All You Need to Know About the Titanium Malware

malware, Ophtek, Security, Security Threats, Titanium, , , ,
26
Nov 2019

The Titanium malware has been released into the wild and is already making plenty of headlines. But what’s the full story behind this backdoor malware?

New malware is released every day, but certain strains are more dangerous than others. And Titanium certainly stands out. It’s a piece of malware which is highly advanced in terms of technology and pushes the boundaries of hacking. Any organization which values its privacy and security, therefore, needs to be aware of Titanium. Hacking, after all, hits productivity hard and this is magnified when it’s an advanced hack.

So, to help protect your computer network and maintain productivity, we’re going to tell you all you need to know about the Titanium malware.

Where Did Titanium Come From?

A major hack needs a major ‘talent’ behind it and Titanium certainly satisfies this condition. The perpetrator is believed to be the hacking group known as Platinum. And, in the last few years, Platinum has gained notoriety for developing persistent threats in the Asia-Pacific area. Believed to be state-sponsored, Platinum has access to funds and technology to develop advanced hacking tools. And this is exactly what Titanium is.

Titanium spreads from PC to PC in a number of different ways:

  • Vulnerable intranets that have already been exploited by malware allow Titanium to get a foothold before infecting multiple workstations
  • Stealthily infecting Windows installation tasks and installing itself at the same time as legitimate software
  • Using a shellcode which is activated as part of the Windows logon process to ensure it’s active from startup

What Does Titanium Do?

Titanium is advanced malware and is able to infect computers in a number of different ways. It’s a combination which marks it out as a major threat, but what does Titanium actually do? Well, once it’s unleashed, it can do the following:

  • Read, send and delete any file contained within the infected PC
  • Edit configuration settings on the PC
  • Receive commands from a remote server

Titanium is particularly virulent due to its emphasis on stealth. The potential for mimicry within Titanium is strong as it can imitate a wide range of legitimate software. And it’s this skill for imitation which enhances Titanium’s ability to deceive and spread.

How Do You Tackle Titanium?

With its combination of multiple infection threats, ability to imitate and connection to remote servers, Titanium is a slice of malware you want to avoid. While it may be dangerous, it isn’t impossible to avoid. To keep one step ahead of Titanium make sure you practice the following:

  • Only install software that comes from a legitimate source e.g. purchased products and not illegal torrents
  • Make sure that network activity is continuously monitored to detect any unusual traffic
  • Double check all requests for software upgrades/firmware as these could easily be compromised by Titanium
  • Use a firewall at all times to help prevent unauthorized connections in and out of your network

Titanium may be very quiet at the moment – Kaspersky are yet to detect any current activity – but vigilance is recommended due to the forces behind it. By understanding the threat of Titanium you can ensure that your network is protected from yet another pressing threat.

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

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The Best Security Settings for a Business Router

business router, Ophtek, Password Security, Security, Security Threats, , , ,
19
Nov 2019

A business router can help support your entire workforce and customer base, so keeping it secure is crucial. But how do you make sure it’s extra safe?

Small to medium businesses need computer networks to stay connected. They can be used to share resources, engage with customers and store valuable data. And a business router represents one of the simplest and most effective ways to achieve this. But the benefits associated with routers are also highly attractive to hackers. Therefore, keeping ahead of these hackers and securing your router should be a paramount concern.

The good news is that protecting your router isn’t rocket science. And, to help you get started, we’re going to show you the best security settings for a business router.

The Best Settings for Staying Secure

There are many ways to secure your router with some being simple and some being considerably more complex. Thankfully, to protect you from any technical headaches, we’re going to look at the simplest, but most effective settings:

  • Use Unique Passwords: Most routers come with a default password and this poses a major security risk to your router. If an external party discovers the model of router your organization is using then they are one step closer to cracking your password. But it doesn’t have to be this dangerous. Instead, you can set a unique password which is close to impossible to crack. 
  • Change Your Network Name: It’s common for routers to use a default network name such as NetgearWiFi and, while this may seem of little significance, it’s yet another way in which hackers can gather details about your router. So, for example, if a vulnerability emerges that affects Netgear routers then a hacker would know how to strike your router. To reduce this risk you should change your network name to something that contains no identifying data. 
  • Analyze Event Logs: By switching on the ‘event logging’ feature within your router you can start analyzing any changes that are made to your router. Logs are routinely saved which will highlight any unusual configuration changes or activity going through your router. And, with this data to hand, you can get a clearer idea of whether any unauthorized access to your router has taken place. 
  • Limit Access: There are going to be very few people who need to access your business router. After all, the majority of your staff will be able to complete their daily IT tasks without needing access. And the less people that have access the better. The only people who need direct access should be your in-house IT team, so make sure that your router is correctly configured to facilitate this.

Final Thoughts

There are a number of ways that you can protect your business router and, as you can see, they are simple, but effective techniques. Even the smallest level of protection is enough to deter hackers, so if you can implement these methods then you should find that your router is safer than ever.

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

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The Best Ways to Create a Unique Password

Ophtek, Password Security, Security, Security Threats, ,
12
Nov 2019

We use passwords for so many different services and websites that we often resort to using the same password. But this approach is very dangerous.

Think about it for a second. If your one and only password is compromised then every account you use is at risk. This includes your business email, social media accounts and any in-house software your organization uses. And this constitutes a lot of sensitive data. Therefore, the one-password-fits-all approach is a tightrope we don’t recommend traversing.

But creating a password is tough. And remembering it is even more difficult. Especially, as discussed, when you need to remember so many on a daily basis. Sure, you could write them all down, but this in itself is a major security risk. And what if you lose the piece of paper? So, you need a number of password strategies that help you create a unique password every time.

Creating Unique Passwords You Can Remember

For a password to stand out it needs to be memorable. And, for it to remain secure, it needs to be hard to crack. That’s why using your name and date of birth, such as johndoe110275, makes for such a poor password. It may be memorable to you, but it also contains details that are easy to obtain. Instead, you need to get a little more creative.

Acronyms are one of the simplest ways to get creative with your passwords. For example, if you want a unique password for your business emails then you could come up with a phrase such as “I need my business emails on a day to day basis at all times” which, in turn, could form the acronym ‘Inmbeoad2db@at”. It’s a password which is difficult to crack, but also one that’s easy to remember for the creator.

An alternative to acronyms, and equally successful, is the use of passwords which appear similar, but are customized depending on where they are used. So, for example, you could start with a basic template of ‘Alway$_SITENAME_f0rme’ that you adapt for each different account you need to log into e.g. ‘Alway$_Linkedin_f0rme’ or ‘Alway$_Outlook_f0rme’.  This method allows you to memorize a fairly simple foundation for your passwords and then complete the blank with ease each time you need to access that website or app.

Finally, one of the easiest and quickest methods for creating unique passwords is by investing in a password manager. But what is a password manager? Well, rather than assigning the role of password manager to yourself you delegate it to an app. The password manager can not only create randomized passwords that are difficult to crack, but they also act as a digital storage safe. As a result, the pain of both creating and remembering your password for each and every service is significantly reduced.

Final Thoughts

By using proven methods and tapping in to your natural creativity it’s possible to create a unique password for every account you use. Remembering all of these passwords is also a lot easier than you think. But, even if you do struggle to remember them, help is at hand in the form of password managers. So, there really is no excuse for compromising your accounts by recycling the same old password across every account.

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

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How to Identify Fake and Scam Websites

fake websites, Hacking, malicious code, malicious websites, malware, Ophtek, scam websites, , , , ,
05
Nov 2019

We use the internet on a daily basis and visit countless websites along the way. But they’re not always the real deal. And sometimes they can be malicious.

The internet is a wonderful place and the websites that make it up can make a real difference to your business. Sadly, this opportunity is often subverted by criminals and hackers to be much more dangerous.  And, with each new step the internet takes, there are even more chances for these criminals to take advantage of. For example, online payment sites such as PayPal have allowed businesses to work closely with their customers to deliver hassle free payment methods. But, with a financial element at play, these sites have been heavily targeted.

Hackers have developed sophisticated techniques for setting up fake and scam websites, so it’s difficult to identify these fraudulent sites. However, by learning a little more about these techniques you can learn how to identify fake and scam websites.

What Do You Need to Look Out For?

There are a number of tell-tale signs adopted by fake and scam websites, so make sure you take note of the following when browsing online:

  • Always Check the URL: The address bar of your browser is one of the most important tools at your disposal when trying to identifying a fake website. The URL listed in the address bar may look genuine, but it’s crucial that you always look a little closer. A URL may read, for example, bankofamerica.com.authorization-process.com and look genuine due to the first part of the URL. But, on this occasion, bankofamerica.com is only acting as the sub-domain. The domain that you have actually visited is authorization-process.com. 
  • Secure Connections: You should only ever visit websites that have secure connections. This security is indicated by either a HTTPS prefix on a URL or the presence of a padlock image next to the URL. Without these indicators then the connection will be unsecured and your data can easily be viewed. Naturally, a genuine website will always deliver these security indicators, so if these are not present then leave the website immediately. 
  • Search Out Trust Seals: Websites that are secure pride themselves on this achievement. And this hard work is rewarded in the form of trust seals which can take the form of Google Trusted Store, Norton Secured and GeoTrust logos. A website with these, and similar, logos is trustworthy. But it’s very easy for a hacker to copy one of these logos on to any website they want. Thankfully, most trust seals can be clicked on to display verified certificate information. If this does not appear then assume that the trust seals are faked. 
  • Check the Grammar: A genuine website will have been written and proofread by professionals. But a fake website will often be designed in a rush and by people whose first language is not English. And the result is a website full of spelling mistakes. So, if you believe you’re on PayPal, but see it mistakenly spelled as PayPal then you can rest assured you’re not on the genuine site. 
  • Too Many Ads: Online ads are part and parcel of life now. But sometimes it may seem as though there are too many on a website. And this is the calling card of a fake or scam website. The excess adverts popping up are often malicious in themselves, so if you experience more than two when loading up a new page you should tread carefully and begin analyzing the web page further.

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

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