You’ve probably all seen the announcement that October is ‘National CyberSecurity Awareness Month’ – and more than one of us must be thinking, surely ‘National CyberSecurity Awareness Day’, right? Why would cybersecurity need a whole month? Is the gaping hole in the average person’s awareness enough to warrant a whole month of conferences, lectures and how-to videos?

The hard-bitten truth is, hardly a day goes by without a new cybersecurity threat emerging somewhere in the world. For many people, as long as they have a stable internet connection and the ability to hook up to social media and a GPS app on a daily basis, intricate cybersecurity doesn’t really feature on the radar. 

In the last few weeks alone, we’ve seen major networks such as Facebook, Whatsapp and Instagram facing cybersecurity-related difficulties. Meanwhile, company employees working remotely due to the ongoing pandemic continue to be a target for cyber criminals. In fact, new data released this month by Check Point Software Technologies shows that on average, 497 North American organisations are attacked per week.

All over the world, companies and individuals are being hit by cyber attacks – but unless you are actively scouring the net for these headlines, the likelihood is that you aren’t even aware of them happening.

For instance, did you know:

◾ There’s a new Trojan malware FontOnLake that’s attacking Linux systems in Southeast Asia?

◾ Colonial Pipeline, the pipeline company which was attacked last month causing gas shortages across the US East Coast, has admitted that the hackers were able to get into the system by stealing a single password?

◾ Live streaming site Twitch, owned by Amazon, has had a major security breach, resulting in sensitive data being posted online after a hacker accessed their servers?

The more cyber attack stories you try to search for, the more you’ll find – until it seems as though just about anyone can break through a security wall these days.

One of the most shocking new factors to emerge where cybersecurity is concerned has occurred in Springhill Medical Centre in Alabama, US, which is currently being sued for the first death following a ransomware attack on the hospital’s computer system.

Simply put: there’s never been a more crucial time to make sure you’re ahead in the cybersecurity game. Monetary loss and identity theft – these are the factors most normally associated with cybersecurity. But now hackers are attacking hospital’s computer systems and causing deaths? This is a new territory – one which we can only hope gets nipped in the bud before any roots take hold.

So yes, cybersecurity awareness is of critical importance – hence the CISA’s (Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Alliance) awareness campaign, to provide tips and resources which will educate people in how to make informed decisions while online, and protect their families and friends.

Where do you start though? 

Whether you’re a business owner with a large network to secure, or a homeowner looking to protect your private PC and personal phone, you need to find the cybersecurity package that works for you. ReasonLabs Cybersecurity Inc. is emerging as the latest in cybersecurity software. Having now joined the Microsoft Intelligent Security Association (MISA), we are at the frontier in the fight for global cybersecurity. Our multilayered machine learning engine has the ability to scan billions of files at any given time, in order to predict, prevent and protect against viruses and malware. 

What stands out the most though is our dedication to providing enterprise-grade protection for every user. It doesn’t matter if you are CEO of the largest multinational company, or a toddler playing on an Amazon Fire tablet – ReasonLabs can provide every user with the highest possible levels of protection. How many private users up until now can confidently claim that they’re getting the same level of protection as a corporate system? The enterprise-grade defense provided by ReasonLabs will completely change the way in which a private user can take ownership of their personal right to top-of-the-range cybersecurity.

What are the essential antivirus components I need?

The average device needs these main components to deter the most basic threats:

◾ Next-generation antivirus software

◾ Anti-malware

◾ Endpoint detection and response (EDR)

ReasonLabs has developed all of the above for the RAV Essentials suite – as well as the options to upgrade to the Premium or Elite suites.

But what makes ReasonLabs the BEST antivirus**?**

There are two more important components that need a mention at this point:

VPN – Virtual Private Network

A must-have if you are browsing whilst using an unsecured network – ReasonLabs’ newly developed VPN as part of their RAV Elite suite effectively supports the most sophisticated authentication methods.

Safer Web – the latest in DNS filters 

The average DNS (Domain Name System) filter gives you a whole bunch of complicated settings which the user has to navigate. Safer Web has configured all this messy information into three simple categories: Security, Privacy, Family.

This new-age DNS:

◾ Defends against malware and phishing – blocking domains associated with such activity  

◾ Blocks unwanted ads 

◾ Protects your privacy – preventing advertisers from accessing your data

◾ Offers family protection by filtering content your children are watching and limiting online activity  

ReasonLabs’ researchers have taken a complex issue and have made it extremely easy for the end user to install and activate this DNS, making protection accessible for even the least tech-y person – a huge asset to the current market. 

Safer Web compliments RAV Antivirus: the antivirus protects the device itself, while Safer Web protects you in your communications with the world. To put it bluntly, it’s a winning combo.

The Bottom Line

The past year and a half has been one of the most difficult periods in our lives. With the world in and out of lockdown, people have turned to the Internet to stay in contact with loved ones; conference call apps like Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Google Hangout have been working non-stop; and online use for entertainment purposes has soared.

It would be remiss not to up your cybersecurity game; it would be negligent to assume you and your devices are too small a fish to be a target. October 2021 is the world’s collective time to raise awareness and protect our global cyberspace. 

In the words of Stephane Nappo, Global Head of Information Security for SocGen: “Cybersecurity is much more than an IT topic.” The more cyber aware we become, the more the battle gets fought, and the safer we will be. Now that ReasonLabs Cybersecurity has brought their cutting-edge technology to the fore, efforts to protect even the most vulnerable user can and must be maximized.

For further information on advanced cybersecurity protection, see more on our website at: www.reasonlabs.com