Ransomware attacks are on the rise. These forms of cyberattack can be extremely costly for businesses. By taking the right precautions, you can defend yourself against ransomware. Here is a brief guide as to some of the protective measures that you can take.
What is ransomware?
Ransomware is a malicious form of software that downloads itself onto a victim’s computer, usually as a result of clicking on a deceptive link. The software blocks access to the victim’s files and data, threatening to delete or permanently encrypt the data unless a ransom is paid. The value of the ransom can vary depending on who the attack is targeted at – small businesses are often asked to pay tens of thousands of dollars. Most businesses that pay the ransom do not recover financially and many are still unable to recover their data afterwards.
How to protect your business from ransomware
There are many security measures that you can take to ward off ransomware attacks. Below are some of the best ways to protect yourself.
Be wary of hyperlinks in emails
The most common way in which cybercriminals plant ransomware is via hyperlinks found in phishing emails. Such emails that may look as if they’ve come from an official institution such as a bank or the government or even from a prospective client. Links are often disguised as innocent website addresses so that you click on them. They can sometimes be very hard to detect as a result.
The best defence is to take caution when clicking on any link in an email. Even if you think that you know the contact, it’s best to exercise caution. A good email scanning tool will usually be able to detect malicious links and warn you against opening such emails.
Keep software updated
Outdated software can also provide an entry point for the ransomware virus. Make sure that any software you are using is updated so that it is as secure as possible. Software that is no longer supported poses the biggest danger – if it has had no support for several years you should upgrade to new software immediately.
Back up your data and develop a recovery plan
If your system is infected by ransomware, you can reduce the damage by having data backed up. Digital security consultants can help you to organise a backup and disaster recovery plan. By being able to fall back on your backed up data, you can avoid having to pay a ransom.
Develop a ransomware response drill
It’s worth also practicing a drill so that employees know how to respond if one of them falls trap to ransomware. This could include alerting senior staff members, alerting managed IT services and refraining from further internet activity that could increase the spread or damage of the attack.
Consider cyberinsurance
Just like insurance against burglary or insurance against floods, you can invest in insurance against cyberattacks so that if a ransom has to be paid it can be. Such insurance may also pay for any lawsuits directed at you as a result of customer data coming under threat. This could help to reduce the personal costs of a ransomware attack.
