How to Defend Against Ransomware

SAN FRANCISCO, June 14, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- How do you defend against ransomware? First you understand what this type of malware is and how it works, then you muster your defenses. Ransomware is pretty much what it sounds like: software designed to part users from their money by requiring payment after files or entire computers have been "kidnapped" by hackers. From its origin in Russia circa 2005 to its latest incarnations, such as CryptoLocker and Petya, ransomware has been growing in sophistication while extending its tentacles around the globe. But as security expert Mark Cutting points out on Peerlyst (https://www.peerlyst.com), users can fight back against this growing and increasingly expensive threat.

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Cutting, who is senior vice president, information technology, at EnTrustPermal, takes users through the history of ransomware, as well as the various mechanisms used to block users' access to their own files and systems. His Peerlyst post, entitled "Threat Evolution–Ransomware–Easy Pickings, Easy Profit," also offers tips on how to prevent ransomware attacks, as well as what to do when a system is compromised.

Once a system has been infected with malware, Cutting is adamant that victims should not pay the criminals who have invaded their computers: "You need to be mindful that this is nothing more than extortion and theft, and if you pay to unlock access to your computer or files once, then you WILL be targeted again. Remember 'your personal decryption code' that identifies your system (Petya)? Well, there is a very high chance that this code is added to a sucker's list somewhere—and those lists are sold onto other cyber criminals via the DarkNet (TOR), who use this as intelligence to target those who have paid before, and will likely pay again."

To read Cutting's full post, go here:
https://www.peerlyst.com/posts/threat-evolution-ransomware-easy-pickings-easy-profit-mark-cutting.

About Peerlyst

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