Ransomware is a sophisticated piece of malware that blocks the user’s access to his/her files/data, and the only way to regain access to the files is to pay a ransom. Ransomware stops you from using your PC. It holds your PC or files for “ransom”. There are different types of ransomware. However, all of them will prevent you from using your PC normally. They can target any system, whether it’s personal computer, company network, endpoints in an enterprise network, or any servers used by a government or healthcare provider.

They can encrypt your files so you can’t use them; prevent you from accessing windows and many more. They will demand you to pay money to get access your system, data or files. There is one guarantee that paying the money what they tell, you will give access to your system again.

It is the biggest ever cyber-attack in Internet history.

There are two types of Ransomware:

• Encryptors
• Lockers

 For Home Users

 Encryptor is designed to block or encrypt your system files and demand money to provide key that can decrypt the system files. In simple words, Encryption Ransomware changes your files so you can’t open them.

Lockers is different from encrypt, in this case files are not encrypts but ransomware locked your operating system. It is impossible to access the desktop and any app or files.

For Enterprises and IT professionals:

Ransomware specifically research and target an enterprise or IT professional victim. They encrypted sensitive files and demands large amounts of money to restore the encrypt files. Generally, the hacker has a list of file extensions or locations that the Ransomware will target for encryption.

It is an impossible to encryption or cracks the files without the original key. Only the hacker will have the original key to access your files.

 Best Advice for Enterprise or IT Professional:

To ensure company-confidential, sensitive, or important files are securely backed up in a remote, un-connected backup or storage facility. OnDrive for Business can assist in backing up everyday files.

Top Targets for Ransomware creators and distributors:

Ransomware target that companies and organizations were far more profitable than users. Cybercriminals soon realized some department that is bigger targets of Ransomware like: police department, city councils, schools, MNC, and hospitals.

How to Ransomware get on your System?

There are some points to describe how Ransomware get your system:

• Opening unknown emails and emails attachments or that you weren’t expecting.
• Visiting unsafe, suspicious, or fake websites.
• Drive by Downloads
• Malvertising Campaigns
• Security exploits in vulnerable software
• Botnets and many more

How to prevent your system from Ransomware Attack?

• Don’t store important data on PC
• Always create 2 backup of data: on an external hard drive and in the cloud-Dropbox/Google drive etc.
• Open Cloud data once a day, to sync data, and close them once this is done.
• Always use up to date operating system and the software, includes the latest security updates.
• Create two accounts on computer, one is administrator and other one is guest account with limited privileges.
• Always use guest account for daily usage.
• Remove or deactivate the browser plugins like: Adobe Flash, Adobe Reader, Java and Silverlight. Set browser to ask if you want to activate these plugins when needed.
• Adjust browser’s security and privacy setting for increased protection.
• Removed outdated plugins and ad-ons from browsers.
• Use ad-blocker to avoid the threat.

Online Prevention

• Never open spam emails or emails from unknown senders
• Never download attachments from span emails or suspicious emails
• Never click links in spam emails.

There’s a handful of simple things we can do only avoid Ransomware. Stay safe and don’t forget the best protection is always a backup!