Stay protected from Ransomware Attacks.

In an age where our digital lives are more intertwined than ever, protecting ourselves from ransomware attacks has become a top priority. Ransomware can strike anyone, from individuals to businesses, causing data loss, financial setbacks, and emotional distress.

RansomedVC claimed to BleepingComputer that it had breached Sony's networks and stolen 260 GB of data during the attack that they are attempting to sell for $2.5 million. Contrary to its name, RansomedVC is an extortion group, rather than a ransomware operation, as they told us they are still developing an encryptor.

I received a call from a ransomware victim situated in Canada. This small medicare company seemed to have been attacked seemingly by a script kiddy offering to assist in identifying the vulnerabilities in the system that he exploited and how to avoid future attacks.

Upon interviewing the victim and the following observations were made:

1. The "server" was actually a desktop PC with 16 GB RAM, 300GB HDD.
2. The server had no endpoint security installed & only the default MS Windows protection.The reason was "lack of budget and dedicated IT".
3. Their was heaps of customer accounting data and the last backup done 6 months back.
4. An outsourced IT guy was their one man stop for everything who in panic had formatted all the user systems in hope that the files will be recovered magically. He also used a bunch of free tools trying to scan the system.
5. While I was trying to gather precious forensic info there was an active team viewer session & file transfers which the victim was unable to justify and the sessions ended pretty soon perhaps noticing my presence.

Here are some crucial steps to fortify your defenses and stay safe:

1?? Regularly Back Up Your Data: Ensure all your important data is backed up regularly to an external source, such as an external hard drive or a cloud service. This is your best defense against data loss.

2?? Keep Software Updated: Regularly update your operating system and all software applications, as outdated software often contains vulnerabilities that attackers can exploit.

3?? Educate Yourself and Your Team: Awareness is key. Train yourself and your colleagues to recognize phishing emails and suspicious attachments. Be skeptical of unexpected or unsolicited emails.

4?? Use Strong, Unique Passwords: Create strong, complex passwords for all your accounts, and use a reputable password manager to keep them secure. Enable two-factor authentication wherever possible.

5?? Limit User Privileges: Restrict user access to only what they need to perform their job. This minimizes the potential impact of a successful attack.

6?? Install Antivirus and Anti-Malware Software: Employ reputable security software to detect and remove threats. Keep it up to date, and regularly scan your system.

7?? Beware of Suspicious Links: Avoid clicking on suspicious links or downloading files from unverified sources. Hover over links to preview the URL before clicking.

8?? Secure Remote Desktops: If you use remote desktop services, ensure they are properly secured with strong passwords and multi-factor authentication.

9??Have an Incident Response Plan: Develop a clear and effective plan for responding to a ransomware attack. This should include steps for containment, recovery, and reporting the incident.

Remember, ransomware attacks are continually evolving, and attackers are becoming more sophisticated. Staying vigilant and proactive is the key to safeguarding your digital world. #CyberSecurity #RansomwareProtection #StaySafeOnline ??????