Ransomware attacks increase 10X in 2016
Ransomware attacks have actually decreased over the past several
years. This is primarily because of refusal to pay. Although primary
targets have been health care providers in small to medium sized
office, every business is at risk. In Ardmore there have been
ransomware attacks in dentist offices, veterinary clinics and
doctor’s offices with ransom demands up to several thousand dollars.
Ransomware takes control of your computer and encrypts your files
with an unbreakable code. In order to get your files decrypted you
are asked to pay a ransom. Depending on the size and importance of
your data the cost can be enormous and, you have no guarantee you
will get your files back.
Even if you have a data backup. getting your system up
and running can take several days and cost several hundred dollars
for IT services plus the cost of down time for your business.
Cloning your system hard drives or making a system image is the best
way to backup your computer. Taking these backups offline prevents
ransomware from accessing them and allows you keep all your programs
and system setup. If your system is attacked the infected drive is
removed and the clone is activated or a new hard drive is installed
and the system image is restored. After restoring your local data
you can be up and running in a relatively short time (depending on
the size of your backup).
(The cloned drive or system image should be renewed
every few months or following software upgrades or program
installation.
Set up removable USB backup. At least two USB backups should be
maintained and three is recommended. That way if one of the backups
is corrupted the other backups may not be.
