Ransomware Attacks
Ransomware is the new tactic hackers have devised to get away with your cash. They are able to attack multiple locations at once, such as hospitals, government offices, and Fed-Ex.
‘Wanna Cry’ was the latest ransomware launched last week, affecting thousands of machines in at least 150 countries. Experts say ‘Wanna Cry’ was in someway preventable. Michael Strong with Blue Layer IT said, “one of the most important things you can do be a better human firewall.”
Microsoft was made aware of some vulnerability in their operating systems a few months ago after hacking tools were stolen from the NSA exposing those vulnerabilities. Microsoft went into action by releasing a patch to repair those exposures immediately after they became known.
Hackers popular strategy for ransomware attacks or any other scams is done through phishing. These are emails that look legitimate that is until you open the attachment. “If employees and home users are clicking on any kinda email that they get and they’re not being good, continuous consumers of what they’re taking in from the internet. That’s what leads to these kind of infections,” Strong says.
Most ransomware lock up your computer or systems with encryption and hold it for ransom. In the case of ‘Wanna Cry’, the ransom was $300 dollars. Strong recommends that you do not pay the ransom. He said, “You don’t know what your funding, you don’t want to contribute to this whole process in general.”
According to Strong, it’s important for companies to educate their employees and clients to become a better human firewall. Strong says, “In some cases like this they [human firewall] can be the weakest link.”
Hacks have become a regular occurrence. Being more aware of what you’re clicking on. Having a good firewall, a good anti-virus software, and good backups are helpful ways of preventing a breach to your system.
“At the end of the day it just takes tricking one employee at a business to set off this kinda catastrophe,” Strong added.
