In honor of Thanksgiving Day, Northern Bank branches and the Contact Center will be closed on Thursday, November 28. As always, mobile banking, online banking and our ATM network are available to you 24/7.

Spoofing schemes are on the rise and criminals are now pretending to be bank employees. As a reminder, Northern Bank will not call you and ask for personal information like PINs, passwords, social security numbers, or account numbers. Be wary of texts, calls, or emails that ask you to log into, or send money with, payment apps. If you receive a call matching this description, or alerts of suspicious activity on your account, please contact us immediately at 1-800-273-6908 Option "0".

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October 19, 2021

Ransomware - Know, Identify and Prevent

Written by: Raj Sharma Head of Information Security, VP, Northern Bank
Information Security
Ransomware/ cybersecurity

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, which was established to promote the role that cybersecurity plays in our everyday lives. Now in its 18th year, Cybersecurity Awareness Month was founded by the National Security Alliance and the Department of Homeland Security. Recently, ransomware attacks have hit our schools, hospitals, small businesses, etc. and are a major focus of this year’s Cybersecurity Awareness Month.


No business is immune from a ransomware attack. Ransomware is a form of malware that encrypts a victim's files and folders. Malware is short form for malicious software and is a blanket term for viruses and other harmful computer programs.


The cybercriminal who performs these attacks usually demands a ransom to restore the data upon payment. Please take a moment to learn more about ransomware below- what it is, how to identify, and how to prevent it.

A few simple precautions taken to prevent ransomware attacks will help you avoid the hours of work (and frustration) necessary to restore your files if your data is compromised. In light of Cybersecurity Awareness Month, please be sure to check out the rest of our Information Security posts.

Sources:

https://www.digitaldefense.com/blog/infographic-the-latest-ransomware-facts/

https://www.csoonline.com/article/3236183/what-is-ransomware-how-it-works-and-how-to-remove-it.html

https://security.harvard.edu/files/it-security/files/ransomware.pdf?m=1610564130

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/09/30/a-proclamation-on-cybersecurity-awareness-month-2021/

https://staysafeonline.org/programs/cybersecurity-awareness-month/

Written by
Raj Sharma
Head of Information Security, VP, Northern Bank

Raj Sharma brings 19 years of Information Security experience in the banking industry to his role at Northern Bank. On the Northern Bank Team since 2018, Raj has played an integral part in building the Information Security function that is so critical to mitigating the ever changing security threat environment. He holds a Masters in Information Security and several industry recognized certifications such as CISSP (Certified Information Security Systems Professional) and CISM (Certified Information Security Manager). Raj is so interested in Information Security, he not only chose it as a career, he makes it his hobby and is constantly learning about new technologies.

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About Northern Bank & Trust Company

Northern Bank is a full-service bank dedicated to providing practical, common sense financial solutions to help our customers live their lives and grow their businesses. From deposit products to loans to payment and collections services, we work hands-on with our entrepreneurial customers, both locally and across the country, to provide the financial support they need to realize their personal and business goals. Founded in 1960, Northern Bank has assets of $3.11 billion with 12 locations serving communities throughout Middlesex County. Northern Bank is a Member of the FDIC, and an Equal Housing Lender.

 

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