When it comes to cybersecurity threats, ransomware is one of the scariest. Ransomware blocks access to all or parts of your system until a demand for money is met. Ransomware is most commonly spread through phishing emails containing malicious attachments or through drive-by downloading. Drive-by downloading refers to a user unknowingly visiting an infected website where malware is then downloaded and installed without the user’s knowledge.

A Cybersecurity Blockbuster

“I don’t know who you are. I don’t know what you want. If you’re looking for ransom, I can tell you I don’t have Bitcoin but what I do have are a very particular set of skills. Skills I have acquired over a very long career. Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you. If you let my data go now, that will be the end of it. I will not look for you, I will not pursue you. But if you don’t, I will look for you, I will find you and I will prosecute you.”

Sounds like a line from a Hollywood blockbuster, well because it almost is. Only three words were changed. This is what every victim of a cybersecurity attack would like to say to the bad guys. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way in real life.

Companies spend a tremendous amount of time and money protecting things that are valuable to them from outsiders who mean to do them harm or achieve financial gain by holding their valuables hostage. Yet the rate of ransomware attacks continues to skyrocket. So, what can we to do protect our assets and minimize the damage to our business? Be prepared, act swiftly, and have a plan to recover in place. Sounds simple, doesn’t it?

Be Prepared.

The primary entry point for a ransomware attack is through the human firewall. Yep, that’s right: people. Educate your team to recognize suspicious activity continuously. Have a process they can follow to escalate the threat to the appropriate people. Test their knowledge of cybersecurity awareness often.

Act Swiftly.

Ransomware attacks spread. If you are monitoring your infrastructure and can detect the first attack you stand a better chance of containing the damage. Be certain your critical data and infrastructure is backed up in a location that is separate from your day-to-day information.

Have a Plan.

Create and practice your disaster recovery and business continuity plan regularly. If you don’t have a fully staffed security team, then have one on standby.

True Cybersecurity with RAVENii

Spoiler alert…In the movie paying the ransom didn’t work, just like in real life.

RAVENii can help detect and protect your business from ransomware incidents. For more information about cybersecurity concerns and how RAVENii can help, click here or call (844)317-0944.