If you belong to that class of people who haven’t yet come across Ransomware, I would suggest that you are a very lucky human being. Taking the concept of the ordinary virus to a whole new level, Ransomware not only takes your file hostage but also demands a significant fee for their release.
The fee that Ransomware demands are in the region of $300 – $1000. Thus, if you want your bank balance to remain intact, it is customary for you to know about the functionality as well as the transmission method of Ransomware.
Here are things you don’t know about the spreading and working of Ransomware!
How it Penetrates?
Below mentioned are some of the most common methods by which Ransomware chooses to penetrate your computer:
Ransomware Uses SPAM and Social Engineering for Penetration
When Ransomware appeared on the global stage a few years ago, it epitomized the concept of SPAM and Social Engineering to its benefit. Most of the time, the users who were affected by Ransomware recalled receiving an email with an attachment. When they clicked on the attachment, the Ransomware was executed and panic broke loose.
Thus, if you are the one person who is currently going through this misery, I would suggest you give the MySpyBot Blog a go. This software won’t only crack the crypto that was used by this Trojan, but it will also restore previous versions of encrypted files.
Malvertising is another tool for the Working of Ransomware
This issue is typically experienced by those users who search for new websites consistently. Many of these sites aren’t secured and they use malvertising to make money. These advertisements are in the form of Adobe Acrobat or Flash player updates. After you click on them, the Ransomware inadvertently spreads through your system.
Pop-Ups
For fans of outdoor sports, pop-ups are a daily occurrence. Every time they turn to a site for streaming purposes, a pop-up appears telling them that their Adobe is outdated. Even if you are not a fan of outdoor sports, there are many other websites that masquerade this type of Ransomware for money-making.
How it spreads?
After you’ve executed the Ransomware File, dare I say inadvertently, the Trojan makes its way through your hard drive. Here comes the crucial part. Thanks to a command and control server with which the Ransomware is attached, it finds out the most important files, images, and user documents on your computer. After that, the important portion of your computer gets locked down and you would have no other option but to pay ransom to get back your crucial files.
Families of Ransomware
According to Experts, there are 3 main classifications of Ransomware on the global stage. They are named as CrytoWall, TorrentLocker, and CTB Locker. The first i.e. the CrytoWall is the most famous and it has its roots leading to a single criminal gang.
On the other hand, the TorrentLocker is maintained by a totally different group however its victim base is concentrated in the UK and Australia. Finally, CTB Locker is different from the aforementioned because it has no single creator. For example, even you could purchase the code that is given up on various sites and inaugurate your Ransomware campaign.
Thus, as evident by their descriptions, it is the CTB Locker that is the most used for obvious reasons.
How to Protect Your System from Ransomware
Before I lay bare in front of you the methods, please note that there are no universal methods. Some of the methods might work for you while others might not be as beneficial. Thus, having made my point, let’s move forward in our discussion on how to protect your system.
Disable Add-Ons
As stated previously in this article, one of the most common transmission methods of Ransomware is pop-ups. Thus, going into the settings of your browser, user browser add-ons. By doing this, you will protect your system from this type of attack.
Keep Your Software updated all the time
Since technology is an evolving field, every incoming update will eradicate the loopholes that were not noticed in the last one. For this reason, always set your computer to automatically install the necessary updates. While these updates might slow down your computer, as is the case with most Windows updates, they would also save you from paying the ransom.
Keep a backup
Be it in the form of an external hard drive, on the Internet, or in a USB, always prepare a backup of the data that you feel is irreplaceable. However, never map your cloud as a local drive because the Ransomware will attack you in that case.
Never Download Data from a Site that Says Your Computer is Outdated
Remember this: websites are never able to detect which type of software you’re using on your computer. Thus, if a website tries to double-cross you, you should know that it is a hoax.
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