Ransomware was the biggest online threat in 2017, surpassing all other forms. Ransomware is a type of malicious software (or malware). It takes control of your computer and threatens to cause you harm by encrypting all your personal data and denying you access. To restore access to the data, the victim is required to pay a ransom.
Ransomware has taken control of you. What now?
The first thing you should do is to search online for a free tool to decrypt files. However, it is not always possible. To continue, you can restore the most recent files from a cloud server. To ensure that ransomware doesn’t re-encrypt your restored files, make sure you clean up your system.
No Recent backups
If you don’t have backups of your files, then you will only be able to pay the ransom. It’s a quick and simple solution, regardless of how horrible it may sound. Although the amount requested is usually around a few hundred dollars, the problem is how to pay. Ransomware attackers often ask for payment in untraceable Bitcoins, but few of us know how to get and transfer cryptocurrency. It is better to plan ahead and be prepared.
Prevention of an attack
Although antivirus and firewall programs can be used to detect and block malware, no single method of prevention is foolproof. It is a good idea to regularly update your backups. It is important to note that backups can target not only files on your hard drive, but also external drives. A cloud-based backup system is the best option to ensure maximum security.
