Most business activities are now fully dependent on network and server connections. Large data pertaining to the business should be secured at every stage, whether it is on the server or on the hard drives of the organization. Hackers are now able to make money by blocking access to secured data from the organization’s personnel using ransomware attacks. The hackers demand money from the organization for access to their own secured information from the server. In this type of attack, the hacker is safe and will likely not get caught for the illegal act.
Ransomware and its Success Stories:
Ransomware is malware that is downloaded to the computer without the user’s knowledge. This malware comes in the form of a program termed as MAAS (Malware as a Service). The hackers distribute this program by using various forms like a word file, javascript, etc. This program gets downloaded when an employee clicks a malicious email that is found in their inbox. The email will look professional and the name of the file will also look relevant to the company’s activities. The employee clicks the download link without knowing the danger the organization has to face after this downloaded action. This file gets installed once downloaded without the knowledge of the employee, and it performs unexpected actions to the company's systems, such as:
The malware is programmed in such a way that the data can only be decrypted when a hacker wants to, and they usually only do so after receiving the ransom amount. Here, the hacking can be done via email. Another method of ransomware attack is targeting websites. The hackers use an exploit kit to spoil the security of the website. When the individual users browse the website, the program automatically starts downloading to their computer without their acknowledge. The hackers always target popular websites where the security is more generic.
Ransomware attacks are successful because of:
Permission to access particular data should be predefined and only the authorized person should be able to access data.
Effectively Training Employees:
This type of attack is made possible because of employee flaws. Thus, training employees about security is the only solution to get rid of this type of attack. An effective security awareness program can help businesses stay away from unwanted downage caused by employees. Every individual should be aware of these attacks to safeguard data. The organization should also take steps to inculcate personal responsibility to each and every employee to avoid such attacks. The company should provide a checklist to all employees to verify all the security software in their system they work on. Every system in the organization should be automated for updating security software in a routine manner. Training the employees not only saves the organization from hackers but also helps the individuals protect themselves from such hacking activities.
The organization should train employees to follow the steps below to increase the security level of data.
Steps to Protect against Ransomware Attacks:
In Conclusion…
Ransomware attacks are a major threat to businesses, as they deplete data quickly. This problem has led to the search for alternative security measures in order to protect the data. Organizations can prepare by deploying the proper tools to protect the server from malicious activities. Employees should also be educated about any and all advanced technology in order to overcome the hacker’s activities. Taking precautionary steps is the only solution to get rid of these types of attacks.
About the Author
Gunjan Tripathi is the Digital Marketing Executive of the Cheap SSL Shop – Globally SSL certificate reseller of Comodo. He has in-depth knowledge and an understanding of cybersecurity. He writes articles related to Big Data Protection, Cloud Security, BYOB Security, Internet Of Things (IOT), Mobile Security etc. to create awareness and share knowledge.