2019 has seen an increase of 41% in ransomware attacks than in 2018. That’s only one year’s percentage increases. Needless to say, by the end of 2020, we’ll see the sheer amount of damage that’s been done over a year’s time.

Whether you’re a school or a midsized business, there’s a high chance that ransomware will be targeting your organization in the near future (if it hadn’t already).

If you’re unaware of what ransomware is all about, then you might be already at a cybersecurity disadvantage. Yet, you’ve come to the right place to learn all about ransomware.

Keep on reading for our full breakdown of ransomware, its protection, as well as what types of ransomware attacks you need to keep an eye on.

What Is Ransomware?

Before taking a deep dive into the details of ransomware attacks, let’s start with the basics.

Ransomware, also known as ransom malware, is a specific type of malware that locks out authorized users from accessing their own system and data. Then, cybercriminals will demand ransom for their victims to regain access to their own files.

The first versions of ransomware were developed in the late 80s, and the payment —the ransom money— was sent to the criminals using snail mail.

Of course, with today’s technology on hand, ransomware has evolved showing sophistication in terms of the malware itself, as well as its payment methods.

It’s becoming more common to send payment to ransomware authors using cryptocurrencies or even credit cards.

Ransomware 101: How Does One Get Ransomware?

There are a plethora of ways that your organization can be hit with ransomware.

Currently, one of the most common vehicles of ransomware is malicious spam, also known as malspam.

How Malspam Works

Basically, malspam is an unsolicited email that’s used to deliver malware. This email can be loaded with infected attachments like word documents and PDF files.

In addition, the email might contain links to malicious websites that can infect your system the moment one of your authorized users clicks on them.

The way malspam works is by using social engineering to persuade people to open these attachments or to click on those malicious links. A simple way of doing so is by making the email look legitimate.

For instance, people are more likely to lower their guard once they (subconsciously) deem an email to be trustworthy. Cybercriminals can easily manipulate an email to look as if it’s coming from a trusted institution or a known party.

Malvertising in Ransomware

Another common method of infecting your system with ransomware is malvertising.

Malvertising, which is also known as malicious advertising, is the methodology of using online advertising to disseminate malware with minimal user interaction.

By simply browsing the web, users can be funneled into criminal servers without being aware of it, or even clicking on a single ad. These servers will collect essential details about their victims’ computers, like their location data.

Afterward, these cybercriminals will pick the best malware that they have on hand that’s suited to their intended victims. In most cases, that malware is ransomware.

Furthermore, malvertising will use invisible webpage elements or infected iframes to carry the bulk of its work.

These elements or iframes will redirect a user into an exploit landing page. Once the user is there, their system will be attacked by malicious code that can download malware without the user’s knowledge.

What Are the Main Types of Ransomware?

At this point, we’ve discovered the main forms of getting access to an organization’s systems and files.

Malspam and malvertising are the roads that can get cybercriminals to access to your data, but it’s not the ransomware itself. This brings us to the actual types of ransomware and how they can affect your system.

Mild Ransomware: Scareware

There are different levels of nastiness when it comes to ransomware. Scareware is the mildest form. Generally speaking, scareware works by trying to scare you into paying ransom for data that wasn’t even stolen in the first place.

Scareware operates by delivering a rogue security software or a tech support scam pop-up. That pop-up will tell you that they’ve discovered malware on your computer, and the only way for you to remove that malware is by paying them to do so.

Of course, that’s categorically false. If you decide to do nothing about these messages, you’ll get more pop-ups. However, your actual data is safe.

The simplest way to detect scareware is by checking your current cybersecurity software program.

Any managed security service would never solicit their own clients that way. If you’re getting popups from random “security” companies, then it’s almost certainly scareware.

Moderate Ransomware: Screen Lockers

Screen lockers, and other lock-screen based ransomware, is much trickier to deal with than scareware.

Lock-screen ransomware works by freezing you out of your computer. A common screen-lock ransomware will show you a screen that pretends to belong to a legitimate U.S. department, like the FBI or the US department of justice.

This official-looking screen will state that some sort of illegal activity has been found on your computer, and in order to unlock your system, you have to pay a fine.

Needless to say, that’s not how any legitimate organization works. If either of these departments actually has a concern with something on your computer, they’ll follow the appropriate legal channels.

Severe Ransomware: Encryption Malware

This type  is where the most severe damage occurs to your data.

In the simplest of terms, this malware will grab your files and encrypt them. Afterward, the cybercriminals responsible will ask you to pay them in order to get your data decrypted and sent back to you.

The glaring issue here is that these criminals already have your files and data. Once it reaches this level, there is no software that can give you back these files.

In most cases, you have to pay the asked-for ransom to get your data back. However, even if you do pay the ransom, there is no single guarantee that these cybercriminals will give you back your files.

Moreover, they can sell your files to your competitors with ease. At that point, you can assume that your data is not secure and could be sent anywhere and to anyone.

Ready to Secure Your System?

Reckoning with the power to ransomware can be a bit terrifying.

However, it’s much better for you and your organization to understand the actual threat of ransomware before you fall victim to one instead of the other way around.

Now that you’ve learned all about ransomware and its types, you can check out the guide on preventing ransomware and protecting your data.

Yet, there is much to be said for a comprehensive security system that can take care of your security and your IT management all in one swoop.

Make sure to contact us, and our team will be able to help you streamline your IT management from the inside out.

When most of us go to bed every night, we make a lap around the house checking that all our doors and windows are locked. We arm security systems, turn on porch lights, and make sure cars are locked and garages are closed. So if we take that much trouble making sure our physical possessions are protected, why wouldn’t we take just as much care protecting our valuable information?

Computer security is designed to help protect your information from hackers and online predators. Read on to answer the question, “What is computer security?” and to learn about some of the more common threats you may face online.

What Is Computer Security?

When we imagine security, many of us might think of locking up valuables in a physical location. But computer security is a set of measures designed to protect your information, not your physical assets. These measures can include everything from having passwords that are hard to guess to not opening suspicious emails or websites.

Nearly every part of our lives is impacted by the internet these days. Our bank accounts, utilities, mortgages, work lives, social lives, and entertainment are all accessible through the internet. Computer security keeps experienced hackers from manipulating those online systems and stealing everything from your identity to your money.

Malware

One of the most common online threats is malware. This software, sometimes known as a virus, is designed to make your computer hard or impossible to use. You may find that you’re getting disturbing popups or that your files are disappearing or your computer shuts down at random intervals.

Malware can be hidden almost anywhere on the internet, including in emails, on websites, in videos or photos you download, or in files you receive. And once the virus is on your computer, it can be very hard to find it to remove it. These programs specialize in hiding themselves in the depths of your computer, and if you aren’t trained to know how to find them, they can lurk there for months or years.

Spyware

While malware lives on your computer and interferes with processes on your specific machine, spyware is more tied to your online presence. These programs monitor your online activities, spying on every site you visit and all the information you enter. These programs can install malware on your computer without your consent or could steal your personal information.

Many of these spyware programs hide in the terms and conditions we all accept without reading what they say. They can also come from suspicious websites and clickbait schemes. If you see an online deal that seems too good to be true, chances are there’s some spyware hiding behind it.

Hackers

Spyware and malware are both types of automated programs. People write them and then set them loose, and from there, they function on their own. But sometimes, there may be a real person, not just a program, threatening your computer security.

Hackers know how to access and manipulate computer coding that allows them to gain access to your protected information. These attacks look nothing like what Hollywood has shown us. Instead, the process can be very time-consuming and often involves programs designed to guess your username and password.

Phishing Scams

Some online predators use a different form of getting your personal information known as phishing. These scams prey off of the anonymity that comes with working on the internet. They pretend to be people or organizations that you trust and then try to trick you into giving them your information.

These scams can be hard to pick up on because phishers have gotten very good at looking like the organizations they’re imitating. Strange email addresses using long strings of letters or numbers can be one tip-off that an organization isn’t legitimate. You can also keep an eye out for unusual activity from these organizations; the IRS will never call or email you to ask for money, for instance.

Formjacking

Formjacking attacks are an especially malicious threat to your computer security because they lurk on pages that have legitimate business uses. When you type your credit card information into a legitimate website to place an online order, a formjacking program skims your data. Then the hackers behind this attack can mine that data to steal your identity.

The truth of the matter is that you can never know if a website has a formjacking program running in the background. One good way to avoid these traps is to avoid putting your credit card information into a form if you can. Even if it’s a trusted website, try to pay using PayPal or similar third-party merchants who can handle your payment without exposing your information.

How to Avoid These Threats

The key to avoiding computer security threats is constant vigilance. Avoid opening emails from unfamiliar addresses, especially if the address includes long strings of random letters and numbers. Never ever download any attached files unless they’re coming from a trusted source.

Watch out for phishing scams, too; anyone who is calling you to tell you your computer has viruses on it is trying to steal your money. The IRS and your local law enforcement will not use a telephone or email to let you know about outstanding money you owe or warrants for your arrest. And if someone who looks like a representative of a company you trust asks for your account number, hang up; legitimate representatives will already have that information.

Start Living Safer Today

In an age where every piece of our lives is influenced by the internet, computer security has become more important than ever. Keep a sharp eye when you’re operating online, and don’t trust someone is who they say they are. Err on the side of caution and your information will stay as secure as your locked up home.

If you’d like to further answer the question, “What is computer security?” check out the rest of our site. We can provide enterprise information technology solutions for your business. Get started today and start taking advantage of the best in current and emerging technologies.

On average, a cybersecurity attack will cost a business $200,000 which is why these attacks have put so many small businesses out of business.

If you want to stay in business, you need to do what you can to protect your business against all types of cyberattacks. This includes brute force attacks.

Keep reading to learn some password best practices you should be putting in place to keep your business safe from brute force attacks and other cybersecurity threats.

What Are Brute Force Attacks?

A brute force attack is one of the oldest forms of hacking that cybercriminals are still using to this day. It involves attempting to gain access to an account by guessing a password until the correct one is found.

This method has been modernized over time and now involves using powerful computers that can attempt hundreds or thousands of passwords every second to gain access to an account within minutes, hours, or days.

Password Best Practices

Fortunately for business owners, there are some password policy best practices that can be put into place which will help thwart hackers that use this method. Let’s get into some of them now so you can start implementing better security practices.

1. Use Longer Passwords

The longer your password is, the harder it will be to guess. This is because for every character, there are at least 62 options with just numbers and lower and uppercase letters. This number is even greater when special characters are included.

A password that’s 12 characters long will be more than twice as hard to guess because of how many additional combinations each additional character creates.

2. Change Passwords Often

Even an unskilled hacker or one that doesn’t have the best computing resources can still guess your password if given enough time. For that reason, it’s important to have your employees change their passwords frequently.

Set up a frequency at which passwords need to be changed, whether it’s every year, every quarter, or every month. Then, be sure your employees are always selecting a new password rather than one they’ve used previously.

3. Intersperse Numbers and Special Characters

When coming up with a secure password, one of the things to keep in mind is to avoid bunching up the letters and numbers. This can make it easier to guess. Instead, intersperse the types of characters to strengthen the password.

For example, dog123 has all of the letters together and all of the numbers together. A safer password would be d1o2g3. Including a combination of lowercase and uppercase letters and adding special characters would also help strengthen this password.

4. Use Different Passwords for Everything

Once you come up with a strong password that you can remember, it’s tempting to use that password for everything. However, that’s putting you and your business at risk for cybersecurity attacks.

Encourage employees to use a different password for each of their accounts. It’s particularly important for them to use different passwords for their work and personal accounts.

If your employees use home computers for remote work, it’s even more important for them to have secure passwords to access your software. This is because most individuals don’t protect their home computers as well as a company does.

5. Avoid Using Personal Information

Some hackers gather personal information about employees to make brute force attacks easier. Something as seemingly innocuous as a fun Facebook quiz can actually be a way for cybercriminals to access your personal information.

When you have personal information like your address, phone number, birthday, and even pet names on your Facebook profile, these are all things hackers can use to try to guess your passwords.

Ensure your employees aren’t using any type of personal information in their passwords. You may even take it a step further and encourage them to remove it from their Facebook profiles.

6. Don’t Use Dictionary Words

Something else to avoid is using dictionary words as part of your password. Hackers that use the brute force technique often use a dictionary to run these real words through to try to get into your account.

One way to get around this would be to make up words or use invented acronyms. For example, take a line from your favorite song and use the first letter of each word as your password.

7. Use Two-factor Authorization

If you’re not already doing so, you should be putting two-factor authorization in place. These require an employee to do two things to prove their identity. They can use:

• Something they know (password, answers to security questions)
• Something they have (fingerprints, voice recognition)
• Something they own (phone number, alternate email address)

By adding a second layer of authentication, it means that even if a cybercriminal was successful in guessing a password, they still might not be able to get into an account because they likely don’t have access to your employee’s smartphone.

8. Always Log Out of Accounts

These last two best password practices will focus on internal attacks that can come from disgruntled employees or outsiders that gain physical access to any device that can access your business data.

You need to make sure your employees are logging out of their accounts at the end of the workday or anytime they’re going to be away from their computer for a length of time.

This will prevent someone from getting into their account without needing the password. At this point, an individual could change their passwords and lock them out of their accounts.

9. Don’t Write Down Passwords

One way many employees get around having to memorize so many complicated passwords is by writing them down on a piece of paper. However, it only takes someone a few seconds to swipe the information and get access to their accounts.

Learn How We Can Help Prevent Cyberattacks

Now you know some of the password best practices you should be implementing in your company if you aren’t already doing so. As you can see, these can help keep out hackers that are using brute force attacks to get access to your data.

If you need help preventing cyberattacks or with any other IT services, contact us today. We would be more than happy to let you know exactly what we can do for your business to beef up your security and protect your company.

The Internet is by far the tool with the most business potential for entrepreneurs. Unfortunately, the Internet can also be used against business owners, particularly those who are relatively new to their industry.

The average ransomware attack costs businesses approximately $86,000, which can be devastating for smaller companies. Luckily, though, there are steps you can take to help protect yourself.

Not sure where to start? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.

Let’s take a look at everything you need to know about how to prevent ransomware.

So… What Is Ransomware Exactly?

As the name implies, the term refers to malicious software that essentially holds your data for ‘ransom.’ If the hacker does not receive the money they request within a given time period, the data is either deleted, left inaccessible, or sent to the company’s competitors.

A typical scenario may something look like this:

David owns a small athletic apparel company that sells shirts, shoes, and other clothing that athletes find useful. One day, he notices that he can’t access his financial records from the previous quarter of this year.

He receives an error message after error message and then discovers he’s unable to open any of his financial records. Shortly afterward, a small window appears on David’s computer.

A message informs David his files have been encrypted and must pay $1,000 in order to gain access to them. If he doesn’t pay, the hacker threatens to delete everything.

From here, David can either pay the ransom and hope that his files are returned, or refuse to pay and seek outside help. It’s important to keep in mind, though, that the FBI urges victims not to pay the ransom.

Doing so would facilitate additional attacks in the future.

How Can I Prevent Ransomware?

Although it can seem terrifying to have your company’s sensitive data compromised, ransomware isn’t something you can’t protect yourself against. In fact, the steps are relatively simple if implemented correctly.

Let’s explore what you can do.

Never Interact With Suspicious Emails

One of the most common ways that people have their machines become infected with ransomware is through interacting with shady emails.

These are typically emails from an unknown sender, but it’s possible for hackers to spoof legitimate emails in certain circumstances. False emails from financial institutions are a common occurrence in this type of scenario.

If there’s a link in an email from an unverified sender, never click it. This is especially imperative if the message claims that it will take you to a login page.

Following the link and entering your personal information will likely display an error screen that declares the site you’re on is currently experiencing issues and to try again later. In reality, though, you’ve unknowingly typed your personal info into a false web form that’s sent directly to the hacker.

If you do receive an email like this, immediately delete it and make note of the address it was sent from.

Only Download Files From Trusted Sources

It’s common knowledge that you shouldn’t download files from unknown senders or people you aren’t sure you can trust. The same can be said, though, when downloading software from websites.

Although it may be tempting to get official software from third-party sources or download software that a tool that can aid with productivity, you run the risk of infecting your machine with ransomware.

Instead, only download software that you know is legitimate and only do it from the developer’s official website in order to prevent any complications from arising.

Keep Your Software Updated

Outdated operating systems and anti-virus programs put you at risk for cyber attacks. In fact, outdated software is often so inefficient at combating modern threats that it’s like you have no protection at all.

So, it’s imperative that you install each update for your operating system that your developer publishes. To ensure that you don’t fall behind, you can turn on automatic updates for your company’s machines.

Train Your Employees

Even if you’re educated on how to avoid a ransomware attack, all it takes is for one employee to fall victim to a fraudulent email. Proper training, though, can drastically reduce the chances of this occurring.

Hold a training session for your employees that details all of the nuances to watch out for when it comes to potential ransomware attacks and how to react to a hacker’s attempt.

Additionally, make sure that this information is accessible for reference so that employees may consult it in the future.

Make Regular Backups

If you don’t properly archive your data and the worst-case scenario happens during a ransomware attack (file deletion), your company may be permanently damaged.

Fortunately, though, having recent backups of all your company’s crucial data that’s safely on a hard drive will allow you to essentially ignore the ransomware threat.

While you may experience a minor setback while you get everything back up and running, it’s only a fraction of the potential negative consequences.

To be extra safe, backup your data to both a physical (hard drive) and remote location (cloud storage).

Knowing How to Prevent Ransomware Can Seem Difficult

But it doesn’t have to be.

With the above information about how to prevent ransomware in mind, you’ll be well on your way to ensuring that your company’s sensitive data stays as safe as possible.

Want to learn more about how we can help? We have solutions that can provide an up to $1,000,000 ransomware warranty. Feel free to get in touch with us today to see what we can do.