{"id":12863,"date":"2023-07-04T11:31:55","date_gmt":"2023-07-04T10:31:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/citysecuritymagazine.com\/?p=12863"},"modified":"2023-07-04T11:31:56","modified_gmt":"2023-07-04T10:31:56","slug":"the-persistent-menace-of-ransomware-and-four-steps-to-defend-against-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citysecuritymagazine.com\/cyber-security\/the-persistent-menace-of-ransomware-and-four-steps-to-defend-against-it\/","title":{"rendered":"The persistent menace of ransomware and four steps to defend against it"},"content":{"rendered":"

The persistent menace of ransomware and four steps to defend against it<\/h1>\n

Continuing our series of articles from the City of London Police<\/a> on fraud and cyber crime, here the focus is Ransomware, covering the scale of the threat and what you can do to protect against this crime.<\/em><\/p>\n

Understanding Ransomware<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Malware <\/strong>is malicious software which, if able to run, can cause harm to your computer.<\/p>\n

Ransomware<\/strong> is a type of malware that prevents a user from accessing their computer or the data that is stored on it. The computer itself may become locked, or the data on it might be stolen, deleted or encrypted.<\/p>\n

Usually you\u2019re asked to contact the attacker via an anonymous email address or follow instructions on an anonymous web page, to make payment. The payment is invariably demanded in a cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin, in order to unlock your computer, or access your data. However, even if you pay the ransom, there is no guarantee that you will get access to your computer, or your files.<\/p>\n

The scale of the threat<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Ransomware continues to be a successful cyber attack and although the extent of the harm is underreported by most victims, ransomware remains hugely profitable for individuals and group offenders and equally disruptive for victims.<\/p>\n

The latest annual assessment from Action Fraud (2021\/22) showed ransomware as the most impactful malware reported. In the first quarter of 2023, Action Fraud received 97 reports relating to ransomware. Each month new ransomware variants are being identified, which shows that cyber criminals are exploring new toolkits and methods to commit offences.<\/p>\n

It is not just large organisations that are targeted; small and medium-sized organisations frequently report incidents of ransomware attacks.<\/p>\n

How to protect your business from ransomware and its effects<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Read the NCSC\u2019s guidance<\/a> for the full information and guidance on mitigating malware and ransomware attacks.<\/p>\n

In summary:<\/p>\n

Step 1:<\/strong> Make regular backups<\/h4>\n

Up-to-date backups are the most effective way of recovering from a ransomware attack.<\/p>\n

Make regular backups of your most important files. Ensure you create offline backups that are kept separate, in a different location (ideally offsite) from your network and systems, or in a cloud service designed for this purpose.<\/p>\n

Step 2:<\/strong> Prevent malware from being delivered and spreading to devices<\/h4>\n

You can reduce the likelihood of malicious content reaching your devices through a combination of:<\/p>\n