Ransomware is a type of malware or malicious software. It is one of many cyber security threats businesses need to be aware of today.
Ransomware is much more complex than typical malware. It presents itself in one of two ways: crypto ransomware or locker ransomware. Crypto ransomware only encrypts specific, usually important, files on a computer. Locker ransomware will encrypt the entire hard drive.
Both types of ransomware infect computers, access personal information and essentially holds the data hostage. The ransomware then gives users an ultimatum: pay a fee or lose your personal data.
There are a number of different things that you can do to reduce your chances of being a victim of a ransomware attack. This includes the following:
Make certain that all software and systems are up to date with relevant patches to help secure your system against threats. Ransomware hosted on websites that are compromised are often utilised to spread malware, detecting and exploiting weaknesses in your computer’s system.
Do employ content filtering and scanning on your mail servers. All inbound emails need to be scanned for threats and any attachments that could pose a threat should be blocked. It’s not a good idea to open an email from someone who you don’t know.
Use reputable antivirus software and a firewall. Keeping your security software up to date and maintaining a powerful firewall are essential. Make sure you choose a reputable antivirus software that allows you a trial period and provides instant customer support.
When answering an instant message, text message, unsolicited phone call, or email, you should never provide any personal information.
Store important files on a separate hard-drive – you won’t have to pay any ransom if your computer gets infected with ransomware that locks your personal data and charges you to gain access back.
If you are unlucky enough to be a victim of ransomware, here are a few things you should do:
Finally, should you pay the ransom? Most experts advise against it. If you do, it only encourages more ransomware attacks and there is no guarantee you will even get your data back.