The ransomware is a software malware used by
cybercriminals to hijack your computer or certain files stored, and then ask
the payment of a ransom in exchange for his recovery. Unfortunately, ransomware
is an increasingly popular means by which malware creators extort money from businesses
and consumers alike.
Ransomware many times deletes your files and take your
data away but data recovery
software will help you in bringing that back.
There are many ways it can get into a computer, but as is
often the case, the techniques end up being Social Engineering tactics or the
use of software vulnerabilities to silently install themselves on the victim's
machine.
What
can you do about it?
On the one hand, ransomware can be very concerning, as
encrypted files could well be considered irreparably damaged. But if you set up
your system correctly, it will be nothing more than a simple hassle.
The following tips will help protect you from ransomware
and prevent it from ruining your day:
1.
Make a regular backup of your data
The only and the most important tool that we have to
defeat ransomware is to have a backup updated on a regular basis. If you are
attacked by ransomware, you can lose that document you started working on this
morning, but if you can restore the system to a previous snapshot or disinfect
the computer and restore the documents that were infected from your backup, you
will be calm.
2.
Show hidden file extensions
Often one of the ways Cryptolocker is presented is in a
file with the extension “.PDF.EXE”, taking advantage of the Windows default
setting of hiding extensions for known file types. If you uncheck the
corresponding box, you will be able to see the full extension of each one and
it will be easier to detect the suspects.
3.
Filter the .EXE files of the email
If your system has a tool that allows you to filter
attachments by extension, you can configure it to reject emails that have
".EXE" files or with a double extension, where the last one is the
executable (select the "*. *. EXE" files when configuring the
filter). If you need to exchange executable files within your environment and
you configured the system to reject ".EXE" files, you can still do so
by converting them to ZIP (password protected, of course) or through cloud
services.
4.
Disable the files that run from the AppData and LocalAppData folders
You can create rules in Windows or using intrusion
prevention software to block a particular behavior typical of Cryptolocker: the
fact that it executes its .EXE file from the App Data or Local App Data folder.
If for some reason you have legitimate software configured to run from the App
Data area instead of Program Files, you will need to create an exception for
this rule.
5.
Use the Cryptolocker Prevention Kit
The Cryptolocker Prevention Kit is a tool created by
Third Tier that automates the creation of a Group Policy to disable files that
run from the App Data and Local App Data folders. It also disables the executable
that are opened from the Temp directory of various utilities to compress files.
This tool is updated as new Cryptolocker techniques come
to light, so you should check it periodically to make sure you have the latest
version. If you need to create exceptions to these rules, Third Tier provides
this document that explains the process.
6.
Disable RDP
The malware cryptolocker / Filecoder general access
machines using the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP, for its acronym in English), a
Windows utility that allows third parties to obtain access to your desktop computer
as a remote. If you don't need to use the RDP protocol, you can disable it to
protect your machine from Filecoder and other RDP exploits. For instructions,
see the corresponding article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base.
7.
Install patches and updates for your software
The next two tips are more general and apply to both
Cryptolocker and any other malware threat. Cybercriminals often rely on people
using out-of- date software with known vulnerabilities, allowing them to
exploit and silently enter the system.
By getting in the habit of updating your software
frequently, you will significantly reduce your chance of becoming a victim of
ransomware. Some manufacturers release routine regular security updates, such
as Microsoft and Adobe, but there are also additional unscheduled updates for
emergencies. Whenever possible, enable automatic updates, or go directly to the
manufacturer's website, as malware writers also like to pass off their creations
as software updates.
8.
Use a reliable security package
It is always an honest idea to possess antimalware
software and a firewall to assist you identify suspicious behavior or threats.
Cybercriminals frequently release new variants to evade detection, so it's
important to possess both layers of protection.
Today, most malware relies on remote instructions to hold
out its malicious activities. If you encounter a ransomware variant so new that
antimalware software gets past it undetected, it's going to be blocked by the
firewall when it tries to attach to its Command and Control (C&C) server
for instructions on encrypting your records.
If you discover yourself during a position where you
already ran the ransomware file with none of the aforementioned precautions,
your options are already far more limited. But it's going to be that each one
isn't lost. There are a couple of belongings you can do this may help mitigate
the damage, particularly if the ransomware in question is Cryptolocker.
9.
Disconnect from Wi-Fi or remove the network cable immediately
If you ran a file that you simply suspect could also be
ransomware, but the feature screen has not yet appeared on your computer, if
you act too fast, you'll be ready to stop communication with the C&C server
before it finishes encrypting your files. If you disconnected from the network
immediately (did I make it clear that it should be done at that precise
moment?), you'll mitigate the damage.
It takes a while to encrypt all of your files, so you'll
stop it before it misrepresents all of them. This system is by no means
foolproof, and you want to be lucky enough to maneuver faster than malware; But
still, disconnecting from the network is best than doing nothing.
10.
Use System Restore to return to an infection-free state
If System Restore functionality is enabled on your
Windows, you'll be ready to return to an infection-free state. But, once more,
you've got to be smarter than malware. The newest versions of Cryptolocker may
include the power to delete backup files from the restore, meaning they're going
to not be there once you attempt to replace the version that corrupted the
malware.
DATA
RECOVERY
Due to ransomware attack few files gets lost and deleted
which cannot were no backed up and that is lost, so to recover those files data recovery software is used that
helps in recovering your data easily and quickly.
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