According to the Annual Fraud Indicator it is estimated that cyber crime as a whole costs businesses and individuals around £193 billion per year.

In its simplest terms, ransom-ware stops you from using your PC. The virus holds your files for ‘ransom’ and will ask you to pay a ransom amount before you can use your PC. A new strain of ransom-ware, known as Zepto is now on the rise, so we want to remind you to remain vigilant when opening any attachment from unknown sources.

What is Zepto Ransom-ware?

Zepto is the latest form of ransom-ware to strike internet users. All Zepto spam messages use a compressed ‘.Zip’ archive which includes a malicious JavaScript file. This is used to infect your computer with the Zepto ransom-ware.

Once you have fully downloaded the file, the machine begins encrypting all local files and demands ransom- which can range from hundreds to thousands of pounds, payable by Bitcoin to decrypt the files.  This can also leave your business open to vulnerabilities in terms of downtime and compromising business data.

What should I look out for?

The body of the emails generally urge you to look at your “requested” documentation, while the name of the attached .zip file is created by combining your name and a random number such as "pdf_copy-john_461397."

If you’ve just come back from holiday, be aware that you could already have a Zepto attachment in your inbox. Ensure that you take extra precautions when opening and forwarding emails.

How can I remain protected?

It is advised that you take precautions when browsing the web and dealing with newly received emails. We would advise you to take the below steps to ensure you remain protected:

• Make sure you have an up-to-date antivirus solution installed.
• Don’t trust attachments, even if it’s from someone you know. If you’re suspicious, seek confirmation from the sender that it’s genuine.
• Avoid clicking, opening or forwarding any attachments from people or companies you aren’t expecting attachments from.
• If you don’t already take your backups off site, consider backing them up on to an external USB drive for added protection.

Zepto ransom-ware is very new but as it is a form of Locky ransom-ware, there is currently no way of decrypting the encrypted files.  If you’re concerned that backups aren’t in place, functioning correctly or if you’re unsure, contact us today.

Email: enquiries@xperience-group.com

Call: 028 9267 7533

Xperience IT Solutions are thrilled to announce we have been awarded Microsoft Ireland ‘Hosting Partner of the Year’ for 2016. Iain O’Kane, Managing Director at Xperience Group, accepted the award at the esteemed Microsoft Ireland Award Ceremony at the 2016 World Partner Conference held at The One Eighty, 51st floor of the Manulife Centre in Toronto. Iain O’Kane comments, “We are delighted to have received this award, which not only acknowledges our capabilities within the Cloud space but is a testament to the skills and commitment of our staff across the Group. Receiving recognition from Microsoft Ireland is hugely satisfying and positions the Group as market leaders within the UK & Ireland.”

Xperience work closely with Microsoft to provide customers with best-in-class cloud solutions. The award validates the company’s status of being a leading Microsoft solution provider and the commitment to deliver excellent service to customers. Further to this, Xperience is a recognised Microsoft Gold Partner for Midmarket Solution and Enterprise Resource Planning.

Jade Winters, Group Marketing Manager at Xperience Group commented on the event “The awards were presented on the 51st floor which gave a fantastic backdrop to the ceremony, offering a spectacular view of Toronto’s magnificent skyline. This year exceeded all expectations, both for the Microsoft Ireland division and their Partners as a collective. We were in great company, sharing celebrations with exceptional partners – a huge congratulations to all.” For more information, click here to view the Xperience IT Solutions news article.

At Xperience Group we have a wide variety of capabilities, but this doesn't make us a "Jack of all Trades". We are comprised of specialist business units which enables us to deliver a broad range of IT solutions which will meet your needs and deliver your business objectives, whilst delivering a personalised customer experience.

We have been around since 1969, providing IT solutions to businesses. In our time the industry has transformed dramatically, but so have we! We are constantly evolving and pride ourselves on our ability to innovate and embrace new technologies, ensuring we can better serve our customers. As our business has evolved we have diversified a little and we now focus on four core disciplines: IT Infrastructure, Cloud, CRM and Accounts & ERP.

We work really hard to make our customers happy. We believe in delivering exceptional customer experiences, and developing lasting relationships with the businesses we serve. Central to this is our people, people are at the centre of everything we do and our actions are driven by our core values of innovation, passion, quality and integrity.