Wednesday 15 May 2024

No More Ransom: Ransomware help, information and response website


The No More Ransom website is an initiative of the High Tech Crime Unit of the Dutch police, the European Cybercrime Center of Europol and two digital security companies - Kaspersky Lab and McAfee - to help victims of redemption. retrieve encrypted data without having to pay criminals.

Since it is much easier to avoid the threat than to fight it once the system is affected, the project also aims to educate users about how the ransomware works and what countermeasures can be taken to effectively prevent infection. The more parties that support this project, the better the results can be. 

This initiative is open to other public and private parties. Ransomware is software that locks your computers and mobile devices or encrypts your digital files. 

When that happens, you can not get your data back unless you pay the ransom. However, this is not certain and you should not pay. Redemption, also known as ransomware, is malicious software that restricts access to your files or encrypts them, and may even prevent you from using your computer completely. . "Then he tries to force you to pay money (ransom) to gain access to it again."

The payment of ransom is not recommended in any case, mainly because it does not guarantee a solution to the problem. There are also some issues that will not develop as expected. For example, there may be bugs in malware that make encrypted data irreparable even with the right key.

In addition, if the ransom is paid, it proves to cybercriminals that the ransom is effective. As a result, cybercriminals will continue to operate and seek new ways to exploit systems that lead to more infections and more money in their accounts. evolving rapidly.

With each new variant, better encryption and new features are offered. This is something you can not ignore! One of the reasons why it is so difficult to find a single solution is because encryption alone is not malicious. By following some simple safety tips you can avoid falling victim to redemption.


WAYS OF PROTECTION

  • Install Microsoft patches, this also prevents Wannacry from spreading on your network. Install Microsoft patches, be sure to create backups, and have a recovery system in place so that a possible infection can't destroy your personal data forever.
  • It is best to make two backups: one to be backed up to the cloud (remember to use a service that backs up your files automatically) and one for physical storage (laptop hard drive, laptop, etc.). Disconnect them from your computer when done. Backups will also help you if you accidentally delete a critical file or if anything happens to your hard drive.
  • Use a powerful antivirus software to protect your system from ransomware. Do not disable "heuristics" as these help the software collect samples of malware that have not yet been officially detected.
  • Keep all software on your computer up to date. When your operating system (OS) or applications have a new version, install it. And if the software offers the automatic update feature, enable it.
  • Never open attachments in emails from someone you do not know. Cybercriminals often distribute fake emails that look a lot like e-mail alerts from an online store, bank, police, court or tax office, enticing recipients to click on a malicious link and install malicious software. in their system. 
  • Turn on the "Show file extensions" option in Windows settings on your computer. This will make it much easier to spot potentially malicious files. Stay away from file extensions like '.exe', '.vbs' and '.scr'. Crooks can use various extensions to disguise a malicious file as a video, photo or document (such as hot-chics.avi.exe or doc.scr). If you discover an unknown process on your machine, immediately disconnect it from the internet or other network connections (such as home Wi-Fi) - this will prevent the infection from spreading.

    If you are still infected with malware of this kind you can through some completely understandable steps to help and manage to remove it. In any case, this is a top website that you should definitely visit even for a simple update.

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Evangelos
✍️ Evangelos
Its creator LoveForTechnology.net — an independent and trusted source for tech guides, tools, and practical solutions. Each article is based on personal testing, evidence-based research, and care for the average user. Here, technology is presented simply and clearly.

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