The existence of viruses and malware has been associated with computers since their inception. Almost always, the only thing we know about them is that they are used by cybercriminals to carry out computer attacks on our PC, for which we entrust our security to an Antivirus program. One of the most common types is ransomware , a malware that steals our data and then asks for money. To avoid our data falling into the wrong hands, we tell you some tips that we can do as a prevention.
The Internet brought with it the ability to access all kinds of information from any connected device. However, it has also promoted the appearance of different types of malware that have become popular over time. One of these malicious softwares is ransomware. We are talking about dangerous malware, so although we have security software we can be exposed to its attacks and with them, the privacy of our data is exposed.
What is ransomware
Ransomware is a well-known type of malware that is becoming a lucrative method widely used by cybercriminals. These are responsible for blocking or encrypting our computer , files and even entire networks, extorting us later to release them in exchange for a ransom. This dangerous software is capable of encrypting data twice, so we will have to pay double to recover it.
This malware is especially active for organizations and companies that have computer servers, this being especially vulnerable since their networks are permanently connected. Thus, hackers are able to take advantage of its vulnerabilities to compromise the personal data of millions of customers.
If we want to deal with ransomware and eliminate it when it is already inside our computer, it is something at least very difficult to do because we would need the encryption code. Therefore the most important technique is based on prevention .
Tips to prevent before regret
Many of the malware attacks can be due to a bad decision of the user who is unaware of the effects that a bad decision can have. One of the most widely used techniques to transmit ransomware is phishing in forged emails or messages. That is why it is advisable not to open emails or attachments from unknown senders. Likewise, if we receive an email from a known contact that includes an attachment or link, it is convenient that we verify with the sender that it is safe before opening it.
We must also avoid deactivating our antivirus software as it is our main security system and if we do not have it active we will be exposed to any type of contagion. Nor should we download files or software from unknown sites because they may be sites that hackers use to deliver malicious software to our computer. The downloads whenever possible, that are made from the official website and directly. As for system updates , we must try to always keep them up to date. Do not forget that Windows is a very popular operating system, so most cybercriminals will target their attacks to exploit vulnerabilities in this system.
In addition, it is especially useful to have an up-to-date backup both offline and in the cloud in case we are victims of a ransomware attack. In this way we can protect our most valuable files against extortion and threats from cybercriminals.