Is your business safe from ransomware?
In recent weeks ransomware and WannaCry malware have been buzzwords in both the IT and SMB world.
But what exactly is ransomware? What does it do? How can it affect local SMBs? And most importantly, what can you do about it?
Ransomware, much as the name suggests, is a piece of software that encrypts your vital data and holds it for ransom, much as a terrorist would a hostage. WannaCry is simply the most recent, and currently, most popular incarnation of this. Ransomware infiltrates your system, usually via infected email from a seemingly legitimate source. Great care is taken to make these counterfeit e‐mails look as genuine as possible, to encourage those receiving them to open any attachments or links, which is where the malware lurks.
Once inside, it infects your machine and then encrypts your data. The encrypted data isn’t just limited to your computer; it can also encrypt the data your computer has access to, such as USB drives and shared network resources. Ransomware does not discriminate when it encrypts. All data is considered valuable and is seen as a means to motivate you to pay these thieves. However, data items such as payroll and employee information, patient or client files, and anything vital to your business is the primary target, as those are most valuable to you, as an SMB.
Once the demands are sent with price and payment method, there is no guarantee that your data will be released. It is not advisable to pay the ransom. Instead contact the authorities, along with your local IT Tech to help you begin the process of restoring and rebuilding from a backup.
There are ways to protect yourself!
Ensure your version of Windows has the most recent updates and security patches
Keep all antivirus and anti‐malware software updated and scan your system regularly
Back up all vital data often, and preferably offsite
Educate yourself and your employees on how to:
Spot potentially malicious links
Verify incoming e‐mail addresses
Identify potential scams
Your IT Tech can help you assess your risk to ransomware and identify potential weak spots concerning your technology and users while providing positive feedback on ways to fix these vulnerabilities. Copperband Technologies has experience in minimizing ransomware risk and educating users. We can offer your business a variety of affordable options to help secure yourself and your data today.
Sources:
https://www.cnbc.com
