The Ransomware virus is a major concern for businesses no matter how big or small
If you’ve been unlucky enough to have been infected with encrypted files you will know only too well that the ransomware virus is a major concern for businesses at the moment. Unfortunately they won’t be going away anytime soon, so it is vital that you take as many preventative measures as you can to reduce the risk of ransomware virus attacking your PCs and server.
What is a Ransomware Virus?
It is a virus that prevents or limits users from accessing their computer system by locking the screen or user files until a ransom is paid. These modern ransomware groups encrypt certain files and force users to pay the ransom through certain online payment methods.
Ransom can be demanded in various forms including bitcoins, iTunes and Amazon gift cards. Do note that paying the ransom will not guarantee that you get the decryption key to regain access to your files.
Trend Micro explain the ransomware virus and its history very well…
Users may encounter this threat through a variety of means. Ransomware can be downloaded onto systems when unwitting users visit malicious or compromised websites. It can also arrive as a payload either dropped or downloaded by other malware. Some ransomware are known to be delivered as attachments from spammed email, downloaded from malicious pages through malvertisements, or dropped by exploit kits onto vulnerable systems.
Once executed in the system, ransomware can either lock the computer screen, or, in the case of crypto-ransomware, encrypt predetermined files. In the first scenario, a full-screen image or notification is displayed on the infected system’s screen, which prevents victims from using their system. This also shows the instructions on how users can pay for the ransom. The second type of ransomware prevents access to files to potentially critical or valuable files like documents and spreadsheets.
Ransomware is considered “scareware” as it forces users to pay a fee (or ransom) by scaring or intimidating them. In this sense, it is similar to FAKEAV malware, but instead of capturing the infected system or encrypting files, FAKEAV shows fake antimalware scanning results to coax users into purchasing bogus antimalware software… Read more on Ransomware in this Trend Micro article