Ransomware is a major concern for 2019. According to a report by Dimension Data, ransomware attacks increased by 350% between 2016 and 2017. This figure should be of concern to all businesses worldwide as the increase is rapid.
If the rising ransomware incidents aren’t enough to get your attention, then you should pay attention to other scary statistics. The cost of ransomware is also rising sharply. The average loss due to a ransomware infection is $2,500. That’s a huge cost for small businesses.
The good news is that the cost can be significantly reduced. Below we list some tips that you may find useful.
- Keep a backup of your files on another server.
You don't want to exclusively back up files locally. A ransomware infection can spread throughout your local network, blocking access to valuable files.
- Remotely backing up your files is, perhaps, an even better solution.
You can store files in the cloud very easily. This means you retain access to them even if a hacker gains control of your local file drive.
- Clean up Drive and restore selected files with a suitable Data Recovery solution.
There are many data recovery solutions on the market, including tools like R Drive Image.
How can you use these tools if you fall victim to ransomware?
- Clean up the entire disk. DO NOT overwrite the data.
- Set your hardware to safe mode once you have reinstalled your base operating system on the same drive it was originally set up on.
- Select which files you want to restore. You can restore them with the data recovery tool.
- Make sure you know where the ransomware copies are so you don't accidentally restore them.
This way you will be able to restore all your files without having to worry about ransomware affecting the rest of your system.
- Be aware of the dangers of Social Engineering.
Social engineering is a key concern for anyone facing any form of cyberattack.
Is it important to be prepared for social engineering cyberattacks?
Yes. Contrary to popular belief, hackers are not losers who live in their moms' basements . They are often talented social engineers and use their knowledge to perpetuate their attacks. In fact, a full 84% of hackers use social engineering.
You need to be aware of all the different types of attacks that use social engineering. In essence, this is the best way to prepare. Of course, keep in mind that they evolve and modify their methods over time.
- Get better malware protection tools
Using proper malware protection is also very helpful. You will tell us, of course, that this is now self-evident, but you will be surprised by how many people do not offer proper malware protection on their devices. Also, many are those who do not update them regularly. Finally, since they usually use the free versions of the products, the webkits are not updated in real time to deal with new threats.
