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Archive for July, 2016

IT Security Tips – Zepto Ransomware

IT Security Tip – Ransomeware is Growing – Zepto

Ransomeware is growing bigger as it is an easy way for cyber criminals to gain access to users personal data.  It’s not like your normal virus that gets installed via a software installation.  In most cases it is delivered via email with a document attached.  When a user opens this document a script is set in motion which downloads the ransomware then in turn infecting your data.  Zepto is not really any different to other ransomware its just like the Locky or Crypto Locker virus’s and they all want to achieve one thing, and that is getting you to pay a ransom to retrieve your data back.  

How it is delivered

Zepto is delivered via email with an ZIP archive file  and a DOCM file attached.   In the first case, opening up the ZIP archive will unpack a file with a .JS (JavaScript) extension. Opening the JavaScript file, however, runs the script program inside, which in turn downloads the ransomware as an EXE (Windows program) file, and runs it.

 

In the second case, the attachment is DOCM, so that double-clicking on the file opens it by default in Microsoft Word. But DOCM is short for “document with macros,” a special type of document that contains embedded scripts written in VBA (Visual Basic for Applications).

Macros inside a Word file don’t run by default (a security precaution introduced many years ago by Microsoft), but they do produce a prompt “Security Warning Macros have been disabled”

If this is enabled the JavaScript will download the ransomeware, run it and encrypt all of your files. The cyber criminals will have a copy of these decyption keys and offer to sell them back to you. They only use bitcoin as payment and normally around BTC-0.5 which is about $300.   So beware if you have an email message to lines of  ‘Attached, please find the documents you requested”  as it is most likely a fake!

More information can be obtained from our cyber security Partners Sophos and Symantec.

Our Network Security solutions can show you how cost-effectively protect and maintain the security of your network, assets and data against external attack, providing you peace of mind.

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nbn™ – What does it stand for ?

nbn

So what does nbn™ stand for?

Not only does nbn™ stand for National Broadband Network it is also going to revolutionise the way Australians access the internet.  Its super fast connectivity will create a reliable phone and internet services to homes and businesses  across the country.

There is a three year roll out plan which would see 7.5 million homes and businesses connected by 2018.  1,719,122 premises are ready for services so far, Victoria alone has 369,040. 

But is it available in your area?  The nbn™ website has a new feature where you can check your address to find out if the nbn™ network is available at your home or business.  

The nbn service will have number of different connection types which are part of the Liberal Government’s Multi-Technology Mix (MTM).  Each area will be allocated a connection type as the 3 year roll out plan progresses, they include: Fibre to the home (FTTP), Fibre to the node (FTTN), fixed Wireless or Satellite and Cable, Hybrid Fibre Coaxial (HFC).

You can learn more about the MTM by checking out iiNet’s helpful video.
Once the nbn™ is in your area the old services will be switched off. To keep using the fixed line home phone and internet you will need to move them to the nbn™However moving to the nbn™ is not automatic and the following services will be permanently disconnected if you do not move them to the nbn™ you will also need to contact your preferred internet service provider to organise a connection.

  • Telstra Home/landline phone services (except some Telstra Velocity lines)
  • Home/Landlines phone services from all other phone companies, where the service is provided over Telstra’s copper phone lines
  • All ADSL, ADSL2 and ADSL2+ internet services from all providers
  • Telstra BigPond cable internet services
  • Optus cable internet and cable phone services (switch off date yet to be determined)

You can keep up to date with the progress of the nbn™ rollout in your area by registering at the nbn™ website

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