Microsoft Windows 10 users have gone through the mill in the past few weeks. Not only have updates been coming (and then being withdrawn), but they have had unexpected side effects on users’ PCs, causing installation issues for new users.

Add to that the arrival of an update to the infamous Dyreza malware tool, and it is rapidly becoming clear that many smaller and midsize businesses need professional IT support, and not struggling with these issues alone, and racing to find support after the fact.

The Windows 10 install issues could be avoided through professional level IT support that can offer advice and management of updates and upgrades that typical users might not be aware of. The arrival of Dyreza is a timely reminder that all businesses need proper email and spam filtering, firewalls, wireless network and managed security, and further protection.

Dyreza is a tool available to buy on many criminal forums, and is so easy to use that any would-be hacker can use it. The malware has now been updated to attack Windows 10 and Microsoft’s Edge browser.

If one of your employees opens one of the millions of spam emails sent daily that contain Dyreza, it can hunt through the PC’s files for passwords, user log-in details, bank account and credit card information, and other valuable credentials.

It then sends the results to the malware owner, who can do what they like with it. The malware will also infect the computer, linking it to a botnet that can send out more spam emails to infect further computers. While Windows 10 is more secure than its predecessors, without adequate protection, it is still vulnerable to these kinds of attacks, and should act as a warning to any business not taking its data protection and security seriously.

With some 50% of companies expected to be upgrading to Windows 10 by 2017, it remains important that firms of any size have professional IT support and services in place to manage the upgrades and make sure that sufficient security, and backup and disaster recovery solutions are in place to make sure the business can cope, should the worst happen.

If you want to learn more about Dyreza take a look at https://blog.malwarebytes.org/intelligence/2015/11/a-technical-look-at-dyreza/