Can you put a price on the data that your business holds? Hackers who indulge in ransomware practices certainly can, and they very much enjoy it, too.
If you’re unfamiliar with the concept of ransomware, it relates to the hacking and withholding of data which is only returned to its rightful owner upon payment of a specified sum of money to the hacker holding it. There is the added dimension of a time limit being attached to the ransom payment for the data’s return and, in many cases, that window is a very, very tight one.
Ransomware cases usually stem from the opening of malicious email attachments or web downloads that cause data to be encrypted, with only the hacker holding the decryption key. At that point, the user often sees a message on their device’s screen with a demand for a specific sum of money to be paid within a specific timeframe for the keys to be released to them. In the time that it would generally take for payment to be made, the hacker could further damage the files or even destroy them completely.
It isn’t just various members of the public who suffer from ransomware incidents, either. Many hackers target organisations such as banks, governments and companies of all sizes. Sometimes, even schools and charities are the victims of especially heinous ransomware episodes.
The truly frightening aspect of ransomware attacks is that they are becoming increasingly elaborate, with the best efforts of data security providers insufficient to halt the advances made by hackers. Therefore, with the cure being painful at best, protection is the aim for computer users. Find out how to best protect yourself against ransomware attacks by reading the infographic (created by Paradyn) below.
Orla works as a Marketing Executive with Paradyn, providers of business ICT services in Ireland. She frequently contributes online posts about a wide range of technological matters.
