Ransomware is used to infiltrate and lock the victim’s computer system in exchange of money. This type of malicious software (a/k/a “malware”) can cause substantial disruptions in an individual’s and a company’s business operations. It is usually caused when the unsuspecting victim clicks on a link to open an attachment or clicks on an advertisement or uniform resource locator to visit a third-party’s website that is embedded with the malware. The culprits usually request some form of ransom in order to decrypt the files. They will, and usually do, threaten the victim to either sell or leak the sensitive or confidential information if the ransom is not paid in time. There have been demands of up to or more than one-million dollars in recent years so the impact can be significant.
Ransomware can cause a “system lock” when the malware is unleashed on the computer or network system. This, in essence, will encrypt sensitive or confidential files on local or attached hard drives or other storage units. It is difficult to determine when or how the hackers infiltrated the system but the victim usually finds out when the computer systems are locked and inaccessible.
Technology experts recommend training yourself and your employees on a regular basis. This way, they will know what to look for and how to avoid these cybersecurity incidents. It’s important to have a regular backup of sensitive and confidential files and store the backup files in a secure location. We usually recommend storing them in local and remote locations. It is recommended to restrict user privileges such as permissions to install and execute software applications. Technology experts recommend enabling strong spam filters to prohibit phishing emails. They also recommend properly configuring the firewall to block access to known malicious Internet Protocol addresses. It’s also crucial to update the operating system and software applications on a regular basis according to law enforcement agencies.