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What to do when being targeted by Ransomware (Malware)?
1. In these instances, the first thing you shouldn’t do is panic. The nature of the cyber-attack is to render information inaccessible by encrypting or obscuring the data, once the process has started the only focus is to identify the source and stop it spreading further.
2. Once the ransomware is identified you should turn off the computer which will prevent further spread and make a note of what the program is (if you can)
3. The priority is to begin the restore process of your data to a clean computer. The information that is inaccessible will need to be restored from your most recent backup (if you have one). If you have an IT department, they would be the first point of contact to regain access to your information.
4. Lastly, prevent any further incoming email and any other of regular external data source while the attack is being investigated. This will prevent further attacks while the information is being restored.
If you need help, call our team on 020 3372 5549.
The rise of ransom ware attacks worldwide over the past month has established several things. First, people are using outdated systems and they are using them in sensitive and critical areas like the National Health Service. Second, despite upwards of many countries being affected, the UK is now being used as an example for ransom ware attacks.
In the most basic form, rasomware is a deliberate sabotage of a computer system. Ransomware is a piece of malware. It encrypts the files on your hard drive(s) and gives you a message on the screen telling you that you will not be able to see your data again unless you hand over money, generally in the form of Bitcoin or some other difficult-to-trace currency.
The issue we are now facing in the past month has come to light that a number of security analysts were concerned that there was no way of knowing whether the new ransomware variant "wannacrypt" would damage files, corrupting them beyond use even once they were released.
Wannacrypt did what it said and encrypted files. The trickier less disruptive ones don’t. When you find a message on your screen telling you that your files are encrypted it can be worth power cycling the computer to see whether the notice can be removed; sometimes a display is only a display and it will go away. Some companies abd people will pay the ransom through fear.
Malware, DR, File Encrypting, Ransomware, Disaster Recorvery
