Ransomware is a type of malware designed to deny a user or an organisation access to their own files. Criminals do this by encrypting these files and demanding a ransom payment for the decryption key so files can be accessed again.
In 2022, ransomware attacked an organisation every 2 seconds and costs UK Companies £346 Million per year. Therefore, this is a major threat that we all need to be aware of. As 82% of successful ransomware attacks are due to human actions, we need to all be more aware of the risks we face to better protect each other.
Here are 4 easy tips to follow to help reduce the chances of you falling foul of ransomware:
1. Be cautious of emails asking you to act
If you receive an email, call, or text asking you to download software or pay a certain amount of money, don’t click on anything, or take any direct action from the message. Instead, report it.
2. Hover over links to see and verify the URL
If someone sends you a message with a link, hover over the link without clicking on it. This will allow you to see a domain at the end of the protected link preview. If the domain looks suspicious, don’t interact with it, and just delete the email.
3. Go directly to the source
Instead of clicking on a link in an email or text message, it’s always best to check directly with the source to verify an offer, request, or a link.
4. Browse with caution
Be careful where you click on websites you don’t know. Only download applications from trusted sources. This is important since malware authors often use social engineering to get you to install dangerous files through websites or dodgy applications. Look out for the padlock next to the website address on a browser to check if it is secure.
If you do click, don’t panic, report it to your team or contact us on solutions@centrivault.com to assist with putting in place the right ransomware controls for your organisation.