Some dos and don’ts about ransomware

In recent years, ransomware has become one of the most treacherous security challenges on the web.

A form of malicious software (malware), ransomware is used by cybercriminals to encrypt documents on a PC, then demand a person like you or a company of any dimension to pay a few hundred or hundreds of thousands of dollars to get it back.

Here, from Norton and other security services, are some essential dos and don’ts to protect yourself against–or respond to–a ransomware attack.

Do
Maintain a secure firewall and keep your security software up to date. It defends your PC 24/7 on the Internet while keeping pace with the latest malware threats. Always remember the bad guys know more about the flaws in your PC’s protection than you ever will, and constant patching with updates corrects those flaws.

Be sure a reputable company has produced your antivirus software. There’s a lot of fake software out there.

Use content scanning and filtering on your mail servers. Inbound e-mails should be scanned for known threats and to block attachment types that could pose a threat.

Regularly back up your files. All too many people believe they won’t be attacked until they are. If and when this occurs, it’s crucial to have all your data backed up and stored in a safe, secure place.

Do Not
Click on any links and attachments to unexpected and unknown emails. Be especially wary of Microsoft Office attachments requesting that you enable macros to view the content. Also, immediately delete any email saying a package awaits you that could not be delivered, or there’s a terrific screensaver you should install.

Pay the ransom. Although paying may seem like a realistic response, there is no guarantee you’ll ever regain access to your files. Not only does your payment fund and encourage your attackers, but they can also charge you time and again to recover your stolen data.

Turn off your computer after it’s been infected. Doing so may remove not only vital details of the attack but also files required to turn on your computer again, as well as opportunities to disinfect and restore it to health. If the virus has infected your back-ups, contact a professional recovery service in an attempt to recover data or work around the ransomware to regain it.