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IT Security

Why Ransomware Is Still The Biggest Threat

Now that the modern workplace becomes more and more sophisticated as it is interconnected, businesses should expect more complex and targeted attacks that threaten an organization’s entire infrastructure and device ecosystem.
The blog reports that cybercriminals are becoming more daring after years of sharpening their techniques. Often, while keeping the data of the attacker company, they give convulsions and threatening and then do not ransom by the victim, threatening to discharge the data. Think about the amount and intensity of ransomware attacks in 2019 and 2020, there is no surprise that the ransomware will maintain a terrorized goods at the global level. But are we really helpless?
Before we dig deeper into why ransomware is still the major cybersecurity threat of 2021, let’s go back to base first.

 

What exactly is ransomware?

Ransomware is a kind of malicious software that encrypts the data found on the victim’s system and can be accessed only after paying a ransom to the attacker. More often than not, ransomware is a massively targeted attack that tries to keep you out of your data until the money is paid. As claimed by Kaspersky, this type of malware is a criminal earning idea that can be installed through an instant message, a deceptive link in an email message, or connected to a website. It has the ability to lock the computer or laptop screen or encrypt important data with a password.

 

Popular ransomware examples include:
• WannaCry
WannaCry is a type of ransomware that spread rapidly through computer networks globally in 2017. Both the US and UK administrations and governments have blamed North Korea for the WannaCry worldwide attack that targeted businesses, financial institutions and hospitals.

• Petya
Computer security software company McAfee reports Petya started spreading globally in June 2017. It targeted Windows devices such as servers, laptops and PCs and exploited the Server Message Block vulnerability that WannaCry used to infect unpatched devices. Petya did a credential-stealing method that spends money on non-vulnerable machines.

• CryptoLocker
CryptoLocker is a type of malware that acts as a Trojan horse – encrypting data on affected devices and then requesting ransom money in exchange for the decryption key. CryptoLocker was largely deployed via email which fools downloading malicious attachments.

 

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How do you get ransomware and how would you know if you’re infected?

Like other types of technology, cyberattacks only get more and more sophisticated. As technology is getting advanced, cyber attacks are increasing along with it. There are several ways in which ransomware can infect your IT infrastructure. One of the common systems is via email that intercepts malicious attachments that redirect a user to an infected website that automatically downloads malware without notice.
Malwarebytes, well-known anti-malware software, has discovered that another well-known infection system is malware. Malware uses online propaganda to spread malware “requiring little or no user interaction.” This often leaves victims unaware as legit websites are used to redirect users to a compromised website. According to Malwarebytes, “these attack catalogs details about the victim’s devices and their destination and then selects the most appropriate malware to deliver the message.”

So what can you do to protect yourself and prevent ransomware attacks?
Fortunately, there are several avenues we can take to defend ourselves so that we will be able to defend against the majority of even a sophisticated ransomware attack. Check out some of the parameters you can use to ensure that your data is always safe and secure.

• Educate yourself and your staff
The important thing to remember is that some security measures will be useless if you and your employees don’t have the basics of Internet security. Make sure your worker is aware of how to address sketchy emails and which links not to click. Investing in a cyber security awareness seminar helps reduce the risk of human error, which hackers mostly rely on.

• Don’t forget to backup
Copying data is only a small part of the fight against data loss – you need to make sure that your data is encrypted and password protected as well. Be sure to use end-to-end encryption so that your data is protected both during storage and during transfer. Also, keep in mind that you need to keep your data secure, implement durable storage drives that can withstand major extreme conditions. Having the necessary backup measures on the spot can help you recover your data multiple times.

• Update your stuff
An outdated device or software leaves you vulnerable to ransomware attacks. Updates are important because they often cover critical patches for security flaws found in previous versions. According to McAfee, software updates could also cover new improved compatibility with various applications, including security improvements. They can also improve the stability of software, and remove outdated features.

• Use a reputable security software
Antivirus software is designed to detect and safely remove malicious software tampering with your device. This software scans the data, programs and various data stored on your device to detect the wide variety of threats that your device may be lacking. The great purpose about antivirus software is that it provides real-time threat detection and protection against most common computer vulnerabilities.

• Develop a disaster recovery plan
A disaster recovery plan should be created by your IT team t or an outsourced IT consulting provider company that enables a firm to access and restore its data in the event of a force majeure event. The main function of DR plan is to restore your data, system faster, reduce downtime and reduce the risk of data loss. Planning, deploying and maintaining DR is a necessary, albeit tedious, process. Make sure your DR plan is optimized to be suitable for your network requirement. Don’t leave it to speculation.

• Hire an MSP
If you don’t need any headache regarding various cyber security measures, you always have the option of appointing a Managed IT Service Provider (MSP) to manage your IT security needs.

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