How to Protect Your System in Case of Ransomware

Users can take simple steps to stay safe from ransomware

This weekend, an extensive attack targeted around 150 countries and hit users with ransomware scams. If they access corrupted links, download infected files, or are merely using a more vulnerable system, hackers get hold of their files and ask people to pay to retrieve them. Since such attacks have started occurring more often, security experts advise people to take all the protective measures and keep their devices safe.

Always backup your files to avoid ransomware

First of all, it is important that people should have backups of their files. However, people don’t usually perform backups or, if they do, they omit to include all the valuable information. Fortunately, certain Windows versions make shadow volume copies, so you can recover your information from there.

Sometimes, hackers might attack backups themselves. Therefore, security experts tell people to make multiple backups, both on cloud and on physical resources, and make sure they always have one more place where they keep their information.

Then, users should always keep their system up-to-date. Most of the times, operating systems have certain vulnerabilities, but they are discovered and receive updates which should fix them. If you do not perform these updates, your system remains at risk, as it is more accessible to hackers. Besides security updates, always use an antivirus system.

Security upgrades are the most important

Many experts observed that companies often refrained from performing upgrades. Usually, they fear they might get bugs or cannot afford spending time on updates. This is quite serious, since they put their entire system at risk. Besides, they should also teach their employees how to stay away from malicious links, or prevent them from having access to certain areas in the network.

In the end, if you become the victim of ransomware, it is better if you disconnect from the network. This would prevent them from accessing more files. Also, officials advise people not to pay the hackers, so as not to encourage them. However, some companies often choose to avoid losing valuable files and compromise their customers, and pay the ransom.
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