How can you protect your computer from a cyber attack? – New York Computer Help computer security tips

On May 12th, 150+ countries were rocked by a cyber attack.  It was one of the largest-scale attacks that has hit the world.  Countries and companies are still picking up the pieces of their networks.

Here’s the scary part about this cyber attack.  If one computer is infected, it will infect the whole company network!  Yup, one wrong move of clicking a bogus email link will be suffered by all.  That’s who the cyber attack starts.  Just through a simple old-fashioned hyper-text link.  Once it’s clicked, you’ll got a lovely message asking for $300 to unlock your files.  This is no joke.  If you don’t pay $300, then your files will remain locked.  If you wait a day or two, the ransom will double.

Now, although this is a serious attack, and you may be crying now because you got hit, it could have been prevented.  If you haven’t been hit, may be feel like a sitting duck, you’ll need to perform a few actions right away to protect yourself.  The last thing you want to do is be in a moral dilemma if you should pay criminals a penny for un-stealing your private information.

Here’s how to protect your computer for a cyber attack:

Install all of your Windows updates.

The updates are there to protect yourself from any vulnerabilities that these cyber-punks can take advantage of.  The latest cyber attack took advantage of Windows XP since Microsoft support stopped providing Windows updates to install.  Microsoft has now provided yet another update to protect Windows XP computers from the latest cyber attack.  Whichever Windows operating system you have, install all the Windows updates to protect yourself from such security problems.

Don’t have an anti-virus software program?  You can’t be serious?!

Seriously, if you don’t have one, install an anti-virus software program.  This applies to PCs and Macs.  Macs are no less vulnerable than PCs for computer viruses and especially cyber attacks.

Don’t get click happy on those email links.

Yup, that’s the most popular way computer users get infected.  By opening up that mysterious email link which then follows with, “Oh fu%@!”  Restrain yourself and make sure you use your inner zen before deciding to open up your next email link.

If you are one of those who have been infected by a cyber attack, don’t pay these criminals.  Doing so will just self-perpetuate their evil behavior.  Instead, you can bring your computer to a cyber attack computer specialist to determine the best course of action to recover your files and ensure your computer is safe and secure going forward.