Ransomware: Time To Wipe It Out

Ransomware refers to malicious software that different threat actors use to extort money from people. This type of cyber aggression is one of the most popular crimes in recent times. Ransomware attacks can be costly for organizations and can take hundreds of hours for them to repair the devices and restore any lost data during the attack. Organizations learn of cyber-attacks when they get a notification from infected machines.

These infected machines inform the organization about their data being targeted. A typical ransomware attack usually involves only a few steps. The first step involves manipulating the server or system to download the malware. The ransomware encrypts the data and then takes control. Next, the compromised computer displays a “ransom note” message, which contains the attacker’s demands. It informs the victim or company that encrypted files are not available until payment is made. The best way to prevent attacks is by installing antivirus anti-ransomware software.

Ransom payments are demanded in the form of gift cards or credit cards. However, this doesn’t guarantee that the victim will be granted access after the completion of the payment. Sometimes, even after getting the payment, the attackers do not provide access to the victim or organization. This can lead to both financial and data loss. This is why victims choose not to pay the ransom and rely on data backups and system rebuilds. A ransomware attack puts a lot of things at stake and is a threat to any organization. Therefore, it must be prevented by any means. Read on to know a few things you can do to avoid a ransomware attack.

•       You should never click on unverified links: Avoid clicking on links in spam emails or on strange websites. Ransomware is often spread by hackers via malicious links that lead to malware downloading. Once the malware has infected your computer, it can encrypt all your data and make it unavailable to anyone without a key. The malware must first get onto your computer. Malicious links are the best way to spread ransomware. It is better to ignore a link that hasn’t been verified.

•       You should download files only from trusted sites:Hackers usually use a website to spread malware. What they do is they put malware on that particular website and then use social engineering to attract the user to enter the website. The link may appear innocent in many cases. You should avoid the link if you don’t know anything about it or if its Uniform Resource Locator (URL) appears suspicious. Many fake websites are created by cyber criminals that appear trustworthy. Before downloading any files from a website, always verify its URL.

•       You should always back up important data to ensure their safety:Ransomware hackers love to exploit users who depend on specific data to run their businesses. These attackers often take advantage of victims who depend on data to run their organizations as they are more likely to pay the ransom. This can be avoided by regularly backing up important data. You can restore the data you need in the event of an attack if it is backed up on a different location or device. You should back up your critical data regularly to ensure that you can restore the data needed to sustain your business continuity in case of an attack.

•       You should use proper security software: Ransomware prevention software can be very powerful. It is frequently ranked among the top practices for preventing ransomware. Security software inspects files that are downloaded from the internet. The software stops malicious files from being downloaded to your computer if they are detected. Security software analyses the files and threats to determine which are potentially dangerous. This software is often provided with regular updates to keep it up to date. They can be automatically installed by the provider. You will get the best protection possible if your software is kept up to date.

Even after taking all the precautionary measures, there are still chances that your computer might get attacked by a hacker. In such situations, you can follow the following steps to defeat the malware from your computer.

Step 1: Isolate. The first step after you discover you are in the middle of a ransomware attack is to isolate the infected machines. This step will prevent the spread of ransomware from one computer to another. In this step, you need to shut down the infected computer and disconnect any kind of network cable that is attached to this computer. Along with this, you should turn off the Wi-Fi of that area so that the Wi-Fi connection is not used as the medium to spread the malware. Make sure to remove all the storage devices from the computer as they might get infected and later on infect other computers.

Step 2: Identity. In the next step, you have to determine the type of malware used to infect your computer. If you know the type of malware used, it can help the incident response team find a solution. The keys to some malwares are already known; in that case, if you identify the type of malware that is used, then maybe it can be decrypted using the known key. The type of malware can also help to determine the best way to deal with it. Your IT team and outside consultants will need to identify the type of malware they are working with to understand your options for remediation. This is a crucial step.

Step 3: Remove. The next step is removing the malware from the computer. It is very important to follow the above steps before removing the malware. If you do not isolate the computer, it will most likely spread to another computer during the process of removing it. If you do not identify the type of malware, you will not be able to gain information about the malware that will enable you and your team to deal with it if it is used in the future. You can use the best ransomware removal software to remove the malware from your device. After removing the malware, you can recover the lost data.

Ransomware attacks have become very common in recent years. The attackers often think that they can get away with such acts of crime because many people tend to pay the ransom very easily to recover their precious data. This encourages attackers; therefore, you should avoid paying the ransom and take measures to resolve the issue right at your end.