With the advancement of technology, security breaches have become rampant. These security breaches are not only on personal accounts but also target corporations. Ransomware attacks several industries, even beating the malware protection protocols and gathering considerable ransom amounts. If your company or industry is unprepared for these attacks, it will cause you to lose a lot and it will be very hard to recover.
Ransomware is a kind of malware that blocks a person’s access to their data and intimidates the victim into paying a certain amount as ransom, or else the person will never regain access to their data or their file will be exposed. It comes in the form of malicious programs that, when vulnerable, allow the attacker to easily manipulate their data.
Ransomware is well-known for its names like Trojan Winlock, AIDS Trojan, LockerPIN, Petya, and Cryptolocker. The Kaseya company was recently attacked by ransomware called REvil, and the attackers demanded 70 million dollars.
Ransomware penetrates companies or industries through three routes. The first is through phishing. Phishing is done by attaching the malware through electronic mail and sending it to an organization or corporation. Phishing is an often-used route by attackers. Emails with ransomware have leveled up and have become so inviting and attractive that they make victims easily fall for their trap by clicking the malicious link (that does not look so malicious). The second method is to use the remote desktop protocol (RDP). Attackers jab the ransomware through the remote desktop protocol, which secures remote access to computer desktops and servers. If the RDP’s security is lax, it makes it easier for cybercriminals to access the servers. Last, patch entryways. Websites, software, and plugins that, when downloaded, unknowingly install malware will catch victims off guard.
First on the list of industries targeted by ransomware is education. The rest include information technology, retail, marketing, federal and international government, local government, health, energy, infrastructure, sports, and finance. Though these are the top targets, all industries must be careful because cybercriminals do not look at how big the corporation is, but how much cash they can extract from that industry, no matter how humble.
So, how to protect against ransomware?The first step in defeating ransomware is to detect its attacks. Cybercriminals have been too sophisticated in their strategies. They hide the malware in legit software and programs. Corporations must have as much protection as possible to keep their data secure and to identify malware at once.
As an adage goes, “prevention is better than cure.” There must be preventive measures taken to minimize the defenselessness of ransomware attacks or at least control the harm they will inflict. First, find a trusted and strong security program and make sure to maintain it. Second, add other protection technologies (example: zero trust). Third, make employees aware of ransomware and social engineering threats. Fourth, make sure to have regular patching. Fifth, always perform regular data back-ups, especially of vital information. Lastly, do not rely so much on backups.
Some strategies can be employed by corporations to reduce or get rid of transacting through e-mail, especially since malware is often attached to emails through links. Isolated backups are also available for use by corporations that are not easy to access and penetrate because of the required authorizations and authentications.
Organizations and corporations must plan ahead of time for a quick response to ransomware to minimize damage. This quick response must undergo trial so that when the real thing happens, the organization will not panic. It is painstaking to eliminate the malware, but what security specialists can do is prevent the malware from infiltrating the server and system. These steps may be helpful. First, detach the infiltrated gadget. Next, identify what kind of ransomware attacked the system. Knowing the type can help with what remedy to apply. Then eliminate the malware, quarantine it with an anti-ransomware program, and then call security specialists for complete removal of the malware or to minimize the damage. Lastly, retrieve the system through a former OS version before the ransomware infiltration.
Try to find tools to identify and remove ransomware that is effective in speeding up the recuperating process by completely erasing the malware, preventing attacks, and removing any remnants of the malware.
Aside from assuring the security of your devices and data and how to respond during the attack, it is also vital that the corporation knows how to handle the demanded ransom, whether or not they obey the demands. They must know their conditions for obeying. They must be fully aware of their capacity to retrieve their server and back up their data when cyber criminals attack. They must know about the susceptibilities of their servers.
It would be a total nightmare for an organization if they failed to counterattack cybercriminals and lost their critical data, especially if a huge ransom was demanded from them. They will not only lose information but their business will also be affected. They might close or temporarily cease operations until all is taken care of. Moreover, they will also lose money once they succumb to the demands of the attackers in their desperation to recover. In this golden age of technology, more and more people are becoming experts in maneuvering programs and software, but not everyone is using it for good. Some take advantage of technology for fraudulent and malicious intent. It is important to be well-educated in security and software engineering systems.