Malware & Computer Viruses
Malware and Computer Virus infections can take many forms. Zen use a varied and sophisticated toolbox to clean and protect your infected computer. We’re proud to partner with both Eset and Malware bytes. We believe these two Anti-Virus and Anti Malware products are simply top class and hard to beat. Eset offer a range of products that work well to both detect and prevent viruses taking root on your computer.
Scams, Fraudsters, & Social Engineering
Arguably the most common type of digital attack uses a technique called “Social Engineering”. Social Engineering may take the form of a phone call to you from a fraudulent “engineer” from a well-known company. We hear a lot of reports from our customers about calls from fraudsters claiming to be from large ISPs (Internet Service Providers) or even HMRC. The caller may have some small piece of information about you or one of your online accounts.
Think how much publicly available data there is about you right now. Your home address will be relatively easy to find, and this info could be used to try to gain your trust. Remember, up until the 1990s your phone number was routinely printed in the local directory and posted through every letterbox in the land. It’s not so difficult to find.
Your email address is public information too. If you’ve ever created an account online with any website at all, then your account details are to be considered public knowledge. This includes any passwords you’ve used.
Password Best Practices
Websites are hacked every day. And this is where your email address and password is stored. This is the main reason why you should always use a unique password: if one website gets hacked and your unique password is stolen, it will have little or no bearing on the other online accounts you have.
It’s tempting to use a password “system” whereby a variation of passwords is employed helping us to remember. This is not recommended by Zen. As much as it may feel like a whole heap of hassle not to use a single password for all your accounts, we think the best advice is to use completely unique passwords every time.
Multifactor Authentication
Another top tip we think is to use a second layer of protection called Multi Factor Authentication (MFA), sometimes also referred to as 2FA (or Two Factor Authentication).
MFA is where a second device, usually a mobile phone, is used to compliment your online password. This often means you receive a text message to add a second unique password whenever you log into your online accounts. This is especially important when accessing a financial account like your bank, building society or crypto wallet. All reputable online services offer MFA, but this may not be enabled as default.
Zen offer a comprehensive service to help you feel secure online…
We can install unintrusive software to protect your computer and mobile devices. The Eset Cyber Security product includes a “Safe Browser” especially designed to keep you safe online. We can also add a “self-healing” app to your computer to run scripts that stop rogue programs from causing harm.
If you have concerns around your internet security please enquire in our Glastonbury or Shepton Mallet Computer shops for an informal chat about how we can help you keep your digital life free from problems.
