There's a new kid in Malware town and he's causing trouble. Going by the generic label of Ransomware, this class of malicious software takes control of a system and then directs the user to pay for the system to be unlocked. The intention is always to extort money from the user. In some cases a law enforcement agency message will be used claiming that the computer has been used for illegal activities. In other cases, files will be encrypted and rendered unusable unless the ransom is paid.

In Australia, the Cryptolocker virus has been impacting many businesses and individuals, including local councils in WA. The payload for this virus encrypts all Office documents on drives that are connected to the infected computer. Once this process is completed, a message will popup stating that the files have been encrypted and that a ransom is required to decrypt the files. This can obviously cause a significant impact on the businesses involved. The infections are usually caused by users opening attachments in emails that look like PDF documents but are in fact executable programs. It is also possible for websites to install the malicious code to workstations.

It is not advisable to pay any ransom, as there is no guarantee that the malware will be removed, in fact it is more likely that you will be targeted for further extortion. It is advisable to get a computing professional to assess the damage and see what can be recovered. To mitigate against the impact of ransomware, it is best to ensure you have a regular backup, preferably offsite and not connected to the network. This way it is possible to recover files that have been encrypted or rebuild systems that have become unusable. Prevention is better than cure so it pays to follow the standard precautions for safe computing:

Installing free programs from the internet is a bit like Russian roulette these days. You never know which one is going to be the live bullet that infects your PC with any manner of malware. It is tempting to download and install any manner of useful utilities that can be found free on the internet but it is easy to get tricked into installing malicious 3^rd party apps along the way.

I was installing a free app used for system monitoring and even though I carefully checked all the boxes when running through the installer I almost got caught out, because only way to not install the 3^rd party app was to close the installer. Once I did this the original installer kicked in and finished the installation but I was intentionally given what looked like only one way to proceed, by clicking Next and installing the additional software. It’s tricks like these that we need to be aware of when installing programs. Always check the options and deselect the additional toolbars, PC optimisation programs and anything else that you didn’t specifically ask for.

If you do need to install an app you do not trust 100%, then you can mitigate the damage by performing a scan on the downloaded file with your AV scanner (usually just need to right click on the file and select the option to scan for viruses). This alone won’t give you complete surety so it will pay to create a system restore point before you proceed with the installation. You can do this by going to Control Panel and search for “system restore” (search can be found in the top right corner of the Control Panel window). Select the option to create a restore point and step through the wizard. Once this is done you can (carefully) run through the app installation. If you find that you are having troubles after the install, you can then roll back to the restore point which will remove the offending files and settings.

Lastly, it pays to install apps only from trusted sources. With Windows 8, Microsoft have created a Windows App store that provides a level of legitimacy and a safe place to access apps. It is also worth getting references from trusted websites or blogs. The least trustworthy option is to download software from random torrent sites. It is just not worth the trouble caused by installing dodgy software. If you would like to know more about system restore, take a look at the link below.

 

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-au/windows7/what-is-system-restore

These days it is very likely that people will have more than one computing device in the house. Whether it is a mix of smartphones, smart TV’s, Windows PCs or tablets, there is likely to be a heterogeneous collection of devices. Microsoft has realised this and has released an app that you can use on your iPad or Android tablet to remotely connect to your Windows PC. It is called RD Client, and you can find it on the app store or Google play store. Best of all it is free, other remote access apps have charged as much as $20 for the same functionality.

Once you have downloaded the app you will need to provide your computer’s name or IP address. This can work either on your local network or across the internet if you have a  computer that has been made accessible across the internet. You can save your credentials or you can be prompted when you connect. Once you have authenticated, you can then access your PC. Usage is very similar to the built in Windows remote desktop client, but if you are accessing a Windows 8 PC you can use more gestures than on previous versions of Windows. If you haven’t used remote desktop before you may need to enable this on your Windows PC. Take a look at the FAQ in the link below to find out how.

 

There are some limitations to be aware of. Not all versions of Windows support remote desktop access (usually the home versions of Windows). In this can you can use 3^rd party apps to connect, such as LogMeIn and splashtop, but as I mentioned, they are commercial apps that you will need to pay for. For more information take a look at the following link or search for “rd client”.

 

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dn473015.aspx

The Small Business Information Day was organised by the Small Business Centre Central Coast and was held at Windmill Farmstay on 23rd May 2013. The aim of the day was to provide small business owners/managers up to date information to assist in bringing health to their business. A delicious barbeque lunch was also provided as part of the day by Milton and Joan of Windmill Farmstay. 


First up was the WA Department of Commerce. Debra Richardson, a former industrial inspector, provided insightful information on current labour laws and standards. Debra advised that information relating to labour relations, awards etc can be obtained by calling wageline on 1300 655 266. This is a free call centre for employers and employees regarding WA employment laws. In addition, the federal government's Fairwork ombudsman has contracted the Department of Commerce to provide information services to country WA relating to the national labour relation standards.


Next up was Julie Mizen from AusIndustry, a federal goverment agency which provides information and funding to businesses to support innovation and development. AusIndustry operate Enterprise connect, which is a free business advice for companies that have a turnover of $750k to $2m operating within certain sectors. AusIndustry also provide a small business support line (federal based) which can be reached on 1800 777 275. There are many governments grants available to businesses and it is worth being informed about what is availble for your business. For more information go to business.gov.au


Siobhan O'Gara from the federal government consumer watchdog, Australian Competition and Consumer Commission or ACCC, presented information about business to consumer laws. Of particular note was social media liability, fans or followers making misleading statements about your business can your make the business liable for the comments made. It is up to the business to moderate these comments. Also of note is the requirement for businesses to provide itemised bills showing details of the labour per hour and parts costs. Ignorance of consumer laws does not limit a business' responsibilities and training on consumer law is available at www.ccaeducationprograms.org. Further information about consumer protection is available at www.accc.gov.au.

Andrew Stowell from Esafety solutions discussed the merits of the Thinksafe campaign. Operated by Worksafe but run independantly, Thinksafe provides OSH advice to small business. A consultant will work with the business to create an action plan for safe and effective operational safety and health in the business. To qualify for this service, a business needs to be independently owned with 30 or less full time employees. For further information go to the Department of Commerce website at www.commerce.wa.gov.au.

Earl Pryor of Synergy Business Services provided some excellent advice for small businesses on how to manage their books leading up to tax time with particular focus on MYOB and Quickbooks. Of interest was the changes to cloud based systems for accounting packages with both MYOB and Reckon (Quickbooks) launching internet hosted services. There are other cloud based services currently avaible but Earl predicts mainstream uptake of these services is 5 years away.

David Endersby of The Human HeRd is an HR and business coach. He showed us some interesting models for determing where a business is placed and where it needs to aim to be successful. Small businesses can benefit greatly by having a HR consultant advise them on contracts and other HR requirements.

Natalie Stodart from the Department of Commerce Industry Participation Branch discussed the Local Industry Participation Framework. The framework "seeks to improve channels of communication with both suppliers and project proponents to ensure that benefits flowing from resource projects to the Western Australian economy and community are maximised." Check the department's website for further information.

Clayton Jaworski from the WA Department of Training, Apprenticentre program, closed out the day. Clayton described the role Apprenticentre plays in assisting with apprentice recruitment and management. Further information can be obtained form the website at www.trainingwa.wa.gov.au/apprenticentre/

Overall the day was very informative and relevant for small businesses. The key message that I took from the day was that there is plenty of advice, information and assistance available to businesses. There are many advantages to being informed and getting the most out of the assistance that can be provided for your business. To be kept informed of future information days in your area check the Small Business Centre Central Coastal’s website at www.centralcoastalbusiness.com.au.