What is ransomware?

Ransomware is software that infects your computer and makes it impossible for you to access your important files or the programs on your computer. The software will display messages demanding payment ( aka a ransom) in exchange for unlocking the encrypted files or allowing you back into the system. If you don’t pay, it may be impossible to unlock your files forever. Read this blog post to learn what ransomware is and how to prevent ransomware attacks.

How did I get Ransomware?

Ransomware can come from any number of places: email attachments or links; websites or advertisements; fake pop-ups; or even programs bundled with other downloads. If you have doubts about whether something is safe, don’t click on it! Always scan files before opening them, even if they come from someone you trust—and even if they’re in an email from them!

How To Prevent Ransomware Attacks

No matter how careful you are, there is a chance that your computer could become infected with ransomware. Keep reading to learn 10 actionable steps to prevent your devices and data from being infected by ransomware.

10 Steps to Preventing Ransomware Attacks:

Backup your data:

The best way to prevent ransomware is to make regular backups of your data. If something does happen, at least you’ll have a copy of your files in case they get encrypted by a hacker.

Update your OS, apps, web browser, and antivirus:

It would be best to keep your apps, operating system, and web browser up-to-date. This will help ensure that any security holes in these systems are patched before hackers can exploit them.

Don’t click on every link:

Another critical step is to stay safe and not click on every link or attachment you receive through email. Instead, only open those emails from people you trust—and don’t click on links unless you’re sure they’re safe!

Protect your computer with an antivirus and firewall:

These two tools work together to block malicious programs from infecting your device or stealing information. They’ll also alert you if something suspicious happens so you can act quickly!

Please stay away from unknown USBs or storage devices:

Don’t connect an unknown USB or storage device to your computer unless necessary–and even then, make sure it’s scanned first by an antivirus program before using it!

Don’t open attachments you weren’t expecting:

It’s easy to let your guard down when you get an email with an attachment, especially if it seems to be from someone you know. But don’t be fooled—most ransomware attacks come through email. If something looks suspicious, delete it.

Download from a trusted source only:

If you need to download something off the internet, make sure it comes from a trusted source! That way, if something malicious lurks in the file, it won’t be able to do any damage once it’s on your computer.

Test your cyber security systems regularly:

Test your cyber security systems regularly so that if something goes wrong, you’ll know how to fix it quickly before it gets out of hand! It’s also a good idea to have employees take cyber awareness training, so they feel safe online and know how to spot potential threats even before they become an issue!

Be smart and use a VPN when you’re on public WiFi:

Public WiFi networks aren’t always secure—and that means that hackers can easily access them and try to steal information from unsuspecting users who aren’t paying attention or taking precautions like using strong passwords for their accounts and devices.

Provide your team with Cyber Awareness Training:

Cyber awareness training is a great way to ensure employees feel safe online. It’s essential to ensure all your employees know what they should do if they suspect they’ve been hacked or if they think their computer has been compromised. The first thing is to contact IT and let them know what’s happened, so they can begin investigating.
If you have a company policy in place that includes cyber security, then you can also use that as a reference point for how to handle the situation.

Let us help you prevent ransomware attacks to your business!

You should always be prepared for a ransomware attack.

Fortunately, the steps above will help you prevent ransomware attacks and protect yourself and your business from these malicious threats. Apart from these actionable steps, the best thing you can do is talk to a cybersecurity expert.

At DNSnetworks, we can help you with your cybersecurity posture. We’re a team of in-house IT and cybersecurity professionals with decades of experience helping businesses like yours stay safe online. We’ll find out what kind of protection you currently have for your network and then make recommendations about how best to strengthen it.

Get in touch with DNSnetworks for Ottawa Cybersecurity Services.