Ransomware is one of the most dangerous types of malware, capable of encrypting your files and demanding a ransom to unlock them. While Ransomware is sometimes called Cryptolocker, the two are very different. In this article, we are going to explain how Ransomware works, how you can avoid it, and what you can do if you are already infected.

What is a Ransomware Attack?

A Ransomware Attack is an attack where the hacker encrypts the data on the victim’s computer and demands a ransom to decrypt the files and return them to their original condition. While this type of attack sounds like something that would happen to a government agency or large corporation, it can happen to anyone.

The term “ransomware” has been in the vernacular for years. It’s a term that has been used as a descriptor for a type of malware designed to hold a computer hostage and extort a ransom from the owner. Any time a computer is infected by a ransomware virus, the owner is locked out of their computer until a sum of money is paid, or the computer is restored.

Protect Yourself from Getting Attacked

There are certain ways to protect yourself against the ransomware threat. For instance, you can consider opting for ransomware protection services. But knowing what to do is only part of the battle. The other part is that you must do it. It might be hard to avoid a ransomware attack since the threat is constantly growing, but there’s always a way for those, who seek solutions.

With that, here are the following tips on how to avoid a ransomware attack:

• Remember the gold standard: Regular system Backup. The most effective way to prevent getting your data encrypted by a ransomware attack is to regularly back up your data to an external hard drive or cloud storage. That way, you can restore your device after an attack and keep sensitive information protected. If you are not backing up your system regularly, then you are potentially at risk if your system is infected with ransomware-type malware and you lose all your files. If required, you can set up a data center for your business data, which can be organized, managed, and backed up automatically with the help of an online server. Moreover, with the assistance of data center infrastructure experts alike Walt Coulston, you can improve the security and control site access for the data center. Additional security can be achieved by employing IT security measures.
• Segmenting your network can be one of the best ways to avoid a ransomware attack. This is because a ransomware attack is a method of obtaining access to your network and locking it down. Segmenting your network by department, location, visitor, computer, social media, or any other measure of your network will help you identify who is vulnerable to a ransomware attack. If your network is segmented by devices that are difficult to access, it will be harder for ransomware to hold you hostage. All this spreading out, however, means that your access to these files may be slowed down if your internet is not up to the task. If such is the case, you might want to look into rural internet options, as they would give you higher speeds.
• Perform network security assessments on a regular basis. If the hackers get in, you’re in big trouble; you will probably lose a ton of important information, and you’ll be out of business. So, how do you keep hackers out of your network? It’s pretty simple: you need to be doing a regular security check as well as keeping your system up to date. Additionally, you can also adopt cybersecurity solutions, which can add another layer of security net to your business data. You can look for online security solutions that are specially designed for your business, for instance, healthcare cybersecurity tools for hospitals, small clinics, care centers, and more. However, what is healthcare cybersecurity? Cybersecurity in healthcare refers to protecting health information from unauthorized access. Its purpose is to prevent data misuse and disclosure.
• Have employees undergo security training. In today’s world, it is important that companies take employee security seriously. The number of companies that have been affected by ransomware attacks is still rising, and demand for more education and other measures to prevent such attacks is ever-increasing. When employees receive security training, they become more aware that a ransomware attack could be happening around them. This awareness creates an environment in which employees can be prepared to take preventive measures against Ransomware.
• Implement stronger password protocols. Passwords are a vital part of any online activity. As anyone can guess, using a weak password (or none at all) can lead to a lot of problems for you and others. It can make you vulnerable to hackers, losing all your data, and/or a ransom being demanded in return. Passwords are a critical part of your business or organization’s security policy. They need to be tough enough to withstand even the toughest cyberattacks.

Encrypting your files with a strong encryption program, such as VeraCrypt, is a great way to secure your data. However, that won’t protect you against a Ransomware attack. Even though you can prevent a ransomware attack from happening, this doesn’t mean you won’t get hit.

Ransomware is a big problem, and cybercriminals are catching on to the fact that it is a profitable business model. More and more Ransomware is being produced, better organized, and tracked, and users must be more careful. Remembering the tips listed above will at least help you and your company peace of mind from a Ransomware attack.