If you’ve been reading the news headlines lately, then you know that ransomware is on the rise. Hackers are accessing sensitive information and systems having negative effects on businesses and supply chains, rippling out and impacting the larger community. Let’s break down what ransomware actually is and what you can do to prevent your organisation from being affected by it.
What is ransomware?
Ransomware is a type of malware used by hackers to access a device and encrypt files to then block the owner of the data until a ransom is paid.
How does it work?
There are many ways that a hacker can access your computer, though one of the more popular methods is through phishing. With this route, the hacker sends a legitimate looking email asking the receiver to click a link or download a file. When this is done, using social engineering, they can then take access of the device and drop the payload, which is the code that locks down and steals your data. They leverage providing access back to your system for the ransom.
How can your organisation prevent ransomware attacks?
Here are some tips on what your team can do to avoid falling victim to ransomware:
- Ensure your IT department or staff are keeping their operating systems and devices up to date
- Restrict administrative access privileges to only key staff members, minimizing the number of staff downloading new software
- Have all devices on an active antivirus software license to monitor for abnormal behavior
- Backup your files! This is critical should a breach occur as it minimizes data loss during and after the incident
Let’s talk about how we prevent possible attacks, as well as manage attack incidents, and the steps your organisation can take to prevent or react to any kind of malicious cyber attack.
