toner_cartridge

If you’re running a laser printer then you’ll be familiar with the high costs of toner. However, it’s possible to get more mileage out of your toner and print more pages. Once your printer alerts you that it’s time to change your toner, just take the toner in question out and give it a shake. This will loosen up any solid toner and provide you with a printer which carries on printing.

  1. Inkjets Require Quality Paper

Inkjet printers provide a cheaper option than laser printers and can produce stunning results, but you have to make sure you’re using high quality paper. With low quality paper you’ll find that the ink spreads and bleeds too much, this results in a low quality print which may leave you thinking you need a new printer. However, by upgrading your paper you’ll notice a huge difference in your print quality.

  1. Print Double Sidedaid167187-728px-Print-Double-Sided-Step-4-Version-2

If your printer has a ‘duplex’ option then it means that it’s capable of printing double sided. And the benefit of this is that it means your paper will go a lot further. All you need to do is enter your printer’s settings and select the ‘print duplex/double sided’ option.

  1. Keep the Nozzles Clean

It’s always irritating to pick up your printed documents and find that they’re covered in smeared ink. Not only does this waste your time, but it also wastes your paper and ink. Thankfully, there’s a relatively quick fix for this problem on inkjet printers.

This smearing is caused by the print-head nozzles becoming blocked by dried ink. Therefore, you need to clean these nozzles to get printing again. And all you need to do is install a cleaning cartridge in place of your ink cartridge and it will clean out those blocked nozzles.

  1. Print What You Need

You’d be surprised just how much ink is wasted by printing unnecessary data. Take websites, for example, perhaps there’s only one paragraph you need, but when you hit the print button it churns out six pages of wasted ink. What you should be doing here is taking advantage of the ‘print selection’ option offered up in your print settings. All you have to do is highlight the desired text and then tick ‘print selection’ and it will only print out that specific section.

For more ways to secure and optimize your business technology, contact your local IT professionals.

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