Semalt Expert Presents 4 Tips To Avoid Being Trapped By Ransomware
Ransomware attacks have become extremely common nowadays with companies, governments, and corporations that thought had the most secure data system losing thousands of dollars to hackers. Here are four tips to avoid getting hit by ransomware.
Note that the following tips stipulated by Frank Abagnale, the expert from Semalt, can also help you to stay safe from trojans and viruses.
1. Avoid opening suspicious email attachments
Most of the hackers will send an email to the targets with an attachment that contains the ransomware or trojan. Opening the attachment will automatically install the software on your computer thereby giving the hacker full control over your computer. Therefore, never open suspicious email attachments even if the address looks similar to your colleagues or peers.
2. Watch the links you click on
Did you know that one click on a spammy link can result in a ransomware being installed on your computer? That's right – most of the corporations that have been hit by ransomware in the past only had to click on a link that looked legit only to end up losing thousands of dollars to hackers. Moral of the story is that you should avoid clicking on any link that you come across online. You never know what might be lurking behind the curtains waiting to devour your hard earned money.
3. Watch where you download software from
There are thousands of software development companies in the world today. Unfortunately, not all of them are legit. Some are in the business of selling malicious software to clients instead of the legit software that the user is looking for. Downloading and installing such software will immediately introduce a ransomware on your computer thereby locking all its contents until you pay the ransom amount. To be on the safe side, it is recommended to only purchase and download software from legitimate and reputable sites.
More importantly, avoid the free and cracked versions of the premium software. Most of them come bundled with third party programs that can transform into ransomware once you install the software. Adware may also be installed alongside the cracked or free software.
4. Invest in robust anti-ransomware
The increase in ransomware attack has triggered internet security companies to develop robust anti-ransomware software that you can install on your computer to reduce the risk of being hit by one. Research to find the most reliable, efficient, and trustworthy anti-ransomware that you can install on your computer. Be sure to run checks periodically after installing it to secure your computer from this kind of malicious software. In addition, make sure that you update it regularly to enhance its ability to deal with the existing and future ransomware. Note that hackers release new versions of this malicious software online on a daily basis.
These four tips will keep you safe from ransomware. You should also consider upgrading your operating system as most companies update their firewalls to make them impenetrable by identified ransomware. More importantly, always back up your files on a hard disk or cloud so that in case of an attack, you can format the computer and retrieve the files instead of having to pay the ransom amount to the hackers.