Ransomware

Context:

An online database about the use of the spyware Pegasus was recently launched by the Forensic Architecture, the Amnesty International and the Citizen Lab to document attacks against human rights defenders.

What is Ransomware?

It is a type of malicious software (malware) that threatens to publish or blocks access to data or a computer system, usually by encrypting it, until the victim pays a ransom fee to the attacker.
Several government agencies, advise against paying the ransom to keep from encouraging the ransomware cycle, as half of the victims who pay the ransom are likely to suffer from repeat ransomware attacks.
Ransomware attacks began to soar in popularity with the growth of cyptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin.
- Cryptocurrency is a digital currency that uses encryption techniques to verify and secure transactions and control the creation of new units.
- Beyond Bitcoin, there are other popular cryptocurrencies that attackers prompt victims to use, such as Ethereum, Litecoin, and Ripple.

Examples of Ransomware

How to Prevent Ransomware Attacks?

Defend your email against Ransomware—Email phishing and spam are the main way that ransomware attacks are distributed. Secure Email Gateways with targeted attack protection are crucial for detecting and blocking malicious emails that deliver ransomware.
Defend your mobile devices against Ransomware using mobile device management (MDM) tools, that can analyze applications on users’ devices and immediately alert users and IT to any applications that might compromise the environment.
Monitoring server, network and back up key systems can reduce the risk of a crashed or encrypted machine causing a crucial operational bottleneck.

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