What are some of the most common myths about ransomware?
Ransomware is a type of malware that encrypts a victim’s files and demands a ransom to decrypt them. Ransomware has become a major threat to individuals and organizations in recent years, with high-profile attacks against hospitals, businesses, and even government agencies.
While ransomware attacks are often highly publicized, there is still a lot of misinformation about them. In this article, we’ll debunk some of the most common myths about ransomware.
Myth #1: Ransomware is a new phenomenon
Ransomware has been around for nearly two decades. The first known ransomware attack dates back to 1989, when a group of researchers released the AIDS Trojan, which encrypted victims’ files and demanded a payment of $189 to decrypt them.
However, ransomware only began to gain notoriety in the past few years, as the number of attacks has increased and the fees demanded by attackers have risen. In 2016, the average ransom paid by ransomware victims was $679, while in 2017 it rose to $1,077.
Myth #2: Only individuals are targeted by ransomware attacks
Ransomware attacks are not just limited to individuals. In fact, businesses and organizations are often targeted by ransomware attackers, as they are able to generate higher ransom payments.
One of the largest ransomware attacks in history occurred in 2017 when the “WannaCry” ransomware infected more than 230,000 computers in 150 countries, including those of major organizations such as the NHS in the UK and FedEx in the US.
Myth #3: Macs are immune to ransomware
Despite what some people may think, Macs are not immune to ransomware. In fact, there have been a number of high-profile ransomware attacks against Macs in recent years.
In 2015, the “FileCoder” ransomware targeted Macs and demanded a ransom of $500 to decrypt victims’ files. In 2016, the “KeRanger” ransomware infected more than 5,000 Macs and demanded a ransom of $400.
Myth #4: You can always restore your files from a backup
While it is true that you can restore your files from a backup if you have one, it is not always that simple. Depending on when the backup was made, you may not be able to restore all of your files.
Additionally, if you do not have a backup, you may be out of luck. There is no guarantee that you will be able to decrypt your files without paying the ransom, even if you have a backup.
Myth #5: Ransomware is only spread through email attachments
While email attachments are one of the most common ways that ransomware is spread, they are not the only way. Ransomware can also be spread through malicious websites, malicious ads, and even through USB drives.
Myth #6: You can avoid ransomware by not clicking on email attachments
While avoiding email attachments is a good way to avoid ransomware, it is not foolproof. As we mentioned before, ransomware can also be spread through malicious websites and ads.
Additionally, some ransomware attacks have used “social engineering” to trick victims into clicking on malicious links. In one such attack, victims received an email that appeared to be from their bank. The email claimed that their account had been compromised and instructed them to click on a link to “verify their account.” However, the link actually downloaded and installed ransomware on their computer.
Myth #7: Ransomware is not a serious threat
Ransomware is a serious threat to both individuals and organizations. As we’ve seen, ransomware attacks can have a major impact, causing businesses to lose money and individuals to lose their personal files.
In some cases, ransomware attacks can even lead to loss of life. In 2016, a ransomware attack against a hospital in the US caused the death of a patient who was not able to receive treatments for their cancer.
Myth #8: There’s nothing you can do to protect yourself from ransomware
While there is no guaranteed way to protect yourself from ransomware, there are a few things you can do to lower your risk. For example, you can install and maintain anti-virus software, avoid clicking on links in emails from unknown senders, and back up your files regularly.
Additionally, you can take steps to protect your organization from ransomware by ensuring that your systems are up-to-date and patched, and by having a comprehensive backup and recovery plan in place.
Ransomware is a serious threat that has been on the rise in recent years. By debunks some of the most common myths about ransomware, we can help to raise awareness about this growing threat..Read Full Report
How much money do ransomware attackers typically demand?
attackers typically demand a ransom of between $200 and $600 in order to decrypt the files they have encrypted. However, some ransomware programs have been known to demand as much as $1,000 in order to decrypt the files.
Visit malwarezero.org to learn more about ransomware. Disclaimer: We used this website as a reference for this blog post.