Ransomware is one of the most dangerous and widespread attacks taking place online. And according to Consumer Reports, even IT experts can find their files encrypted one fine morning!
One such case is that of Raul Glasgow, a computer consultant who is familiar with ransomware. Not only does he help clients whose files are being held hostage by hackers, but he has himself fallen victim to the malware.
"After the first attack, I thought we were ready to take them on," Glasgow said. "There's no way they're going to catch us again. I was wrong."
Glasgow says he started noticing ransomware attacks on his clients two to three years ago. Since then, he says they've become more frequent as time goes on.
Jerry Beilinson of Consumer Reports says that ransomware victims see a pop-up window on screen : “The message will say, ‘All your files have been locked and to get them back, you will have to pay a ransom.’ We suggest not clicking on the window unless you are willing to pay,” Beilinson said.
First, you need to make sure that it's not just a fake pop-up. Close your browser and if it comes back, then you may indeed have a problem.
“If you have a recent backup of your data, you probably won’t need to pay the ransom,” Beilinson said. “However, if you don’t have a recent backup, you will have to pay the ransom to unlock your files.”.
If you have a backup, you can transfer your files to a clean computer. Or you may be able to rebuild system . A professional can help you if you don't have the necessary knowledge to do this.
And to make it harder for hackers to gain access to your computer, CR experts recommend keeping your operating system and all software, including security software, up to date. Better yet, turn on automatic updates so you don't have to do it manually and there's no risk of forgetting.
