Archives - Ransomware


The current state of ransomware

Ransomware is not new – it dates back to the 1980s – but it has undergone a renaissance throughout the 2010s, to the extent that it looks almost nothing like it did in its early days. Perpetrators have enhanced various strains with strong encryption (CryptoLocker), designed them to exploit protocols such as Microsoft Windows SMB […]

On this day in history – The WannaCry ransomware attack spreads globally

May 12, 2017: The WannaCry ransomware attack was a May 2017 worldwide cyberattack by the WannaCry ransomware cryptoworm, which targeted computers running the Microsoft Windows operating system by encrypting data and demanding ransom payments in the Bitcoin cryptocurrency. It propagated through an exploit in older Windows systems. While Microsoft had released patches previously to close […]

Use multi-layered protection

Don’t stop at antivirus software. Make sure you have your bases covered against threats such as ransomware and phishing as well, with fully featured solutions such as Total Defense Ultimate Internet Security, which provides comprehensive protection across multiple devices.

Use a backup file instead of paying a ransom

Ransomware is a scourge. It denies you access to important files while demanding you pay for the right to have them back. Maintaining regular backups is a great hedge against ransomware. Instead of paying the ransom (which doesn’t guarantee safe return of your assets anyway), restore from a backup.

On this day in history – Ransomware Locky infects several million computers

On February 18, 2016, the Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center paid a $17,000 ransom in the form of bitcoins for the decryption key for patient data. The Hospital was infected by ransomware Locky, it was the delivery of an email attachment disguised as a Microsoft Word invoice that contained malicious macros. This has led to increased […]

Backup regularly to reduce the risk of ransomware

Ransomware is one of the most dangerous cybersecurity threats because its damage is so hard to roll back; you end up having to choose between paying a ransom that won’t even guarantee safe return of your data, or possibly losing that information forever. Local or cloud-based backup can help by giving you full, restorable copies […]