14/12/2016
THE FIGHT AGAINST RANSOMEWARE AND DIGITAL
EXTORTION
• Be Secure
Protect yourself from ransomware with a quality anti-malware app.
• Be Safe
Be cautious. Practice safe & smart Internet browsing habits.
• Back Up Data
Schedule regular backups of important data.
• Stay Up-to-Date
Make sure your apps & OS are up-to-date.
Is Ransomware Affecting You?
When we hear of ransom, we immediately think that a person is being held hostage until certain monetary demands are met. While such instances hold true in the real world, the same can be said about ransomware in the fast-moving world of computers and the Internet.
Ransomware poses a serious threat since it can affect MS Windows, Mac OS X or Linux. The strength of the encryption can lock important files such as images, videos, audio, PDF files, MS Office files, and other types of files and apps. Reports claim that between April 2014 and June 2015, victims reported losses totaling over £18 million.
Download Malwarebytes and Scan Your PC for Ransomware
IMPORTANT TIP! Have a backup solution in place such as keeping your important files in a 3rd party data storage to evade ransomware attacks.
What is Ransomware?
Ransomware, also known as scareware, is malicious software that restricts access to an infected computer while displaying a notification making demands for the computer user to pay a fee to restore access to the infected system. Recent ransomware, such as CryptoLocker and CryptoWall, are known to encrypt files, which locks up an infected computer making it virtually useless for performing basic functions or surfing the Internet.
Ransomware will ask that a substantial fee is paid for the decryption of the files to restore them back to their original state. However, paying for the ransom does not guarantee that the computer user will regain access to the infected computer.
Most ransomware will make a false claim of online criminal activity or immoral acts detected by authorities. While the claims proved to be false, the threat is very real and could end up costing you a lot in the long run. The extortion price varies, ranging from £20 to more than £600, but may be much higher.
check the lates Trend Micro report on Predictions for 2017
http://blog.trendmicro.com/ransomware-growth-will-plateau-in-2017-but-attack-methods-and-targets-will-diversify/
Happy reading..
Daniel
In our 2017 Predictions report, “The Next Tier: 8 Security Predictions for 2017” we state that ransomware growth will plateau in 2017, but attack methods and targets will diversify. Let’s explore what we mean by this and how this threat will evolve next year. Our predictions are developed based on t...
