The recently worldwide attacks from ransomers have opened Pandora’s box: are we enough protected against malware and hackers? And what can we do to make sure that both our personal and business data is safe from such attacks?
The point of this article is to explain and focus on the steps you need to take in order to keep your computer protected against viruses, threats and ransomware attacks. The reason is very simple: most of these infections are determined by users themselves, their online behavior being responsible for a huge percentage of malware infections.
These are the main tips to keep your computer uninfected and protected against attacks.
1. Don’t trust any received email
The WannaCry ransomware was spread by email. What it took was a single person from a network to open an infected attachment and then the malicious software replicated itself through the network and infected multiple unprotected computers. Apparently, the emails look legit and this is the main reason you need to make sure that you check the identity of the sender and make sure you know him and that he’s a real person
To protect against this type of approach it’s best to have installed a strong antispam email, able to filter the received emails in real time.
2. Use an anti-ransomware software
If you’re targeted by a ransomer attack and you have all your files encrypted, you can’t do almost anything to recover your data without paying the attacker. If you want to prevent such scenario it is best to have installed on your computer a strong anti-ransomware solution.
We recommend you a tested solution, Bitdefender Antivirus which have included an anti-ransomware module. You can read an in-depth review of this security solution, here.
The WannaCry attack has affected multiple users using the same network. Basically, a single user can infect thousands of computers from the same network. This is the main reason a security solution like the described one above can make the difference.
3. Don’t click on anything unusual
If you receive something unusual on Skype or you see some weird attachment to an email, don’t open it until you don’t know what it is. An archive or an attachment may hide a malicious ransomware, able to encrypt all your important data in a matter of seconds.
4. Keep your operating system updated
Regardless of your operating system, Windows or Android, if you want to benefit from a reduced risk of infection, download and install the latest updates for your operating system. The WannaCry attack could be prevented if users install a patch launched by Microsoft about two months ago.
They even posted an article about the risk of keeping your computer when the security patch was launched. Unfortunately, a lot of people have ignored the warning and the result was the biggest ransomware attack of all times, with factories closed and major data loss.
The lesson? Keep your operating system updated and you’ ll be protected against this type of attack.
5. Don’t install software from unofficial sources
Another important problem responsible for malware and ransomware infection is the software installed from untrusted sources. To make sure the software you need to install is legit, use the packages with a safe provenience. The official site is the best place to download and install a software.
Check the provider of the application when you install it: the verified publisher is the place you need so verify before you confirm that a software can be installed on your computer. If a software doesn’t have a digital signature, you’re exposed to risks because the software is modified or its provenience is uncertain.
With very few exceptions. this signature can’t be faked, so you know for sure that the software installed is legit and doesn’t affect your computer.
6. Make backups of your data
This is probably the simplest thing you can to make sure you don’t lose anything. Make sure you backup your important data into the cloud or on a different hard drive. As long as you have a backup, you can ignore any potential ransomware attack.
Conclusion
These tips can save your work and your money. Remember that you can be protected against ransomware and malware if you are very careful with your important data only and you follow these basic yet important rules.