Ransomware – a form of malware used by cybercriminals to
hold your data hostage until a fee is paid.
This is not a new concept, however, the size of the attack
by WannaCry has been the largest seen, according to Europol, infecting more
than 200,000 computers in 150 countries*. Most worryingly, this particular
strain of ransomware has hit, and infiltrated, multi-national organisations,
who spend millions of pounds every year on their cyber security.
But how easily could it have been avoided and how can firms
protect themselves against future attacks?
Here are a few ways that you can protect your business:
Run regular backups
By regularly backing up your data you can restore files
without having to pay up should you be infected, as there is no guarantee that
paying the ransom will result in your files being unlocked.
The use of antivirus
Antivirus is a software program used to search and remove
known viruses found in your system. Updating your antivirus is essential to
ensure to that it can check for new viruses when they are discovered. A good
antivirus should have strong anti-ransomware capabilities, to protect you from
this treat.
Employ a robust
firewall
A firewall is a network security device that monitors and
controls traffic on your system based on agreed security rules that helps to
prevent unauthorised access. Although this will protect your business against
the majority of internet based infections, it cannot protect against infections
that have been brought into the network from an external source, such as a
mobile device or external hard drive.
Consider regular IT
audits
By running regular IT audits you will be able to identify
any areas of concern in your current system, which once addressed, will ensure
that your systems remain secure.
Educate your staff
Educating staff should be treated as the main line of
defence when it comes to protecting your business. By training staff to be able
to spot, and deal with anything suspicious in the correct manner it means that
procedures will be in place to keep your network safe.
Want to know more?
Visit www.nomoreransom.org
or, give our technology expert, Trevor, a call on 01789 761 671.
* http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-39947944