What is ransomware?

Ransomware is a type of malware that encrypts a victim’s files, making them inaccessible, and demands a ransom payment in order to restore access. It is a rapidly growing type of attack that has been increasingly used by cybercriminals over the past few years.

Ransomware attacks usually begin with a phishing email that contains a malicious attachment or link. When the attachment or link is opened, the ransomware malware is installed and begins to encrypt the victim’s files. The victim is then presented with a ransom demand, typically demanding payment in cryptocurrency, in order to decrypt and regain access to their files.

Ransomware attacks can be devastating for individuals and businesses, as they can result in the loss of important files or hinder the ability to conduct business. In some cases, victims have paid the ransom but still been unable to regain access to their files. It is important to note that paying the ransom does not guarantee that the files will be decrypted and does not protect against future attacks.

There are a few steps that can be taken to help prevent ransomware attacks, such as keeping software up to date, using anti-malware software, backing up important files, and exercising caution when opening email attachments or clicking on links.

How many ransomware attacks have occurred in the past year?

According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), there were 2,673 ransomware attacks in the US in 2019, with victims losing a total of $3.5 million. This is a significant increase from the 1,493 attacks reported in 2018, and shows that ransomware is becoming an increasingly common form of cybercrime.

Ransomware is a type of malware that encrypts a victim’s files and demands a ransom be paid in order to decrypt them. Often, the attackers will threaten to delete the files if the ransom is not paid. This can be a very effective form of blackmail, as many people are willing to pay to avoid losing important data such as family photos or work documents.

Unfortunately, paying the ransom does not guarantee that the files will be decrypted, and in some cases, may even lead to further attacks. For this reason, it is generally advised not to pay the ransom, and instead to focus on restoring files from backups.

While ransomware attacks can be devastating, there are steps you can take to protect yourself. Keeping regular backups of your data is the best defense, as this will allow you to restore your files even if they are encrypted by ransomware. Additionally, using reputable antivirus software and keeping your operating system and applications up to date can help to prevent an attack in the first place.

Visit malwarezero.org to learn more about ransomware. Disclaimer: We used this website as a reference for this blog post.