You’ve probably heard of viruses, trojans, phishing emails, and ransomware. However, you might not be familiar with malicious diallers. They don’t tend to get the same sort of coverage as other online attacks since the damage isn’t usually on the same scale, but they can be a real problem for businesses.
What is a dialler?
They can actually be a legitimate part of your system; automated diallers retrieve contact information from other databases in your network and then let you call them directly. In contrast, malicious diallers are programs that change your system’s network settings without your knowledge. They then establish a dialup connection over the internet and start making calls to premium rate phone numbers. Whoever has registered that premium number can cheat you out of a lot of money using such methods.
How can you spot a dialler?
Malicious diallers infiltrate your network in much the same way as regular computer viruses, and, like those traditional viruses, they start up with each system and attempt to hide their presence. Unfortunately, spotting a dialler can be particularly hard since they don’t often noticeably impact performance or make any changes beyond those needed to make a simple call.
How can you prevent dialler damage?
Malicious diallers might be extremely hard to spot, but there are some things you can do to hunt them out. Firstly, you’ll need to make sure your anti-spyware programs are up to date. If you run a business, it’s a very good idea to invest in 24/7 monitoring. Providers will be able to spot problems that you’d miss by checking your network frequently and analysing outgoing traffic. Finally, make sure you’re not using a modem. Only computers with modems can be targeted, so users of broadband lines are going to enjoy vastly superior peace of mind.
