What is Ransomware? A Family Safety Guide

Most ransomware is disguised as a valid file to be downloaded or opened in an email. So, what is ransomware? Ransomware is a type of malicious software that holds your personal digital data for ransom. Those affected by ransomware cannot gain access to their personal data without paying a fine.‍

What is Ransomware?

• You’re probably thinking... “No one wants to get into my computer, I have nothing to steal, I’m not rich or famous”
• However, you have 100-2,000 friends in your email contacts who might trust you, and ransomware can email them (on your behalf) to infect their computer
• Typically, people whose data has been seized by ransomware are threatened to have their data leaked or are blocked from accessing their data
• Most ransomware is disguised as a valid file to be downloaded or opened in an email

Why should you care?

• Once ransomware has been launched there is little you can do unless you have a backup or security software in place already
• If you pay to get your data back, there is no guarantee that you will gain access to your data

What to do if you become a ransomware victim

• Do not pay the ransom fine
• If you think you may have ransomware running on your device, disconnect it from the internet immediately to prevent it from spreading
• Try using a decryption tool from Kaspersky Lab and Macafee to recover your data

How to prevent becoming a victim of ransomware

According to Kaspersky Lab and Macafee these are the steps you should take to protect your kids:

• Backup your computer so that if someone takes your data ransom they can delete it and you still have access to it
• Keep your software up to date (Windows, Mac, Android and iOS)
• Use antivirus software
• Never trust links or downloads from anyone you don’t know
• Buy an external hard drive and back it up once a month then disconnect it once the backup is complete so ransomware can’t access your data

What backup software should I use?

• Windows File History
• Mac Time Machine
• Dropbox
• Acronis Backup
• OneDrive
• Amazon Drive

The best antivirus software for Macs & PCs

• McAfee AntiVirus Plus
• Kaspersky Anti-Virus
• Symantec Norton AntiVirus Basic
• Bitdefender Antivirus Plus
• Avast Pro Antivirus
• Malwarebytes (Free)
• AVG AntiVirus Free

How to protect grandparents from risky links/emails

• Teach them to never open or download/click links in emails from people they don’t know
• Offer to setup a backup system for their computer
• Remind them to regularly update their operating system software
• Get them on Gmail/Google apps if possible