Ransomware is dangerous because it takes over your computer and encrypts the files so that you’re not able to get into anything that’s on your hard drive. The person causing these problems will then send you some type of ransom and ask for payment in return for decrypting your files. As you can imagine, a ransomware attack can wreak havoc on your life and certainly on the computer you’re using, but once you learn a little more about it, you can increase the odds of being able to avoid one of these attacks altogether. Below are a few things that can help.
1. It Is Often Part of a Phishing Scam
Ransomware is often part of a scam involving phishing, and can include an attachment to an email that the attacker makes you feel you can trust. Once you open and download the file, it attacks your files and encrypts them, leaving you with no way to get into your documents without paying the ransom. This is why you should never open a file from any sender you are unfamiliar with, and you should be careful even if the sender is someone you know.
2. They Use Untraceable Bitcoins for Payment
One of the most inconvenient things about a ransomware attack is that, to pay the ransom, you are usually required to pay the attacker with an untraceable Bitcoin payment, which means you’ll have no way of knowing who the attacker is so that they can be discovered and prosecuted. Not only are these people secretive with how they get into your files to encrypt them, but they are also very secretive when it comes to the payment transaction itself.
3. They Sometimes Claim to Be the Government
A ransomware attack often comes from someone claiming to be an authority, such as a governmental organization, and saying they are shutting down your computer because they noticed pirated software on it or even pornography. They may even use names such as the FBI, which gives their email some authenticity and makes you trust them more. Regardless of who they claim to be, this doesn’t mean you should give them any personal information or open any files from them. Agencies such as the FBI never send out emails such as these.
4. Anyone Can Be a Target for Ransomware
Dishonest people utilizing a ransomware attack often target certain people or organizations because of certain characteristics they have. Large universities may have small security teams on hand that can catch these attacks. Medical facilities and large corporations who need immediate and continual access to their files can also be targeted. Attackers don’t just target large organizations, however, because many individuals can also be targets. In other words, anyone can be a target.
The more sensitive or urgent your documents and files are, the more panicked you’ll feel when you get one of these emails. The best thing to do if you think someone is trying to install ransomware on your computer is not to panic. Take your time and explore who they are before opening any type of attachment so that they are less likely to be successful.
