What You Didn’t Know About Ransomware

The word “ransom” conjures up old images of mismatched letters cut from a newspaper or magazine demanding $1 million for a person’s safe return. When you think of ransomware, you might be curious how it works in today’s digital landscape. Read on to learn more.

What is ransomware?

Ransomware is malicious software that hijacks your data, information, or device and demands that you pay money to get it back—or in some cases—to keep it from going public. And it’s more common than you may think. During the first half of 2022 alone, a whopping 236.1 million ransomware attacks took place worldwide. So, it’s essential that you’re aware of the dangers of ransomware.

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Why is ransomware on the rise?

Cybercriminals recently shifted the way they carry out ransomware attacks by moving away from large-scale automated attacks to more targeted schemes. The good news for individuals is that these schemes are primarily targeting established organizations and businesses. However, this isn’t to say that private computer owners are entirely in the clear. We’re all always at risk of accidentally downloading ransomware and having our devices held hostage until we pay money or provide other information to get it unlocked.

How did I get ransomware on my PC?

There are two common ways ransomware can get onto your computer. The most common is through a phishing scam. You might have an email from what seems like a familiar source instructing you to follow a link to either reset a password, confirm an order, or something along those lines. Once you reach the link’s destination, the website will automatically download malware to your device.

The second most common way ransomware is downloaded to devices is by drive-by downloading, which downloads and installs malware without you ever knowing. It can happen even if you don’t click on, open, or download anything. All it takes is an app, web browser or operating system that hasn’t been properly updated.

How do I remove ransomware from my computer?

Removing ransomware without paying the ransom isn’t always as easy as simply locating the file and dropping it in your trash bin. Hackers will program code into the software that includes a “self-destruct” feature that will delete every file on your computer or crash the system entirely.

It’s recommended that you always use antivirus software to safely remove ransomware from your device to ensure it’s done safely and completely. One safety feature most antivirus software offers is quarantining malware. Rather than deleting the virus and risking further problems with your system, the software will contain the malware to a separate part of your hard drive, where it’s unable to function. The malware will continue to take up space on your device, but it can’t spread to other parts of your device. Quarantining is a great solution, as you can avoid paying a ransom and avoid dealing with any self-destruct measures.

How can I keep from getting ransomware again?

Avoiding ransomware simply requires a few precautions. Things like not opening email attachments from unknown sources, not clicking suspicious links, keeping your operating system up to date, and updating your antivirus software will help protect you from ransomware.

How can I minimize the impact of ransomware on my device?

One of the easiest ways to eliminate malware of any kind from your device is by restoring it to the last backup when the malware wasn’t there. Keep backups of your mobile devices on your computer and backups of your computer on an external hard drive. Regularly backing up your devices won’t make it nearly as painful to restore or reformat your hard drive as needed.

Don’t let ransomware take your computer hostage. Protect your computer by being careful while browsing the internet. Should you slip up and download ransomware, make sure you have good antivirus software that will help you get rid of it.