How To Prevent A Ransomware Attack

Published on: 02 February 2023 Last Updated on: 13 September 2024
Ransomware

Ransomware attacks are on the rise. Because there’s currently no way to recover data once it has been encrypted by ransomware, it’s important to do everything in your power to prevent it from happening to you in the first place.

Here are steps and cyber security training you can take right now to help protect yourself against this cyber threat and all of its potentially devastating consequences.

Top 8 Ways To Prevent A Ransomware Attack

Ransomware Attack

1. Maintain Backups

It’s important to maintain at least two copies of your data: one that remains in your possession and another which is backed up to offsite storage every night. Since you can’t access the backup version if you have been infected by ransomware, it’s important that you keep a second copy in a secure offline location. That way, even if the malware does encrypt your files, the ability to restore them will still exist.

2. Encrypt Files

You should encrypt all of your files before you send them over to your computer’s backup location, and also make sure that you have full, expert-level encryption as well as a strong password in place on the backup drive. Better safe than sorry.

3. Update Your Software

As with all software, there are always patches and updates available for your antivirus or anti-malware software that could prevent ransomware from taking hold in the first place. If you’re using endpoint protection software, make sure the update has been applied. If you’re using a third-party antivirus or anti-malware package, get it to update as well.

4. Develop Plans and Policies

Ransomware is a major threat to your business, and it can cause a major loss of revenue if you don’t have a plan in place to prevent it. Therefore, it’s important that you ensure that you have a backup policy and disaster recovery plan in place so that your company can act quickly in the event of a ransomware attack. Developing software protection policies, training users on backup procedures, and conducting penetration testing to find vulnerabilities and malicious activity are all effective ways of creating an effective prevention strategy.

5. Train the Team

You should train your team on how to respond should they encounter ransomware, how to avoid it happening in the first place, and what they can do if they do get compromised. Anti-malware software will help them recognize and protect against ransomware, but only if they know how to use it. The more training they receive, the better they will be at spotting ransomware, and the more likely they’ll be able to take action quickly when it occurs.

6. Monitor Files and Network Activities

Part of creating an effective backup plan is knowing where your files are located so that you can restore them. That way, if your computer is compromised, you can restore the files from your backup. You should also be monitoring for unauthorized access to both file-hosting and FTP sites. Additionally, it’s important to monitor all of the network activity from your computer so that you can determine if someone is trying to gain access to machines that aren’t theirs.

7. Implement an IDS

An Intrusion Detection System (IDS) is a network security tool designed to detect and block network intrusions, such as attempts to gain unauthorized access. Since ransomware will attempt to disguise itself in order to get past an IDS and infect your computer, it’s important that you implement one for your entire network. The IDS should be able to detect anything that looks out of the ordinary and will immediately notify you so that you can take action.

8. Implement an Antivirus Policy

The best way to protect your computer is with antivirus software, which automatically scans all of the files stored on your machine and makes sure that they are virus-free before you load them onto a machine.

When your computer is infected, the antivirus program automatically starts working to detect and remove the malware. The best antivirus programs also have the ability to detect zero-day threats, which are new viruses that haven’t even been discovered yet.

Ransomware is a major threat to your business, so it’s important that you take the above steps and cyber security training immediately to help protect yourself against this cyber threat and all of its potentially devastating consequences. It’s also important that you remember these steps when figuring out how best to protect your computer against ransomware, as well as those in your network.

Additional:

Abdul Aziz Mondol is a professional blogger who is having a colossal interest in writing blogs and other jones of calligraphies. In terms of his professional commitments, he loves to share content related to business, finance, technology, and the gaming niche.

View all posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related

Plate Carrier

Why it is Important to Wear a Plate Carrier for the Protection

People often get stuck in a very confusing state when they think of buying body plate carriers. People don’t know too much about this and don’t know how they should proceed with this. Here we would love to share some points to help you decide what is right for you. A tactical gear that is protective and very often used in military and enforcement is known as plate carrier. There are ballistic plates in this, an area unit rated to prevent very fast projectiles sort of a variety of various types of shells and bullets. 11x14 plate carriers are designed to provide protection against the bullet. Some common cons of body plate carriers include its very high cost and very heavyweight. Owning these will cost you extra bucks while carrying this all the time can give you a headache. Right plate carrier prices sensible cash, however like the many other things, a dearer plate carrier offers some additional advantages over cheaper choices. One great thing about the costly plates is that these lower down the spalling risk which is commonly faced by people who use steel plates. Other than these ceramic plates are lighter in weight so it becomes a benefit again for the person who carries this. Talking about the weight factor, it's worth carrying this in some cases while it's not in others. The plate carrier is fitted for traditional swimmers, the shooter’s cut rifle plates and incorporates a quad-system self-lubricating fast unharness latch with structural rigidity, high mechanical resistance, and outstanding impact resistance. These are lightweight vests that are designed to allow the users to choose the level of protection, like 11x14 ceramic plates. When we talk about the Policeman which may be on general duty or insecurity in some highly risky areas, it is very dangerous for them. It is highly required for them to wear the most protected plate carrier. The character of that business, carrying identical, driving marked vehicles, makes the folks serving in those capacities a target. The plate carrier concept is similar to a helmet concept. If anyone gets hit this will stop the things and defend to keep him safe. Any plate carrier is made effective against any missing with the help of 3 important parts including the concept of keeping your lungs, heart, and spine safe. Everyone knows that without these 3 anyone can’t live longer. Any of these body organs can be harmed by stab wounds, small caliber weapons, and small parts of explosives. Injuries to these areas are very hard to deal with effectively and immediately. Well although plate carriers can stop most of the toughest things still many things can’t be defended using plate carriers. The lower half part of the spine can cause paralysis if it is damaged and this unprotected. Other than this the arteries of the leg bone, blood vessel, aorta, and others are all unprotected. But, still, these organs can be immediately treated fairly. In case of injury, If you'll apply a patch, you should do it but if you are not able to do this, you should pack that wound. If you properly treat the wounds, it can save you for hours in an emergency. Read Also: What Emergency Survival Tools Should You Have with You?

READ MOREDetails
VPN works

How VPN works on Windows and how you can benefit from it

Windows is one of the most widely used operating systems in the world. It is estimated that there are more than a billion Windows users worldwide. This extensive usage means that the amount of data available on Windows systems is enormous making them a target for hacks and other kinds of cyberattacks. A recent article published by Forbes reveals that unsigned firmware in laptop cameras, network interface cards, Wi-Fi adapters, and USB hubs puts millions of Windows users at risk of data theft and ransomware attacks. These threats and vulnerabilities make the use of a VPN for Windows imperative. Here’s how a VPN for Windows works and how people can benefit from it: How a VPN for Windows works A VPN for Windows 10 works by plugging the source of all hacks. The user's IP address, while they are connected to the internet, is what leads cybercriminals to their position and allows them to initiate attacks. VPNs masks this IP address to minimize the ability of any cyber attacker to track and infect the system. The service will effectively eliminate any chances of malware or other bugs being able to reach the system software or hardware. Did you know that Windows 10, the latest version of the operating system comes with its VPN client too? Windows acknowledges the prevalent threat from cybercrime and provides users with the option to enable data security from within the system. This VPN client can serve as a great complimentary service to a comprehensive VPN but it limits functionality because you can only connect to specific servers and this restricts internet access to a great extent. The benefits of a VPN for Windows There are several benefits of a VPN and these go beyond just allowing internet freedom without any restrictions. The main features that a VPN offers revolve around providing elaborate cybersecurity. Cybercriminals and their tactics are constantly evolving and this trend is expected to continue for several years. Here are some of the advantages that a VPN brings when it comes to providing protection against a variety of threats. Comprehensive cybersecurity VPNs offer a wide range of options to protect Windows systems against malicious elements online. These include secure servers spread across the globe and state-of-the-art AES encryption services which makes it hard for hackers to steal data emerging from the system. Most leading VPNs have over the top features like public Wi-Fi security, secure DNS, dedicated IPs, internet kill switches, DDoS protection and a lot more besides. All these features are effective in protecting a Windows system against cybercrime threats. Advanced encryption protocols Encryption is a vital pillar of cybersecurity and the more elaborate it is the better. Highly rated VPNs make sure that they provide additional encryption protocols for users to support themselves and the protection of their online presence effectively. These advanced protocols can be added on top of the standard features so that the overall strength of encryption can be increased. Some security steps to help you protect your data online It is important to note that a VPN alone can’t provide complete cybersecurity. The biggest loophole at times in the protective guard is the user themselves. There are tools and measures that are imperative to be taken in order to ensure that the threat is minimized to a level where it becomes insignificant. Here are some of the most effective tips in this regard: Use antivirus A VPN is good at detecting threats that may be incoming but users need something that can deal with elements that have already made their way into the system. This is where a good antivirus comes into play. It screens the device on a regular basis to make sure that no harmful malware is hiding inside the device because viruses have the ability to sit in a device for a long period of time and the user only gets to know about them after it’s too late. Update all software regularly Software that is out of date is much more vulnerable to cyberattacks because the development team has stopped working on protecting it. This means that if your software is not updated you are a greater risk of hacks and other attacks as compared to when your applications are up to date. Install a secure browser like Tor Tor is one of the browsers that hide user IP addresses as default. The IP originally is public but when you use a browser like Tor, it is masked, to begin with. Tor is not a complete of an alternative of a VPN though because the latter provides a lot of extraordinary features whereas the browser is just a basic service that is not adequate on its own. Always keep strong passwords Many of us shy away from strong passwords because they are hard to remember especially since there are so many of them. This is one of the biggest mistakes to make. There are several secure password managers out there which can hold all passwords, auto-fill them when necessary and take the burden of remembering them off your shoulders. Stay vigilant Vigilance is one of the most crucial factors because scams like phishing, man-in-the-middle or other similar ones have nothing to do with VPN. Protecting from these all comes down to being aware and careful of the existence of these threats. Conclusion While a VPN has become a necessary tool to have these days, it is more important to have knowledge about the threats and being vigilant to protect against them. Recommend Post: 8 VPN Facts – You Should Know About Top 7 Torrent Applications with VPN Support Five Tips to Make Sure Your Security Software Is Actually Secure

READ MOREDetails
IT Security Risks

Common IT Security Risks in the Workplace

When it comes to your business, it is important to recognize some of the highest security risks that are present. Your security needs to be a top priority. To run your business, you will collect a lot of information about customers and even other businesses you work with. If a data breach happens, you could end up with a huge loss in reputation and other issues. There are a number of big IT security risks that can show up in the workplace. Recognizing these and finding ways to prevent them can keep that data safe. Some of the common IT security risks that can happen in the workplace include: 1. Insider Threats According to one study,  about 57% of the recorded data breaches were not done by outside attackers. Instead, these were done by a threat that is inside the organization. And often this is not because someone is being malicious within the company. Negligent employees who click on the wrong link or give off information carelessly were often the cause. One of the top causes of a data breach still remains human error. Companies need to maintain focus on the inside as much as the outside to ensure data stays safe. However, it is sometimes hard to detect an insider threat. In addition to watching for these insider threats, a company needs to invest in the right training for its employees. Since most of this issue comes from negligence or carelessness, rather than malicious intent, things like security awareness training may help more than anything. 2. Social Engineering Another threat to watch out for is something known as social engineering. It can affect companies as much as it will affect individuals. Humans are susceptible to manipulation, which is why many attackers will use a variety of psychological tricks to get what they want. With social engineering, the right protection software or looking for different indicators of compromise will not be enough. It is hard to really predict human behavior all the time. All it takes is for one person to click one lucrative offer that is too good to be true, and your company has to deal with a data breach. What makes it even worse is that malicious attackers can easily find new ways to trick individuals to give up private data or granting access to critical areas. There are many different types of social engineering attacks that can be used including: Spear phishing Whaling Baiting Pretexting Tailgating Scareware Vishing Since this issue can exploit the basics of human behavior, it is sometimes hard to find the best way to combat it. Even tech-savvy users have fallen victim in the past from some of these. Educating your employees about these attacks and updating your training procedures is one of the best ways to help. 3. Ransomware Another thing to be careful about is ransomware. This can be a scary type of tactic that will make even the best in IT have to do a lot of work to prevent and fix it. Basically, this is when a hacker is able to get ahold of private or sensitive information and they demand a ransom to get the information returned. Sometimes the hacker just has the information, other times they will choose to freeze up a whole system and make it impossible to use. Even when. You agree to pay the ransom, there is little chance that the data will be returned and that the hacker will leave you alone in the future. Ransomware is simply a type of malware that can infect a network or a computer. It then encrypts the files or finds another way to deny others access to them before demanding some kind of ransom in the process. Usually, the malware will not delete the files. They will be present on the network, but without the decryption key, no one can access them. There are a lot of threats that come with this kind of attack, such as the permanent deletion of the files. But whether you pay or not, the hacker is already on the system and is the one in control the whole time. There are a few things you can do to prevent this security threat. First, teach your employees about how it works and how to not open suspicious files or attachments in their emails. This can help keep the chance of ransomware off the computer. Backing up your data and keeping records off the main part is a good idea too. This will allow you to start over with the information you need, without having to play the games, and most often lose, with the hacker. 4. Consider a Cybersecurity Audit If you are worried about some of the security risks that show up in the workplace, it may be a good idea to do a full audit of your system. A cybersecurity audit allows a professional to take a look at your network and the way it is used to determine whether there are any weaknesses that could increase your risk of an attack. Getting this audit done is one of the best ways to see where your security is right now. When it is done you should have a complete report about what is working and what is not when it comes to your network. Expect there to be things wrong with the audit. This is just a chance to fix them. When the audit is done, take some time to go through all the different recommendations and suggestions and find ways to improve your network security. Even small steps in the right direction make it less likely someone will get onto the system who should not be there. 5. Keeping Your Network Safe There are a number of IT security risks that you need to be careful about when it comes to the workplace. Planning ahead, recognizing some of these issues, and completing a cybersecurity audit can help you get the right level of security you need. Read Also: Everything You Need To Know About PKI In Cybersecurity How To Make Sure You Get The Best Service From Your IT Supplier A Few Things You Should Know Before Finalizing Managed It Services

READ MOREDetails