Although the Internet has allowed humanity to streamline its communication processes, shipping solutions, and interconnectivity, the world wide web also serves as a highway for computer hackers. As larger publicly-held firms began to put a stranglehold on our worldwide marketplace, devious computer hackers have likewise started to facilitate more advanced online attacks. From malicious viruses and dangerous tracking software to email spam and account information theft, modern business is no longer just about staying competitive, it’s also about staying safe.
How Did Computer Viruses Come About?
The early days of computing were very humble and unassuming. However, it wasn’t long before advanced computer minds began to push the confines of what computers were capable of. In the early 1970s, the first self-replicating virus was created in jest. It was given the moniker “Creeper,” and it infected computers with the message, “I’m the creeper, catch me if you can!”
Shortly thereafter, during the 1980s, a computer engineer created the first-ever pervasive computer virus. Entitled the “Elk Cloner,” this virus would come to life after fifty uses of a certain program, rendering the computer useless by way of a recurring message on the screen.
It didn’t take too long for devious criminals to begin inflicting harm on computing systems across the globe with their own versions of malicious software, especially when taking into account the largely non-existent nature of early virus protection.
The Viruses of Today
As firms started establishing in-house computer networks to enhance their core operations, computer hackers likewise started creating malevolent software to steal personal information, hold businesses at ransom, and generally incite fear amongst users. These individuals were rightfully referred to as some of the most dangerous criminals on Earth, as they could cause extreme amounts of damage without being detected or even leaving their computer chairs.
From dangerous Trojan horse viruses and software emulators to keystroke trackers and email hacking, the black market of virus formation and propagation has grown extensively since the turn of the millennium. As a result, modern virus protection programs, such as application whitelisting solutions, have become invaluable with regard to staying safe on today’s computers.
How Does Modern Whitelisting Software Help?
These security programs essentially serve as gateways between your corporate infrastructure and any application that attempts to access it. Instead of organising an extensive list of potentially detrimental programs, which is called blacklisting, a whitelisting solution creates a much shorter list of specific programs that are allowed to operate on your network. This means that the software’s allowances will be specifically tailored to your company’s technological infrastructure.
As the most prevalent viruses tend to invade business networks by way of phony programs, securing this portion of your internal processes is vitally important. Fortunately, today’s whitelisting solutions can protect personal information, eliminate incoming threats, and block up to 100% of undesirable programs.
Protecting your business in the twenty-first century doesn’t have to be a difficult endeavour. Rather than opting for a cut-rate blacklisting program, you should conduct some research in order to find the best comprehensive whitelisting software on the market. After all, protecting your business from foreign threats is just as important as creating an effective marketing plan or filing your taxes in a timely fashion.