What to do to avoid a ransomware attack?

Even if you have not yet been impacted by a ransomware attack, prevention is better than cure… A few practical tips and a good antivirus will allow you to sleep soundly and be prepared if you were to one day fall victim to a virus, malware or ransomware.

Antiviruses with specific features against ransomware:

Ransomware is a type of malware designed to block access to a user’s or organization’s data by encrypting it, and then demand a ransom to decrypt the data and restore access. It is a form of cybercrime that has intensified in recent years, affecting individuals, companies and public institutions. Ransomware works by exploiting security flaws or using social engineering to spread and infect computer systems.

The ransomware infection process usually begins with an attack vector, such as a phishing email. containing a malicious attachment or link. Even if you have all the security tools in the world, if you are not vigilant, you will be the weak link. When the user opens the attachment or clicks on the link, the ransomware is downloaded and executed on the system. There are also other infection vectors such as exploiting vulnerabilities in software, unsecured networks, or downloading infected files from compromised websites.

Once installed on the system, the ransomware starts by scanning files to identify which ones will be encrypted. It often targets files that are important to the user, such as documents, images, videos, and databases. Then, the ransomware uses an encryption method to make the files inaccessible. This encryption is usually very strong, using advanced algorithms such as AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) or RSA (Rivest-Shamir-Adleman), which makes decryption without the key virtually impossible.

After encrypting the files, the ransomware displays a message to the user, informing them that their files have been encrypted and demanding a ransom to obtain the decryption key. This message often includes instructions on how to pay the ransom, usually in cryptocurrency, preserving the anonymity of the attackers.

Some ransomware variants add additional pressure by setting a time limit for the ransom payment. If the ransom is not paid within the allotted time, the attackers threaten to permanently delete the decryption key or increase the ransom amount. In some cases, the attackers also threaten to publicly release the stolen data, a tactic known as double extortion.

There are several types of ransomware, each with slightly different characteristics and attack methods.. For example, locker ransomware blocks access to the user’s system or device without encrypting files, while crypto ransomware encrypts the user’s files but leaves the system intact. Some ransomware, called wipers, is designed not to extort money, but to cause damage by deleting or destroying data.

What are the best practices to put in place to protect yourself from a ransomware attack?

To effectively protect yourself against a ransomware attack, it is essential to implement several good cybersecurity practices. The first step is to keep all software, operating systems and applications up to date, both on your Windows or Linux PC, your Mac, and on your Android or iOS smartphone.. Indeed, system updates and software updates often contain security patches that plug vulnerabilities that can be exploited by cybercriminals to introduce ransomware into a system.

Afterwards, It is crucial to use robust security solutions, such as antivirus and firewallswhich are able to detect, block and remove malware before it can cause damage. If not enabled by default, it is recommended to enable the real-time protection of these security solutions to monitor potential threats continuously and to set up regular automatic scans of the entire system.

Regular data backup is another fundamental protective measure against ransomware.. Performing frequent and automatic backups of important files to external media or cloud storage solutions ensures that data can be restored in the event of an attack. It is important to ensure that the backups themselves are secure and not permanently connected to the main network, in order to protect them from encryption or ransomware infection.

Users should remain vigilant and be informed about different phishing and social engineering techniques.as these methods are commonly used to trick victims into downloading malware or disclosing sensitive information. A few good security practices, such as not opening attachments or clicking on links in suspicious emails or text messages, are essential to reduce the risk of infection.

If you have time and are interested in the subject, It’s a good idea to stay informed about the latest threats and trends in viruses, malware and ransomware.. Cybercriminals are constantly evolving and developing new techniques to bypass existing defenses. By staying up to date on emerging threats, users can better protect themselves against future attacks.

What are the best antiviruses against ransomware attacks?

Avast One, the most complete

Avast One is one of the recommended security solutions against viruses, but it also attaches great importance to protection against ransomware. In addition to all its real-time protection tools, it integrates a VPN, an intelligent firewall, in-depth scans, optimization and update management tools and many others. As for ransomware, Avast offers a specific detection and removal tool that relies not only on a cloud-based malware database that is constantly updated through a vast network, but also on a machine learning system.