Ransomware – Why Care?
Business Technology | December 6, 2016
RANSOMWARE – WHY CARE?
Ransomware is a malicious program that, once installed on your computer, can kidnap your company’s files. It provides its makers with considerable amounts of cash and therefore isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. In our previous post, we discussed the rise of Ransomware in Canada and now we will discuss how it may impact you.
ALL DEVICES
To make Ransomware particularly annoying, it can actually be unleashed across multiple devices. We have grown accustomed to our Windows PC’s being susceptible to viruses and we take measures to prevent this from happening, but ransomware has been developed for all your devices. Hackers have developed versions for Linux servers as well as Android phones. Researchers have also found that programs are easily created for MAC OS and even Smart TV’s!
IMPACTING YOUR BUSINESS
Small businesses are perfect targets for ransomware developers because they possess the ideal qualities of both large corporations and casual computer owners. In other words, small business computer networks often deal with large sums of money but, just as often, haven’t set up adequate protection against these sorts of attacks. The perfect storm.
History reveals that ransomware attacks don’t target anyone specifically, anyone who may be willing to pay a few hundred dollars to unlock their files makes an ideal target. The ransom fees range from $25 to $600 (approximately) – definitely inconvenient, but also an amount with which many would be willing to part, if it meant rescuing their personal photos or account information.
SMALL BUSINESSES ARE PERFECT TARGETS FOR RANSOMWARE DEVELOPERS
BECAUSE THEY POSSESS THE IDEAL QUALITIES OF BOTH LARGE CORPORATIONS
AND CASUAL COMPUTER OWNERS
ISN’T KIDNAPPING ILLEGAL?
There have been some successes in the area of law enforcement on this front. Large private security companies, together with law enforcement agencies have managed to prosecute ransomware attackers but these cases are far and few between. Although committees are always being formed to deal with large scale cyber attacks, little is really being done for the common user. Some experts even suggest that, if the little guy is threatened with ransomware, there may be just one course of action: pay them what they want. If your computer is kidnapped, there may not be much you can do. A harsh reality that makes these sorts of attacks so frightening.
It can be unsettling to think about losing important files, personal and financial. Hopefully that feeling will spur us all to take action and protect ourselves against ransomware. In our next post we’ll look specifically at prevention. In the meantime, if you have any questions about ransomware or if you think you’ve fallen victim to it, feel free to get in touch with us on our website or leave a comment in the section below.
RANSOMWARE – WHY CARE?
Ransomware is a malicious program that, once installed on your computer, can kidnap your company’s files. It provides its makers with considerable amounts of cash and therefore isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. In our previous post, we discussed the rise of Ransomware in Canada and now we will discuss how it may impact you.
ALL DEVICES
To make Ransomware particularly annoying, it can actually be unleashed across multiple devices. We have grown accustomed to our Windows PC’s being susceptible to viruses and we take measures to prevent this from happening, but ransomware has been developed for all your devices. Hackers have developed versions for Linux servers as well as Android phones. Researchers have also found that programs are easily created for MAC OS and even Smart TV’s!
IMPACTING YOUR BUSINESS
Small businesses are perfect targets for ransomware developers because they possess the ideal qualities of both large corporations and casual computer owners. In other words, small business computer networks often deal with large sums of money but, just as often, haven’t set up adequate protection against these sorts of attacks. The perfect storm.
History reveals that ransomware attacks don’t target anyone specifically, anyone who may be willing to pay a few hundred dollars to unlock their files makes an ideal target. The ransom fees range from $25 to $600 (approximately) – definitely inconvenient, but also an amount with which many would be willing to part, if it meant rescuing their personal photos or account information.
SMALL BUSINESSES ARE PERFECT TARGETS FOR RANSOMWARE DEVELOPERS
BECAUSE THEY POSSESS THE IDEAL QUALITIES OF BOTH LARGE CORPORATIONS
AND CASUAL COMPUTER OWNERS
ISN’T KIDNAPPING ILLEGAL?
There have been some successes in the area of law enforcement on this front. Large private security companies, together with law enforcement agencies have managed to prosecute ransomware attackers but these cases are far and few between. Although committees are always being formed to deal with large scale cyber attacks, little is really being done for the common user. Some experts even suggest that, if the little guy is threatened with ransomware, there may be just one course of action: pay them what they want. If your computer is kidnapped, there may not be much you can do. A harsh reality that makes these sorts of attacks so frightening.
It can be unsettling to think about losing important files, personal and financial. Hopefully that feeling will spur us all to take action and protect ourselves against ransomware. In our next post we’ll look specifically at prevention. In the meantime, if you have any questions about ransomware or if you think you’ve fallen victim to it, feel free to get in touch with us on our website or leave a comment in the section below.