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Anti-Virus protection Webroot lock protecting against Ransomware trying to attack business data

Ransomware the preferred method of thieves

Do you remember when cyber thieves would steal the credit card numbers of people, checking account numbers, and other private financial information when they wanted to make money? That was their traditional way of making quick money. Now, the cyber thieves have found a new way of making money. They are now using ransomware, and everyone can become a target.

Ransomware can attack big corporations, health care facilities, government offices, police stations, etc. Since this has become such a big thing, you would think someone will eventually do something to stop these criminals, right? We don’t want you to hold your breath on that one.

You will basically be responsible for fighting against the various attacks from cyber thieves. A hacker will use ransomware to encrypt some of your files or maybe even your entire computer. You will not be able to unlock the files or the computer until you pay the money. Many people who have been victims ransomware have made the decision to pay the money. Even if you made the wise decision to have your computers and files backed up, you will still feel the impact of the ransomware attack.

You will find yourself paying for someone to disinfect all of your machines that were impacted by the ransomware attack and you will also have to restore all the data you backed up. For many businesses, this could mean that you will spend days or weeks trying to get your business back to where it was before the attack.

If you think you may be at risk for an attack, there are various things you can do to make sure your business will be protected.

Back Up Your Data

If you truly want to make those attackers angry, you should make sure your data is backed up. The best way to defend yourself against any type of malicious attack is to not allow anyone to get anywhere near your business’s data. Your data should be backed up on a daily basis. If your data is backed up and someone locks your computers, you will know that your data is safe and secure somewhere else.

If you lose access to 10 years worth of business data that has been saved in the cloud, you will not have to pay a cyber thief to release your data because you will have access to the backups. It is important that you remember that many attackers can lock backups that have been saved to your server or on a storage device. Your backups should be stored offline.

Do Not Fall For The Email Tricks

If you receive an email that looks suspicious, you should stay away from it. You do not want to click a link that can result in malware finding its way into your computers. Emails are not the only way to infect computers with malware. Malware is even being placed on ads. If you truly want to protect yourself from the malicious ads that can seem very real, we recommend that you use appropriate ad blockers. If you want your workers to be on the lookout for suspicious ads, you can consider using training to help them understand what ransomware can look like. Educating the workers can be a huge step in decreasing your office’s chance of being attacked.

Protect Yourself

What Anti-Virus protection are you currently using in your workplace? If you want to stay protected from attacks on your computers, servers, networks, your best option will be to use Webroot. Why should you pay a ransom for your data when you can use Webroot? Ransomware attacks will continue to spread, but this does not mean you will have to be a victim. Contact us today for more information on ransomware attacks and what you can do to avoid being attacked.

Are you running an outdated operating system?

This past May, the ransomware known as ‘WannaCry’ swept through 150 countries and affected hundreds of thousands of computers in organizations ranging from telecommunication companies to nationwide healthcare systems. Devices running older versions of Microsoft software (such as a Windows 7 operating system without key security updates) showed critical vulnerabilities to this powerful, rapidly propagating malware.

In response to WannaCry and to future threats of a similar nature or scope, Microsoft has recently taken steps to supply emergency security patches for various older software, including Windows XP, Server 2003, and Vista. Even when an older system does show some resilience to a WannaCry attack, it can still remain extremely vulnerable to other forms of malware.

The issue of updates and upgrades

Microsoft typically doesn’t support these older systems, and its recent release of free security patches is a deviation from how the company ordinarily operates. It’s an extraordinary measure for an emergency situation. However, where will Microsoft draw the line? What will happen during future occasions involving widespread malware or other security risks?

Some organizations that are reluctant to upgrade to Windows 10, for example, might take this is a sign that they can continue relying on Microsoft to support outdated versions of various Windows software when there’s an emergency. However, this is a flawed way of thinking.

Organizations can’t reliably depend on the fact that Microsoft will step in to fix old, unsupported software whenever there’s a major security problem. The company offers no such guarantee.
Upgrading to a supported platform like Windows 10 ensures that your organization benefits from the most recent updates.
Beyond updates or patches for specific security risks, an up-to-date platform like Windows 10 has also been designed with greater security built into it throughout. If you’re running an outdated system, there may be deep security flaws that can’t be comprehensively addressed just by performing certain updates. Older systems may be lacking in powerful security features that newer systems have adopted.

Managing your systems

Another key lesson we can take from the problem of rampant malware is how important it is to stay on top of managing your IT systems.

You need to make a full accounting of all the devices your business uses, and the information you must stay on top of includes the following:

The versions of operating systems and other software your computing devices use. (Maybe you’re using similar software across devices, or perhaps the software you use varies quite a bit from one device to another.)
The schedule of upgrades and updates you’ve developed for your systems. For example, have you made updates automatic, or are they manual? How often do you check for new updates?
The current vulnerabilities in your system, and your priorities for which to address first. Some security flaws are much more likely to be immediately exploited and cause potentially widespread damage, while others pose less of a threat, at least in the short-term.
What each device is connected to. For example, a major security risk comes from devices (ranging from laptops to digital security cameras) that are inadvertently exposed to the Internet and left unprotected. Configuring devices properly and limiting their exposure is critical for improved security.

To further discuss these issues and to receive assistance in strengthening the security of your devices and systems, please contact us. If you don’t manage your software and remain aware of the potential risks, you leave your business far more vulnerable to the threat of malware and other security breaches. The results can prove deeply damaging and include steep financial losses, damaged trust, and prolonged downtime. With our assistance, you can perform any upgrades or updates you need in a timely way and implement cyber security strategies that better safeguard you against the numerous threats out there.

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