Backup & File Sharing, Security, Usage tips
Ransomware – the vicious weed that keeps growing back
Ryan Barrett, Intermedia VP of Security and Privacy, offers sound advice to help your company in his latest Forbes article
There’s just no getting around the fact that ransomware attacks are increasing. Businesses today cannot afford to pretend the threat isn’t there or that it can’t happen to them. A far better approach is to consider the ramifications of an attack, build a plan to recover, and implement strategies to protect against reinfection.
Why “reinfection”? Well, as a recent Forbes article by Ryan Barrett, Intermedia’s VP of Security and Privacy, points out:
“Ransomware halts your business, halts productivity and, potentially, sets your organization up for failure. And those who’ve been affected by ransomware stand a good chance of being re-infected this year. For this, you can thank the number of digital entry points in an organization that a cybercriminal can exploit.”
Ryan’s article describes 3 ways that cybercriminals can attack your business with ransomware:
- Sending phishing emails that trick your employees into installing malware
- Installing backdoors into your network for prolonged spying and malware infection
- Exploiting BYOD by infecting users’ mobile devices which then pass on malware to your network
Companies need a two-phased approach to dealing with ransomware – protecting against initial infection and recovering quickly when an attack does happen. Ryan provides advice on both fronts, including tips for educating employees about the dangers of ransomware and implementing real-time file backups.
