7 Prevention Tips Against Ransomware

You already know how ransom works, taking someone or something important and holding it until a sum of money is given to secure its release. Criminals thought of a different approach to performing ransom, doing it digitally. Yes, it’s not only good people who want stable and decent jobs that have kept up with today’s technology. Bad-natured people do too.

So, in the cyber world, ransomware is a new wave of criminal activity. It restricts access to our computers and our files until a sum of money is paid out. Familiar isn’t it? There are two types of ransomware: Lockscreen ransomware which displays an image that prevents you from accessing your computer; and Encryption ransomware which encrypts files either on your hard drives, shared network drives, USB drives, external hard drives, or cloud storage drive that restricts you from accessing or opening them. This causes massive disruption to productivity within the workplace.

Imagine you’re a loyal and hard-working employee working at a very big company, and your deadlines are coming up. Suddenly your computer is hacked, files restricted and all. Then a message box appears on your screen saying you need to pay up. You ask yourself with a very big “HOW” when you’re only a regular employee, not a CEO. Don’t worry, House of I.T has you covered with tips on how to prevent this kind of scenario.

Never give in to the ransom

That’s the first thing you must do because you will encourage the attackers more to do this kind of crime. They continue to benefit from this situation because they were funded by the payment you gave them. At the same time, you really do not have any assurance or solid guarantee that you will be able to regain possession of your files or computer. This is where the famous saying comes in, “Spend wisely!”

Back-up and restore

If you have backed up your files, you can easily restore them, and you’ll have your files again in no time. Back up your files occasionally, make sure it’s good and reliable. This makes you two steps ahead before the attacker can make a move.

Do not divulge your personal information

When answering an email, unknown phone call, SMS, or instant message that you think is suspicious, do not give your personal information when you are asked for it. This is phishing, and it tricks you into installing malware into your computer that lets them access and takes control of your computer. Contact your IT support if this happens to make sure if it’s legit or not.

Antivirus and firewall

Every computer user should have a reputable antivirus and a strong firewall. This one is a no-brainer because, without these two, you put your computer and important information at risk. Your computer will be prone to cyberattacks if not for these two, so it is of high importance that you should turn on the firewall on your computer, install very reliable antivirus software, and always keep it up to date.

Scan and block

Scanning every content especially inbound e-mails on your computer should be employed from time to time, to check if there are viruses and malware that will lead to ransomware. Block these malicious e-mails containing attachments that are very harmful.

Update all systems

To truly make sure that your computer could block or prevent ransomware, update all system software and relevant patches to cover up network blind spots that can be exploited by attackers.

Inform before traveling

If you have plans to travel or you’re having a business trip, inform your office’s IT consulting service. This is because you will be using a different internet connection, like a public wireless internet. Use a trustworthy Virtual Private Network (VPN) before you connect to the public internet.

Ransomware attacks mostly happen due to poor protection practices by employees, and often attack small and medium-sized businesses. So, keep all these tips in mind for ransomware can be easily warded off if the above-mentioned tips are practiced well.