![]() Do not rely on the system security to prevent these attacks we all seen those fail time and time again. Remember to make sure your mission-critical data is always backed up outside of the ransomware proven infection range. You can back up critical data using a service such as GoodSync Connect File Transfer Protocol (GSTP) which allows for your backup to go over an encrypted secure channel that ransomware attacks cannot infect, ensuring your backups are secure from even the most advanced ransomware of today. Ensure you don’t lose valuable data (and potentially customers) by having to choose between satisfying the demands of your attackers or losing your data forever…or in some cases – both. Lack of backups – failure to regularly and routinely backup data, especially business-critical data or highly sensitive personal/customer oriented data.Poor cyber hygiene – lack of measures including email authentication, intrusion prevention software, and web browser protection.Action – you’ll click on the link or download the attachment (either out of curiosity or unintentionally).Since the majority of ransomware occurs through phishing email attacks, perpetrators count on three things: ![]() ![]() According to Cybersecurity Ventures, they predict the cost of ransomware damage this year to exceed $5 billion, up from $325 million in 2015. Ransomware affects individuals, as well as companies and organizations – big and small. It’s worthwhile to note, however, that researchers and academics are now saying the attack was most likely engineered to damage IT systems rather than extort funds. Forced updates then led to mass infection and the encryption of hard drives. By entering Windows-operated machines with unpatched security, the malicious software stole passwords in an attempt to gain administrator access over the entire network. NotPetya, the name given to the ransomware strain first detected in Ukraine, affected computers by using vulnerabilities in the NSA hacking tool known as EternalBlue. The “ WannaCry” attack being a prime example. According to Malwarebytes, roughly 60% of malware payloads in Q1 2017 were ransomware. Other forms of ransomware, however, can travel between computers without user interaction. Once the victim clicks on the link or opens the attachment, the computer becomes infected, encrypting or “locking” the victim out of their files. The attack typically manifests through email phishing campaigns. The ransom is most often demanded in the form of a digital currency known as “Bitcoin.” Ransomware is an increasingly popular form of malicious cryptography that infiltrates computer systems, encrypts as much data as possible, and keeps it as a hostage until the victim pays the demanded ransom for the decryption password. In light of last month’s cyberattack that originated in and quickly spread ransomware across several countries including the United States, you may be wondering – what exactly is ransomware, what’s the likelihood you’ll be affected, and how can it be prevented?
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