CounselGO Malware Protection

CounselGO's security will be upgraded to better protect against potential threats of malware starting September 01, 2023 and we expect a complete rollout to occur over a 4-week period. New malware threats are abundant. In fact, over the past year, there were 15 million malware attacks every day. There are now more than 5 billion malware programs out there. 

While we've always scanned CounselGO files for malware, including invoice attachments, we are now focused on better surfacing any threats that we find to users so they can take action. 

Why is CounselGO upgrading its malware protection?

Be rest assured - this change is not initiated by a security breach. Over the past few years, attacks on corporations have been on the rise, and we want to make sure our users (and their data) continue to remain secured and protected. That's why we're leveraging the latest technologies and processes to improve security and better serve our customers.

How does CounselGO's malware protection work?

Our malware protection works in the background. Any time a file is uploaded into CounselGO, including invoice attachments, it will automatically be scanned for potential malware. If one or more attached files to an invoice fail the malware scan, the CounselGO user who submitted the invoice will receive an automated email notification with details to re-submit the invoice as shown below:

In CounselGO, any LEDES and non-LEDES invoices that fail the scan are flagged as Invalid. Upon logging back in, a red exclamation mark is displayed next to the client's name on the CounselGO homepage to alert the user that malware was detected for an uploaded invoice:

Any invoices flagged as invalid are stored under Invoices > Draft:

Best Practices

When it comes to protecting against malware, it takes two to tango! Below are steps you can take personally to better protect your computer and data:

• Secure your home network. With so many people working from home or remotely, it's important to make sure your home network is secure. Start by changing the default password to something strong (using the recommended lowercase, uppercase, numbers, and symbols). This goes not only for your router, computer, and wireless devices but also for connected devices like smart speakers, appliances, and even toys that access the internet through your wireless router. Encrypt your data; WPA or WPA2 is the most effective among common encryption protocols.
• Avoid unprotected Wi-Fi. If you work in coffee shops, airports, or other public places, never use unprotected public Wi-Fi networks. Set up a virtual private network (VPN) for Wi-Fi access, ideally a high-end VPN system supplied by your employer.
• Scan and back up frequently. Schedule your antivirus software to run regular scans and back up your files frequently. If your employer offers automated backup to the cloud, use it. If you absolutely must download a file, make sure your antivirus software scans it before you open it.