What is Ransomware and How Does it Affect Your Business?
Ransomware is a form of malware that encrypts files on the target computer. Usually, it demands that you pay to decrypt them.
Affected Devices
Cybercriminals have a number of methods they use to infect computers and laptops with ransomware. These methods include phishing spam attachments, drive-by downloads and Trojan horses.
Security weak spots
Once an infected computer is compromised, hackers take advantage of the security holes to steal sensitive information and encrypt it for ransom. They can also threaten to publicize the files on the victim’s hard drive unless a ransom is paid.
File encryption
Unlike older forms of ransomware, most modern versions encrypt files using strong ciphers. This makes it difficult for users to restore their data. Typically, the only way to recover the information is to pay the attackers a large sum of money.
The business impact of ransomware
Businesses are vulnerable to ransomware attacks because they rely on networked technology to conduct their operations. If a company is locked out of its systems by ransomware, it can lose revenue for days or even weeks.
Consumers may become wary of doing business with an infected company, too. This is particularly true in some sectors, like the healthcare industry, where people’s lives are at stake.
Government agencies are targets of ransomware attacks, too. These organizations are vulnerable to attacks because they have a lot of sensitive information on their networks.
The best thing to do is isolate the infected device, disconnect it from your network, and report the attack to law enforcement. This will help to ensure that the malware can’t spread to other devices on your enterprise network.