Ransomware – How to Learn From Past Mistakes

Chances are you know someone, or a business, who has suffered a ransomware attack – it could’ve even been you!  The strange thing is that, even though many of us have experienced the horrifying effects of ransomware, we still continue to make the same mistakes.

 “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

We are encouraging EVERYONE to be aware and take note of these preventative measures and tips to avoid becoming a victim.

Just Say No To...

1. Suspicious Emails – This is a hacker’s favourite bait, which involves spamming you with emails that appear to be legit. Often these emails carry a malicious link, URL or attachment like a zipped file. Always check who the sender of the email is, if it is from your colleague or the bank, always confirm with them first.

Here’s how to spot a fake email address: Often emails may seem legitimate because most user inboxes only show the display name. Do not trust the display name – check the email address in the header. If it looks suspicious or doesn’t match up, don’t open the email.

2. Suspicious Websites – Be aware that the bad guys who create the suspicious websites are often devious enough to create fake sites, sometimes even with their own fake anti-virus software!

How To Prevent Ransomware...

- Buy Malware protection. Malwarebytes is an endpoint protection platform that protects your computers against threats and attacks. Malwarebytes is available for your home computer and your business computers, simply contact us right away and we can get you the protection that you need! 

- Install a firewall. A firewall is a network security system that prevents unauthorized access to or from a private network. Block suspicious websites that may contain ransomware – you can buy or rent an effective firewall from us.

- Backup your data. External hard drives or cloud-based backup provide an easy and affordable way to backup your precious data. We can provide you with an offsite backup that will protect you and your business from losing everything.

I’m Infected, Now What...

- Disconnect. Immediately switch off the network switch / router or take out the network cables to prevent the infection from spreading to other machines.

- Say goodbye to your files. Yes, there are preventative measures, but you actually have to do them in order to save your files. If you’ve been attacked, it may be too late to save your data.

- Call us! We will format and reload your infected machines, and try to save as much of your precious data as we can.

Even if you think you are safe, a ransomware attack can still happen to you. Don’t leave it until you have lost EVERYTHING – keep these tips in mind and always have a backup plan!