At times we find our computer systems do not open or respond to our commands. We are subject to Denial of Service attacks, also called ransomware. It is so called because the software will lock our system and only when ransom is exchanged , will our systems be open. The ransom passes through the secretive bitcoin system.
It so happened to me in Goa Engineering College, during the early 2000. I was setting up the college elearning website, half way through the classes, many sessions completed. Suddenly one fine morning when I came to the dept I found I could not login to the system I was exited out and could not run the lab nor the class from the machine. Luckily that time I had just one or two subjects on the computer and hence could afford to reformat the machine and reload the Linux OS and run the system. There was a delay of a week.
While going through an Oct 2016 HBR article by Mohammed Ali on the same topic, (click here), the data was very disturbing. Every year ransom ware attacks in US cost upwards of $ 1 billion and app 4000 ransomware attacks happen daily in US alone, asking for ransom and payment happens through the Darkweb through bitcoins.
A global survey revealed that about 43% of middle level managers and 25% of senior and C level managers were subjected to ransomware strikes in US in 2016. Neatly written fraudulent emails make the executive click on some unsuspected links causing the ransomware to reside in the host computer increasing its vulnerability to attacks later on. Ransomware spreads through not updated un-patched applications.
1. Proper awareness creation and training sessions will help.
2.Deploy updated anti-virus software.
3. Avoid human errors by asking executives to be cautious while working with data.
4. Always store a duplicate of the data.
5. In case of an attack, shut down the system and inform the authorities of the breach.
6. Assess the damage and copy from backup.
With increasing use of systems from WFH , the risk of ransomware attacks are going to increase in the coming years. We need to be well prepared for the
George.
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