Do pop-ups keep appearing even when you’re not browsing the Web? Is your system unusually slow and always showing high network activity? If so, there’s a big chance that your system is infected by a malware attack. It could be a cryptomining software, Trojan or a ransomware that’s lying dormant in your system, among many others.

Cybercrime is on the rise, and reports show that more than 25% of these attacks hit banks and various financial services organizations, resulting in compromised credit cards, malicious apps being installed, and credential leaks.

Once cybercriminals gain access to your organization and get past all your security solutions, you need a malware response plan — and fast! Unfortunately, it’s not as simple as changing the registry settings or deleting files — cybercriminals use strategic ways to establish a strong foothold within your system.

Here’s what you need to do to get rid of these attacks.

Step #1: Disconnect immediately!

If you’re the victim of a malware attack, the first thing you need to do is disconnect from the internet. This prevents personal data from being transmitted to the hacker. Contact your Internet Service Provider (ISP) if the attack took place on your personal device.

You may have realized that your system’s running slow or you probably clicked on an ad that you shouldn’t have — either way, it’s more likely that there are more than one affected endpoints in your system.

After disabling yourself from all network connections, it’s important to identify these affected endpoints so that you can clean out the infection before it spreads to other parts of your system. You can use a comprehensive malware detection service for this purpose.

Step #2: Scan and identify the method of entry

You should always have antivirus and antispyware software in place, installed and updated to the latest version. Run diagnostic scans and set automated scans at periodic intervals. It’s good practice to conduct external penetration tests in case the hackers are trying to compromise vulnerable hosts outside your business.

Make sure to close the door on the threat’s means of entry. Try to find the entry point —malware disguised as a phishing email or a malicious website that was visited. Once you’ve found your smoking gun — like a suspicious email with a misleading subject —block its access immediately with a targeted antivirus scan.

Step #3: Backup and restore endpoints

It’s a good idea to create a backup of all your data on removable media like USB or removable hard drive before you continue to restore endpoints.

Once you’re entirely sure that there’s no chance of underlying dormant malware in your system, it’s time to restore endpoint to a known-good state. It’s a good idea to update your system’s “images” periodically because in the case of a malicious attack, you can always restore to that particular image.

The key is to have a proactive approach in place to avoid serious security compromises. At Lean Security, we provide comprehensive security solutions including web security audit, web vulnerability scanner and much more to provide maximum protection from security breaches. Get in touch via call or our website for more information.