Ransomware is a relatively\nnewfound constituent of overall malware (malicious software) or virus that bog\ndown computer networks around the globe. Its modus operandi is as such \u2013 it\ndisables access of users from devices, portals, applications, files etc. and\ndemands a ransom in order to restore the access. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ransomware\nusually encrypts files, applications, portals and requires victims to pay\nransom, commonly in the cryptocurrency form (read Bitcoin). So, the users or\norganizations are expected to pay attackers a ransom in order to decrypt the\nencrypted files to have their access restored. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Like any other malware, Ransomware too, is plainly technology in bad hands \u2013 a mistake, too pricey at that usually. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Types of Ransomware<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Over time, Cybersecurity experts have categorized ransomware essentially into two types:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Crypto Ransomware<\/strong> Locker Ransomware<\/strong> We are listing downstairs the most dominant\ntypes of ransomware that have been identified so far:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Recent Ransomware Attacks<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The State of Texas deserves a special reckoning with regards to recent ransomware attacks. Many local govt. organizations running under the umbrella of the State of Texas were recently hit by ransomware attacks \u2013 of various types, ransom amounts of wide range and damages \u2013 menacing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As many as 23\norganizations were under the malware attacks and officials have remarked that\nthese attacks were well planned and well timed \u2013 to have happened over the 2nd<\/sup>\nweekend of August \u201919. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Apart from\nTexas, the states of New York, Maryland and Florida have also had\ngovernment-run organizations that fell prey to ransomware attacks in the recent\npast. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s take a\nlook at recent noteworthy ransomware attacks and the compromises they have\ninduced into the organizations\u2019 networks:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Baltimore:<\/strong> In May 2019, Baltimore\u2019s state-run organizations were hit by a debilitating ransomware attack that handicapped computers of numbers running into 5 digits. Specifically, email accounts and online payments were compromised largely, barring access and processing for weeks on end. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Officials refused\nto honor the ransom demand and instead went down the tedious path of manual\nprocessing of all transactions. To deny the cybercriminals the last laugh of\ntriumph, Baltimore chose to endure a painful loss of $18m against the ransom\ndemand of $100,000 worth of Bitcoins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Riviera Beach<\/strong>: Riviera Beach City in Florida had voted to pay a ransom worth $600,000 Bitcoins to hackers in June \u201919 to have their city\u2019s entire computer network released from their paralyzing clutches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lake City<\/strong>: Following Riviera Beach City\u2019s incident, officials of Lake City in Florida paid a ransom worth $500,000 Bitcoins to hackers to see themselves freed from a compromised computer network. <\/p>\n\n\n\n How to Prevent a Ransomware Attack?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Cybercriminals\nwith expertise in deploying ransomware attacks keenly follow large\norganizations, for their volume of data is bigger \u2013 which means it\u2019s relatively\neasier to target large volumes of key data in one shot. Also, the financial\nmuscle of large organizations implies a bigger possibility of extracting large\namounts of money as ransom. However, this is only one line of thought. There\u2019s\nno certain way to point out the organizations that cybercriminals may target. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So, it is\nimperative that organizations, big and small, take adequate measures to prevent\nthemselves from falling prey to ransomware attacks. We list here appropriate\nmeasures identified across the industry that help prevent ransomware attacks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Now that we\u2019ve seen preventive measures for a ransomware attack, let\nus tell you another quick tip on the same lines: Always set up a complex password for your devices so that you can\nprevent a DDOS attack<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Fyrsoft Aids Your Cybersecurity Measures to Battle Ransomware Attacks<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Being experts on Microsoft security practices and products like Intelligent Security Graph, Fyrsoft performs a 3600 <\/sup>assessment of your organization\u2019s current cybersecurity posture to help tighten your network\u2019s security measures in the wake of spreading ransomware attacks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This type of ransomware encrypts key files\/folders\/applications on a user\u2019s\/organization\u2019s computer\/network and the hackers demand a ransom to decrypt the encryption so that users regain access to the files\/folders\/application.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Locker Ransomware is the second kind which completely locks a user out of his\/her device, thereby completely barring him\/her from access. Then the usual ransom demand ensues. <\/p>\n\n\n\n