Cryptolocker and Ransomware Protection: How can you protect your business?
What is ransomware and how can it affect your computer?
Ransomware is a type of malware (malicious software) that can encrypt data files and prevent or limit access to computer systems. It is now one of the biggest threats to a business, and can result in data and files being encrypted.
The impact on a business affected by crypto-ransomware is significant, and includes downtime of operations, data and system recovery costs. Systems can become infected in a number of ways including opening email attachments, visiting malicious websites and via shared removable storage devices.
Often, once files are encrypted, a ransom is demanded to unencrypt the data. Paying the ransom does not guarantee that the attacker will provide the key to un-encrypt the files.
Businesses that are affected by a crypto-ransomware attack may have no choice but to restore their data from the last successful backup.
What measures can you take to protect yourself from the threat of ransomware?
There are a number of ways you can protect yourself including:
- Scrutinize emails before opening them.
- Do not click on links embedded in unsolicited emails
- Ensure you consistently backup your data on a daily basis (multiple copies over different media)
- Ensure all of your software and operating systems are updated (latest patches/updates/fixes applied)
- Use a security protection suite on each machine
Products such as Trend Micro Security can block dangerous websites, including harmful links found in websites, social networks, emails and instant messages, and safeguards against viruses, phishing, and other online threats.
Trend Micro: security products to protect your system
To combat the threat of malicious viruses,trojans and ransomware, IT Services SA recommends Trend Micro’s Worry-Free security range of products for small business.
Trend Micro’s worry-free security products feature “Behavior monitoring” which monitors any suspicious file encryption activities at the end point and stops them by terminating or putting the process in quarantine.
As a large number of system infections occur via the opening of a malicious email, Trend Micro has addressed the issue with their Hosted Email Security and Antispam Protection. This cloud based system analyzes your email before forwarding on to you.
Ask us about reviewing your business security requirements.
