The idea behind managed ransomware services, a form of malicious software, is simple: Lock and encrypt a victim’s computer or device data, then demand a ransom to restore access.
Ransomware holds your personal files hostage, keeping you from your documents, photos, and financial information. Those files are still on your computer, but the malware has encrypted your device, making the data stored on your computer or mobile device inaccessible.
Knowing the types of ransomware out there, along with some of the dos and don’ts surrounding these attacks, can go a long way toward helping protect yourself from becoming a victim of ransomware.
Types of ransomware:
Ransomware attacks can be deployed in different forms. Some variants may be more harmful than others, but they all have one thing in common: a ransom. Here are seven common types of ransomware.
Lockers. Locker-ransomware is known for infecting your operating system to completely lock you out of your computer or devices, making it impossible to access any of your files or applications. This type of ransomware is most often Android-based.
Crypto malware. This form of ransomware can cause a lot of damage because it encrypts things like your files, folders, and hard-drives. One of the most familiar examples is the destructive 2017 WannaCry ransomware attack. It targeted thousands of computer systems around the world that were running Windows OS and spread itself within corporate networks globally. Victims were asked to pay ransom in Bitcoin to retrieve their data
Doxware. Commonly referred to as leakware or extortionware, doxware threatens to publish your stolen information online if you don’t pay the ransom. As more people store sensitive files and personal photos on their computers, it’s understandable that some people panic and pay the ransom when their files have been hijacked.
Mac ransomware. Mac operating systems were infiltrated by their first ransomware in 2016. Known as KeRanger, this malicious software infected Apple user systems through an app called Transmission, which was able to encrypt its victims’ files after being launched.
Scareware. Scareware is fake software that acts like an antivirus or a cleaning tool. Scareware often claims to have found issues on your computer, demanding money to resolve the problems. Some types of scareware lock your computer. Others flood your screen with annoying alerts and pop-up messages.
RaaS. Otherwise known as “Ransomware as a service,” RaaS is a type of malware hosted anonymously by a hacker. These cybercriminals handle everything from distributing the ransomware and collecting payments to managing decryptors — software that restores data access — in exchange for their cut of the ransom.
The cybercriminals who created this ransomware used managed voice services like dental offices to infiltrate victims on a larger scale.
Dos and don’ts of ransomware
Ransomware is a profitable market for cybercriminals and can be difficult to stop. Prevention is the most important aspect of protecting your personal data. To deter cybercriminals and help protect yourself from a ransomware attack, keep in mind these eight dos and don’ts
1.Do keep your security software up to date. New ransomware variants continue to appear, so having up-to-date internet security software will help protect you against cyberattacks.
2.Don’t automatically open email attachments. Email is one of the main methods for delivering ransomware. Avoid opening emails and attachments from unfamiliar or untrusted sources. Phishing spam in particular can fool you into clicking on a legitimate-looking link in an email that actually contains malicious code. The malware then prevents you from accessing your data, holds that data hostage, and demands ransom.
3.Do back up important data to an external hard drive. Attackers can gain leverage over their victims by encrypting valuable files and making them inaccessible. If the victim has backup copies, the cybercriminal loses some advantage. Backup files allow victims to restore their files once the infection has been cleaned up. Ensure that backups are protected or stored offline so that attackers can’t access them.
4.Don’t pay the ransom. Keep in mind, you may not get your files back even if you pay a ransom. A cybercriminal could ask you to pay again and again, extorting money from you but never releasing your data.
5.Do use security software. To help protect your data, install and use a trusted security suite that offers more than just antivirus features. For instance, Norton 360 With LifeLock Select can help detect and protect against threats to your identity and your devices, including your mobile phones.
Ransomware holds your personal files hostage, keeping you from your documents, photos, and financial information. Those files are still on your computer, but the malware has encrypted your device, making the data stored on your computer or mobile device inaccessible.
Knowing the types of ransomware out there, along with some of the dos and don’ts surrounding these attacks, can go a long way toward helping protect yourself from becoming a victim of ransomware.
Types of ransomware:
Ransomware attacks can be deployed in different forms. Some variants may be more harmful than others, but they all have one thing in common: a ransom. Here are seven common types of ransomware.
Lockers. Locker-ransomware is known for infecting your operating system to completely lock you out of your computer or devices, making it impossible to access any of your files or applications. This type of ransomware is most often Android-based.
Crypto malware. This form of ransomware can cause a lot of damage because it encrypts things like your files, folders, and hard-drives. One of the most familiar examples is the destructive 2017 WannaCry ransomware attack. It targeted thousands of computer systems around the world that were running Windows OS and spread itself within corporate networks globally. Victims were asked to pay ransom in Bitcoin to retrieve their data
Doxware. Commonly referred to as leakware or extortionware, doxware threatens to publish your stolen information online if you don’t pay the ransom. As more people store sensitive files and personal photos on their computers, it’s understandable that some people panic and pay the ransom when their files have been hijacked.
Mac ransomware. Mac operating systems were infiltrated by their first ransomware in 2016. Known as KeRanger, this malicious software infected Apple user systems through an app called Transmission, which was able to encrypt its victims’ files after being launched.
Scareware. Scareware is fake software that acts like an antivirus or a cleaning tool. Scareware often claims to have found issues on your computer, demanding money to resolve the problems. Some types of scareware lock your computer. Others flood your screen with annoying alerts and pop-up messages.
RaaS. Otherwise known as “Ransomware as a service,” RaaS is a type of malware hosted anonymously by a hacker. These cybercriminals handle everything from distributing the ransomware and collecting payments to managing decryptors — software that restores data access — in exchange for their cut of the ransom.
The cybercriminals who created this ransomware used managed voice services like dental offices to infiltrate victims on a larger scale.
Dos and don’ts of ransomware
Ransomware is a profitable market for cybercriminals and can be difficult to stop. Prevention is the most important aspect of protecting your personal data. To deter cybercriminals and help protect yourself from a ransomware attack, keep in mind these eight dos and don’ts
1.Do keep your security software up to date. New ransomware variants continue to appear, so having up-to-date internet security software will help protect you against cyberattacks.
2.Don’t automatically open email attachments. Email is one of the main methods for delivering ransomware. Avoid opening emails and attachments from unfamiliar or untrusted sources. Phishing spam in particular can fool you into clicking on a legitimate-looking link in an email that actually contains malicious code. The malware then prevents you from accessing your data, holds that data hostage, and demands ransom.
3.Do back up important data to an external hard drive. Attackers can gain leverage over their victims by encrypting valuable files and making them inaccessible. If the victim has backup copies, the cybercriminal loses some advantage. Backup files allow victims to restore their files once the infection has been cleaned up. Ensure that backups are protected or stored offline so that attackers can’t access them.
4.Don’t pay the ransom. Keep in mind, you may not get your files back even if you pay a ransom. A cybercriminal could ask you to pay again and again, extorting money from you but never releasing your data.
5.Do use security software. To help protect your data, install and use a trusted security suite that offers more than just antivirus features. For instance, Norton 360 With LifeLock Select can help detect and protect against threats to your identity and your devices, including your mobile phones.
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