The key to getting ahead of ransomware attacks is to be proactive

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Published Date 5/14/2021

Whether you're a pipeline, a business, or an organization, ransomware attacks do not discriminate. If you haven't fallen victim to this type of cyber-devastation, be assured that it can happen at any time. Ransomware attacks consist of malicious software placed on your computer system by hackers to block access to your files until you pay them a ransom.

WENYNews' Marsha Augustin reports that these cyber hackers have an end game, and that's to hold your files hostage until you pay them to gain access back. She quotes Sean Quellos, Forensic engineer with Digital Forensics Corporation: "A malicious program that gets installed onto a computer with the intent of two things either locking the files so a user can't access them or locking you out of the actual device." He explains how hackers can get into your computer systems by searching the dark web, and they also search for data breaches to access passwords and usernames that have been taken. "They can even just have a username and do what they call a group force attack where it just keeps trying random passwords until it gets the correct password."

How can you protect yourself from ransomware? First, come up with a computer security plan with the help of a company specializing in crafting one just for your needs. By studying your system, these experts can tell you what hackers may be able to access and ways it can be fixed.

Quellos says," Do penetration testing and what penetration testing is simulating an attack on your systems. They see what type of vulnerabilities they can find, what type of information they can gather while doing that, and then recommend fixes to close those security holes. Also making constant backups, that way if something like this does happen, you do have current backups to restore your data."

Augustin advises another way to protect yourself from ransomware is by not using the same passwords for multiple accounts. "It's like having one key to unlock every door you use," she says, while Quellos adds, "This way if a data breach does occur by getting that one password they don't have all your passwords."

Another important step is to back up your files so that if something like this does happen, you have current backups to restore your data from. He adds that a major key for not putting yourself at ransomware risk is keeping your software up to date. "Make sure all your equipment is up to date and make sure there isn't any way to get in," says Quellos.

Source: WENYNews | TBWS

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