Cybersecurity: Ransomware Attacks

By Avaya Agarwal

Cybersecurity is a prevalent field in today’s modernized world, especially with the growing amounts of ransomware attacks. In 2022, the cybersecurity attack vector wreaked havoc on individuals and organizations all around the world, making 2022 a breakout year for ransomware. With the danger of technological attacks rising, the questions of what ransomware is and how you can prevent it from taking over your own devises arise.

What is ransomware?

Ransomware is a malware designed to deny a user or organization access to files on their computer. By encrypting these files and demanding a ransom payment for the decryption key, cyberattackers place organizations in a position where paying the ransom is the easiest and cheapest way to regain access to their files. There can be more complications, such as data theft, done in order to provide further incentive for ransomware victims to pay the ransom. In the past, ransomware was about attackers encrypting information found on a system and then demanding a ransom in exchange for a decryption key. Now, however, something called “double extortion” has come up. With double extortion, attackers also exfiltrate the data to a separate location. There, it can be used for other purposes, including leaking the information to a public website if a payment is not received.

How is ransomware delivered?

Ransomware typically comes from emails or drive-by-downloads. The emails seem to be sent by legitimate organizations or people the user knows to entice the user into clicking a malicious link or attachment. A drive-by-download is a program that is automatically downloaded from the internet without the user’s consent or knowledge. After the malicious code has run, the computer becomes infected with ransomware.

How can ransomware attacks be prevented?

With hackers having so many ways to encrypt files and force people to pay in order to get those files back, how exactly can you protect your own computers and other devices from ransomware attacks? There are several free scanning and testing services that can help organizations to identify and reduce their exposure to cyberattacks. For individuals, it is imperative to not click on any unknown or suspicious links or email attachments. Backing up your computer and using preventative software programs, such as antivirus softwares and firewalls, also does a great job in fighting any cyberattacks.

What should you do if your computer has already been infected with ransomware?

If the ransomware has already taken over your computer, you should immediately contact your local FBI office or the local US Secret Service office for assistance, instead of paying any money. Once the malicious code has been removed, you should change all systems passwords immediately in order to err on the side of caution.

With the rise in cybersecurity, AI, and computer science in general, protecting technology is a struggle, but one that can be easily overcome. Ransomware attacks are only one example of cyberattacks, and, in today’s world, everyone needs to be more careful with what they do while using any device. However, with the appropriate precautions and defenses, even these attacks can be circumvented in order to keep all computers safe.