It seems the news these days is full of companies, agencies, and other organizations’ cybersecurity under attack. Often, these attackers use ransomware to complete their nefarious goals. But what exactly is ransomware?
Ransomware is aptly named — it’s malicious software (commonly known as malware) that scrambles the information on your computer or system, rendering it useless to access. Hackers are glad to restore access to your system, but only after paying or agreeing to the ransom.
Hence, ransom–ware.
Ransomware can find its way onto systems in a number of ways, including email, links, advertisements, and direct installation. But just like you install software on your system to run programs, hackers install ransomware on a system to extort that system’s owners.
To prevent ransomware, stay vigilant — be mindful of the links you click on, whether in emails, websites, or advertisements. Make sure your anti-virus software is up to date and running properly. Make sure you keep regular backups of all your files, so in the event of a ransomware attack, you can still access your important information out of the system.
