In recent times there has been a rapid advancement observed in technology. On the other side, it also brought the risk of theft where an online criminal can hack your system and steal important information. The whole process can be known as ransomware, the idea behind it is software that can get into your system and lock the data and then demand something in return to restore your access.
That is why an individual or organization should have a strategy to counter ransomware attacks. Without a solid security measure, the organization’s systems are exposed to the risk of hacking. As a result, their data will be lost and these companies have to suffer.
Over time there is an increase in cyber-attack attempts and a report from cybersecurity ventures analyzes that organizations have to face Ransome attacks regularly as there is a Ransome attack after every 15 seconds resulting in a million-dollar loss. These hackers often target individuals and huge firms who have no other option but to pay a huge amount in return for their sensitive information.
A most valuable asset for the company is the data of its customers and employees. Losing such information will result in irreversible losses that can cripple the organization. Therefore, it is important for these companies to adopt a proactive approach when It comes to the security of the data.
What is Ransomware?
A practice of getting into your system through malicious software and getting control over the information. Here the victim has to pay the other parties in order to get their data back. As these attacks are designed by some professional hackers therefore control of data in return for money will not return back sometimes. After the attack on your system, you cannot see your information such as personal images and files. Although they are available on the computer as the malware has encrypted your device.
According to IT experts, there is a simple idea behind ransomware. However, you should not fight back once your device has been attacked it will only make the situation worse for you. Therefore, it is better for you to adopt some precautionary measures to prevent these attacks.
In this article, we are going to let you know about the dos and don’ts so you can prepare yourself to tackle such attacks
How Ransom attacks work
The ransom attacks have two stages first they gain complete access to your device and lock the entire information in the second step. You might wonder how it happens well we are going to explore that as well
It is because when an individual accidentally downloads malware through unknown links and email attachments. Once your system is under the control of hackers, they encrypt everything which means you cannot access your own system.
Now they will ask you to pay a certain amount of money in return for control. Once you pay, they will give you access, and sometimes they don’t return your system access even payment of their desired amount.
Who can be the target of ransom attacks
A ransom does not require a specific target as hackers can get into anyone’s system for the sake of money. However, according to the type of file-locking malware the hackers have to define their target for attacks. This helps these cyber criminals to go behind those who can pay a huge amount of money easily.
Below are the possible targeted Groups for Ransome attacks
Groups with weaker Security Arrangements
Educational sectors such as colleges and universities lie in such groups. These institutions only have information related to education and personal details. Therefore, they don’t focus much on the arrangement of strong security measures.
Organizations that are willing to pay quickly
This group covers a large sector that includes banks, government institutes, and medical facilities. These institutions require 24/7 access to their information for serving customers. These 3 sectors are willing to pay a huge amount in return for access to the information.
Companies holding sensitive Information
Law firms and other companies can be the target of cyber-attacks. The hackers target this group mostly as they have Secrete information for which they are willing to pay a huge amount.
Business of Western Markets
When hackers want a big payout, they go behind the businesses in the western markets. They focus on the United Kingdom Canada and the United states etc.
Steps to prevent Ransome Attacks
Once you know the possible targets of the attackers you should also have an idea that how to reduce the risk of ransomed attacks. We have brought some useful tips for you.
Do not Click on Unknown Links
Often times you see random links and images which require you to click on. Be aware of such things as they are viruses that cybercriminals send to trap you. once you click on the link our system will be under their control. Therefore, try not to click on any image or link from an unrecognized source.
Avoid sharing your Personal Information
Your privacy is valuable and you should avoid sharing it with anyone. Never share your information with anyone in case you receive a call or email from an unknown source. These could be the hackers who try to gather your personal information to ask for money in return. If you receive any fishy emails or text, please coordinate with your service provider to solve the matter.
Don’t open suspectable email attachments
Hackers try different tactics to get into your system which a technique is sending email attachments. Therefore, don’t open any attachment which is not from your known sources. In order to make sure this is an email from your known source check the email address properly and the sender’s address as well.
Try not to use unknown USD devices
Never connect any storage media device to your computer such as a USB or external hard drive unless you don’t know where it came from. There are chances that cyber criminals had infected the device to entice someone to use it.
Run regular updates on your device
An easy way to avoid cyber-attacks is to run regular updates on your systems. While the updates you have to ensure that your system security is also updated. Which makes it harder for the attackers to find any loophole in your device.
Rely on known download sources
Do not download any file or information from unknown sources it will help you to reduce the risk of Ransome attacks on your system. Always use reliable sources which are available with trusted seals over the internet. You can make this sure by checking the address bar if it uses ‘HTTPS’ instead of ‘HTTP’ consider it a secure one. Moreover, a lock symbol in the address bar is also an indicator of safety. Try to use the safest downloading platforms such as Play Store and Apple App Store etc.
Use VPN Services
Public WI-FI use is also a protective security measure against the Ransome attacks. While using public WI-FI your device is exposed to cyber-attacks. Therefore, use VPN services while transferring any data through a public internet service.
Install Anti-Virus
These days anti-virus is a common measure to reduce the risk of malware attacks. These are software programs that detect threats and respond accordingly. Here you need to configure a firewall as well because the anti-virus software works on the internal level and can only identify an attack when It is inside your device.
Firewalls are considered the first line for defending the system against cyber-attacks. They are capable of protecting the attacks against your software and hardware. Firewalls are very important for an individual and organizations as they filter suspicious data from entering your system.
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What should I do After the Ransom Attack?
You might wonder why I need to think about this question when I know all the security measures. However, it is still possible that you might become the victim of Ransome attacks even after implementing the best security measures. Therefore, thinking about what to do after the attack will be a part of a plan to reduce the impact of attacks.
First of all, companies should maintain an emergency communication mechanism and response procedures so everyone knows what to do when there is a Ransome attack.
Below are some immediate steps in this regard.
Don’t show willingness for paying the Ransome
If your system is under attack and the criminals ask you to pay a sum of money in return. Don’t agree to their requirements as paying them will only encourage these attackers to continue such activities. On the other hand, paying them will not work as well. Because there are fewer chances, they will give your data back after getting the required amount. Moreover, there are no tools available through which you can access back the hacked data.
Separate the infected devices
In order to keep the damage to a minimum extent immediately disconnect all the devices from the internet in case of a Ransome attack. Although the cybercriminals have already affected your systems. However, separating them will help you to limit the scope of the attack.
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