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Nearly 100 countries, including India, have been hit by a massive cyber-attack

Nearly 100 countries, including India, have been hit by a massive cyber-attack, which, according to experts, was carried out with the help of “cyber weapons” stolen from the US National Security Agency. The cyberattack was first reported in Sweden, Britain, and France, US media outlets reported.

Nearly 100 countries, including India, have been hit by a massive cyber-attack

Cyber extortionists tricked victims into opening malicious malware attachments to spam emails that appeared to contain invoices, job offers, security warnings, and other legitimate files. It has been reported that new ransomware, “Wanna Cry” is spreading widely. Wannacry encrypts the files on infected Windows systems. This ransomware spreads by using a vulnerability in implementations of Server Message Block (SMB) in Windows systems.

This exploit is named ETERNALBLUE. The ransomware WannaCrypt or Wanna Cry encrypts the computer’s hard disk drive and then spreads laterally among computers on the same LAN. The ransomware also spreads through malicious attachments to emails.

An increase in activity of the malware was noticed on Friday, security software company Avast reported, adding that it “quickly escalated into a massive spreading”. Within hours, over 75,000 attacks have been detected worldwide, the company said. Meanwhile, the MalwareTech tracker detected over 100,000 infected systems over the past 24 hours. 

According to cyber swachhta Kendra, the file extensions that malware ‘Wanna cry’ is targeting contain certain clusters of formats like:

1. Commonly used office file extensions (.ppt, .doc, .docx, .xlsx, .sxi).

2. Less common and nation-specific office formats (.sxw, .odt, .hwp).

3. Archives, media files (.zip, .rar, .tar, .bz2, .mp4, .mkv)

4. Emails and email databases (.eml, .msg, .ost, .pst, .edb).

5. Database files (.sql, .accdb, .mdb, .dbf, .odb, .myd).

6. Developers’ source code and project files (.php, .java, .cpp, .pas, .asm).

7. Graphic designers, artists, and photographers files (. vsd, .odg, .raw, .Nef, .Svg,. psd).

8. Encryption keys and certificates (.key, .Pfx, .Poem, .p12, .csr, .Gpg,. us).

9. Virtual machine files (. vmx, .Vmdk,. video).

Kindly do not open any email attachments unless thoroughly scanned with a paid antivirus application whose virus definitions have been thoroughly updated. In addition, do not open or run any attachments with the tasksche.exe file. We have also attached the industry’s best practices & know-how on ransomware mitigation.

cyber swachhta Kendra

Conclusion

A massive cyber-attack has affected nearly 100 countries, including India, causing widespread disruption and security concerns. The attack highlights the critical need for robust cybersecurity measures and emphasizes the importance of staying vigilant and proactive in protecting digital assets and sensitive information. Organizations and individuals must prioritize cybersecurity practices to safeguard against future threats and ensure the integrity and confidentiality of their data.

Contact Ideastack for more information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. How will you help raise awareness of cyberspace?

One way we can all practice cyber safety is by using strong passwords. Because, let’s face it, managing passwords is something we all detest, password security is simple to neglect. However, using outdated or shared passwords may offer hackers access to every aspect of your digital life.

Q2. What is Cyber Security Kendra bot removal, exactly?

The Government of India through CERT-In recommends downloading the “Free Bot Removal Tool” from csk.gov.in to protect your device from botnet infections and malware. The following is a list of the programs available for downloading from the Cyber Swachhta Kendra (CSK) website that may be used to clean your computer of viruses.

Q3. What exactly are bot attacks?

An automated script is used to disrupt a website, steal data, make fraudulent transactions, or carry out other harmful operations in a bot attack, a sort of cyberattack. Websites, servers, APIs, and other endpoints are just a few of the various targets that these attacks may be used against.

Security measures for your WordPress website

WordPress’s website can effectively enable you to earn a profit on the web. This has made certain programmers and website managers consider being a chance to grasp profitable abilities from their locales. WordPress website is an open-sourced online platform written in PHP which is used as a website creation tool.

It promotes the important functions of content management efficiently through its CMS (Content Management System) function making it be easiest and the most powerful blogging website creation tool in existence today for e-commerce to various portfolio websites.

Nowadays most companies are employing the services of WordPress hosting for their web-publishing needs, blogs, news outlets, music sites, and many other functions. It even fulfills you to have your basic customization needs to be flexible according to the given situation. Its plug-in can enable you to add new design options and functionalities.

Security Measures For Your WordPress Website

With the multiple benefits of a WordPress enable a website, it also requires some security and maintenance measures to keep going with its effective services without any kind of hindrance. You should always be aware of some safeguard approaches that can be useful for the optimization of your websites.

There stands a very important need of keeping your WordPress enabled website secured by certain measures or tips which are as follows:-

1. Regular securing of your system

Ensure your PC security from certain malware, spyware, and other infection contamination with a better set of advanced software in charge with a firewall, solid secret key having inclusions of certain applications and operating systems to fight against computing infections.

2. Regular backing up of your data

Data is the most valuable asset and you must be serious with its security with the proper level of security maintained of databases, records, plugins, media transfers, and other businesses affecting things. Proper backup at regular intervals will prevent your website from getting crashed.

3. Encrypted file permissions

You should be certain and clear about whom the files can be accessible to restrict your record consent. There should be a small list of permitted access organizers.

4. Have the most prominent choice of your web server and host, being beneficial for you covering all aspects

Ensure that the web server and the host you are choosing perform and avail you with proper precautionary steps assuring the top most level of security. If you operate on a mutual server then you must request to have proper details about your data security.

5. Safeguard admin’s access

Erase the old client account and replace it with another head username as the programmers can come across your username through Blogs or website entries that ask for a need to change the usernames frequently.

6. Be aware of upgrades

The updated variants of WordPress come up with more efficient security engagements regarding the settling of bugs, allocating a new feature with better security openings. Always ensure that all your topics, modules, and other server functions are updated positively without any kind of postponement, removing all disabled and outdated plug-ins and other inactive themes.

Do WordPress sites need a privacy policy?

Conclusion

Having proper security measures for your WordPress is certainly a very important concern if you analyze any sort of assaults and danger coming towards your website. The above tips can surely help you to maintain a level of security for your data and the functioning of your website.

Hence with the multiple advantages of the WordPress tool, it also requires a level of maintenance to promote the productive working of its services without any kind of noise affecting it. To know more visit Ideatstack.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Which is a suggested security improvement for your WordPress website?

Aside from installing a firewall on your PC, you may also install security features directly on your WordPress website. This kind of firewall protects your website from viruses, malware, and hacker attacks, among other things.

Q2. What is the most important aspect of maintaining the security of a WordPress site?

Another option to make your WordPress site safer is to make your passwords more difficult to guess and to enable two-factor authentication. Passwords are frequently the first line of security against hackers, so it’s critical to choose ones that are difficult to guess.

Q3. Do WordPress sites need a privacy policy?

If your WordPress site collects personal information from users, you must have a WordPress privacy policy. WordPress privacy policies that describe your data processing procedures can protect your website from potential legal restrictions and build user confidence.

Security Plugins of WordPress that will prove to be useful for you.

WordPress is a way to show yourself to the world, market yourself, start your own way. With WordPress, you can start any kind of blog you want to be about poetry or food or music. WordPress is an online, open-source website creation tool written in PHP.

But in non-geek speak, it’s probably the easiest and most powerful blogging and website content management system in existence today. You can pour your heart out and if you become famous then you can start earning from doing what you love.

WordPress security

Making your WordPress site more safe and secure requires an understanding of what security options are available to you from within the platform and from third-party tools.

In an effort to protect WordPress users, the platform’s developers have built-in a number of features intended to support site security. Taking advantage of these settings, introducing third-party security plugins, and following WordPress security best practices offer the best odds of keeping your site safe.

Conclusion

Above are a few options for the WordPress security features. Even after all the steps taken by WordPress, many users take the additional step of installing a third-party security plugin. These security plugins can be broadly categorize into two groups: full security suites and single-issue security plugins. For more details check our WordPress hosting.

Wordpress Plugin

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is security plugin used for?

A WordPress security plugin guards against malware, brute-force attacks, and hacking attempts. Security plugins are intended to prevent assaults and offer complete security reports for your WordPress site.

Q2. Why WordPress security is important?

A hacked WordPress site can have major consequences for your company’s revenue and reputation. Hackers can steal user information, passwords, install dangerous software, and even distribute malware to your users.

Q3. What are plugins used for in WordPress?

A WordPress plugin is a piece of software that “plugs into” your WordPress site. Plugins allow you to create nearly any type of website, from ecommerce stores to portfolios to directory sites, by adding new feature or extending current functionality.

INTERNET SHAMS: BEWARE!

Internet fraud has been an increasing concern for civilians and law-enforcement agencies. Because tracking hackers is difficult and almost next to impossible and catching Internet fraud is even more challenging, the best protection is to avoid fraud attempts. The first part of sidestepping identity theft, viruses, and other intrusions is being able to identify fraud when you see it.

An Internet fraud is the use of Internet services or software with Internet access to defraud victims or to otherwise take advantage of them; for example, by stealing personal information, which can even lead to identity theft. Internet services can be used to present fraudulent solicitations to prospective victims, to conduct fraudulent transactions, or to transmit the proceeds of fraud to financial institutions or others connected with the scheme.

Research suggests that online scams can happen through social engineering and social influence. It can occur in chat rooms, social media, email, message boards, or on websites.

ONLINE FRAUDS AND THEIR TYPES

Online frauds & their Types

#1 Identity theft

It’s easy to store and access personal information on the Internet. Unfortunately, that means it’s also easy for people to obtain this information illegally. This is identity theft. Stolen details such as names, addresses, birth dates, and account or card numbers all build up an identity that can be used to commit fraud. Because online trading isn’t face-to-face, it’s easy for someone to hide behind a stolen identity and make fraudulent purchases or requests.

In case of identity theft, the bug will attempt to retrieve passwords, Social Security numbers, credit card information, home addresses, and telephone numbers. Other bugs will embed themselves in the computer’s registry and damage system performance.

#2 Spams

Spam is implicated in a common form of fraud, in which bulk emails are dispersed to millions of email addresses in an effort to corrupt people’s computers, steal identities or pull unknowing individuals into paying for fraudulent products or services. A spam message will offer any number of false dealings to recipients.

Popular offerings include low-interest loans, free credit report checks, sweepstake winnings, and relationships with “local” singles. These types of scams require people to open a message and click on a link. This opens up the computer to a virus, worm, or other “bug” that will corrupt the computer.

#3 Computer hacking

Phishing emails are commonly used by scammers to trick you into giving them access to your computer. They ‘fish’ for your personal details by encouraging you to click on a link or attachment. If you click, malicious software will be installed and the hacker will have access to files and information stored on your computer.

A Phishing email often appears to come from an organization that you know and trust, like a bank or financial institution, asking you to enter your account password on a fake copy of the site’s login page. If you provide your account details, the scammer can hack into your account and take control of your profile.

#4 Credit card fraud

This scam requests that a consumer register or input credit card information on a fraudulent website. The site may sell products or services. When a reputable, trustworthy vendor asks for credit card information, it won’t save the data without user permission and will take steps to keep user information safe. Fraudulent sites will ask for the same information as does a reputable site but will steal the information and make purchases using the data the credit card owner gave to the website.

#5 Advance fee scams

An advance fee scam is fairly easy to identify – you will be asked for money or goods upfront in return for giving you credit or money later. These advance fee scams can seem convincing and have taken in many people. One example of an advance fee scam plays out in online auctions. If a buyer sends you a check for much more than you asked, be suspicious. If you accept the check and refund the extra money to the buyer, you may find out later that the check was bad and that you’ve lost the whole amount.

#6 Click fraud

Click fraud occurs when websites that are affiliates of advertising networks that pay per view or per click use spyware to force views or clicks to ads on their own websites. The affiliate is then paid a commission on the cost-per-click that was artificially generated. With paid clicks costing as much as US$100 and an online advertising industry worth more than US$10 billion, this form of Internet fraud is on the increase.

Tips to steer clear of being Scammed

So perhaps you’re already familiar with all of these scams, Hurrah! But realize that every day brings a new scam. How can you stay safe? Don’t be greedy. If a stranger contacts you offering money, think twice. Be skeptical. If you get an email from a friend or stranger that strikes you as odd, ask some question.

Conclusion

Educate yourself. Learn the basics of computer safety and online security. Can you tell a secure website from an unsecured one? Do you know what Verisign is? The more you know, the safer you’ll be. To know more visit Ideastack.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is the most common type of online fraud?

Email spamming is one of the most common and, to some extent, easiest-to-detect forms of online fraud, involving the sending of unsolicited emails asking for everything from website passwords to bank accounts and other personal information.

Q2. What is scamming on the internet?

Internet scams usually referred to as online scams, are always changing and come in a wide variety. In general, the phrase refers to someone who uses internet services or software to defraud or exploit victims, usually for financial benefit.

Q3. What type of crime is internet fraud?

Internet fraud is a type of cybercrime fraud that involves deception and the use of the Internet. It involves the hiding of facts or the provision of false information to defraud people of their hard-earned cash, assets, and inheritance.