This incident took place last year when we were in the middle of expanding our IT services across Wellington, Masterton, and the Hutt Valley. It was one of our busiest months, setting up new client systems, onboarding technicians, and upgrading internal tools. But in the rush, we skipped a few security steps that we normally treat as non-negotiable. That small miss cost us a full week of operations.
As a company trusted for Professional Malware Removal and Cybersecurity Solutions, it was humbling to find ourselves under attack. But what came after a week of full recovery, damage control, and new system upgrades became a defining moment for how we now serve our clients with even more efficiency, empathy, and real-world insight.
This is our story, packed with takeaways that can help protect your systems before it’s too late.
The First Signs of Malware Infection – When It All Went Down
It started like any other Monday. We logged in, prepped for on-site jobs across Wellington and Masterton, and began checking support tickets. But something was off. One computer became sluggish. Then, emails stopped loading. CRM tools began freezing. Within a few hours, one of our security systems flagged a Trojan reaching out to an external server. We had a malware breach.
1. Identifying the Malware
We immediately launched our internal threat-hunting protocols. Our security stack, including professional-grade antivirus and network monitoring tools, traced the breach to a cleverly disguised PDF in a phishing email. Despite our filters, it slipped through. It wasn’t just malware. It was ransomware, the kind that encrypts files and demands payment.
2. How It Spread
The infection moved fast, jumping across systems via shared network drives. It used fileless techniques, which made it harder to detect with traditional antivirus tools. Even though our defenses were decent, we saw firsthand how modern threats exploit even minor oversights.
3. Damage Assessment
Some recent files were lost. We temporarily lost access to schedules, ticketing systems, and a few client reports. But thanks to our off-site encrypted backups, most of our data was safe. The biggest wake-up call? Even a slight lag in syncing backups can cost you.
4. Shutting Down Operations: The Tough but Necessary Call
By midday, we made a call we often advise our clients to make in emergencies: shut everything down. It meant some service delays, but it protected our broader infrastructure. It wasn’t easy, but it was the right decision
5. Client Communication
Transparency is one of Tech On Road’s founding values. We immediately informed our active clients of potential delays and the security measures we were taking. Many appreciated our honesty, and surprisingly, it strengthened client trust. Several customers even reached out to ask how they could better protect their systems.
What We Did Next: Step-by-Step Recovery
1. Deep Malware Analysis
Using top-tier tools like Trend Micro cybersecurity solutions and our diagnostic scripts, we identified every malicious payload and hidden process. We mapped its behavior and closed all backdoors.
2. System Clean-Up and Restoration
We performed clean installs on all affected systems. We only restored from verified clean backups, avoiding system restore points to eliminate hidden malware traces.
3. Network Audit and Patching
We reviewed and hardened every layer of our network, closing open ports, enabling firewall-level threat detection, and patching every OS and software vulnerability we found.
4. Rebuilding Our Cybersecurity Infrastructure
We invested in a multi-layered security model:
- Real-time protection (Trend Micro)
- Behavioral analysis tools
- Centralized update management
- Encrypted endpoint backups
5. Internal Security Training
We re-trained every team member. From spotting phishing emails to safe file handling, we built a human firewall to match our digital one. Now, security awareness is part of our monthly internal reviews.
Lessons Learned—and What You Should Know
This wasn’t just a recovery story. It reshaped how we work and how we protect our clients.
- Backups Are Non-Negotiable: Keep regular encrypted backups, ideally off-site or in a zero-trust cloud environment. And test them. A backup you can’t restore is no backup at all.
- Antivirus isn’t enough: Traditional antivirus alone can’t stop today’s threats. We now recommend Trend Micro’s AI-based solution, which identifies malicious behavior in real time.
- People Are Your First Line of Defense: Train your team, even non-tech staff, to spot social engineering tricks. One wrong click can trigger a full-blown attack.
- Updates = Protection: Keep all systems, browsers, plugins, and drivers up to date. Outdated software is like an open door for hackers.
How We Now Protect Our Clients
Post-recovery, we completely restructured how we deliver Malware Removal and Cybersecurity Services across the Wellington region:
1. On-Site and Remote Malware Removal
We come to you. No need to bring devices to a shop. We remove malware, optimize performance, and secure your system on the spot.
2. Tailored Security Setups
Every client’s needs differ. Our IT support services in Wellington are based on your digital habits, risk level, and business activity.
3. Preventive Maintenance Plans
Our monthly service plans include system health checks, malware scans, OS updates, and network audits, so problems never snowball.
4. Customer Education
Every service call includes a quick cyber-safety briefing. Because the more you know, the less you’ll lose.
Tech On Road Got Through Cyber Attack — And So Can You
Going through a malware attack as a cybersecurity provider wasn’t easy. But it gave us battle-tested experience and made us better at what we do.
At Tech On Road, we know what it’s like to be on the receiving end of an attack. That’s why we treat every client’s system with the same urgency and care as we did our own. Whether you’re a home user in Masterton, a small business in Wellington, or a student in the Hutt Valley, we’re here to protect you
Don’t wait until it’s too late. If you’re unsure about your system’s safety, reach out to us today for Professional Malware Removal and a robust cybersecurity solution, powered by real-world experience and backed by tools like Trend Micro.
