The Ransomware virus has now attacked several countries very quickly. This virus is classified as a dangerous virus and can harm all who are exposed to this virus.
Ransomware viruses are included in Malware, which is a virus that can damage the entire file system on a computer that uses the Windows Operating System. The Ministry of Communication and Informatics appealed to the public to immediately take precautions against the threat of malware viruses, especially wannacry-type ransomware.
This virus has attacked many hospitals in some countries. This virus works by infiltrating and duplicating itself into Windows system files and encrypting them quickly in minutes or even seconds.
After locking all files on the computer, this virus will give a notice or warning in the form of a procedure for opening all files by making payments via Bitcoin. If you don’t provide it within the specified time, there is a possibility that all of your data will be erased and lost.
For more details, see an explanation of what a ransomware virus is, its dangers, and the steps to prevent it below!
What is Ransomware?
Ransomware is a type of Malware that attacks your device by encrypting your files or data so they cannot be read by the device you are using.
So that your device can read the files or data, you need an encryption code. This is where the name of this virus comes from; You must provide a ransom (ransom) to be able to get the encryption code.
Usually, this virus enters via SMB File Protocol/SMB Server, IIS Web Server, and computer user errors in opening files which are ransomware viruses. This virus enters through a computer or server that is connected to the internet, then can spread to all computers in the same network and quickly lock all files on each computer.
Also Read: Learn To Detect Your Cyber Threats
What Are the Consequences of a Ransomware Attack?
From the definition alone, you certainly understand that one of the dangers of ransomware is from a financial perspective; You have to pay a ransom to save your data. However, your company doesn’t only have to lose financially.
Here are the consequences that a ransomware attack can have on your business:
1. Hampered Business Activities
Damage to your business information system or network will certainly result in hampered business activities. While it doesn’t always completely stop business activity, ransomware viruses can keep your customers and employees from doing much.
Customers, for example, cannot access your website or application. Your workers cannot access important files or data needed for business activities; imagine if your workers can’t do it when they need important documents for client meetings!
Your business will feel differently for days, weeks, or even months. It states that ransomware attacks can hamper your business activities on average in 15 to 20 days. From there, you can start estimating the losses your business will incur.
Thus, it’s advised that each company should have decent cybersecurity measures to prevent this from happening. One of the most effective ways is by using a VPN. We should consider to buy VPN and purchase the service per month. By using premium VPNs, companies are eligible to get great security protections against cyberattacks that may occur randomly.
2. Damage to Company Reputation
Ransomware attacks won’t just bleed your company financially; your business reputation will also be damaged. Customers, in particular, will know that your system is not secure.
Who wants to take the risk of doing business with a company whose security systems have been compromised?
Although not from a financial perspective, damage to a business’s reputation can result in a reduction in customers, which can then have an impact on business finances.
3. Threat of Data Leakage
Ransomware attacks aim to extort your business finances. What will the assailant do to make sure you do what he wants? The perpetrator will generally threaten to delete the file or data. However, perpetrators are not uncommon to threaten to leak the data if you don’t immediately provide the money for it.
The Crypto Ransomware
Crypto ransomware is a type of ransomware that encrypts files on a computer. To restore data to its original state, you need a decryption key which can be obtained after giving some money to attackers.
This type of ransomware is usually spread via email. Some of them are in the form of links that point to a website or online document.
Meanwhile, the form of ransomware documents that are distributed can be in the form of attachment files such as .doc, .xsl, .xml, .zip, .js, and many more.
But remember, new ransomware will infect your device after downloading or running the link or file. Well, WannaCry is also included in the crypto-ransomware type.
Examples of other attacks that fall into this type include:
- TeslaCrypt — a type of ransomware that was first detected in 2015 and targets computer games such as World of Warcraft, Call of Duty, and Minecraft.
- CryptoLocker — appeared in 2013 and targeted computers running the Windows operating system. This type can infect not only files on the device’s hard drive but also external storage such as flash drives.
- Locky — first detected in 2016 and able to encrypt more than 160 file types on a single device.
Protect Your Data with File Encryption
For those who are unfamiliar with encryption, maybe you have seen when you open a chat in WhatsApp, the app shows end-to-end encryption on the top. This basically means that nobody will see or hear what the two of you are talking about. Only both parties are connected with each other.
For this reason, when you exchange messages, be it text, voice notes, documents, or even videos, WhatsApp’s end-to-end encryption will protect the data being shared and ensure that there will be no leakage of data/information shared with the application to other parties who do not communicate with you either personally or in groups.
So, encryption is a technical process that converts information into a secret code, thereby obscuring the data you send, receive or store. An algorithm is used to scramble the data before the receiving party reassembles the data using a decryption key.
Encryption is the most effective way to secure data, protecting against attacks that break into corporate networks, attacks on corporate infrastructure, and data theft attempts. Thanks to its main function to protect users’ digital data, encryption is a great way to secure yourself when you tend to be connected to the internet.
