Any company that requires IT support is probably familiar with a large variety of IT security threats. But do they know these threats in detail? If not, it may be time to consider educating your clients. Ransomware constitutes one of the most heinous cybercrimes, and to protect your clients, they must be familiar with this threat in its entirety. To get started on educating them, let’s discuss some crucial facts to teach them about Ransomware.
What Exactly is Ransomware?
Ransomware denotes a malware that aids hackers in encrypting data and demanding payment before providing the encryption key. Business personnel may receive malicious email attachments or programs that give cybercriminals access to their system. Banks were the primary victims of ransomware attacks, but the vice soon spread across the corporate world— small businesses are also not spared. Ransomware exists in two forms: locker and encrypting ransomware. A locker ransomware attack locks you out of your business’ operating system. The encrypting ransomware operates using advanced algorithms capable of blocking access to system files.
How Bad Is the Situation For Them?
As noted earlier, ransomware attacks initially targeted banks and hospitals, but they’ve since spread to many other areas. However small their business is, they are not immune to the danger. It’s also worth noting that mobile phone users can also be victims of a ransomware attack. Can they handle losing all their phone data including media files, applications, and contacts? They are probably thinking it’s better to pay the hackers and get your system files back. Well, the fact that most people and businesses are willing to pay for the decryption code continues to motivate cybercriminals— the hacking business thus appears to be overwhelmingly lucrative. They are likely to pay more depending on how important the encrypted information is. As technology diversifies, hackers continue to devise sophisticated methods of conducting their fraudulent activities. Ransomware attacks may not be as common, but the situation is bound to change owing to the alarming increase in the number of attacks.
Here’s What You Can Do
Not all hope is lost— Business owners can still protect their business from ransomware attacks. Your MSP company personnel is primarily responsible for maintaining system security. In this context, their employees should be knowledgeable and well-trained about system security. This will ensure that they remain vigilant especially when using email applications or browsing. You should also be proactive— backing up your data goes a long way in ensuring that you can always retrieve lost data without necessarily paying anything to a third party, much less, cybercriminals. They can also outsource to a MSP Company to get advanced security solutions.
