Can Apple Macs Get Viruses?

 It is well known globally that Windows computers can get viruses and this applies to all models and brands, the growing threats from cyber security attack is real, whether they be laptop desktop or notebooks or netbooks. Practically all desktop PC and laptop computers are prone to virus attacks if they run Microsoft Windows operating system.

Virus infection on computers can bring about data loss, but this is just one of the many drawbacks that can happen to an infected machine. There are cases when computers start to exhibit very slow performance and irritating popups. Statistics also shows that some computers with virus infection could also lead to unexpected financial losses for the owner / user if left unchecked. 

For several years there is a common concept amongst Mac users that Apple desktop such as iMac and their laptop counterparts - MacBook Pro, MacBook Air and MacBook - cannot be contaminated with viruses. 

This ridiculous false claim has been so widely spread to consumers to the point that many don't see the need for having antivirus or malwares solutions installed to protect their systems against these looming security threats.

This notion of false virus-proof protection feature being built into the Mac operating system has led many users opting for these devices over their Windows PC counterpart.

With the rapid spike of virus infection spreading across computing device types it is becoming clearer to most Apple users that the operating systems used by Macs have flaws that hackers can exploit and leveraging them is simply less profitable when compared to Windows.

Why Did Apple Computer Users Thought Macs Couldn't Be Infected with viruses?

In the early days of computer popularity when Windows became the operating system of choice, it was only logical that cyber attackers see these system as lucrative attack targets. This more is evident in the commercial world  the vast majority of computers purchased were running Microsoft’s operating systems which effectively increases opportunities as a hacker playing ground. With that ais, how do you deal with cybersecurity challenges affecting Apple Mac computers?

With Apple Mac now taking centre stage as the main computer hardware in many business such as creatives, post production, media and others, the perception of an immune system is gradually fading into thin air. There are now more viruses being developed frequently for the Mac OS platform due to their increased popularity an in the coming years, it is likely that attack trends could increase by multiple-folds.

What type of viruses can infect Macs?

Viruses exploiting flaws in Mac operating system are becoming more sophisticated and agile in their behaviour and impact on Apple computers. as users are silently being exposed to different Mac system exploits, it will be quite some time before these attacks become easily identifiable.

In 2019 alone, the number of Mac infections on Apple devices has seen user's  devices being infected with malware, trojan horses, spyware and many other computer virus that were once only applicable to Windows computer operating systems. 

Although by their default nature the Apple operating system has traditionally been more secure than Windows, it also reported that many IT professionals are encountering infected Macs more than ever. 

Here at Solid Rock IT UK, we’ve serviced numerous Apple Mac desktop and laptop computers that have lost data because of unexpected viruses infection over the last three years. In 2020 alone, the trend of cyber threat to computer systems has increased significantly, due to more people working remotely online during the pandemic period.

How Can Viruses Cause Data Loss on an Apple Mac System?

In some cases, virus infection on an Apple computer can render data on the device to become inaccessible for any number of reasons. To date, the most common tactics used by cyber attackers is the notion of encrypting a user's hard drive via malware or total device failure. 

Depending on the degree of encryption or virus attacks, there is usually the possibility to recover data from your Macs unless but the ability to seek professional help quickly is more that not the deciding factor for successful data recovery.

As we enter the new era of working from home, remote working and cloud computing, there are continuous threats introduced by cyber crime  for businesses, public bodies, charities and individuals alike. There are no longer save haven for computer and mobile users of any class as all are now target for data loss, cyber attacks and identity theft in the digital progressing world.

The best advise for users of Apple Mac OS, Android, Linux and Microsoft Windows system is to 

• Be constantly vigilant when using your system and connecting to wireless networks.
• Refrain from downloading anything from unfamiliar sources.
• Keep your anti-virus software up-to-date.
• Be mindful of the cyber threat and hacking schemes at play to compromise your system. 

That said, following the above security guidelines does not guarantee a infection free system, since by its very nature your device is a computer and being connected to the internet doesn't make it immune to infections and cyber attacks.

But What Can I Do if I Have Lost Data Because of a Virus Attack?

Get in touch with Solid Rock IT UK We offer a dynamic range of virus removal services and data recovery across all Apple Mac computer and laptop models. We are able to diagnose the security threat impacting your system and determine the best course of action for getting you lost data back.

When was the last time you had a Mac system health check to determine the integrity of your computer against malicious attacks and possible virus infection?

Computer Repairs London - Outsourced IT Support for PC & Mac

Searching for computer repair near me may be your best bet to find PC experts who are able to fix your laptop, desktop computer or Apple Mac in the current season. Getting help for repair computers or laptop require consideration of the cost for computer fix and justify the means of actually going ahead with the service. 

Getting your system up and running properly again is good when the costs doesn't exceed the price of a new device, or if you have sentimental attachment to your broken computer PC or Apple Macintosh.

There are numerous computer repair shops in London, but not all offer the convenience of onsite PC fix or remote laptop repairs, which means that home computer repairs are often carried out at the computer shop and not within the comfort of your own office or home.

It is understandable that many broken PC and laptops with faults that happened during early stages of the pandemic will now require expert computer technician help as the lockdown eases, with schools and universities look to resume studies.

No one expected the effects of COVID-19 would take this long as such, it becomes more feasible to fix your computer than buying a new one to reduce costs and inconveniences.

With many people now working from home for longer periods, the need for mobile computer engineers is becoming more important for both business and residential IT Support. Many users who are remote working may at some stage, require urgent computer services via onsite computer repair near me, where and engineer visit your location, diagnose the computer issue and carry out the relevant PC fix to mend broken computers and laptops.

Fixing laptop and computers can sometimes seems easy, but there are those occasions where broken PC will require more technical expertise to overcome the underlying computer maintenance challenges facing the user and that makes rock solid rock sense.

At Solid Rock IT UK, we repair computers across all models and brands. Our IT support engineers are experts at laptop repairs, computer services, Mac Support and wireless networking.

We fix computers with hardware and software faults, including broken screens, hard drive issues, WIFI not working properly, software corruptions and many other symptoms.

With you as our customer means there is no need to fuss about the underlying IT technicalities of computer repairs as we take care of those detailed aspects for you. Our main aim is to get your system up and running properly again and as quickly as possible.

Amongst the many reputable IT support company London customers love, we are considered one of the best customer choice for responsive and expertise. We love to help our customers with Apple Mac Support London, outsourced IT support, computer repairs and data recovery via onsite and remote IT services.

Based in South East London, enable us to provide ongoing business IT Support in London and surrounding areas for companies and residential customers alike. Your dependence on technology for daily business activities, home working and IT project solutions delivery means we have your interest at the forefront of everything we do with outsourced IT support for ongoing peace of mind.

If you are looking for computer repair shops near me, our engineers are readily available to help you every step of the way. We remove the need for you to travel to computer stores, leave your device for repairs and then go back to collect it later. We come to you, thereby simplifying the PC repair shop process and make technology work for you. 

If you are looking for emergency IT support, most of our computer services can be delivered on the same day of calling, or via pre-booked appointment where a later date is required that suits your availability and schedule.

Tech repair is what we do daily and you can also consider us as your computer fixers for all Mac repairs, all-in-one desktop fix, laptop services or server maintenance.

The next time you need computer repairing, simply get in touch and let our expert IT support engineers fix your computer or Apple Mac faults.

Trends in Artificial Intelligence

Popularity of intelligent systems owe their success to artificial intelligence as the core entity for effective operations. Our theory is that these intelligent systems are actively connected to computer networks via the internet or interconnected databases emended within their "cerebral-sphere" for quick information access and decision support. 

How Effective is The Apple iPad for Working From Home and Remote Learning?

The technology market has seen a significant surge in the use of portable devices such as laptops and tablets during the lockdown as most people need to work from home or continue studies via distant learning. 

Amongst the top contenders for tablet use is the Apple iPad which held a strong position in periods leading up to and after the initial demand for computing devices caused by the pandemic and most people not being able to leave home.

Working from home is now a common trend and and for many, this is the new way of working for digital lifestyle.

Many iPad users were probably using the commonly available iPad Mini, iPad Air and  older versions such as the iPad 2, 3 and 4 provided they are able to function properly online with the required apps.

The newer Apple iPad devices such as the iPad Pro and 10.2-inch iPad proved very much in demand due to their larger screen sizes, faster processor capabilities and compatibility with the latest iOS operating system and the need for capable technology products. 

It can easily be reasoned that amongst the top tablets purchased by consumers and business alike, the latter tablets were were some of the best selling tablets of all time.

Statistics indicated that the sale of iPad Pro and the 10.2 iPad puts Apple in a comfortable position with 38% of market the share by the peak of the COVID-9 period.

Other popular tablet brands inching closely behind Apple's tablet sale trend includes Samsung, Amazon and Lenovo models, which are also popular choices for consumers with respect to portable touch screen equipment based on purchases and shipment volumes.

The rise in remote work and continuation for safe distance means more and more people will be confined to the comfort of their home for much longer, or atleast until the stay-at-home ease is phased in

at it is safer to travel freely. 

It is expected that alongside remote working, learning and leisure will continue to champion the use of tablets, laptop and other portable devices from mainstream PC vendors for work, where mobile phones are not fully capable for one reason or another.

Apple Mac has also seen a huge surge in the need new computer setup amongst businesses, despite supply constraints at the start of the pandemic.

Given the rise of tablets and laptops for work, do you think Apple iPad are effective for working from home and distance learning?

Get help with technology consultancy and IT support for business and residential customers when working from home or in the office today.

Why its Worth Having Laptop Screen Repairs

Having a broken laptop screen repaired can make a lot of difference for your Windows or Mac computer devices.

Monitor screen repair in London is a popular service that is readily available for businesses and home users who are interested in keeping their existing computer or laptop instead of throwing it out and buying a new one. Screen repairs are mostly for laptops and notebooks and less so for desktop computers which uses an externally connected monitor to display content from the computer.

Broken screens are not just limited to standard notebooks and we've seen numerous gaming laptops with broken screen that needed to be repaired so they can function properly again.

One of the biggest challenges for professional IT services is often highlighted by the question "where can i get a laptop screen fixed near me"? Many users who have broken laptop screen for repair either are not able to find a reputable computer repair company, or simply not sure how to go about getting their broken laptop screen fixed. Now for the big money question:

How much does it cost to fix a laptop screen?

Professional laptop screen repair costs varies and it really depends on the model and brand of the device as screen types do differ across product ranges. Most users are not tech savvy and whilst a laptop screen repair is not the most difficult job, getting it wrong is the only concern to worry about, as this can literally leave your device with a blank display. That said, if you are comfortable with working on your laptop and have the correct tool to repair the broken or cracked screen yourself then this could be an exciting adventure.

Given the above, cost to fix a broken laptop screen can vary from anywhere between £100.00 to anything over £1500.00 for Mac and Windows notebooks - including most iMacs. With computers becoming a common technology for homes and business users, it is becoming easier to find the correct replacement screen at a reasonable price and it often only takes an hour or two to complete a DIY laptop screen replacement.

How Can I Fix My Cracked Laptop Screen?

There are numerous laptop screen repair guides available online that can help you fix a broken or cracked laptop screen in no time. That said, some of these tutorials can also hide key steps that must be carried out to ensure a fully functional unit as you walk through the repair process. This can often be due to either sections of the video being edited out, or there is an assumption by the trainer that the user should be able to work out such steps without the need for further explanation.

What Causes Laptop Screen Damages?

Most laptop screen damages are cause by either physical impact to the display - computer held at one of the top corners(pinched ear-bud) or an object getting trapped between the laptop lid and top case for the keyboard / track-pad. Normally, when an object gets caught between the screen and keyboard, if it is not a spongy or cushion type device then a broken or damaged laptop screen is most likely to occur.

Another reason for laptop screen damage is cracks that occur due to overheating or wear-and-tear. These screen damages are often obvious as cracks near the bottom of the screen that eventually spread to cover the display and lead to dead-pixel images or splodges on the LCD screen.

So there you have it, some of the main reasons why it is worth having your laptop screen repaired. If you would like help for broken laptop screen repair repairs in London, simply get in touch with Solid Rock IT UK and we'll be happy to assist.

Malware OSX/Dok Causing Havoc for Mac OS

OSX Dok is the most recent malware affecting Apple Mac devices that uses the Mac OS operating systems - all versions. Basically OSX/Dok target users email account and execute malicious codes from an attachment called Dokument.zip. The OSX Dok phishing scam is a deliberate cyber war campaign that attack Apple computers via unsolicited emails.

Once the email attachment is opened, the infected payload automatically propagate itself throughout the user's profile and operating system, then move on to monitor network traffic, system use and user keystrokes by elevating its security privileges. 

OSX Dok behaves like a latent malware strain, meaning that it attempts to take on normal Mac OS operations to fool unsuspecting users while at the same time, remaining covert about its true intentions - minimum cause for alarm.

5 Reasons Why IT Outsourcing is a Smart Strategy for Your Small Businesses

Achieving satisfaction and convenience from IT Service management is an important factor for business growth and resilience while keeping costs low.

Whether you operate your business online or via a shop front the ability to have continuous productivity and fully working technologies is more important than ever before.

As such, you must consider IT consulting and the ability to outsource aspects of your technology landscape to those experts who are able to deliver superb services in less time.

That said, many small business owners find it difficult to hire the best IT talent to complement their team and compete effectively against big players within their niche or business industry.

Statistics shows that there is a massive gap between the skills and talent required by hiring managers and what's available on the market to fulfil this need.

Like many businesses. you may have an in-house IT team or dedicated person that does some sort of information technology duties alongside their daily duties. But let's consider the facts carefully, is this an economical approach for taking your business to the next level? You may think increasing your IT budget is the only way to meet your business needs, but with today's technology landscape there is far more than what meets the eyes.

Have you considered IT outsourcing? Having the mindset that your business isn’t big enough for outsourcing your IT functions is one way to look at things, but is this really the truth?

It may take some time to rationalise the benefits of whether or not IT outsourcing is the right call and to help you direct your thoughts to a decision point, we've highlighted the top five reasons for outsourcing your IT and technology support functions of your business.

1. Access to the Best Industry Talent

By outsourcing your IT services, you get the opportunity to identify and select the best consulting resources in the industry at a great price. Hiring the best experts is pivotal for protecting your business against technology implications, security breaches and unnecessary resource deployment. This approach is by far one of the best factors to consider if you intend to take your business to the next level. Before choosing your IT service provider, you must learn about the services they offer and their overall staff profile.

One crucial factor that can help you avoid potential pitfalls is to consider if they experienced in delivering IT services and technology consultancy within your industry. Take the time to ask them about the services they’re providing to other industry players and what their typical incident resolution time looks like.

Another way to approach this is to examine how their company offer remote it support, computer repairs, and on-site call out services. In the end, the final decision will be dependent on the company you choose to support your business via IT outsourcing, but you can find out a lot about your potential IT Support provider and ensure you are a best match for each other when it comes to the provision of outsourced IT support for your business.

2. Reduce Your Risk

When handling IT Support in-house, there is a sense of comfort that comes with trussing your team to operate in the spirit of interest for the business. This can sometimes come as an unexpected bite, when things go belly-up and your business assumes all the risks.

On the other hand, when an Outsourced IT service provider is involved, it is often more noticeable that they take a more precautionary approach to risk management and scenarios mitigation with activities restricted only to those involved in respective IT operations. It's important to remember that with internal IT Support, your IT team handles all the sensitive client and company information, which may not be suitable for every eye, especially with the introduction on GDPR regulations.

Also, if there's a cyber security breach within your environment, your business will be totally responsible for any consequences and liquidated damages should this become necessary. Outsourcing your IT department will help you reduce your risks and offset the level of responsibility, although you are still accountable for the overall outcome.

3. Lower Your Operating Costs

It is a known fact that having an in-house IT team or personnel introduce significant strains on small business budgets. However, by outsourcing your IT services provision and maintenance, you could potentially lower your ongoing operating costs year-by-year and this will become noticeable when all human resource factors are taken into consideration.
This low cost may tempt you to go for a complete IT package and it is here that care is required to ensure you focus on hiring an IT services company that meet your business needs and deliver solutions that are related to your productivity requirements.

4. Keep Your Systems Up to Date

Technology is one of the most rapidly changing industries that with hardware, software and resource churn occurring at an alarming rate. That said, there are many business owners who with a mindset to purchase and use hardware / software resources until they broke or cause productivity issues.

This strategy may seems like a practical working solution, but statistics have shown that this can seriously drag business and staff productivity to a grinding halt. In the ling run, such scenarios can result in low staff morale and user frustration which can negatively impact the outcome of your business.

If outcomes are not recognised and properly manged, this can result in slow business growth and competitive advantage. By outsourcing your IT, your IT department can also become your technology department for solution innovation and strategies which could easily grow your company.

5. Focus on Scaling Your Business

As a small business owner, it is likely that each personnel resource wears multiple hats due to the varied roles and responsibilities that they have to perform if not daily, then on a regular basis.
Outsourcing your IT functions and environment management can provide you an opportunity to step back with enough breathing room where you can focus business growth strategies and profitable outcomes.

The Bottom Line for IT Outsourcing

Although there are numerous cost elements to consider with IT outsourcing, this will by far become the easiest way to take your business to the next level. If you are a small business owner and struggling with the provision of technology budget or hiring an outside company to handle your IT maintenance this approach can provide you the breather that the business needs.

An outsourced It Support team can provide the best talent and technology for your business and technology strategy road map, while helping to reduce overall operating costs to your business. For business owners with operating within multiple roles, an outsourced IT approach can provide the necessary leverage to focus on daily business needs, instead of being bombarded by daily demands and limited time to undertake core business functions properly.

Many business owners underestimate the importance of technology and the value of technical support as part of their everyday company's' operations.

If like many you are still thinking about the benefits of outsourcing your IT functions then it is time to get in touch with us to discuss your IT support challenges and underlying requirements.

Apple iMac 21.5-Inch 3.2GHz Core i3 Mid-2010 8GB RAM 1TB + Office 2019 MC509LL/A Product Review

The iMac "Core i3" 3.2 21.5-inch mid-2010 desktop Macintosh boasts an aluminum, silver and well-polished frame that makes appearance second to none. This iMac comes powered by a dual core 3.2 GHz Intel "Core i3" I3-550 processor and 4 MB shared level 3 cache.

The iMac 2010- is capable of being upgraded to 16GB of RAM via 4 slots of PC3-10600 DDR3 SDRAM operating at 1333MHz. It also has a 1TB 7200 RPM hard drive along with a dedicated ATI Radeon HD 5670 graphics card with 512 MB of dedicated GDDR3 memory.

Like most other Apple computers, this 21.5-inch mid-2010 iMac also have abuilt-in iSight video camera and stereo speakers.

Interface connectivity includes four USB 2.0 ports, a Firewire 800 port, built-in AirPort Extreme WIFI adapter and Gigabit Ethernet port for direct network connection.

The "Mid-2010" iMac is also able to support  SDXC SD memory cards as standard, eliminating the need to use an external card reader.

Looking to grab an iMac and start working more productively, check out this amazing offer here.

HTTP VS HTTPS: Benefits of An HTTPS Website

Secure sockets layer (SSL) and transport layer security (TLS) certificates are the two most widely adopted security artefacts used for website protection and end to end security. Both web security standards utilise certificates to enforce encryption between the hosting web server, the website and the user browser. This means any interaction or traffic flow between the website, user and the internet browser is fully protected for the duration of the user session.

SSL and TLS makes it possible for secure card purchases to be undertaken online, secure user login and sensitive information transfers without concerns for information snooping or data hijacking from malicious sources.
There are differences between TSL and SSL and although marginal, they both useful for ensuring the secure connection for data
exchange between source and destination entities online.

How SSL & TLS Certificates Work?

Basically, data from source to destination systems is secured during transmission across the network transportation layer with verified file level encryption applied via a control code.
SSL and TLS use certificates to enforce and identify the type of encryption that is applied for a web connection, which can be validated by inputting https:// before the www part of the website domain name or website link.

When a site is secure it will display a padlock in front of the domain name. An insecure website will https in the URL and therefore will not be considered safe for online transactions or visit b y search engines such as Google, Yahoo, Bing and others. Having a safe website now an important part of ensuring regularoy compliance and every website owner / operator now need to have an https site URL.

Online Safety and Security

Cybersecurity and hacking is actively increasing, given the number of devices that are now connected to the internet along with the rising also threats caused by data breach, identity theft and system compromise.

Many small business and professional website owners are of the impression that their network system and website is immune to the effects of hacking, but this is a massive mistake. Since the beginning of 2020 the highest levels of malicious attacks and data breaches were from small business and those hosting online platforms with data stored on remote servers.

In these scenarios, hacking is generally accomplished by malicious search crawlers searching cyber space for potential targets that can be easily compromised. Without SSL or TLS as an extra layer of defence, owners of these website are opening themselves up to becoming victim of proportionate attacks.

Ecommerce website and those accepting user login generally rely on username and passwords for access. Nowadays, websites without SSL or TLS security certificate would be looked upon as a suspicious entity with minimal user trust. This means security certificates need to be in place in or for sites to can take card payments.

GDPR Compliance & Regulatory Impacts

General Data Defense Regulation (GDPR) came into effect on 25th May 2019 and places responsibility on data controllers and owners to ensure the safe and consistent protection of customer / user data, without which there could be massive fines and penalties. For this reason security certificates on web sites have become a mandatory requirement as it indicate that due diligence has been taken to protect the date that one is responsible for. With the new information security regulation, it’s vital that any company gathering individual recognisable data have roper protection in place to safeguard its existence.

Some sites function by gathering details regarding their users for future marketing and retargeting via different methods. If you have not installed a TSL certificate and data within your control gets breached, you will need to inform the ICO and advise all impacted consumers of this occurrence.

SEO Services Requirements

When Google come across a website that doesn’t have SSL or TLS in place, these are flagged as “not secure”, a measure which was implemented back in 2017. Since that time, it is also estimated that at least two-thirds of all internet facing websites are still considered unsafe and insecure. Effective SEO services rely on having HTTP as an active feature within the site as a mandatory technical SEO metrics.

Another internet trust management company – Moz – also highlighted that there is a connection between websites with HTTPS and the final weighting of their search ranking results.

Additionally, GlobalSign’s research reveals that 84% of web customers would abandon an online purchase if data was sent out over an insecure connection which could impact their data privacy and security. This means websites without HTTPS could be penalised by lower search position visibility from Google along with a lower domain name authority and trust flow. This focus on safe web sites will continue to play an important role in boosting the value of SEO, web development and visitor conversions.

In Conclusion…

Although SSL and TLS certifications do attract a cost of around ₤70 each year, the financial investment versus the risk is well worth the effort and peace of mind.

The increase of individuals acquiring TSL and SSL certificates will continue to increase as emphasis on compliance become more stringent for the protection of data and information security.

As e-commerce presence continue to grow and more transactions are carried out as part of online shopping the need for secure platform will become mandatory. Both local businesses to large companies will want to ensure they are not caught out due to the lack of safeguard practices and inadequate cyber security mechanisms in place.

Most Dangerous Virus & Malware Threats to be Aware of in 2020

Virus attack on computer is nothing new and although antivirus programs have been evolving to higher levels of sophistication, detecting and removing malicious threats from computer systems is still a major concern for many systems and users.

Malware attacks are on the rise, targeting Windows and Apple Mac with infections at an  ever increasing rate. So how do we eradicate malicious and virus attack problems caused by these threats?

It is very tempting to make predictions about the future of security industry based on current threats and trends within the security industry.

To get a better ideas of what the state of affairs for virus and malware attacks looks like  let’s do a deeper analysis of the latest malware trends, major statistics and effects these infections have on computers running Windows, Android and Mac operating systems.

Statistics shows that security attacks counts for 623 million records breaches in 2020, with February showing the highest level on record.

This trend is spread across business and residential domains in the form of cyber attacks, Ransomware, data breaches, malicious incidents and financial information loss.

Be Careful With Your Productivity Tools

Microsoft Office is a primary attack point for security compromise. As one of the leading productivity tool used by residential and business users, there is also a greater level of threats for compromise to occur on a larger scale with successful outcome.

So, the main suggestion here is to beware of your own productivity tools. Executable files were once the core source for attacking target systems and inflicting malicious intent.

Now attackers are exploring other options that can be weaponized for more sophisticated yet subtle attacks on Windows, Apple Mac and network systems.

Although users have caught onto the fact that links and executable are likely to be malicious, email services are still prone to open .doc files which hackers have been using as exploits to their advantage. As much as 38% of malware is now being disguised as a Word document.

Ransomware is Shill a Massive Problem

The average cost of security breaches has increased by 6.8%. and in 2019, the average cost of data breach has increased by 6.4% to £3.8 million.


Reports that the impact of ransomware is becoming  less common are not true as organisations and individuals are still being targeted by mutated versions of this security strain with a whopping payout cost of £9.26 billion for remediating ransomware damages or honouring the ransom amounts.

Cryptojacking is on the rise

Cryptocurrency mining requires huge amount of processor CPU power for successful conversion.

The presents of such power CPU power presents a lucrative option hackers who aim to hijack a crypto miner CPU cycle and use it to their benefit for free.

There is a massive rise in Cryptojacking malware which steals the CPU cycles used to mine cryptocurrency. As of December 2019, this is now one of the fastest-growing malware attacks in cyber space, with up to 10 million malicious attacks per month.

Hackers are coming for your phone.

Smart phones are now a major target for malicious attacks by malware, Trojans and viruses.
By mobile phones being always online and having processing power that is sometimes equivalent to most modern computers. mobile malware are targeting both new and older versions of Android apps with many now using emails, text, apps and wireless hijacking as feasible route of exploitation.

What About phishing attacks?

9 out of 10 cyber attacks start with a simple phishing email, where hackers attempt to trick users into handing over important personal or business information.

Even with the introduction of security awareness training, statistical evidence shows that a vast proportion of system compromise are the result of  phishing attacks.

Most cyber criminals need your funds

Paying out for cyber blackmail of at the forefront of most malicious attacks.

Hackers are no longer interested in compromising systems for the sake of petty revenge, nation-state espionage, industrial espionage, or simple activism/vandalism – the truth is, they want your money.

Financial gains account for 76% of attacks by cyber criminals who are motivated to see this as the fundamental way for them to make a living.

Small businesses are the most susceptible to virus and malware attacks.

Companies with less than 1,000 employees are classified as small business and believe it or not these are the prime target for cyber attacks in their various forms.

Over 60% of all cyber attacks are directed at small businesses who, either lacks the budget and/or  manpower to defend their assets and data against these serious security threats.

In Conclusion...

Awareness is the best defence against virus attacks and malware infections on your system or network environment.

Malware attacks still present significant challenges on a global scale for users at all levels, due to their sophistication and ability to evolve quickly.

The primary intent behind most attacks by hackers is compromising users accounts, collect sensitive information and stealing anything of value that can then be sold on for profit.

In light of the threats created by virus, malware and other malicious payload, security will continue to be an important part of information technology and corporate governance, so organisations and individual will need to step up the game and become more vigilant to pending threat - ready or not.