The dreaded ransomware assault is the second most prevalent malware incidence. According to the Verizon 2020 Data Breach Investigations report, a ransomware attack’s primary goal is “to badly disrupt operations and maintain them disrupted for long enough that the organization will pay the ransom.” The average ransom demand in Q2 2020 was $178,254 — an increase of 60% from Q1.
This article explains what ransomware is, why it’s such a difficult cybersecurity threat, and how businesses can defend themselves against it:
What Is Ransomware?
Ransomware is a type of malware that confines the targeted user from using their devices or data until a ransom is paid to the attacker. Hackers generally encrypt the victim’s data and keep the decryption key hidden until payment is received. You may wonder where it came from. Well, it could be anywhere – from unwitting users’ visits to malicious or compromised websites, up to downloads, delivered as attachments from spammed email, and dropped by exploit kits onto vulnerable systems.
In as much as it is tempting to pay the ransom to get a hold of the decryption key or unlock tool required to regain access to the infected system or hostage files, truth be told, there’s no guarantee to it.
Ransomware Attacks: What to Look for
Symptoms of a ransomware attack include:
- It’s possible that your system has been infected with ransomware if it contains an anomalous file system activity, such as hundreds of failed file modifications (as a result of the malware attempting to access those files).
- For no apparent reason, the computer’s CPU and disk activity have suddenly spiked. (Because to the ransomware searching for, encrypting, and deleting data files)
- Various files may be inaccessible due to the fact that they have been encrypted, renamed, or relocated by ransomware (a consequence of ransomware encrypting data).
- Suspicious network connections (as a result of the ransomware’s connection to the attackers’ command and control server)
What You Need to Know About Ransomware Detection Best Practices
Every organization is susceptible to cybersecurity risks, but there are several best practices that can help you avoid falling victim to a malware attack and spot attacks in progress.
Train your employees
Provide your employees with a list of things to do if they come across an odd email or link. Train them on warning signs in fraudulent emails, such as:
- Corporate-looking email accounts
- Suspicious file attachments
- Suspicious external URLs
Keep an eye on your systems.
Keep an eye on your systems for any strange activity:
- Examine file systems for unusual behavior, such as. Hundreds of file alterations failed.
- All incoming and outgoing traffic should be recorded.
- Determine the regular user activity baseline and look for anomalies ahead of time.
- Investigate any strange activities right away.
Create a decoy for your system
Honeypots are decoys that appear to be real file locations. Hackers will attempt to penetrate honeypots, allowing you to identify them. Early detection can assist with safe malware removal and prevent your infrastructure from being hacked. The usage of honeypots to protect against FSRM ransomware is an excellent case in point.
Use program solutions
Use whitelisting software with antivirus/anti-ransomware tools to keep you informed about dangers.
Examine the email content
Examine and filter spam or questionable email content in a systematic manner:
- Configure email settings so that incoming mail is automatically filtered and questionable messages are not delivered to a user’s mailbox.
- Block files with specific extensions, such as executable files, to be attached to emails.
Conclusion
Ransomware is a tough type of malware to detect and defend against. Organizations can effectively secure their systems and protect their sensitive data by taking precautions such as educating staff on typical red flags and vulnerabilities, implementing preventative monitoring procedures and systems, and employing anti-ransomware software and tools.