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When Data is Held Hostage: Surviving a Ransom Attack

The start of a workday is often the same as any other day. Maybe you stop for a coffee or listen to some music on your way to work. Only today, when you go to log on to your business network, your desktop imagery is replaced by a full-screen warning:

“ACCESS DENIED!!!
YOUR FILES WILL BE ENCRYPTED UNTIL THE RANSOM IS PAID!”

Your small or midsized business (SMB) has been the victim of a ransom attack. What’s worse is that there’s a built-in time limit for responding to the ransom request. If the deadline expires and the ransom remains unpaid, the amount can double or triple.

Ransomware attacks via email have more than doubled in the past two years. Large and small businesses without proper cyber threat protection have fallen victim to such attacks as hackers continue to improve their ransomware attack strategies. How to avoid ransomware has become a difficult question, especially since increases in remote-access work has given hackers more endpoints through which they can launch attacks.

Q: What is the first thing a small business should do after discovering a ransom attack?

A: The first critical step is to isolate the affected systems to prevent the malware from spreading. This involves disconnecting infected computers from the internet and the internal network. Then, alert a trusted cyber security expert to assess the scope of the attack and provide help.

How Does Ransomware Work?

There are two basic types of ransom attacks, crypto and locker. Crypto ransomware targets a company’s most important files and encrypts them, rendering them unreadable. Locker ransomware targets your devices and locks you out of them, so you cannot access your files. In both cases, cybercriminals ask for a ransom payment before decrypting your data or unlocking your devices.

Key Questions: How to Avoid Ransomware Attacks and How to Remove Ransomware?

How does ransomware work? The most common ransomware attacks occur when the victim opens malware-infected attachments in emails or clicks on embedded links in a phishing attack. The best way to spot and avoid email-driven ransomware attacks is to provide security awareness training so that employees learn how to check the sender’s identity and always think before clicking on any links or attachments. Also, don’t accept a request to “enable macros” or add code to your computer, which just speeds the delivery of malware throughout your network.

Teaching your employees cyber security best practices is an integral part of an overall cyber protection plan. Everyone must be aligned and consistently follow all cyber security protocols. The old saying “all it takes is one weak link” certainly applies in this instance.

Q: Should a business pay the ransom to get its data back?

A: Generally, cyber security experts and law enforcement agencies advise against paying the ransom. There is no guarantee that the attackers will actually provide the decryption key after payment to get usable data back, and doing so may encourage further attacks. Small businesses may feel pressure to pay if critical operations are at a standstill, but this decision should be made carefully, ideally with legal and cyber security consultation. A better long-term strategy is to invest in secure, tested backups and incident response planning to avoid a situation where paying seems like the only option.

How Can You Remove Ransomware?

Unfortunately, if your company falls victim to a ransomware attack, there is no quick DIY fix. However, several urgent steps will limit the damage:

Many SMB owners don’t realize that an attack on their system is an attack on their clients, and connected business associates, too. High-compliance companies, required by law to protect their clientele's private and financial data, must take additional cyber security steps to protect sensitive data. Therefore, you must act as quickly and effectively as possible to reduce additional exposure. Also, depending on the exposure and depth of a ransomware attack, companies might face ongoing legal challenges and regulatory and legal expenses.

Q: How can small businesses protect themselves, and how to avoid ransomware attacks?

A: Prevention is key to surviving future ransomware threats. Small businesses should invest in employee training to recognize phishing emails, which are the most common entry point for ransomware. Keeping software, operating systems and antivirus programs up to date is essential. Implementing strong password policies, enabling multifactor authentication and conducting regular cyber security audits can drastically reduce vulnerability. Most important, businesses must maintain regular, secure and tested backups so that even if ransomware hits, recovery can be swift and cost-effective.

What Are Ransomware Services?

Small and midsized businesses can’t afford to ignore cyber threat protection. It’s essential for safely doing business and protecting your data. Cybercriminals continue to find new ways to attack private and business data, and smaller businesses often don’t have the time or the budget for a full-time IT department. Such companies should consider working with IT experts.

Cyber security firms specialize in preventing cybercrimes and ensuring you have appropriate network protection. Ransomware services provide solutions as well as training in how to avoid ransomware. They work with small and midsized businesses on cyber risk training and cyber security best practices to help ensure your confidential data is safe. In addition, they can protect your devices and computers, especially devices used for remote-access work. Cyberattacks can have devastating consequences. Connect with us in New York City or contact a local IT security company for a vulnerability assessment to get started with affordable managed services for small and midsized businesses.