In today’s fast paced world we are becoming more and more dependent on our electronic
devices. We access our data and spreadsheets on our laptops and tablets. We call and email our clients on our smart phones. The devices we use are becoming more integrated with everyday life, and as such we use them for more than just business.
Many people will stream a video, or listen to music on their devices. Imagine, however, you click on a link to watch a video, and instead your device becomes locked, with a message stating that there is child pornography on your device and you will be reported to the FBI unless you pay to have it removed. This is exactly what happened to a young girl in Tennessee. She unknowingly installed malware that took over her phone and started to wreak havoc. This type of malware is called “Ransomware”. It is a form of malware that installs on your devices, and can be from
websites, emails, etc. Some of it will threaten to delete or encrypt your data unless you pay a fee. Some will delete the data and then demand a fee to restore it. Some, like above, will install illegal things and demand that you pay or if not that you will be reported to the FBI. What’s worse is that you could pay the ransom demanded, and you’re not even guaranteed to get your data back, or device freed.
This type of malware is big business, and has mostly been limited to computers (laptops or desktops.) With today’s technology of more mobile devices such as tablets and smart phones we can expect that this will become the newest trending market for being targeted by the writers of the Malware. Companies such as Avast have reported in increase of blocked attacks, and they see the trend rising.
All hope is not lost however. There are steps that you can take that can help you to
avoid this type of personal attack. First you should always be wary of links. Never
click on an unknown link, especially from emails. If an associate or friend has
emailed you something that contains a link make sure that you verify that it actually
came from them before clicking on it. Attackers have ways of making emails seem to come from people you know and wouldn’t suspect. Second, you should only use approved methods of downloading applications onto your smart phone or tablet. This includes Google Play and the Apple Store. This is not always a guarantee of safe programs, but they are less likely to be harmful if coming from them. Third, make sure that you have some sort of program to block these types of attacks. This means virus/
malware protection. Make sure that you use a reputable vendor, and purchase the protection. There are many free versions out there, but when it comes to your devices and data it is better to be safe than sorry. You know the adage, you get what you pay for.
If you do become the victim of one of these ransomware attacks make sure that you first contact your local authorities, especially if the ransomware has downloaded illegal items onto your device. After that you can contact us any time at 866-9MH-TECH or email us at support@mhconsults.com and we will be glad to assist you.
Categorised in: antimalware, antivirus, malware, ransomware, Security