How to fix ransomware

What is Ransomware?

Ransomware is malware that encodes the objective unfortunate casualty's information. The assailant at that point attempts to get the injured individual to pay the payment for the way to unscramble their documents.

The first ransomware goes back to 1989, got conveyed on floppy circles, and requested a $189 deliver.

In 2019, the city of Baltimore got hit with a ransomware assault, which cost an expected $18 million in recuperation.

Be that as it may, how precisely accomplishes ransomware work?

Ransomware is a multi-arranged assault that assailants have bundled in a few distinct manners. The rudiments are generally the equivalent. Invade the objective's system, encode however much information as could reasonably be expected, coerce for recover.

1. Contamination

To begin with, assailants need to convey the malware payload to the objective. Regularly, this is a basic phishing assault with malware in the record connections. From here, the ransomware either works locally or attempts to imitate itself to different PCs on the system.

2. Security Key Exchange

Next, the malware connects with the aggressors to tell them they have tainted an unfortunate casualty and to get the cryptographic keys that the ransomware needs to scramble the injured individual's information.

3. Encryption

Presently the ransomware does the scrambling of the unfortunate casualty's documents. It may begin with the nearby circle and afterward attempt to test the system for mapped offers or open offers to assault. The CryptoWall ransomware erased Volume Shadow Copy records to make reestablishing from reinforcement harder and searched for BitCoin wallets to take. WannaCry utilized the EternalBlue helplessness to spread to different PCs and afterward play out the encryption.

4. Blackmail

The unfortunate casualty is absolutely pwnd, and the assailant sends the payment note. Normally, there is some dollar figure connected, and a BitCoin interface with undermining messages like "pay us or your information gets it."

It's justified, despite all the trouble to take note of that digital money empowered ransomware to turn into a rewarding calling. Presently the benefit of crime is difficult to evaluate, yet the recurrence of assaults shows that crooks see the upside in proceeding to utilize these systems.

As of late assailants have utilized the risk of information introduction as a feature of their coercion plot. Ransomware can not just scrambles the information set up, it can likewise exfiltrate the information back to the aggressors! The risk becomes, pay us or we discharge your information.

5. Opening and Recovery

In conclusion, does the unfortunate casualty pay the payoff and expectation the criminal is good and will send over the decoding keys? Or then again does the injured individual evacuate the malware disease and attempt to recoup the scrambled information physically.

Assailants by and large don't convey the keys, considerably subsequent to taking the cash. Stunning, I know. That is the reason the City of Baltimore ransomware episode cost so a lot and recuperation took such a long time. Baltimore didn't pay, so the IT staff needed to reestablish the information that they could and modify what machines they proved unable.

The recuperation plan likewise needs to represent the danger of information discharge. Yet, how might you keep an aggressor from discharging the taken information? You can't. Which makes the assurance and anticipation of ransomware considerably more significant than depending on information reinforcements for recuperation.

More info @   how to fix ransomware

Ransomware attack - security measures

Update security software regularly

To ensure the highest level of security, security software must be updated regularly. Each service pack includes the latest security updates to prevent ransomware Trojans from entering user devices.


Back up your data

In the event of a ransomware attack, your data will not be affected if you back it up regularly. Copy files to an external hard drive, but do not leave it connected to your computer when not in use. If the hard drive is connected at the time of the attack, the ransomware will also encrypt this data.

There are also remote data storage that allow you to revert to previous versions of your files. Therefore, even if the encryption program encrypts them, you can return to the unencrypted version through the cloud storage.

what is ransomware?

what is ransomware?

Ransomware is malicious software that manifests itself in several different ways, affecting individual systems, business networks, hospitals, airports and government units.

Ransomware has been officially developed since its first appearance in 1989 and is becoming more and more sophisticated. Simple forms are generally unencrypted ransomware, while modern versions make them inaccessible using cryptography methods to encrypt files. Encrypted ransomware can also be used on the hard drive to completely lock a computer's operating system, preventing the victim from accessing them. The main purpose here is to convince the victim to pay the ransom for deciphering. Payments are often requested in cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies) as they are difficult to trace. However, there is no guarantee that the attackers will decipher in exchange for payments. 

The popularity of ransomware has increased significantly over the past decade (especially in 2017), and as Europol reports ( IOCTA 2018 ) are currently the most widely used malware as a financial cyber attack type.

How is it transmitted?

Phishing: a recurring form of social engineering. Phishing emails in the context of ransomware are one of the most common methods of spreading malware. Victims are usually transmitted through dangerous email attachments or links that seem real. Even having a single victim in a computer network is enough to endanger the entire organization. 

Abuse kits: consists of a package containing different malware and a pre-written exploit code. These kits are designed to exploit problems and weaknesses in software applications and operating systems to spread malware. (Unsafe systems using outdated software are the most common targets)

Malicious ad: Attackers use ad networks to spread malware.

How do you protect yourself from ransomware?

Use outsourcing to back up your files regularly so you can replace the data when a potential infection is fixed

Be careful with email attachments and links. Avoid clicking websites or links of unknown sources

Install a reliable antivirus program and keep your software applications and operating system up to date

Enable the 'show file extensions' option in your Windows settings, so you can easily check the extension of your files. Avoid files with extensions like .exe, .vbs, .scr.

Avoid sites that are not protected by the HTTPS protocol (for example, whose URL starts 'https: //'). However, keep in mind that many malicious websites use the HTTPS protocol to confuse victims, and only the protocol does not guarantee that a website is legitimate and reliable.

Visit Nomoreransom.org, a website built by ransomware lawmakers and IT security companies. The site provides free decipher packs and some preventive measures for users infected with malware.

How does ransomware work

Ransomware is a Trojan designed to extort money from a victim. Often ransomware programs require a fee for canceling the changes that were made by the Trojan program on the victim's computer.

encryption of data on the disk, so that the user can no longer access his files;
blocking access to the device.
Methods for penetrating ransomware onto a computer
The most common ways to install ransomware Trojans are:

using phishing;
by placing malware on a website.
After installation, the Trojan either encrypts the information that is stored on the victim’s computer or blocks the normal operation of the computer, displaying a message requesting payment of a certain amount for decrypting the files and restoring the system. In most cases, a message requesting a money transfer appears when the user restarts the computer after infection occurs.

how does ransomware work

Ransomware is increasingly being used by cybercriminals around the world. However, ransom demand messages and ways to extort money in different regions may be different. For instance:

Fake messages about the presence of unlicensed applications
Such Trojans throw out a message stating that unlicensed software is installed on the victim’s computer. Then payment is required.
Fake Illegal Content Reporting
In countries where pirated software is less common, this method is not very effective. Instead, a pop-up message from ransomware Trojans can mimic a message from law enforcement agencies about the discovery on a computer of content containing child pornography or other illegal content. The message is accompanied by a fine.