Malware is undeniably one of the common cybersecurity threats for businesses and individual users alike. Hackers are constantly trying to use malware to infect systems, harvest data, and gather information, and consequences of a malware attack can be severe. There are varied kinds of malware – Trojan horse, worms, viruses, ransomware, spyware, adware, and network scanning. Of course, just knowing about these threats is not enough. Businesses have to be proactive about cybersecurity and preventing malware attacks, and in this post, we are sharing 7 basic steps and measures that will come handy. 

1. Use firewalls. Firewalls are necessary to prevent malware attacks. Every networked device, including IP cameras & video surveillance systems, must be placed behind firewalls. 
2. Consider network segmentation. For the uninitiated, network segmentation is about dividing the network resources and infrastructure into subnetworks. In case of an incident or malware attack, compromise on one subnetwork wouldn’t affect others. 
3. Use antimalware and antivirus software. If you aren’t using antimalware as yet, your devices are already vulnerable to hackers. Ensure that you invest in the best software available, and go for the advanced ones. 
4. Remove old apps and software programs. Old software programs, especially legacy software, and other apps, which are not in use, must be removed on a regular basis. Scan systems to find obsolete software. 
5. Install new software and firmware updates. Most manufacturers have software and firmware updates for customers, which fixes and patches for newly found vulnerabilities. Ensure that your programs are updated. 
6. Change all default passwords and usernames. It doesn’t take a lot for a malware to crack default passwords. Make sure that all default details are changed immediately after device is deployed. 
7. Create strong passwords. A long password is always better, and it must contain special characters, uppercase & lowercase letters, and numbers. Make sure that employees are using a password manager. 

Rebooting routers is also a good step for preventing malware attacks. This can help in disabling a common malware known as the “VPNFilter”. Also, ensure that your company is constantly testing networks and devices. Frequent scans and tests can come in handy to find security flaws and vulnerabilities, which are often used by cybercriminals to launch malware attacks. 

In case a malware attack is detected, it is necessary to do a complete backup of data and resources, following which operating system must be reinstalled and the entire system must be scanned. Be proactive and take steps to check for malware issues.