With the surge of businesses going online, cybercriminal enterprises have increased. Computers have been under attack for personal and large businesses, from simple viruses to more complex codes. The most common and the most dangerous of malware in 2020 is ransomware. Debilitating for any computer, you should know how to combat it. Here is what you need to know.
What is ransomware?
As the name suggests, ransomware is a type of cybercriminal activity that takes your computer’s data and scrambles it so that you cannot access functions or the data until a ransom is paid. Most of the time, the ransom is done in bitcoin, as this is untraceable. If this sounds a bit too much like science fiction, consider this. In 2020 ransomware attacks occurred every 14 seconds. And while most of these attacks were stopped, it should show an increase in this type of criminal activity. What makes it equally disturbing is that 90% of all financial institutions are predicted to have had a ransomware attack in 2020.
So how can you prevent ransomware if it is so rampant on the internet? Here are a few tips.
Maintain a high level of security
Perhaps the most prominent and crucial factor in keeping yourself from receiving ransomware has an anti-virus program in place. Endpoint security is essential to stopping ransomware. When the program runs, could you pay attention to it? There is a reason why malware and specific sites are flagged. Do not visit any unknown sites and delete any potential malware which comes across your computer.
As ransomware is a downloaded file, it is strongly recommended that you scan all files downloaded to your computer. Do this even for files and for emails which you know. It could be that the email is an unknown carrier of the ransomware, or it could be that the ransomware is sending emails to all those in the address book. Never download anything without running it through your anti-virus software.
Update the software, terms, and definitions
One of the tricky things about malware is that it evolves. As software is developed to combat ransomware, criminals find new codes and new ways to infiltrate your system. That is why you must have the latest software updates, terms, and definitions. Ensure that your system is set to automatically update the security protocols to avoid any lapses in this. By having the latest information on your system, you will be more prone to stop a ransomware attack.
Only use the updates provided to you by your OS and your anti-virus software. If you are running anti-virus software through a domain and web hosting services site, check to ensure that the site has an update for the security of your site. For the best security, try to find a top-rated web hosting site that does the updates for you.
Check the site’s security when you visit.
Google algorithms and several of the top-rated web hosting sites have implemented security protocols to help keep down malware and ransomware. Specifically, in 2018 Google started to mandate that sites have Https. This security protocol helps to keep information safe from other would-be attackers. Additionally, when a site has an HTTPS, it is trackable. Ransomware users do not want to use this code as they do not want their activities to be shown.
Some of the best-shared hosting for WordPress and other CMS services offer SSL certificates. Google, Bing, and other top-rated search engines have engaged the SSL as the norm for security and flag those sites that do not have such. To avoid ransomware, do not visit or download content from any site with an SSL. SSL certificates are reasonably standard with low-cost domain registration. They are almost a given if you choose to use one of the higher top-rated web hosting platforms such as Godaddy.
Back up your data
Apart from following these steps, one way to ensure that your data is safe is to back it up externally. Have any data that is fundamental to your business operations to be backed up on an external drive. You can purchase a terabyte of data for very cheap these days. And while it may take some time to update the data, it is more damaging to a business to start from scratch in the event of ransomware.
Update your data in off-peak hours to ensure that you can keep your online presence from lagging. Scan all files which may have been exposed to online downloads, malware, or updates. By keeping your data backed up, having your data backed up by your domain and web hosting services, as well as practicing safe online strategies, you can win the battle against ransomware.