A Complete Guide on Ransomware

Before you investigate and remove ransomware from your computer, you need to know the basics of the infection. Most victims suffer from ransomware attacks at least once, but how they handle the first can make the problem persist. Therefore, the best way to protect yourself from future attacks is to take the necessary precautions, such as removing ransomware immediately, checking for vulnerabilities, and updating software. Read on to learn all about ransomware and how to prevent ransomware from returning to your computer.

Paying cybercriminals strengthens their business model.

A ransomware attack has become one of the most profitable forms of cybercrime. It has replaced traditional staples and is now becoming an industry in itself. Criminal groups have grown sophisticated operations and established marketing departments and customer support. Some also have negotiation teams. Companies such as DarkSide offer their services to victims to extort money. By paying a ransom, victims strengthen the criminals’ business model and make money simultaneously.

Isolating a computer from ransomware

The first step in detecting and containing ransomware is isolating a computer from its local network and external storage devices. Ransomware infections can spread quickly and can encrypt your important data. Therefore, separating your computer as soon as possible is essential to protect it from further disease. Disconnecting your computer from the internet is one way to isolate it. It is also a good idea to unplug external storage devices and log out of cloud storage accounts.

If you suspect your computer has been infected, you can try to isolate it by examining the messages and evidence of infection. If you cannot identify the disease, it would be a good idea to alert authorities to coordinate counterattack measures. Once you have identified the condition, you can begin restoring your computer and its data. You can use safe backups to restore your data or outfit a new machine with the same software. You can also use standard practices for removing ransomware from your computer.

Object Lock functionality for backups prevents ransomware attacks.

Object Lock is a feature of some storage systems that creates a virtual air gap around your data, protecting it from ransomware attacks. This feature can be an excellent alternative to backup tapes as it provides the same protection against ransomware. With this feature, you can create backups that will never be changed and will not allow any ransomware to infect them. Object Lock also eliminates manual incremental backups.

Object Lock is a storage capability that protects data from ransomware attacks by making it impossible to change or delete it until a preset retention period has elapsed. The data cannot be altered or overwritten during this timeframe. This feature also prevents unauthorized data modifications or deletion. With this feature, an organization will have the ability to roll back data if needed.

Documenting an attack

One of the first major attacks on computers was the ransomware Trojan horse. This computer virus, authored by Harvard-trained biologist Joseph Popp, locked up a computer user’s files and demanded they pay $189 to regain access to the data on the system. The ransomware was later renamed AIDS Trojan and PC Cyborg. Therefore, documenting a ransomware attack is essential for internal security and public relations.

A ransomware attacker may send a fake email or pop-up message to a victim requesting payment in Bitcoin. Generally, these attackers set a price for the data they demand in exchange for access. If the victim decides to pay, they will receive a notification that their file is worth less than the ransom. However, some attackers will charge more than the ransom to recover data.