With the recent discovery of ransomware attacking OS X (Mac) based computers, it’s time to implement some simple procedures to avoid malware attacks on your computer. Ransomware is software which loads onto a computer with the intent of encrypting files and forcing the owner to pay a ransom to access their own files. Just last year, the FBI was contacted by more than 1000 people about one ransomware strain, CryptoWall. As ransomware criminals have had more and more success with Windows computers, they’ve moved to Macs to expand their criminal enterprises.
So how do you avoid ransomware?
First, don’t download new versions of software within the first week of their release. Viruses, malware, and ransomware are typically quickly discovered by the security community and publicized. By waiting to try new software, you give software developers and other users time to ensure that the software is safe.
Related to new software, whenever possible do your software updates through the software itself rather than by downloading it from a site. Downloaded software updates and installs from compromised websites are the leading cause of ransomware infection. There have now been two instances where users who updated software through their existing software rather than by going to a website to download an update were spared infection by malware.
And do not trust pop-up software updates. Check for misspellings and bad grammar in updates as these are often present in malware. Always look at URLs very carefully. An update from https://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/ is likely to be legitimate while an update from http://flashupdate.adobe.otherco.com/update is not. See the difference?
But the most important action you can take to protect your computer from ransomware is BACK UP YOUR COMPUTER! I cannot stress this enough. Far too many bright and tech-savvy colleagues of mine don’t back up their computers and are left with a huge problem when their computer dies, is stolen, or is compromised by ransomware.
If your backup drive is mounted by the operating system at the time you get hit with ransomware, the ransomware can encrypt your backup, too. To prevent this, disconnect your backup drive after you do your backup. To fully protect yourself in the event of fire or theft, periodically backup to another drive and store it off site.
Macs have a nice backup software package, Time Machine, built-in that not only backs up your files but it also assists you in rebuilding your whole system when you get a new one. On Windows computers, you can use Windows Backup or third-party tools like Oops!Backup, Genie Timeline, or Crashplan to replicate the functionality in Time Machine.
Make simple update and back-up standards part of your routine and you’ll protect yourself from hours and hours of trying to recover your computer and save you hundreds of dollars in ransom payments.
So how do you avoid ransomware?
First, don’t download new versions of software within the first week of their release. Viruses, malware, and ransomware are typically quickly discovered by the security community and publicized. By waiting to try new software, you give software developers and other users time to ensure that the software is safe.
Related to new software, whenever possible do your software updates through the software itself rather than by downloading it from a site. Downloaded software updates and installs from compromised websites are the leading cause of ransomware infection. There have now been two instances where users who updated software through their existing software rather than by going to a website to download an update were spared infection by malware.
And do not trust pop-up software updates. Check for misspellings and bad grammar in updates as these are often present in malware. Always look at URLs very carefully. An update from https://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/ is likely to be legitimate while an update from http://flashupdate.adobe.otherco.com/update is not. See the difference?
But the most important action you can take to protect your computer from ransomware is BACK UP YOUR COMPUTER! I cannot stress this enough. Far too many bright and tech-savvy colleagues of mine don’t back up their computers and are left with a huge problem when their computer dies, is stolen, or is compromised by ransomware.
If your backup drive is mounted by the operating system at the time you get hit with ransomware, the ransomware can encrypt your backup, too. To prevent this, disconnect your backup drive after you do your backup. To fully protect yourself in the event of fire or theft, periodically backup to another drive and store it off site.
Macs have a nice backup software package, Time Machine, built-in that not only backs up your files but it also assists you in rebuilding your whole system when you get a new one. On Windows computers, you can use Windows Backup or third-party tools like Oops!Backup, Genie Timeline, or Crashplan to replicate the functionality in Time Machine.
Make simple update and back-up standards part of your routine and you’ll protect yourself from hours and hours of trying to recover your computer and save you hundreds of dollars in ransom payments.