How to Prevent Ransomware: What Every Employee Should Know

You don’t need to work in IT to become the reason your company’s files get locked up and held for ransom—and you don’t need to be in IT to help prevent it.

Ransomware is malicious software that encrypts an organization’s files, making them useless until a ransom is paid. Attacks have crippled hospitals, schools, city governments, and businesses of every size. The costs run into the billions, and recovery can take weeks even when victims pay up.

Why It Matters To You

Here’s what makes ransomware everyone’s concern: it almost always begins with a single employee. Criminals don’t usually break through a firewall; they walk through an unlocked door—one that a busy worker opens by mistake. Most attacks start with phishing. An email urges you to open an attachment, click a link, or enter your password on a convincing but fake page. One careless click can give attackers the foothold they need to spread across the entire network.

What You Can Do

So how can you help your company defend against this menace? Fortunately, there are plenty of steps anyone can take.

• Slow down with email. Be wary of unexpected attachments and links, especially those creating a sense of urgency. When a message seems off, verify it through a separate channel before acting.
• Keep your devices and software updated, since attackers often exploit known weaknesses that have already been discovered and fixed in newer versions.
• Never plug in unknown USB drives, which can carry malware straight past your defenses.
• And use strong, unique passwords with multifactor authentication so a stolen credential doesn’t open the whole network to attack.
• Most importantly, report anything suspicious immediately—even if you think you already clicked. Fast reporting can mean the difference between a minor scare and a company-wide disaster. No one will fault you for raising a flag; they’ll thank you.

 

Jeanne D’Arc has resources to keep you in the know to defend your money and data. Visit our Fraud & Theft Protection page and subscribe to the Money Mill Blog for more information and best practices to keep your data and money safe.