What is Ransomware?
A Look at How Ransomware Works and What You Need to Do to Stay Safe Against This Costly Threat…
Ransomware Recovery Services In Boston
Ransomware is a form of malicious software designed to encrypt a victim’s files and/or system, then demand a ransom fee from the victim in exchange for the restoration of access to the files and/or system. Over the years, ransomware has become the biggest threat to businesses of all types – from governmental agencies to healthcare organizations to small shops and everything in between – with ransom fees growing as time goes on.
The average ransom fee as of lately? A staggering $13,000.
In the past, ransomware attacks relied on mass phishing emails sent out to a huge amount of people with the goal of getting a few hits. Nowadays, cybercriminals are launching more focused, sophisticated attacks:
- Abusing stolen credentials to gain access to systems
- Exploiting vulnerabilities in remote desktop protocols
- Creating phony domains designed to entice downloads
How Does Ransomware Work?
It’s important to understand exactly how ransomware works, in order to prepare yourself and stay protected:
- Attackers deliver the malware payload to the target via a phishing attack, gaining access to the systems or enticing them to download it somehow.
- The malware reaches out to the cybercriminals to let them know a victim has been infected and it’s time to encrypt their data and/or systems.
- The data and/or systems are encrypted – often starting with the local disk, then moving onto mapped shares or open shares.
- The victim receives a ransom note from the cybercriminal demanding a specific dollar figure in the form of cryptocurrency in exchange for the decryption key.
How Do You Protect Against Ransomware?
When it comes to protecting against ransomware, it’s all about taking the right prevention measures to keep your network safe against any form of malware. Take a look at our latest video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJ0tFOTGea4&feature=emb_title for tips to stay safe.
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