Finance Latvia Association invites private users and businesses to install a special DNS firewall developed by Cert.lv and Nic.lv. This is a free software tool developed to protect users from cyber threats like fake bank websites, scam trade and shopping platforms, and websites spreading computer viruses.
According to the association, the developed DNS firewall provides active protection, which includes, among other things, blocking downloads of malware. At the same time, the firewall compliments antivirus software. In situations when malware is already found on the device, it will prevent malicious software from contacting its controlling system, allowing the system administrator to quickly identify such devices and commence preventive measures.
«According to data from Finance Latvian Association, in November 2022 the losses of clients of four biggest banks in Latvia to scams of various kind reached EUR 1.3 million. In eleven months of the year this amount reached EUR 10.8 million,» says the association’s Fraud Prevention workgroup leader Anrijs Šmits.
At the same time, Šmits stresses that scammers attack both private persons and enterprises.
«This is why it is important to avoid scam attempts using all kinds of methods, such as the security tool developed by Cert.lv and Nic.lv, which can protect against attacks if scammers make users go to fake and potentially dangerous websites,» stresses Šmits.
Information about malicious websites reported by Latvian residents or identified by Cert.lv are added to DNS firewall in order to protect users from cyber threats.
Since the start of November, DNS firewall has processed more than 1.5 million requests, according to Cert.lv cyber security expert Armīns Palms.