Many digital businesses aren’t safe from the clutches of malicious software roaming on the internet. Some of these malware targets digital companies in hopes of getting both their business and user data. Once they do, they blackmail these businesses to get their data back.
As all IT personnel know, data recovery is a tedious process, and it can be problematic once good ransomware gets into your system. But there are ways you can defeat this ransomware.
Don’t Give In
Don’t negotiate with terrorists. The FBI would say against these hackers because, by the end of the day, these people threaten our way of life for the sake of money. Giving in will only incentivize them to do more attacks, hitting big and small companies alike. There’s also a chance that they might have copied your files and gone for a double extortion play, in where they continue harassing you and threatening you that they will spread sensitive files to the public if you don’t keep paying them.
The rule of thumb against all sorts of malware attacks is to not give in to demands. Most of these hackers play on people’s emotions, and the jerk knee reaction is to give in to their needs to get your precious files back. However, Sophos, a researcher that looks into ransomware statistics, found that more than 90% of businesses that got hit by ransomware got their files back without giving to their demands.
The reality is that various entities have better knowledge about ransomware nowadays. Moreover, people who used to make these software years ago have joined the good guys to protect people from malicious attacks. So by not giving in, you’re saving your company some money and damaging the morale of these hackers.
Disconnect
Once you get hit by ransomware, the very first thing you should do is disconnect. Turn off your Wi-Fi, remove any USBs or compact discs, and tell everyone to do the same. There are only a couple of ways ransomware got into your system, and by disconnecting from these ways, you can stop more damage to your company.
You must analyze your situation beforehand. Fast and critical thinking can help you prevent most of the damage from ransomware and prevent double extortions.
Report to Authorities
If you want to get your files back, your best bet is to report the attack to authorities. There’s a huge possibility that you’re not the first one who got hit by the ransomware, and there are hundreds of companies that have been hit by it before.
The authorities usually have the necessary software to combat ransomware. If not, they can at least decrypt most of your files, but the chances of them not fully lifting the ransomware is unlikely. With all the accumulated experience throughout the years, they have an excellent chance of getting your files back.
The biggest payout a group of hackers got from their ransomware attack is more than four million dollars. However, there’s only a one out of ten chance that this would happen to your company if you get help from the authorities as fast as you can.
Preventive Measures
Have Anti-malware Software Installed
Experts believe that the best option is to prevent ransomware from getting into your system in the first place. Make sure to have anti-malware software installed on every computer in your office. This is your first line of defense against any ransomware.
Client Portals
If you’re the kind of digital company that stores customer and client data, you’re going to need to ensure that their data is safe. It’s in your best interest to install client portal software into your website. This is to ensure that your client log-ins are secure and that their user information is safe from any would-be hackers.
Client portals have saved millions of user data from thousands of companies. Ensure your clients are safe by investing in them.
Employee Seminar
Your employees must know the dangers of malware so that they know what to look out for. So hold a seminar and hire a cyber-security professional to spearhead it. They’ll teach your employees not to open suspicious emails and not plug external drives into their computers without getting it cleared first.
If you really want to protect yourself against such an attack, make sure to hire a cybersecurity company. These companies will ensure that your company will never be attacked by such malicious software.
A ransomware attack can be very devastating if you don’t know what to do. But with some knowledge and by following the protocols we have indicated above, your company should be safe from any ransomware attacks.
