08-29-2022 , 09:21 AM
Mitigating malware and ransomware attacks
How to defend organisations against malware or ransomware attacks
This guidance helps private and public sector organisations deal with the effects of malware (which includes ransomware). It provides actions to help organisations prevent a malware infection, and also steps to take if you're already infected.
Following this guidance will reduce:
the likelihood of becoming infected
the spread of malware throughout your organisation
the impact of the infection
What are malware and ransomware?
Malware is malicious software, which - if able to run - can cause harm in many ways, including:
causing a device to become locked or unusable
stealing, deleting or encrypting data
taking control of your devices to attack other organisations
obtaining credentials which allow access to your organisation's systems or services that you use
'mining' cryptocurrency
using services that may cost you money (e.g. premium rate phone calls).
Ransomware is a type of malware that prevents you from accessing your computer (or the data that is stored on it). The computer itself may become locked, or the data on it might be stolen, deleted or encrypted. Some ransomware will also try to spread to other machines on the network, such as the Wannacry malware that impacted the NHS in May 2017.
Usually you're asked to contact the attacker via an anonymous email address or follow instructions on an anonymous web page, to make payment. The payment is invariably demanded in a cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin, in order to unlock your computer, or access your data. However, even if you pay the ransom, there is no guarantee that you will get access to your computer, or your files.
Occasionally malware is presented as ransomware, but after the ransom is paid the files are not decrypted. This is known as wiper malware. For these reasons, it's essential that you always have a recent offline backup of your most important files and data.
Continue reading HERE
How to defend organisations against malware or ransomware attacks
This guidance helps private and public sector organisations deal with the effects of malware (which includes ransomware). It provides actions to help organisations prevent a malware infection, and also steps to take if you're already infected.
Following this guidance will reduce:
the likelihood of becoming infected
the spread of malware throughout your organisation
the impact of the infection
What are malware and ransomware?
Malware is malicious software, which - if able to run - can cause harm in many ways, including:
causing a device to become locked or unusable
stealing, deleting or encrypting data
taking control of your devices to attack other organisations
obtaining credentials which allow access to your organisation's systems or services that you use
'mining' cryptocurrency
using services that may cost you money (e.g. premium rate phone calls).
Ransomware is a type of malware that prevents you from accessing your computer (or the data that is stored on it). The computer itself may become locked, or the data on it might be stolen, deleted or encrypted. Some ransomware will also try to spread to other machines on the network, such as the Wannacry malware that impacted the NHS in May 2017.
Usually you're asked to contact the attacker via an anonymous email address or follow instructions on an anonymous web page, to make payment. The payment is invariably demanded in a cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin, in order to unlock your computer, or access your data. However, even if you pay the ransom, there is no guarantee that you will get access to your computer, or your files.
Occasionally malware is presented as ransomware, but after the ransom is paid the files are not decrypted. This is known as wiper malware. For these reasons, it's essential that you always have a recent offline backup of your most important files and data.
Continue reading HERE