What You Must Do to Avoid a Ransomware Attack

Ransomware is big business for cybercriminals, and business is growing. Cybercriminals have access to more powerful tools than ever before and are using them in increasingly sophisticated ways. Considering this, businesses must understand how to avoid ransomware attacks and what to anticipate during the process.

According to Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, the cost of global cybercrime will reach $6 trillion in 2021. A significant portion of that increase will be due to ransomware, which has established itself as a highly lucrative enterprise for cybercriminals.

Increasingly complex corporate data infrastructures make it easy for cybercriminals to target enterprises and institutions. A single malicious email, opened by a careless employee, can lead to millions of dollars of damages.

To properly defend yourself against ransomware, you must understand the methods cybercriminals use to gain illicit access to victims’ systems and find out what your vulnerabilities are. You can then address those vulnerabilities and strengthen them towards the riskiest threat vectors.

The key to implementing comprehensive ransomware protection in your business is knowing how it works, and what its attackers do to trigger the attack. You can effectively protect yourself from ransomware by deploying defenses before becoming a victim.

How Does Ransomware Work?

Ransomware encrypts critical files and demands victims pay for the key that unlocks the files. In order to do this, an attacker needs to gain administrative privileges of the victim’s system.

Whereas in the early days of ransomware, hackers would write their own code for achieving this, modern-day cybercriminal enterprises rely on off-the-shelf ransomware toolkits, professionally coded and sold by black market software vendors. These products make extortion easier and more intuitive – less hacking expertise is needed for the scheme to work.

Before an attack can take place, hackers need to convince victims to download the ransomware application. Email phishing remains the most common and productive method for achieving this.

For example, in a typical ransomware situation, an entry-level mailroom employee might receive an email that appears to come from the CEO or upper management. The email demands the employee rectify some (fraudulent) mistake made a few days ago in an outgoing mail spreadsheet.

The offending spreadsheet is compressed in a .zip file. The mailroom employee will likely download and open it. The spreadsheet’s content is irrelevant and could be fabricated. What matters is that the attacker has successfully introduced a small, invisible application into that particular employee’s computer.

Over the next few weeks or months, the application will access network-connected devices and install itself on all equipment connected to the compromised system. Once a significant number of computers are infected, the attacker will trigger the ransomware, encrypt the company’s data, and demand payment for its release.

How to Avoid Ransomware Attacks

Businesses can avoid ransomware attacks by implementing the following strategies:

• Regular Backups – Frequently back up data and store it offline or in a secure cloud service.
• Security Software – Use comprehensive security solutions, including antivirus, anti-malware, and firewalls.
• Employee Training – Educate employees about phishing scams and safe online practices.
• Software Updates – Keep all software, including operating systems and applications, up to date with the latest patches.
• Access Controls – Limit user access to sensitive data and systems based on roles and responsibilities.
• Email Filtering – Use email filters to block malicious attachments and links.
• Network Segmentation – Divide the network into segments to contain potential breaches.
• Incident Response Plan – Develop and practice a response plan for ransomware attacks.
• Multi-Factor Authentication – Use multi-factor authentication (MFA) to add an extra layer of security.
• Security Audits – Regularly conduct security audits to identify and address vulnerabilities.

Policy and Procedure

Ransomware variants operate differently, but all require a victim to download a malicious file. Creating a cybersecurity policy that guides employees on handling suspicious emails and urgent email requests establishes a strong foundation for ransomware protection.

Beyond this, there are key ransomware hack patterns that cybersecurity experts can detect. Remember, ransomware rarely activates immediately after downloading a malicious file. Attackers aim to spread the infection widely before demanding payment.

New ransomware applications randomize and slow down the encryption process in order to avoid detection, but cutting-edge cybersecurity tools like Datto are capable of detecting unusual behavior before it’s too late. There is a tradeoff to this new approach – slowing down the encryption process gives victims more time to act.

Implement Deploy to Avoid Ransomware Attacks

Preventing ransomware is much easier than navigating an extortion scheme as it unfolds. Effective, consistent prevention will keep your business safe.

In addition to following IT security best practices and keeping employees vigilant with digital correspondence, use professional tools to monitor network traffic and flag unusual activity.

Avoid Ransomware Attacks by Partnering With Experts

Protecting your company’s physical, virtual, and cloud infrastructure is vital. Having a solid disaster recovery and business continuity plan that involves easy-to-deploy backups of critical data is a must. Enjoying the expertise of a security professional when planning your defense is the best way to ensure your business resists attack.

Learn how to secure your business from ransomware attacks with the help of a professional cybersecurity expert. Contact us today to get started.