Ransomware - Don't be the next victim

​Ransomware attacks are on the rise. Cyber criminals are using the internet to exploit security vulnerabilities in computer software running on everything from home computers to cloud service providers. Once the criminals gain access to a system, they encrypt the contents of data making it inaccessible to the owner. For home users this may be an annoyance, but for businesses it can be devastating, holding up business operations while management scrambles to react. Unfortunately, far too often victims pay a ransom in hopes that they will be able to recover their data using encryption keys provided by the attackers.
 
Another tactic for the ransomware attackers is to threaten to publish sensitive data if a victim refuses to pay the ransom demand. These files could range from sensitive business documents, to banking info, or even compromising photos and videos. This type of attack is an even more painful type to experience as there is a feeling of exposure, and vulnerability that accompanies a threat from someone who has your data.
 
In order to protect against both types of ransomware attacks both businesses and individuals need to take precautions and protect against data loss and data access. Strong passwords should be used for all accounts, limiting the number of accounts that the same password is used for. Remembering all of these complex passwords can become a nuisance, so I highly recommend using a password management utility to keep track of passwords for all of the various sites and accounts you access online. The Chrome browser has a built-in password management feature that is handy for generating and remembering/auto filling passwords for various sites. If you’d like the ability to manage passwords for more than just the Chrome browser, including cell phone and Microsoft Edge, and Mac OS, there are solutions from companies like Nord which will manage all of your passwords across all of your devices. For more info: NordPass https://nordpass.com/ .
 
Backing up data is also crucial and neglected by both businesses and individuals alike. For disaster recovery, a copy of data should be kept offsite. Luckily there are many cloud data storage utilities available. Microsoft OneDrive is a free service included with all Windows computers and MS Office subscriptions. Services like Dropbox and carbonite are excellent choices as well and can be used to backup more than just your files.
 
Most importantly, computers need to be kept up to date for both the operating system and applications that are installed. It is most often through vulnerabilities in operating systems and software that the attackers are able to gain control of computers and hold them for ransom. Antivirus and antimalware software is crucial in preventing attackers from being able to access your computer. If you are uncomfortable running updates and checking the health of your computer, we can assist. This is one of the core services that our clients receive with a support subscription. All software is automatically kept up to date, and managed antivirus and antimalware software provides us with alerts when infected files are detected, blocked, and removed. And if and when issues arise, our helpdesk can assist in cleaning your computer of malware, recovering data from backups, and avoiding the need to pay ransom to get your data back.