As technology has progressed, so has good and evil with it. Ransomware is a high profile way of conning people and companies into paying huge amounts of money for some extremely important files.
The victims have reported being locked out of their systems, getting threats of exposure or loss of important data, being approached by fake FBI officials, being demanded to pay in various modes, etc. How it is executed and how many people are involved is still an enigma for the high tech world too.
The earliest ransomware attack dates back to 1980s and is still a mystery who were the attackers and the victims. The victim was informed that his software had expired and the vicious game of malware had started from there. Many experts say that its origin goes back to Russia and Eastern Europe. Now it has spread through western Europe, America and many other European countries resulting in high profile companies being affected and threatened to pay loads and loads of cash.
This malicious malware is spreading at the speed of light and every day a new kind of malware affects a new company across the globe making others more likely to get affected. From hospitals to schools to international airports, this malware has become extremely difficult to detect and foresee.
It has been reported by various companies and victims that although they had the most expensive and effective antivirus software, their systems were affected and the antivirus did not work properly. It is believed that this malware can only be avoided if the employees and owners are properly trained, and are extremely vigilant when it comes to software updates and downloads.
Software designers are also working on the antidote for the disease. They are working on ways to protect and decrypt computer systems so that people do not end up paying through their noses. It is a small step towards cyber crime prevention, but it will go a long way.
As ransomware has moved from high profile companies to home-based users, they threaten people to post their personal stuff online if they refuse to pay the attacker. Home-based users were affected mostly due to Adobe technology. People who download Adobe flash become more vulnerable to ransomware attacks as they had to download it from different sources and were often told to either refresh or update their software. The people involved in this malware are more likely to know the language and country of origin of the user and hence it is easier for them to blackmail them on basis of social, political or religious issues. They blackmail these people by threatening to post their personal information on the web and making them pay more and more each time.
In the end, it is not unlikely that you will not be affected by this sophisticated malware attack. To avoid becoming a victim, take the necessary steps to prevent losing your data or files. Be vigilant and be aware!
