How to protect against ransomware.
How to protect against ransomware is most frequently asked questions in the past year. Since ransomware has become the biggest threat among all viruses, people ask themselves if there’s a way to protect from such. It is already too late if you once suffered ransom attack and file has been locked. For some there is a solution but for others disappointment. Either way popularity of ransomware rises and new development are presented every day.
The big difference between what a virus use to be and just damaging files, now files are taken as a hostage and kept until you pay to get them back. This is what ransomware exactly do. It gets to your computer and restrict access to your entire system or lock files and demand ransom usually in bitcoin to give access back. Ransomware is a malicious software (malware) also considered as a online fraud to steal money. There is a variety of virus attacks like this, but all ransomware does the same just in different ways. Cyber criminals are using software vulnerabilities and openly install on user pc. Vulnerable computer system is one without any protection such as antivirus, anti-malware or internet security, also if protective software is not up to date.
How to protect against ransomware cryptolocker and cryptowall?
Cyber criminals always use good tactics to get victims scared and force them into faster payments. Some will offer a free decryption for a few files to show victims how things work. Most of the case user will be given time limit or pretending FBI messages to convince them to pay.
While some of the ransom viruses are not greedy some are ridiculous. The ransom to hostage files varies significantly from 30$ to over 5000$ for home users, however we have seen a big companies, schools and hospitals hit by a ransomware which have to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars. Common ways that ransom attacks in throat spam email attachments or suspicious url leading the way to damage beyond repair. Here are a few tips and tricks how to avoid such an unfortunate situation.
What can we do against the battle with ransomware?
- If you are already infected do not pay the ransom! Remove the virus and look for other solutions rather than paying. Paying the ransom may be your only option if you have really valuable data. However we do not recommend doing this because you will support the work of criminals. The risk of losing money and still stuck with encrypted files since there is no guarantee in any way that you will recover what one is lost.
- Security researcher are always working on recovery solutions. Not all ransomware are professionally developed and being cracked, but some are so good developed that there is no current way to be beaten at the current date. One of the solutions is system restore.
- Best solution si if you have a backup, wipe your hard drive and perform system restore. If not, backup your data frequently. Store backup data in any removable storage device or use any online backup services.
- Protect your computer with antivirus, internet security, anti-malware software or new developed applications like anti-ransomware. Highly recommended is to keep it up to date and use the paid surveys. We do not recommend free applications.
- New research discovery shows how ransomware deletes files and substitute encrypted copy of them. It is not guaranteed, but it is a possibility that you may recover your files with data recovery software. Before trying to decrypt any files you can scan your computer for posible data loss. Go here to find out how to recover deleted files.
- Good news is that we can now use decryption programs. A lot of security companies like Kasperky lab, bitdefender and more has developed a program that is fully capable of decryption key for ransomware malware. You can find this programs anywhere on the internet but it is strongly suggested to download this programs from official websites. NOTE: It may take a long time for your files to be decrypted depending on your PC performance. Brute-forcing the key is possible for some but not all ransomware.
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