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6 Ways To Counter Ransomware Attacks

Published on April 16, 2018

6 Ways To Counter Ransomware Attacks

The ransomware threat has increased over the years as cyber criminals seek ways to make money with their malware endeavors by holding your data for ransom. Attackers collected more than $300 million from victims during 2017. Any business or organization that depends on daily access to critical data should be worried about ransomware - this means police departments, hospitals, airlines and airports, or any large corporation.

Ransomware is malicious software designed by cyber criminals to either encrypt files or lock a victims' screen and demand payment from the victim in exchange for restoring access.

To ensure your business is protected from ransomware, you must always remain a step ahead of the attackers.

Queensborough National Bank & Trust recommends the following tips to help individuals and businesses avoid ransomware attacks:

Back up:

The best defense against ransomware is to not be vulnerable to their threats in the first place. This means that all organizations need to back up their critical data daily. In the event your computers or servers get locked, you would not be forced to pay for access to your data.

Say no - to suspicious emails and link

Every hacker's favorite bait is spamming you with emails that carry a malicious attachment or instructions to click on a URL that results in malware invading your computer. When it comes to phishing attacks, it is best to educate your team about the dangerous implications of opening such emails.

Keep your systems up to date

Having the latest security software, operating systems and web browsers are your best defense against viruses, malware and other online threats. It is best to turn on automatic updates, so you install the latest fixes as soon as they become available.

Educate your employees

Your first line of defense is to train your staff to protect your organization, so malware can be countered and prevented from spreading throughout the organization. Your employees can help you fight ransomware threats and can actively prevent malware from infiltrating the organization’s system. Training your employees about safe online practices, online banking security and other warning signs can aid tremendously in preventing these threats.

Restrict administrative rights

Limit the ability of employees to have access to the data and install new software to which they do not need access. Reducing theses privileges will help to reduce the attacks significantly.

Attacked? Disconnect

If you get hit with ransomware, it is best to immediately shut down most of the organization's network operations to prevent the attack from spreading. Administrators should also disable Bluetooth and Wifi on machines to prevent the malware from spreading to other systems via those methods. Contact your network/IT department immediately.

When it comes to cyber-security, there is no time like the present to invest in safe online banking practices, solutions, and training to protect your company.

 

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