What is Ransomware?

Things have changed; cyberattacks are way up. From the Government, pipelines to professional sports teams have been affected in the last two years, and from the current trends - things are not slowing down anytime soon.

What is ransomware?

Ransomware is an "attack" propelled using malicious software that infects your computer systems - rendering them useless until you pay money—usually a lot of money and usually through Bitcoin.

Sounds like fun, right? Nope, Not fun at all. And unfortunately, ransomware is getting stronger by the day because, frankly, so many businesses are still not taking cybersecurity seriously, leaving an industry full of "low-hanging" fruit. Low-hanging fruit because the hackers find it relatively easy to "hack: into their networks to gain access to an easy payday. With a low barrier to entry and minimal risk of getting caught and facing prosecution, hackers are becoming bolder and bolder each day.

Here are a few quick tips to protect your business, employees, and clients from malicious hackers stealing your revenue.

• Make sure all of your software in your business environment is up-to-date
• Backup your systems regularly (I recommend backing up new changes every hour)
• Train your employees how to recognize phishing emails and how to be alert to social engineering tactics
• Be prepared and have an incidence response plan and disaster recovery plan to minimize risk
• Make sure every device connected to your network has advanced end-point security
• Email security and authentication system in place to protect against Spam and Phishing email attacks

It will take a team effort to protect your organization from today's threats. It is vital to develop a security culture to continue to protect our community, families, and clients from Ransomware attacks. Remember, security is a journey, and you must take the first step on your path to reach your goals.

Thanks,

Johnard Owens