Dos and Don'ts of Ransomware

Ransomware, a type of malicious software that holds files, devices, or systems hostage, has grown in popularity in recent years. This type of malware gains and then blocks user access to data, with the goal of extracting money from victims while promising to restore access to secured files and devices.

Ransomware, like other types of malware, infects a device by exploiting a weakness in software or tricking an unsuspecting user into downloading and running it. Healthcare organizations, government institutions, and academic institutions are among the most common targets for ransomware attacks. However, nowadays, anyone can be a target, especially if they have valuable data and are willing to pay a significant ransom.

When it comes to ransomware, there are a few dos and don’ts.

Dos:

• Focus on educating your clients: Provide formal cybersecurity training, put users through phishing tests, and even make them take online courses. Whatever you do, make sure your team understands their role in infection prevention.
• Invest in a reliable backup and disaster recovery system: If your data becomes infected, you have two choices: pay the ransom and hope for the best, or accept that your data is lost. Unless, of course, you’re taking regular backups. Find a credible backup and disaster recovery solution so that you can restore a backup made prior to a ransomware infection.
• Keep software up-to-date: The bad guys are aware of weaknesses in your computer’s software before you are, and they try to use them to gain access to your computer. It’s referred to as exploiting a vulnerability. The vulnerability is fixed by software updates. If you’re asked to update your software, do so right away. Waiting only benefits the villains.

Don’t:

• Don’t pay the ransom: Many new ransomware victims want to pay the ransom. They want to get the attack over with and get back to work. This, however, is a bad idea. For starters, there is no guarantee that a hacker will release your systems after you pay the ransom. Second, you establish the precedent that you are a preferable target. Instead, cut your losses and restore your systems to a previous state.

• Don’t give personal information to unknown sources: Never give out your password or login credentials to anyone, especially if they are unfamiliar with you or work outside your organization. Too many ransomware attacks could have been avoided if this simple rule had been followed.
• Do not perform backups during an attack: Similarly, if an attack occurs, ensure that all automatic backups are turned off. Otherwise, you risk repeating the ransomware attack and compromising your backups.

Fortunately, if you follow the ransomware dos and don’ts, you can reduce your chances of becoming a victim and the potential impact of a ransomware attack when it occurs.

Conclusion:

Ransomware is a major problem because it helps cybercriminals. However, ransomware is less likely to succeed if businesses and end users take more precautions. If you want to Prevent Ransomware Attacks, contact a full-time cyber expert like CRI Advantage. We provide the best solutions to help you avoid paying a costly ransom in the future. Book a consultation today!