IT support Portland professionals all over the country are working hard to safeguard the confidential data of their clients. Cyber threats are always lurking in every nook and cranny of the web, and your business is not safe. One of the most hated cyber attacks for companies and individuals is ransomware. This attack mostly targets computers, either personal or work related. So keep your devices safe at all times.
What is ransomware?
As a malicious software, a ransomware is deployed by black hat hackers in order to hold your computer hostage. It is a form of cyber moneymaking scheme that intends to collect money from the victims. This type of cyber attack is executed through email attachments containing deceptive links, and the best IT support Portland team can help you identify these types of emails. Once you open an email with the malicious code, your computer is held hostage and the hacker demands money to free your device.
The hostage amount is usually $200 or $300, but the amount can go up depending on the sensitivity of your files. That is why black hat hackers release ransomware on computers within an organization, since they mostly contain company data, files, documents, and sensitive information that can ruin a company once exposed. But, personal computers are not an exception to the rule. Cyber criminals can also make personal devices hostage and gain money from them.
The sad part is, there is absolutely no guarantee that you can get your data back after you paid the ransom, nor would you be sure that your computer will work again after the ransom is paid. That is why it is definitely crucial to back up all your computer files to a secure server or the cloud so if in case of a ransomware attack, you still have data backup to recover. Also, you must install the best anti-virus software on your computer to help prevent this type of cyber attack. Ask the insight of a reliable IT support Portland professionals regarding this, since they know which anti-virus software stands out from the rest.
Brief history concerning ransomware
It was in 2005 when the first ransomware attack was discovered in Russia. After that incident, this kind of cyber attack rapidly grew all over the world, collecting victims everywhere. Over the years different types of ransomware have been discovered, and in 2013 the most resilient ransomware called CryptoLocker emerged in September and targeted all varieties of the operating system Windows. The targeted victims ranges from company computers to personal computers, and the attack was made successful through the seemingly legit emails from UPS, FedEx, DHS, and other trusted and well-known companies.
Once the ransomware is activated in the computers, a timer is pasted on the screen demanding payment in exchange of freedom, and the victim only has 72 hours to pay an average of $300. Worst still, if the infected computer is connected to a network of computers, the malware has the capability to jump from the original source and into other computers in the system. And so IT support Portland professionals strongly advised to remove the infected computer from the network, to prevent infecting other devices.
Why ransomware success rate is high
It is the primary goal of every business to grow bigger in terms of production, employees, and size of company. However, the more that you employ people to work in your organization, the more you are putting your company at risk of cyber attacks especially in the form of ransomware. Here’s why:
- Ransomware is deployed through email, and when there are increasing numbers of employees accessing company emails, the risk is greater. Hackers are sending malicious emails, and when the number of recipients are growing, then their chances of getting opened is high as well.
- Black hat hackers are truly brilliant and skilled with cybersecurity vulnerabilities. They know how to mimic emails from legit organizations that can fool employees into opening them. Even IT support Portland professionals recognize the real threats that these hackers can do. And so with various emails coming in every day, employees have difficulty determining which ones are legit.
With the expertise of IT support Portland professionals, your company can be spared by the ransomware attacks. These experts can train your people regarding all types of cyber threats and attacks, particularly ransomware. When awareness is spread throughout the company, the risk of ransomware attack is greatly reduced. And it is crucial for your company to hire only the best and highly recommended IT service company in the country.
Tips to prevent ransomware attack
With due diligence and strict focus on the emails being received, your company, even yours and your employees persona computers can prevent ransomware attacks. Let us look at a few tips that can surely benefit you all when it comes to ransomware prevention.
- Unverified links – never click on unverified links for unfamiliar websites, or anything that comes with spam emails.
- Suspicious email attachment – open email attachments from verified sources only. If in doubt, your reliable IT support Portland team advices you to confirm the sent emails first from the source prior to opening.
- Download from trusted sites only – do not download anything from websites that are not popular or cannot be fully trusted. Only download from reputable sites.
- Don’t give out personal information – if your receive emails or chats from untrusted sources asking for personal data, never give them what they asked for.
- Untrusted USBs – be careful on the USBs that you insert on your computer.
- OS update – always keep your operating system and all programs in your computer updated to the latest versions.
Bottomline
If your computer is held hostage, it is not a god idea to pay the ransom. Seek the assistance of the professionals on what to do, and never let the hackers win. Allow a highly skilled IT support Portland company to solve your technical problem without resorting to adding bulk to the hacker’s wallet.
