12 Tips for Preventing Ransomware Attacks
Ransomware can be incredibly disruptive, damaging, and costly. That’s why it’s imperative for organizations to have policies in place for preventing and mitigating the negative effects of this form of malware.
Preparing for ransomware is something that behooves all organizations, regardless of size. Cybercriminals are not very discriminating in who they target. Small businesses, multinational corporations, and even non-profit organizations have all been the victims of ransomware attacks.
How can your organization protect itself against this type of malware?
This article will explain what ransomware is, describe how these attacks occur, and detail how to prevent them.
What Is Ransomware?
Ransomware is an advanced form of malware with which hackers and other cybercriminals infect computers and workstations. While a generic computer virus might simply cause chaos and disrupt operations, bad actors design ransomware to hold sensitive data and personally identifiable information (PII) hostage until the victim pays the demanded ransom.
Businesses, hospitals, schools, institutions, government agencies, and even charities are all fair game in the minds of cybercriminals. Cybercriminals may target large corporations to secure the highest ransom or small businesses because they expect their defenses to be weak. All organizations should be prepared to deal with ransomware.
How Does a Ransomware Attack Occur?
One of the trickiest things about ransomware, and malware more generally, is that there are multiple methods cybercriminals use to infect their targets’ networks. It’s not as though an organization can train its staff to avoid doing one thing to protect themselves. Training and defenses must be more robust than that.
Here are some of the common ways ransomware infects computers:
Downloading Infected Attachments or Files
This traditional method of network infection is still common enough to cause problems. While it’s unlikely staff are torrenting their favorite albums on their work computers like it’s 2005 again, infected files can show up in many places. It’s critical to educate staff to recognize potentially suspect attachments and files and think twice before clicking on them.
Phishing
Perhaps the most common way for infected files to gain access to a network is via a phishing email or other message. The Anti-Phishing Working Group observed nearly 5 million phishing attacks in 2023, the highest number the organization has ever recorded. Phishing is a cyberattack that steals PII. This might include credit card information, bank account numbers, login credentials, and more. The goal of a phishing attack is often to commit identity theft. Phishing can come as an email, text message, or direct message on a social media or communication platform.
Phishing messages often use urgent language, pressuring the recipient to click on a malicious link. They will often mimic the appearance of official institutions, such as using the same logo and color coding as a bank or telecommunications provider. It’s important to examine email addresses carefully, as phishing emails often come from similar — but not identical — addresses as those used by the companies they impersonate.
Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) Attacks
RDP is a Microsoft protocol that allows administrators to access desktop computers remotely. Because it grants the user control over devices, RDP is a favored entry point for threat actors. Cybercriminals even sell RDP access, often on the dark web, allowing cyberattackers to purchase access to the organization they wish to target. For organizations with staff working remotely or on hybrid schedules, RDP attacks are a particularly prominent threat.
System or Network Vulnerabilities
A vulnerability assessment is a worthwhile task for many organizations so they can diagnose, and ideally bolster, any vulnerable points they find within their system and network. An organization may find numerous security risks that potentially expose sensitive data to cyber threats. Outdated software and applications managed by third-party vendors are common sources of vulnerabilities.
Are There Different Types of Ransomware?
Another tricky aspect of ransomware is that there are different forms of it. These ransomware variants behave differently from one another and therefore may require slightly different responses and defense mechanisms. Some common forms of ransomware include:
- Doxware/Leakware: This ransomware variant is a form of blackmail. The cybercriminal will threaten to expose the victim’s sensitive information online if the victim does not pay the demanded ransom. Sometimes the cybercriminal will pose as law enforcement, claiming to have detected illegal activity and demanding a fine lest the victim receive jail time for their supposed misdeeds.
- Scareware: This is a lazy form of ransomware that’s easy for threat actors to implement and capitalize on the relatively few victims they can trick with it. In this old tactic, pop-ups appear claiming that the user’s computer is already infected with a virus and must download fake antivirus software or a browser extension and/or pay to have the virus removed.
- Encryption: This is a well-used tool in the hacker’s technological utility belt. Once inside a computer or system, the ransomware will encrypt files and data, making the content inaccessible. The cybercriminal then demands a ransom in exchange for the decryption key.
- Lockers: Lockers go one step beyond encryptors by completely locking the victim out of their own system. A lock screen will appear, displaying the ransom demand, possibly accompanied by a timer counting down the time the victim supposedly has to pay the ransom.
- Ransomware as a Service (RaaS): Ransomware has become such a phenomenon that it now has “professionals” offering their services in the field. These so-called professional hackers offer to take care of all aspects of a ransomware attack on behalf of a bad actor. With RaaS, criminals don’t need to be tech-savvy at all; they can just hire hackers to do their dirty work for them.
How To Prevent Ransomware Attacks
Following these 12 steps can better prepare your organization to deal with ransomware. Here’s how to prevent a ransomware attack:
1. Develop an Incident Response Plan
An incident response plan tells staff to whom they should report when they notice or suspect an issue. This creates a framework for response and escalation.
2. Create and Maintain Backups
Part of a response plan may be to revert to backups. However, organizations must create and maintain these backups for them to be useful. An organization must store its data backup offline so it won’t also suffer a ransomware infection.
3. Assess Your Potential Vulnerabilities for Security Gaps
Conducting an assessment is critical to prevent ransomware. If an organization doesn’t identify possible weaknesses in its network before threat actors do, then a ransomware or malware attack becomes much more likely.
4. Update all Systems and Software — Regularly
Outdated software and systems are like candy for a ransomware attacker. Regular updates can significantly reduce a network’s ransomware risk.
5. Install Antivirus Software and Firewalls
Installing and maintaining antivirus and anti-malware software is a basic yet effective way to protect against any cyber threat. Security software is a must-have to prevent malicious activity.
6. Segment Your Network
A ransomware threat can spread incredibly quickly once it infects a system. By dividing a network into multiple smaller networks, it’s possible to isolate a ransomware infection and stop it from spreading.
7. Train Your Team
Security awareness training can be as valuable as any security tool. By teaching staff to recognize malicious activity, whether that’s a suspicious email or a fake pop-up alert, an organization can save significant time and money by preventing malware incidents from ever occurring.
8. Whitelist Trusted Applications
A big part of ransomware defense is knowing who and what to trust. By whitelisting the applications your organization trusts, you can use the software you need without friction while protecting against potentially unsecured applications.
9. Audit User Access Privileges
It’s wise to audit who can access which privileges routinely. Knowing who is authorized to access which systems helps reduce vulnerabilities. There’s always the possibility that a disgruntled staff member or former employee might become malicious. Perhaps more likely, though, is that staff may store various credentials in the cloud or on their own devices, increasing a network’s vulnerability. The more people who have access to a system, the more potential entry points for an attacker.
10. Establish Endpoint Security
Endpoint protection platforms enable system administrators to monitor and manage security for numerous devices, including remote ones. Securing every endpoint is important because each endpoint represents another potential opportunity for a cyberattack.
11. Run Routine Security Tests
Cybersecurity isn’t a task or project that you can do once. Hackers and cybercriminals are constantly honing their skills, so protecting your network must be an ongoing process. It’s wise to test your system routinely and create new security protocols as necessary.
12. Work With a Premium Technology Provider
Ransomware protection must be a top priority for many organizations today. But it’s incredibly difficult to stay on top of threat prevention while also running your business. Working with a premium technology provider — such as Greystone — can save you time and money by preventing the next potential ransomware attack.
Get the Protection You Need with Greystone
When you partner with Greystone, you receive premium IT and cybersecurity. We can protect your organization from ransomware and any other type of malware. Please contact us today to learn more.