{"id":667,"date":"2017-09-06T15:58:16","date_gmt":"2017-09-06T19:58:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.eclipsepracticemanagementsoftware.com\/blog\/?p=667"},"modified":"2017-09-06T15:58:16","modified_gmt":"2017-09-06T19:58:16","slug":"ransomware-a-real-threat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/eclipsepracticemanagementsoftware.com\/blog\/2017\/09\/06\/ransomware-a-real-threat\/","title":{"rendered":"Ransomware: A Real Threat"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ransomware attacks are making headlines more and more.\u00a0 The 2016 statistics are startling; more than 4,000 ransomware attacks occurred daily.\u00a0 Why is ransomware so popular with cybercriminals?\u00a0 Because it works!\u00a0 Ransomware is now a billion-dollar industry and growing.<\/p>\n

How does the ransomware infect a computer system?\u00a0 There are three main ways a computer system is infected by ransomware:<\/p>\n

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  1. By opening an email and clicking on an attachment.\u00a0 Typically, the attachment looks legitimate, like an invoice or an electronic fax, but instead it contains the malicious ransomware code.<\/li>\n
  2. An email might contain a legitimate-looking URL, but once clicked on, one is directed to a website that infects the computer with the malicious software.<\/li>\n
  3. The newest and most sophisticated way is to seed legitimate websites with malicious code, taking advantage of unpatched software on the victim\u2019s computer.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    \u00a0<\/strong>It\u2019s that easy! \u00a0Once the infection hits the system, the malware begins encrypting all data that resides on the computer including data within the network (i.e. other computers, backup drives, attached drives).<\/p>\n

    Typically, the victim isn\u2019t aware of the attack until they can no longer access their files and start receiving computer messages demanding the ransom in exchange for the decryption key. Ransoms can be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, which is paid in bitcoins to provide anonymity.<\/p>\n

    Although the FBI doesn\u2019t recommend paying the ransom, many victims pay it in order to get back to business.\u00a0\u00a0 Not only is there the financial pain of having to pay the ransom, but also the burden of downtime costs and loss of productivity.\u00a0 Plus, once the ransom is paid the victim now has the financial burden of insuring their system is upgraded to prevent another attack. \u00a0\u00a0Plus, unfortunately, there are accounts of victims paying the ransom, but never getting the decryption key to unlock their system.<\/p>\n

    One may never be able to be completely protected against an attack. Below, are some of the key steps to help prevent and prepare.<\/p>\n