Ransomware is malicious code used to extort money from its victims. When a device is successfully attacked, screen lock malware prevents access to the computer, while crypto ransomware encrypts the information stored there.
The victim then receives a ransom message on the screen, or through a text file (message) from the affected folders, requesting money to give the user back power over their computer or data.
Ransomware creators use different attack techniques:
- Ransomware diskcoder: encrypts the entire disk and prevents the user from accessing the operating system.
- Screen locker: blocks access to the device screen.
- Crypto-ransomware: encrypts the information stored on the victim's disk.
- PIN locker:attacks Android devices and changes passcodes to lock out users.
Why is it important to protect yourself?
In 2016, the United States Department of Justice revealed that the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) had received nearly 7,700 public complaints related to ransomware since 2005, with a total of $57.6 million in damages. Those damages include ransoms paid, as well as costs related to handling the attack and the estimated value of the lost data. In 2015 alone, victims paid more than 24 million dollars in almost 2,500 cases reported to the IC3.
How to protect yourself from ransomware attacks?
For three decades, ESET has been helping to preserve users' digital world. In 1995, the company revolutionized antivirus protection, replacing outdated signature-based malware scanning with a new technique called heuristic recognition. Currently, ESET is once again transforming antimalware protection with new technologies that combine "on premise" and "on the cloud" solutions, providing the most complete protection against Ransomware attacks.
In Argentina, ZMA IT Solutions, official ESET distributor, provides high-quality professional services, specializing in IT Infrastructure Management and Security Information.
Since the best way to avoid ransomware is still prevention, the ESET Ransomware Prevention Pack provides solutions, recommendations and good security practices. The basic rules to avoid losing information are:
Implement security solutions
ESET's anti-malware solutions protect against all types of malicious code, including the latest Ransowmare variants such as: WannCry, NotPetya, Disckcoder and BadRabbit. The protection modules included in ESET solutions are:
- Ransomware Shield: monitors and evaluates all executed applications based on their behavior and reputation. When a suspicious action is detected, the user is asked if they want to block the activity or not.
- Cloud-based sandboxing: detects unknown threats by analyzing all samples in a few minutes, providing an additional level of security to the company. The samples are executed in a complete sadboxing that simulates the user's behavior to deceive the evasive tactics of the malware.
- Protection against Network Attacks: Protects against vulnerabilities for which there are not yet patches or have not been released.
- DNA Detection: Inside the code of all Ransomware there are certain specific lines of code: Download file from, create files in, search for X extension, among others. ESET solutions can detect even new variants that are not yet known.
Among anti-malware solutions, ESET Dynamic Threat Defense stands out. This adds an additional level of security to ESET solutions, such as Mail and Endpoint Security, by incorporating cloud-based sandboxing for the detection of unknown threats, also providing complete protection against Ransomware.
Use a backup and recovery solution
An adequate backup policy guarantees the rapid restoration of files and databases, avoiding the loss of time and money, and ensuring business continuity. ESET's solution allows you to back up an entire system or business-critical data, recover specific files using filters, store backups within the organization or save them in the cloud, and define the time and number of copies of the backups to keep.
Perform audits of your systems
Know the status of the company's information security through a complete and personalized diagnosis. ESET Latin America's malware research laboratory - unique in the region - provides the best advice to detect in time the vulnerabilities that could turn a company into a ransomware victim.
Raise awareness among collaborators
Given that the majority of infection cases begin due to human error - due to a lack of information about the threat - the education and training of all collaborators becomes essential to be prepared and avoid incidents. ESET shares best practice guides to share with teams so that they are alert to possible attacks.
In a context of great changes, where cybersecurity has become an even greater priority for organizations, ZMA IT Solutions together with its network of Value Partners, provide the most complete services in relation to these solutions, including their installation -and uninstallation of old solutions-, after-sales support -following the ITIL guidelines-, and monitoring of the system's health status -System's Health Check-.
Source of Information: iProfesional
Disclaimer: The information presented does not constitute financial, investment, commercial or other advice and is solely the opinion of the writer. By using the information on this site, you agree that we are not responsible for losses, damages or injuries arising from the use or interpretation of the information.
