A question that pops up now and then in the recent digital era- What is ransomware?
Well, it is a malware or a type of cyber threat that has grown rapidly in the last few months. The hackers encrypt and hold important data and information to pressurize the victim to pay the ransom. The victim can be a person, a family, a group of people, or an entire organization. The data is held captive with no permission of access to the owners. The victims are demanded a certain amount of money in return for access.
McAfee is not enough to just buy an antivirus solution and install it via McAfee.com/Activate. This is because when an organization is attacked with ransomware, every individual related to it gets entitled to worry. As in this technology-dominated world, data is stored and can be shared very easily.
TIPS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Apart from getting the best McAfee antivirus and installing it through mcafee.com/activate, here are a few tips that might help you secure your data:
• Maintain a backup of all your data.
• Maintain online safety with browsing.
• Ensure using secured networks only.
• Keep changing your credentials.
• Incorporate password manager software.
• Never settle on paying the ransom.
• Enable multi-layer authentication programs.
• Ensure a comprehensive security solution.
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Here are 5 important tips to keep your devices and information safe from ransomware:
1) Backup Your Data—Since paying a ransom to get your data back is often ineffective (and just encourages the attackers) the best preventative measure you can take is to backup your data on a regular basis, just in case you need to wipe your device clean after an attack. Use a backup drive, or backup to the cloud. This way you can easily retrieve all of your important information without paying a ransom.
2) Use strong security—Antivirus software can now block some ransomware attacks by detecting variants of known viruses. Make sure to run regular scans to prevent ransomware and other common threats. And, in the case that you do fall victim, security software can be especially important in making sure your system is clean after the attack, and before you reinstall your data from backup.
3) Keep your software updated—You may remember that WannaCry only targeted outdated Windows software that wasn’t patched with the latest security fixes. This is why it’s imperative that you keep all your software, including mobile apps, up-to-date. This way, attackers have a harder time taking advantage of known vulnerabilities.
4) Be careful where you click—Sometimes it doesn’t matter how many technical tools you have at your disposal; whether attackers are successful or not can depend on your own online behavior. Ransomware attacks can be distributed in phony online ads, email links, social media messages and even via text message. Be skeptical. Don’t respond to messages from strangers or click on links in spam emails.
5) Stay Aware—Cybercrooks are always looking for new ways to trick us out of money and information. Stay informed about the latest ransomware attacks and how to avoid them. Know that businesses are also commonly targeted and that the precautions you take at home should also be applied to your work devices and data.
Although ransomware is a concerning trend, the good news is we can do a lot to counteract these sort of attacks. In fact, over the last year the No More Ransom project, which McAfee is part of, has helped thousands of people recover files that have been encrypted, or locked, by cybercrooks.
Regards,
Willjoe