Ransomware is One Problem that Leads to Many More

The Simple Fact is that Ransomware Hurts in Many Ways

Let?s walk through what a modern ransomware attack might look like, acknowledging all the ways that the affected business would suffer as a result of the infection.

  • A ransomware attack begins with an attacker reaching out and communicating with an intended victim as part of a phishing attack to gain access to said victim?s device or network.
  • Once the ransomware is in effect, it encrypts all data it has access to, leaving it useless to the user, and that?s if the user isn?t locked out of their systems outright. As a result, productivity is hindered, and potentially eliminated.
  • The attacker may also steal data, putting it up for sale on the Dark Web or using it for other nefarious purposes.
  • The attacker then reaches out to their victim, demanding a ransom before the data will be returned? or, if no payment is received, the data is deleted.
  • Meanwhile, the victim remains unable to operate, suffering downtime with no capability to generate revenue.
  • If the ransom is paid, the victim will be out a significant sum of money, and there?s nothing to guarantee that they?ll get their data back.
  • The victimized business then must wipe their infrastructure to clear out the infection, hopefully having maintained a backup to restore from. Otherwise, they?re effectively starting from scratch.
  • In addition, because the ransomware will have caused downtime for the duration of the event, the interrupted services and potential for stolen data could have easily ruined the business? trust in the community.

Ultimately, even if the infected business does everything right (other than the infection), by maintaining a backup, wiping data and implementing this backup, and maintaining open and clear communication? it may not be enough.

This is Exactly Why You Need to Avoid Ransomware

Ransomware?s impacts are not only costly, but they stick around long after the situation has otherwise been resolved. Preventing it is your best option, but you also need other protections to help defend your business. The backups we?ve already mentioned, user training to help avoid phishing and other methods of infection, and more can all help keep your business?and by extension, your future?safe.

We can help. Reach out to us at (603) 889-0800 to start a conversation.

White Mountain IT

Related Posts

You Need to Have a Business Continuity Plan for Your SMB

Business technology is known to be remarkably finicky, particularly if you do not have the requisite knowledge to manage and maintain it. After all, there is a reason why you hire an IT department or a managed service provider to handle this role. What happens if your technology fails, though? Do you have a plan in place? What does a plan like this even look like, anyway? Let’s dig into the detail...

Smishing: A Variety of Phishing Attacks Utilizing SMS

The Dangers of SMS Phishing, or ?Smishing? Ultimately, any plot carried out by a scammer that is trying to either pose as someone else or urge the user to do something particularly dangerous could be considered a phishing attack. This kind of definition goes beyond simple email scams, where you get a message in your inbox urging you to click on links or download infected attachments. There are ot...

Mobile Device Management is Critical for Today's Business

Security Enhancement Security is the name of the game and MDM helps enhance the security of mobile devices by policy enforcement. It gives organizations the ability to configure and enforce settings such as password complexity, encryption, and can even wipe a device in the case of theft or loss. It also provides real-time monitoring and alerts for potential security threats, allowing administrato...

Don?t Take Any Chances: Get a VPN Today

Encryption The primary technology at work with a VPN is encryption, keeping any data secure while it?s moving to or from your network. With this encryption in place, it becomes much more difficult for an unauthorized user to steal or snoop on your data. Data Integrity VPNs can also ensure that your data?s integrity is sound. When it gets sent over an encrypted connection, you can know with conf...