CTS Cyberbits is a monthly column on Cybersecurity that contains information on how to protect yourself online and new emerging threats to be aware of. In this month’s edition Campus Technology Services will cover ransomware safety and preparedness.
There are many threats to personal and business data in today’s online landscape. In recent times one of the most prevalent and harmful of these threats has been ransomware. Ransomware is malicious software that installs itself on a computer without the user knowing and encrypts their files to make them unusable. The attacker will then ask for a ransom in cryptocurrency to decrypt the files returning them to their original state.
These attacks can be performed on individual computers or entire servers, making them very harmful and disruptive to businesses. By taking the following steps you can help protect yourself and others from the effects of ransomware.
- Be cautious when installing any new software. Ransomware can disguise itself as useful software to trick you into installing it. Always verify that software is trustworthy and that any downloads are coming from the authentic website that hosts the software.
- Keep your operating system and applications up to date. Ransomware can use out-of-date software as a door into your computer. By installing all available security updates you can keep as many of these doors closed as possible.
- Be wary of email attachments you don’t recognize. If an attachment looks odd or is unexpected use caution before opening or downloading it as it may be a malicious program in disguise.
- Run a trustworthy antivirus program. Antivirus programs can detect ransomware applications early before they do damage and prevent them from causing damage to your data.
- Keep an offline backup. Offline backups made periodically can help protect you from data loss in the event your files do end up encrypted. It is important to keep your backed up data separate from your computer so the backup files cannot be encrypted should you fall victim to ransomware.
By following these steps you can help keep yourself and your workspaces safe. Should you become a victim of ransomware, it is important to not pay the ransom as paying it legitimizes the crime to the criminals and in some cases data can be recovered without paying the ransom.
Please contact the CTS Help Desk should you believe you are infected with ransomware. More information about ransomware and how to report it can be found via the FBI’s ransomware page.
-- Submitted by Campus Technology Services