Just recently, the world witnessed one of the biggest ever cyber-attacks in the history of the internet. Ransomware by the name of WannaCry made its way through the web, leaving uncontrollable amounts of damage. The epicenter of the WannaCry was Europe, and the aftermaths of the cyber-attack can still be felt.
During the first few hours of the attack, more than 200,000 systems got infected by the threat that WannaCry posed. The cyber-attack left no stone unturned, as big organizations like NHS and Renault had to bear the brunt.
For the last two years, Ransomware has been a growing trend. Suppose the stats are anything to go by; the attack’s threats increase at knots. We today live in an era that is the incipient, the beginning of Ransomware, a malware that is one of the most brutal forms of internet encryption in its purest form. The dangers associated with the method are starting to dawn upon us, and it will soon be imminent to all that Ransomware is by far the most potent cyber-attack that our generation has been hosted to.
The growing hype around the method and its negativities leads one to the question, “What exactly is ransomware”?
In this article, we look at ransomware attacks and how they impact today’s corporate environment. Stay with us as we look forward.
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What is Ransomware?
Ransomware is a complicated malware with a plethora of implications. The malware blocks the victim’s access to the files stored on their system. Once the attack takes place, the victim will no longer have access to all the files under their entry before, and the only way to regain access to those files would be to pay a specified amount of ransom to the attacking party.
Ransomware might be unfolding anywhere in the world right now, maybe near you, in your city, or in your neighborhood. Currently, someone might be clicking on a link in a malicious email, unaware of the effect that it might have on their data. Within a few seconds, all the data on their system will become encrypted, and they will be contacted by the attackers through a message on the screen to pay a specified amount of money.
Once Ransomware has attacked the data on your system, there are two options that you can opt for. Bow down in front of the attackers, pay the desired amount they are looking for, or bid a final farewell to your data. Thus, the best way to counter this menace is to understand the complications and the implications of Ransomware and increase your knowledge to such an extent that you are virtually safe enough to prevent your system from attackers.
To understand the concept of Ransomware, we should discuss the two types present within this hideous malware. The two types of Ransomware are:
- Lockers: This type of Ransomware locks the victim, whose system has been attacked, away from the system. The lockers make it impossible for people who have been struck to access their files as they are locked out. The files might not be encrypted in the case of locker ransomware, but they lock the victims out, which has a similar effect. The attackers ask for a ransom to be paid for the system to be unlocked. An example of a locking attack might be the police-themed Ransomware.
- Encryptors: This method encrypts all the data present in the system by incorporating advanced encryption methods and algorithms. This specific method of Ransomware is designed to encrypt all the files present on your system so they become inaccessible. Once the files have been encrypted, you must provide the ransom amount to get the key for decryption.
Besides the different types, other attributes differentiate Ransomware from all other forms of online malware. Understanding those characteristics will help form a basic knowledge of Ransomware and how to distinguish it from other malware. The attributes that differentiate Ransomware from other malware are:
- Ransomware can encrypt various files, including your pictures, videos, and audio presentations on your computer. The ability to encrypt such a vast array of files makes Ransomware even more threatening and dangerous than other forms of malware, as there is nothing left-back for the victim to salvage from the attack.
- The ransomware method of malware consists of unbreakable encryption, which means that even if you try your best, you cannot decrypt the file on your own.
- In Ransomware, the file names are scrambled up, so you don’t have an idea of the files that have been encrypted. The lack of solid proof regarding the files that have been encrypted and the panic created through the coercion means that you eventually have to pay the ransom demanded by the attackers.
- Once your system has been attacked with Ransomware, it will display a message or an image on the screen. The message will notify you that your system has been attacked, and you are required to make the necessary payment to decryption duly.
- The payment that the attackers ask for is requested through bitcoins. Bitcoins are the personal favorites for such attackers as it is impossible for law enforcement agencies to track the payment made through a specific mode of payment.
- Ransomware can spread from one personal computer to another if connected to the same local network. This means that Ransomware spreads like fire and can encrypt or lock data across a local network.
- The ransom requested in Ransomware has a time limit for the victim to comply with. The time limit plays the role of a threat of sorts and often gets the payment required by inculcating fear into the victim’s mind. If the due date or the time limit for the price to be deposited is not met, there will be two possible outcomes. Either there will be an increase in the amount asked for ransom by the attackers, or the encrypted data will be scraped off.
- Ransomware includes various geographical targeting techniques to make the victim take them more seriously. These techniques involve getting the ransom message in a local language, which the victim understands.
As the list of families and individuals targeted by ransomware increases, you must understand the threat in full detail and take preventive measures. Baseline protection is the need of the hour and should be implemented at any cost. Encrypted Ransomware has become a big business, and attackers nowadays make enormous sums of money through it. To be exact, millions more than what they were making before. The ransomware attackers have realized big money present in targeting homeowners and businesses alike.
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Why do attackers target different businesses?
Frankly, businesses today have a significant share of the cash. If an attacker can go into one system and reach out to the various presentations on the local network within a business, then there are chances for a huge ransom to be collected. Researchers suggest that 70 percent of the companies pay heed to the attackers’ demands and eventually pay something around 40,000 – 50,000 dollars to rid themselves of the hassle of the attack.
- Ransomware can affect what is present in the system and affect various businesses’ data stored on the cloud.
- Cybercriminals are wary that most businesses will not report an attack due to the misconception that the brand image will fall.
Why do attackers target various homeowners?
Homeowners like businesses are also on the hit list of the creators and attackers of Ransomware. The reasons behind the interest in them are:
- Homeowners usually have little to no backup of their data in their systems. The lack of backup means that the ransomware attack will affect them.
- Homeowners are not educated regarding what needs to be taken care of to ensure perfect cyber security. Thus, they tend to click on whatever they deem feasible, even if it’s not. In short, homeowners are more susceptible and are considered easy victims.
- Homeowners rely on luck more than anything else to keep them safe in the cyber world. No proper software is installed, and even if it is, there is no adequate plan to keep it up to date.
- They form a considerable chunk of the overall market volume. Homeowners are present in huge numbers, and it is indeed safe to say that the number is drastically increasing. Thus, they present a chance for attackers to attack one at a time.
What are the various infection methods of Ransomware?
The spread of Ransomware can be accredited to the fact that attackers are coming up with innovative methods every day to infect the systems. The infection methods most commonly used are:
- SMS messages for targeting users on their smartphones.
- Emails contain a malicious link that can redirect a user to a web page. Malware can take various forms online.
- Vulnerable software
- Legitimate websites that are injected with malicious codes
- Malvertising programs or campaigns
- It was spreading from an affected computer to another one. The example of the WannaCry mentioned above had a similar pathway.
The process of a ransomware infection
The process of infection varies for all different types of Ransomware, but the main critical points in the infection process are:
- The victim to-be receives a link, which is malicious, through an email or any other form of communication.
- Once the victim clicks on the link and opens the downloaded attachment, a payload will spring up on the affected system.
- The malware then weaves its magic and encrypts the entire hard drive with all the stored information. Everything in sync with the system, including data on the cloud and Google Drive and Dropbox, is encrypted through the malware.
- Within a matter of seconds, a sudden warning pops up on your system’s screen with a list of instructions on how to pay the amount needed for the decryption key.
Everything within the process happens extremely quickly and leaves you surprised. Most users feel betrayed by their computer, as they cannot get a hold of what is happening.
How to prevent yourself from being a victim of a ransomware attack?
Having listed all the implications that a ransomware attack brings, you must know the course of action to follow to prevent your system from becoming prone to a ransomware attack. A list of items that you can follow or teach in your daily routine to make sure that you are not exposed to a ransomware attack is:
- Do not store important data only on your Personal computer
- Make sure that you always have two backups for your data. One backup should be on a functional external hard drive, while the other backup can be on a cloud service like Google or Dropbox.
- The cloud account on your system should not open by default. Update your files on the cloud daily, but make sure that they are not accessible by default.
- Your software and operating system should be duly updated every time an update comes by.
- Adjust the security, and privacy settings present within your browser to ensure that your internet browser stops any malicious malware from making its way into your system.
- Use an ad blocker to avoid the ever-looming threat of on-click ads, which can be malicious for you and your system.
- Never open emails that look like spam from senders you don’t know.
- If you do open a spam email by mistake, make sure that you do not, in any case, scenario, download the attachment that is present in them.
- Never click on the links in the spam emails, as they may lead you to malware.
- Use a reliable anti-virus product that has a real-time scanner.
You should always follow preventative measures properly, so you do not have to go over the dreaded option of choosing whether you should pay for the encryption key or not.
The answer to this confusing question should always be NO! While the threat of losing your data is a big one, the fact that most attackers often manipulate you into making payments should not be ignored. You might end up in a scenario where you make a payment but do not get back your esteemed data. To put the facts on the table for you, 1 out of 4 victims that paid the ransom in the previous year did not get their files back. They ended up losing not only their data but also a sizable amount of money.
Getting your data back without having to pay the ransom
The technique of Ransomware is getting popular by the day as more and more attackers take it up. The popularity behind this malicious malware holds a silver lining for the victims. The popularity has meant that the quality of the attacks has noticeably dropped. We now witness attacks that can easily be decrypted using the different decryption tools.
We will get straight to the point, considering you might not have a lot of time on your hands if you are reading this to rid yourself of a ransomware attack safely. The first phase of removing the encryption is to identify the Ransomware that has attacked your system. Most notes from attackers do name the Ransomware that your computer has been inundated with, but if there is no such mention, the two tools that you can use are:
- ID Ransomware
- Crypto Sheriff
Once you have identified the Ransomware affecting your computer, you can head on to the various tools that provide decryption from multiple types of Ransomware. Five of the most famous ransomware decryption tools are:
- Opentoyou
- Globe3 decryption
- Decryptor for Dharma
- Crypton decryption
- Damage decryption
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Conclusion to Understanding Ransomware and What It Does
Being a host to a ransomware attack is not the best position. Thus, the best way to keep hold of your senses and try the decryption tools available online. You will probably find your solution in the decryption tools rather than having to bow down and pay a hefty sum as ransom. You can get in touch with CCT in Los Angeles, California. They will help provide a reasonable solution and guide you through the problem. Partner with Cloud Computing Technologies for understanding Ransomware and What It Does.
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