Protecting Networks From Ransomware Attacks

Most people know someone who has undergone a ransomware attack, and those who haven’t experienced it personally are either lucky or smart. When a computer is infected with ransomware, the owner is forced to pay or lose their files forever. Prevention is easier and less costly than a cure, and with that in mind, here are some tips on internet theft prevention, cyber security and ransomware removal.

Back Up Files and Keep the Backups Off-Site

The only regrettable backup is one that hasn’t happened yet. Frequent backups can protect data against threats other than ransomware, such as floods, fires, theft and accidental deletion. A cloud service provider such as MonsterCloud.com can encrypt data so only the owner may recover it. Encryption offers an additional layer of security between the user and the open Internet.

Stay Away From Macros

Ransomware is frequently passed along in MS Office documents that encourage users to enable macros. However, Office 2016 and later editions come with features that allow users to prevent macros from being enabled on downloaded documents.

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Use MS Office Viewers

A Microsoft Office viewer allows the user to see what Excel and Word docs look like without the use of macros. These viewers do not support macros, so there’s no way a user can enable them accidentally. By using an MS Office viewer, administrators can make systems almost foolproof.

Don’t Open Unsolicited Email Attachments

Everyone has heard stories about malicious email attachments, and much recent ransomware has been embedded in files shared as email attachments. To protect against these attacks, do not open unsolicited attachments and those from unknown senders.

Use Security Patches

Malware that isn’t distributed via document macros typically relies on bugs within apps and software. When security patches are applied, however, cyber criminals have fewer ways to infect PCs with ransomware. Cloud service providers can automatically install security patches, which takes some of the stress off the user.

Continually Train Employees

As with many business systems, the user is the weakest link in a corporate computer system. Proper training can help users avoid dangerous documents and malicious software, and it’s important for IT departments to train employees on proper system usage.

Ransomware can find its way onto computers in a variety of ways, and most of these are related to human error. Following the tips listed here and looking for a public wifi vulnerability fix can help users keep business networks safe.

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