Worcester Business Journal

www.wbjournal.com April 11, 2016 • Worcester Business Journal 25 I f you have anti-virus and anti- malware, the last thing you need to worry about is a virus infecting your computer, right? Allow me to burst your bubble. Hackers don't sit at home thinking they can't get around the latest virus and anti-virus protection and give up. No, hackers have morphed into extremely sophisticated and clever criminals that continue to create new ways to trick you. They make a fortune by stealing your information. So while you have the latest anti-virus protection, they are already figuring out ways to trick you into inviting new viruses and malware into your system. Although several nasty threats exist and more are being created by the day, two specific threats have become widespread problems in the business world: ransomware and spear phishing. By staying educated on these technological scourges, you should be able to identify and avoid them. Ransomware is just as it sounds: a virus (one of the most common lately is Cryptolocker) that infects a system through an unsuspecting user clicking on an attachment will start looking for data to encrypt. Once it does, that data can only be unencrypted with a private key, held by the hacker who holds that information ransom. Typically the hacker will request the ransom payment in bitcoins (a form of cybercurrency), and because the payments are usually a relatively small amount, it tends to be easier to pay the ransom than restore all the files from backup. Very clever! Spear phishing is a new twist on an old trick. A phishing email tends to ask questions that seem okay to answer, or tries to entice you into clicking on an attachment because it says it includes information about a tax refund or package tracking. Spear phishing is a technique where the email appears to come from someone you know, usually in an authoritative position, telling you to transfer funds or click on an attachment. To the recipient of the email, the email looks legitimate. However, the email is actually coming from criminals using a technique to capture the boss's email and then, for example, request that tens of thousands of dollars be transferred to fictitious bank accounts. Once that money is transferred, it is almost always gone. Unfortunately, there is no magic anti- virus protection that can cover all dangers. The best protection a business can seek is through education, supported by awareness, training and policies. End users need to be aware that even the most harmless-seeming email, website, Facebook post or article can contain a virus or malware. Be careful! Read what it is you want to click on. Usually, there is something that seems out of place. The grammar is a little off; you were not expecting a tax refund; or you haven't ordered anything that you need to track. With awareness, training and effective policies, something in a hacker's attempt will usually jump out at you. That is how to prevent these nasty viruses and malwares from locking up your systems and costing you thousands of dollars in downtime and ransom money. n Konrad Martin is co-founder and principal of Tech Advisors (www.tech- adv.com), a leading technology solution provider for small to mid-size businesses in Medfield. He can be reached at konradm@tech-adv.com or 508-505-4696. By Rob Para Rob Para is principal architect at Lamoureux Pagano and Associates and heads its Nelson Place Elementary School project in Worcester. Contact him at rpara@ lamoureuxpagano.com. 10 Things I Know About... Don't worry… be happy – the dangers of the uneducated end user KNOW HOW 10. Reduce energy needs. Roof and wall superinsulation, high- performance windows and LED lighting can significantly reduce energy loads and save money, both in initial equipment expenses and long-term fuel costs. 9. Buy local. Not only does this support your local economy, it reduces transportation costs and emissions. 8. Reuse first. Salvaged materials not only can add character, they reduce landfill expansion. 7. Responsible materials sources Look for materials that contain recycled content, are certified for appropriate forest management or made from renewable sources as well as low emissions binders and finishes. 6. Conserve water. To protect one of our world's critical resources, purchase low-flow or no-water plumbing fixtures, select drought resistant landscaping that won't require irrigation and consider greywater recycling systems. 5. Maximize site. Consider building orientation and footprint size to minimize site disturbance while maximizing passive energy sources and natural features. 4. Consider maintenance. Durable, low-maintenance materials reduce upkeep and toxic cleaner requirements as well as delaying the need for replacement. 3. Alternative energy sources To analyze the best alternative energy strategy for your site, consider building orientation, locally available fuel sources, topography and soil type as well as initial costs relative to operating cost savings. 2. Public transportation Development supported by access to public transportation can reduce parking needs and encourage energy- efficient travel. 1. Plant a tree. Strategic use of trees can reduce the earth's heat island effect, provide localized shade, promote biodiversity and prevent erosion, especially in environmentally sensitive areas. F or leaders, being transparent is being authentic. With a leader's character revealed, it removes any need to hide and builds trust and loyalty among employers and employees, ultimately increasing efficiency and production. Here are three things to keep in mind if your goal is to increase transparency in your department or company. Understand it is a new era in corporate culture. As a leader, being transparent does not mean being less authoritative, wrote Glenn Llopis at Forbes.com. Employees need to know what is real and true. "People have grown tired of surprises and want to exist in a work environment that allows one to have greater clarity of thought … Employees want to be a part of a workplace culture that puts a premium on delivering the truth. They desire their leaders to be proactive in sharing where the company is headed and forthright about its future," Llopis wrote. Put communication into hyperdrive. Matt Straz, founder of HR and payroll platform Namely, spoke to Entrepreneur.com's Stephen Bronner on how to ensure all team members are reading from the same playbook, with weekly updates and regular one-to-ones with employees. "We use transparency to break down some of the walls and divisions that happen naturally as [companies] grow," Straz said, with a renewed focus on communication. Admit when you are wrong. It better connects you to the rest of your team. You can earn trust of those you lead by being willing to admit mistakes, said Colleen J. Payne-Nabors of TheGlassHammer.com, and perhaps solve them together. "If your goal is to have a team of employees who genuinely want to follow you, as a leader you must acknowledge the reality of each situation, good and bad, so that together you and your team effectively respond to the bigger issues," she wrote. n 101: BUSINESS TRANSPARENCY >> BY SUSAN SHALHOUB Special to the Worcester Business Journal Sustainable design BY KONRAD MARTIN Special to the Worcester Business Journal

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