Shielding Against Advancing Ransomware Attack Trends

25.04.21 04:12 AM By Aishwarya

Are You A Target ?



New Delhi, India

AnyTechTrial.com


What Is Ransomware ??

Ransomware is a type of malware that encrypts the files on a user’s device or on a network’s storage devices. To restore access to the encrypted files, the user must pay a “ransom” to the cybercriminals this is what a literal meaning can be, typically through a very tough-to-trace electronic payment method such as Bitcoin. Although security researchers have determined how to map the traffic flow of Bitcoin transactions, identifying which individual (or individuals) owns a Bitcoin account or cryptolocker is extremely hard.


How Does Ransomware Spread?

Ransomware is most generally distributed through spam email attacks. The spam or fake email will have an attachment disguised as a licit file or will include a URL link in the body of the email or any sort of document attached send by hacker which is popularly know as Phishing. If the former method is used, the ransomware program is activated as soon as the attachment is opened and within seconds, starts to encrypt files on the device and can hack your valuable personal information. If the attack vector is a link, upon clicking it the user is taken to a web page where the ransomware is rendered to the device unbeknownst to the user. The malicious programs or sites often use exploit kits or rootkit to detect if there are security vulnerabilities in the device’s operating system or applications that can be used to deliver and activate the ransomware for the malicious purpose, the attack can be massive. Additionally, cyber criminals may utilize existing rootkits as seen in the recent WannaCry attack, which took advantage of a well-documented Windows vulnerability known as EternalBlue.

 

Why Do You Need Ransomware Protection?

 

According to a report of U.S. Department of Justice, this cybercrime has the potential to cause global-scale impacts. Like most other malware, spyware, ransomware often containment a computer system by clicking unsafe links or downloading unsafe programs. 

However, unlike the other malware attacks, it is not removed when you flash your BIOS, wipe your drive, or attempt to return your OS to a prior restore point. The program locks your files before the ransom demand is being made. Simultaneously, the attacker creates a unique decryption key and stores it on his or her servers which is very hard to encrypt back, this can happen to any of your personal computer or laptop even you mobile phone.  

Failure to pay the ransom on time or any attempt to alter the encryption program (even if it is end to end encryption) leads to the permanent deletion of the decryption key, which renders all your locked files inaccessible. More often than not, most similar attacks only end when the victim pays the amount demanded by the cyber-terrorist.

 

Though you can still use an infected computer by the way, the risk of losing valuable data can significantly impact productivity of your business with the help of technology. Other impacts of this attack include:

  • Loss or destruction of your personal or official critical information.
  • Business downtime.
  • Damage of hostage systems, files, and data.
  • Business disruption during the post-attack period.
  • Loss of company reputation.

The foremost step starts with identifying the assets (data and systems) crucial to the organization’s business processes or of your website if you own one. By determining the technical resources that support the business process and assessing the impact of those resources which are being unavailable, significant protection requirements and security controls can be executed. Additionally, manual or alternate data processing procedures can also be developed to certain greater resiliency. In a example of Baltimore City, one of the crucial systems impacted was the city’s water billing and payment system targeted. In the course of that ransomware attack, the city's authority was unable to generate water bills or accept online payments, causing a temporary loss of revenue for the city. The city resorted to in-person processing of water bill payments while the online system was down.


The next critical step is to make sure that the systems that support crucial business processes are supported by a ample backup and recovery strategy. Based on the criticality of the system and/or data, appropriate recovery time objectives and recovery point objectives will need to be established as soon as the data encryption process completes. These objectives will drive the recurrence of data backups, which must then be married to a robust restoration strategy. For the backup and recovery process to be successful in practical, it should be tested and run out on a routine basis so that there are no issues in the event that an organization security is impacted by a ransomware attack.


WHAT TO EXPECT NEXT 

Over the last several years where online translations has seen a really big boom, we have seen many credit card information and monetary theft during online transaction, password theft during transaction at stores as well. It is reasonable to expect that this fashion will continue at an accelerated rate with the same motive in mind — to apply as much pressure as it can be possible to organizations to pay ever-larger extortion demands by them. Organisations data should be protected and backup timely, so that it can be restored and protected whenever any attack happen. For that you can use Anti-virus software especially designed for business backup and malware protection, some of he popular software are Trend Micro Internet Security is one such solution for you it is an antivirus and online security program developed by Trend Micro for the private and business computing market which supports Mac, Android and can be easily accessible from google playstore to be used on your smartphones as well. Trend Micro Antivirus+ app Security provides essential online protection for PC. Using Advanced Artificial Intelligence Learning technology, Antivirus+ Security shields you against spam, viruses, malware, spyware, and ransomware. Trend Micro antivirus software is amongst the global leader in enterprise data security and cybersecurity solutions for businesses, data centers, cloud environments, networks, and SME setups. Like this Trend MicroQuick Heal, Norton 360, Avast  and many other over 100+ Anti-virus software are available for free trial on AnyTechTrial.com.


WHAT CAN BE DONE TO PREVENT MALWARE ATTACKS

The best approach to preventing malware attacks is one that is proactive. A good starting place to prevent malware attacks in your organization is to educate your employees on how to recognize and protect their computers and devices from such attacks. Some of the best strategies that employees should follow for a proactive approach to malware prevention include the following:

  • Ensure that all security updates and security patches are installed against malware
  • Avoid suspicious unsolicited links and emails to avoid phishing attack 
  • Avoid suspicious spoof websites 
  • Review software carefully before downloading 
  • Leverage strong, unique passwords 
  • Turn on your firewall 
  • Install an anti-virus/anti-malware software 
  • Limit application privileges 

Following these best practices will ensure that employees and end users build secure computing habits that will help protect there computer against malware attacks. At the organisation level, these practices should be enforced and scrutinized by a layered defense that employs technologies to prevent, protect, detect, block, and contain malware attacks of the systems are compromised or sensitive data is lost. Solutions such as enterprise anti-virus/anti-malware, firewalls, endpoint detection and response, and data loss prevention will provide much of the functionality required by organization to defend there information against malware today and in future.


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