Malware isn’t going away anytime soon; in fact, even as data security companies build new defenses against previous offenders, new bad guys continue to pop up and offer new challenges, like a technological Whack-A-Mole game. The more you know about the most recent threats to your IT system, the more easily you can recognize them for what they are, teach your employees to steer clear of them, and make the necessary updates to your security arsenal at the appropriate time. Here are three kinds of malware creating problems for organizations in 2021.

False COVID-19 news bulletins - In a year still largely dominated by the COVID-19 pandemic, people are understandably antsy to receive whatever breaking news on the subject they might benefit from. Malware creators understand this -- that’s why they’re sending out bogus news bulletins and informative updates related to the pandemic. Click on one of these, and the malware gains access to your computer’s data.

Clop ransomware - Ransomware continues to plague businesses with the looming threat of locked files and pricey payouts. But Clop doesn’t just encrypt your files so you can’t access them; it actually disables hundreds of Windows functions to prevent you from making any efforts to protect that data against the encryption. You can recognize this malware by the .clop extension added to encrypted files.

Phony Windows updates - If you have an IT team handling your Windows updates, there’s no reason for your rank-and-file employees to download and install updates themselves. And that’s good, because one popular form of ransomware likes to masquerade as a notice that computer users need to update their systems. This malware then loads an .exe file that encrypts everything.

While you’re warning your workforce about these threats, take another big step toward protecting your IT system. Contact our Austin IT managed services experts at Gravity Systems!