Department of Homeland Security Issues Ransomware Alert

As we’ve discussed in many previous blog posts, and as we have seen continuously in the news, Ransomware is increasingly becoming an issue that businesses and individuals should be prepared for. More and more victims unfortunately seem to be paying the ransoms, which means that Ransomware has become more and more profitable for cybercriminals, and therefore it has become more common.

The issue has become so prevalent that the United States Department of Homeland Security and the Canadian Cyber Incident Response Centre have released a major warning about Ransomware and its effects. Specifically, the joint alert aims to “provide further information on ransomware, specifically its main characteristics, its prevalence, variants that may be proliferating, and how users can prevent and mitigate against ransomware.”

This alert just signifies how serious this problem is becoming, and how important it is for businesses and individuals to prepare their systems and be aware of the ways Ransomware can get into systems. Email is still one of the most common entryways for infections like these, particularly through phishing attempts that try and trick the user into opening and running the malicious files.

The alert put out on US-CERT mentions several things our readers may be familiar with, discussing what Ransomware is and how it often locks users out of their systems, but is also makes some additional points that are worth highlighting.

First, they mention that paying the ransom demands is not advised, as the attackers may or may not release your files, and you may even end up targeted for a second attack later.

Second, they point out that when Ransomware is installed on a system, it often is installed with other malware in the background. This means even if you do get your files unlocked by paying the ransom, the attackers may still be stealing private information off your system: particularly banking information.

Third, they note that Ransomware infections often have additional, hidden costs to businesses, such as loss of valuable data, loss of time and productivity due to system downtime and repair, and even damage to reputation.

Last, they highlight their recommendations to minimize the risks of malware, first and foremost being having a proper backup in place that is regularly updated. This is a good measure to defend against most infections, but especially with Ransomware as it gives you a the option to rebuild the system with only the cost of hours, rather than the $3.6 million demanded of aHospital in Hollywood.

This alert is very helpful and provides a good breakdown of what Ransomware is, where it comes from and how to prevent it from infecting your systems. Astria Business Solutions highly recommends you read it and share with others as well. Awareness is key to information security.

If you would like assistance with Ransomware preparedness, Astria Business Solutions can assist you. We can set up email filtering to help prevent phishing attempts and can assist you in creating and implementing backup and recovery plans. For more information, visit our website at AstriaBiz.com