We are extremely proud to have won the Award for CyberFit Cloud Distributor MEA 2021 at our valued vendor, Acronis, Dubai Summit.
Cyber protection is a must and a requirement to navigate the digital world safely.
For more information on discovering what is the best solution for your business, visit our Acronis Cloud page
Spyware can be a user’s nemesis. Once a user’s device is infected, spyware can collect a variety of personal and sensitive information, depending on the type of spyware. Here is what you need to know about spyware and how to detect it.
Spyware is a type of malware that infects a user’s computer and spies on the system by continuously monitoring it, including keystroke activity, the user’s web browsing habits, screenshots, and email activity. Spyware can also turn on the user’s webcam and watch what they are doing in real life.
If not stopped, spyware can infect the user’s computer with other types of malware or otherwise damage the computer. It will also send the sensitive information it collects to another entity, who can use the information to harm the user, such as selling it to a third party or for identity theft.
There are a handful of spyware types, which can have similar tactics when attacking a user’s computer or network and are not mutually exclusive. Here are the most nefarious spyware types.
System monitors. This type of spyware is also known as a keylogger because it records a user’s computer activities – keystrokes, visited websites, search history, email activity, chat and messaging communications, and system credentials such as logins and passwords.
Trojans. There are many types of Trojans and spyware can be one of them. Named after the ancient Greek story of the Trojan Horse, a trojan is a type of standalone malware that may pretend to offer some useful functionality, while dropping a malicious payload in the background. These payloads range from delivering ransomware and other malware onto the computer, deleting files, allowing unauthorized access to personal information, stealing credentials, modifying online transactions, etc. Banking trojans acquire the user’s credentials when logging into financial or banking portals.
Browser password and Infostealers. This type of spyware steals passwords and profitable information from any source used by the user to collect passwords, login credentials, and other sensitive information.
A user’s machine can be infected with spyware in much the same way as other types of malware. It can exploit browser security vulnerabilities to innocently display an infected ad or infect a device when the user unknowingly clicks on an infected email link (phishing), visits a malicious website, or downloads software from an untrustworthy site. You can also get infected by clicking on unusual social media or text messages.
Many times, spyware will cause unexpected problems with your computer, such as:
There are several ways to detect spyware:
Startup tab in Task Manager. For Windows PCs, check for suspicious software in the Startup tab in Task Manager. If anything looks suspicious, the user should temporarily terminate the process and research what the program is. If it is malicious, the user should immediately delete it.
For Mac computers, click “Finder” and select “Applications” from the sidebar. Again, review the list of applications and if anything looks suspicious, do your research, and delete the app if it is malicious.
Temp files. The user can also check for spyware in their TEMP folder. In fact, you can delete anything in the temp folder just to be safe because they are, after all, temporary files.
Install anti-malware software. The best way to detect – and stop spyware – is by installing an anti-malware solution and scanning the computer. Solutions from reputable vendors will identify and delete the spyware from the system.
Yes. Both iPhones and Android phones can be victims of spyware. On a mobile device, spyware runs undetected, monitoring and recording a user’s actions without them knowing. It can spy on call logs, contact lists, the photos a user has taken on their phone, a user’s location, even record anything heard on a device’s microphone and take pictures.
Acronis offers comprehensive cyber protection solutions that detect and stop spyware. If you are a business and looking for the right antivirus software, Acronis Cyber Protect keeps your remote workers’ devices secure in the post-pandemic reality. The solution provides a unique integration of data protection and next-generation cybersecurity capabilities, delivering improved security and lowering costs. Whether your business is large or small, Acronis Cyber Protect automates and streamlines system and data protection to mitigate risk and avoid downtime.
If you are a managed service provider (MSP), you can protect your clients’ systems with Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud, a solution that enables you to deliver cyber protection in an easy, efficient, and secure way. With a single platform, your customers can achieve the ultimate in data protection with hybrid cloud backup, disaster recovery, and protection from ransomware and spyware. Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud protects endpoints – including remote devices – systems, and data. It also includes AI-based behavioral detection that stops zero-day attacks, performs URL filtering and vulnerability assessments, and provides videoconference protection and automated patch management. With the power of Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud, you can detect and stop cyberattacks of any nature and ensure your clients can recover their data and systems in the shortest time possible.
This year’s Cyber Protection Week Global Report shows that organizations around the world are still grappling with the changes sparked by COVID and the modern cyberthreat landscape.
Businesses are acutely aware of the challenges facing them – from data privacy regulations to remote worker support to data theft, malware, phishing attacks and more – but their strategies to overcome them simply aren’t working. Half of the organizations Acronis surveyed saw data loss that led to downtime in the past year despite all of their work to stay protected.
For IT service providers offering modern cyber protection, these findings represent a significant opportunity to deliver more reliable, comprehensive, and effective protection services and unlock expanded revenue streams with both existing and new clients along the way.
Ready to offer your clients modern cyber protection? Here’s how you can get started.
Acronis research finds that organizations are approaching security with the idea that more solutions will create more protection. Nearly 80% of the IT pros surveyed for the 2021 Cyber Protection Week Global Report have up to 10 different protection solutions and agents running simultaneously to deliver capabilities like
With their new no-charge licensing for Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud, service providers can eliminate the complexity of these patchwork IT stacks. They can deliver all of these capabilities to clients through a single solution, installed via one agent and managed through one console – simplifying their own deployment and management efforts.
In 2020, the FBI reported that cybercrime rose by 400% as cybercriminals exploited a global workforce adjusting to remote work. Every week, headlines announced data breaches and, according to our report, concerns about cyberthreats were almost universally high, regardless of threat type, business size, region, or industry. The cyberthreats IT pros are most concerned about include:
Offering cyber protection solutions like Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud ensures that you can provide proactive, active, and reactive defenses against all modern cyberthreats – including the waves of new, zero-day threats that are emerging each day – while keeping your clients in compliance with the unique regulations they’re subject to.
Clients will always value services that are customized to their environments and priorities over a one-size-fits-all approach to IT.
And as we learned in this year’s report, these priorities can vary significantly, including everything from data privacy and modernized cybersecurity stacks to migrating to the cloud and updating websites.
With Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud, MSPs can expand their service portfolio to meet client requirements and market demand with advanced protection packs that extend their capabilities. By adding advanced protection packs such as Advanced Backup, Advanced Security, Advanced Disaster Recovery, and Advanced Management to customize their services to deliver the optimum level of cyber protection for each client and every workload.
It’s now easier than ever for service providers to seize the opportunities highlighted by the Cyber Protection Week Global Report. Today Acronis unveiled a new, no-charge version of Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud that makes it more profitable for service providers to design and offer a comprehensive cyber protection services portfolio with little to no upfront costs.
Featuring a set of essential cyber protection capabilities included at no cost or on a pay-as-you-go basis, the new version of Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud enables MSPs to build services, ensuring 100% coverage of clients’ workloads with cyber protection.
Learn more about the new licensing for Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud on [email protected]
| only 31% of MSPs
are very confident they can secure their clients against future ransomware attacks |
4 out of 5 MSPs
confronted a customer-facing ransomware attack in the last year
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24% of SMBs
have already changed MSPs in the aftermath of a cyberattack
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Acronis Active Protection is the backup industry’s most advanced anti-ransomware technology, enabling you to instantly reduce your – and your customers’ – exposure to ransomware. Plus, you don’t have to install anything on top of your backup agents as it’s already integrated into Acronis Cyber Backup Cloud.
| Ransomware detection and disarming
A set of ML-based techniques find and stop ransomware. The models used are trained continuously in the Acronis Cloud AI infrastructure.
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Protection of backups and Acronis software
Self-defense mechanisms prevent backup-file modification, plus disruption of Acronis software processes.
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Automatic file restore from cache
Any encrypted files are automatically restored from cache should ransomware manage to get through the defense.
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Acronis offers much more for service providers than just advanced ransomware protection capabilities. Acronis Cyber Backup Cloud is a part of Acronis Cyber Cloud, a multi-service cyber protection platform that’s built specifically for service providers. It’s your Swiss Army knife for easy, efficient, and secure delivery of cyber protection services.
| An integrated suite of services
Deliver secure backup, disaster recovery, malware and ransomware protection, secure file sync-and-share, and file notarization.
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A service provider platform
Ensure superior efficiency with unified service provisioning, accounts management, monitoring, integrations and white-labeling.
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Complete cyber protection
Go beyond backup and recovery – ensure complete data safety, accessibility, privacy, authenticity, and security.
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To help organizations protect all their assets against evolving digital security threats, Microsoft is unifying all Extended Detection and Response (XDR) technologies under the Microsoft Defender brand.
Microsoft Defender prevents, detects, and responds to threats across identities, endpoints, applications, email, IoT, infrastructure, and cloud platforms.
With Microsoft Defender, Microsoft is rebranding the existing threat protection portfolio and adding new capabilities, including additional multi-cloud (Google Cloud and AWS) and multi-platform (Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS) support.
Microsoft Defender is delivered in two tailored experiences:
The branding changes to unify the Microsoft 365 Defender technologies:
New features available within Microsoft 365 Defender:
Customers can customize prioritized account workflows to offer these users an added layer of protection.
Microsoft 365 Defender
Azure Defender delivers XDR capabilities to protect multi-cloud and hybrid workloads, including virtual machines, databases, containers, IoT, and more.
Azure Defender is an evolution of the Azure Security Center threat protection capabilities and is accessed from within Azure Security Center.
Microsoft has announced brand changes for these capabilities under Azure Defender as well:
New features now available within Azure Defender:
Acronis®, a leading provider of hybrid cloud data protection, today at HostingCon announced its latest update of Acronis Backup Cloud, a cutting-edge backup-as-a-service (BaaS) solution for service providers, hosters, and cloud resellers that provides complete data protection for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). Today’s SMBs have been left exposed to data loss and malicious attacks due to inadequate solutions that do not protect the full spectrum of servers and user endpoints, including mobile devices, and Cloud services and applications, such as Microsoft Azure and Office 365. Acronis enables service providers to rapidly address these new and critical SMB data protection needs with the latest release of Acronis Backup Cloud – its easiest, fastest, most complete cloud backup solution ever.
Acronis Backup Cloud provides service providers, hosters and cloud resellers with a turn-key backup as a service solution that is so easy to use, they can be up and running within minutes. Acronis Backup Cloud protects all servers, workstations and mobile devices, and extends to cloud services and applications to provide complete protection.
Acronis Backup Cloud easily plugs into the most common platforms in use by service providers and hosters today, including Linux, Virtuozzo, Azure, Docker, Open-Xchange, XEN Server, and KVM. The solution also backs up data and workloads across the full range of customer environments, including Microsoft, Amazon EC2, Windows and Office365, Linux, Mac, VMware, Hyper-V, RHEV, XEN, Oracle VM, Exchange, SQL Server, SharePoint, Active Directory, iOS, and Android.
Acronis Backup Cloud also integrates with the most popular cloud management solutions to automate customer billing, monitoring, and provisioning. This includes Odin Service Automation®, WHMCS®, HostBill®, APS Standard, LabTech, Windows Azure Pack, and Flexiant® Cloud Orchestrator.
Service providers can use a use a single powerful dashboard to deploy the software, manage customers, and monitor backups, all while supporting clients’ distributed business environments with multiple IT tiers and administration controls for users and groups.
Within hours, service providers can also deploy secure, private cloud destinations with their own storage or third-party cloud storage, and now with Acronis Software Defined Storage using commodity hardware. The new Acronis Storage option substantially lowers scale-out storage costs while overcoming the capex challenges related to traditional high-end storage offerings.
Why Now’s the Time to Move to Acronis Backup Cloud
Nisrine Jamai is a Technical Sustainability Program Manager at Microsoft. She overlooks providing product expertise on the Microsoft Cloud for Sustainability (MCFS) in the CEMA region (Central & Southeast Europe, Middle East and Africa) and by extension its implementation consulting to customers and partners who are motivated by the Microsoft vision for sustainability. Nisrine has an extensive engineering background in renewable energy technologies and has actively put in place work in the context of sustainable technologies, bio-energies associated with the production of the second-generation bioenergy and biogas from waste.
As the Head of Microsoft Azure Presales at BPS, Youssef is a dynamic leader in the world of technology and business. With a deep commitment to leveraging technology for sustainability, Youssef plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of cloud computing.Beyond their professional achievements, Youssef is an avid reader and learner with a passion for technology. They also have a keen interest in AI and Data Science, always staying up-to-date with the latest advancements in these fields.With a wealth of knowledge and a dedication to excellence, Youssef is poised to share invaluable insights at GITEX, making a significant impact on the audience.
Stanislav Lencz is devoted to making organizations, technology, communication, and processes serve people.
He has excellent communication and networking abilities and extensive experience in Project / Team Management, Business Solution and Solutions Design architectures.
After many years of professional career covering mainly domains of Biometrics and Identity related solutions, since 2016 he dedicates himself intensively to company, community and leadership consulting, networking, and thought leadership. Passionate in helping individuals and teams re-discover their purpose and build unity in diversity. He currently serves as Country Director for Slovakia and Regional Director for Europe and Middle East, at Consulus.
Hrvoje Lovrić is a Senior Business Consultant devoted to making organizations, technology, communication, and processes serve people.
He has excellent communication and networking abilities and extensive experience in Telecom, Energy and Education sectors, and experience in EU Funding applications.
After many years of a professional career covering mainly domains of creating and implementing marketing and sales strategies, working as a lecturer at the graduate study of Entrepreneurial Management, since 2020, he dedicates himself intensively to company, community, and leadership consulting, networking, and thought leadership.
After studies at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing and later Master of Science in Economics, MBA, University of Zagreb, Croatia led him into organizations such as Croatian Telekom, Optima Telekom, and Helb Engineering.
He currently serves as Country Lead for Croatia at Consulus.
Clara Kwan is the Global Head of Sustainability and Impact Investment of Consulus and the Chief Sustainability Officer of DesignFutures Venture. She graduated from the National University of Singapore with a Bachelor of Law (Honors) and has an Executive MBA from the Kellogg School of Management.
Clara spearheads and executes strategic decisions and provide strategic consultations on sustainability issues, investments and best practices for companies, including establishing ESG principles and roadmap into regional and local processes in companies’ management, operations, legal and compliance, business continuity planning, marketing and human resources. She assesses and manages investment and financing portfolios from a legal, sustainability and social impact angle.
She sits on boards and previously held the positions of Chief Operating Officer, Head of Sustainability and Managing Director (Singapore) for a regional green independent power producer.
Clara is also a certified mediator and an attorney who is qualified in several jurisdictions. She has served clients globally including Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, Thailand, China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Indonesia, Philippines, Australia, New Zealand, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Dubai, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, United Kingdom and United States.
Ahmed Ameen Ashour is a forward-thinking, and results-driven leader who has dedicated his career to driving innovation and positive change in the areas of Ed-Tech and Sustainability. As of 2023, Ahmed has assumed the pivotal role of Chief Sustainability Commercial Officer at Microsoft, bringing his extensive leadership expertise to the forefront of the company’s sustainability initiatives.
In this new role, Ahmed’s primary responsibility is to help enable organizations both in public and private sector on their ESG journey through leveraging Microsoft’s Sustainability Cloud Solutions. His focus is on developing and implementing scalable business and go-to-market strategies for Microsoft’s Cloud for Sustainability platform, empowering organizations to make a significant impact through sustainable innovation, digital transformation, and growth.
Prior to this transition, Ahmed served as the Education Industry Director for Microsoft UAE & GCC, where he was instrumental in leading the company’s engagement within the education sector. He established key alliances and catalyzed an education transformation through the use of technology. His impact can be seen in numerous UAE education initiatives, including the Mohammed Bin Rashid Smart Learning Program (MBRSLP), One Million Arab Coders, Madrasa.org, Mohammed Bin Rashid Virtual Schools (MBRVS), and the UAE’s transition to remote learning during the COVID pandemic.
A thought leader in sustainability, Ahmed is committed to engaging with partners and startups to develop innovative sustainability solutions that can quickly go-to-market. His passion for making a positive impact on the future of our planet is evident in his commitment to building a better future for generations to come.
Ahmed began his journey at Microsoft in 2008 as an Industry Solutions Lead for Education, following a decade-long career in education consultancy across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa region. He holds a Master of Science degree in Computer Science from the University of Louisville (US) and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Ain Shams University (EG). Ahmed’s blend of deep technical expertise, leadership, and dedication to sustainability make him a driving force in Microsoft’s mission to empower every person and organization on the planet to achieve more through sustainable practices.
Lawrence Chong is the CEO and Co-founder of Consulus. A recognized thought leader in Innovation and Strategy.
He is a regular speaker at global events and has spoken at Innovation by Design, World Marketing Summit, World Brand Congress, Business of Design Week. He is a featured Columnist on innovation, branding, and design for Asian businesses. He is a featured thought leader on the largest professional network, LinkedIn and is followed by 400,000+ professionals.
His insights appear regularly in regional media such as the TheEdge, Radio 93.8, Business Insider, Marketing, Business Times Singapore, VTC (Vietnam), Doanh Nhan Sai Gon (Vietnam), CafeBiz (Vietnam), Ceylon Today, Brunei Times.