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What is Ransomware? 5 Things You Need to Know About Ransomware

Ransomware has been a hot topic of conversation recently, and this is for good reason as attacks are on the rise. In fact, it is estimated that ransomware attacks increased by 600% in 2016 over the previous year. It is also believed that these attacks ended up costing businesses over $1B. What is ransomware? To help your business avoid becoming part of this statistic, here are the top 5 things you need to know about ransomware.

  • What Ransomware Is: Ransomware is a form of malware that hackers use to block your access to your files. Criminals either encrypt or remove your files so that you do not have access to them and then demand a ransom be paid in exchange for access to your information.
  • Paying The Ransom Doesn’t Help: However, while criminals use ransomware to extort businesses and individuals, paying the ransom usually does little except give the hackers motivation to keep doing the same thing. The fact is that paying the ransom does not work, and most businesses do not get their files back.
  • Prevention is Key: If paying the ransom doesn’t work, you may be wondering what your options are. When it comes to ransomware attacks, the best thing you can do is to prevent the attacks from occurring in the first place. Antivirus and anti-malware software can go a long way in helping to protect your files. You will also want to keep your operating system and your computer’s programs up to date as criminals often use vulnerabilities in outdated software to access your system.
  • So Are Backups: Backups are also key in reducing your vulnerability. By backing up all of your system’s files on a regular basis, you will stand to lose less should you come under a ransomware attack.
  • Not Just Your Windows PC is at Risk: There is often a misconception that only Windows PCs are at risk of coming under a ransomware attack. However, while many attacks target Windows, as this is the most common operating system, ransomware has also targeted Apple computers and Android devices, making it imperative that you protect all of your devices.

These are just a few of the things you need to know. Contact us to learn more about ransomware attacks.

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