Ransomware has gained widespread popularity as an effective tool to steal valuable data or money from the victims. As the transactions cannot be traced back to the perpetrator, ransomware is the quickest way of stealing for cyber-criminals. With the world now more connected than ever, almost anyone with data stored on their devices can be a potential ransomware victim. Big businesses understand the threat of losing valuable data and records. This is why every big company is investing heavily in specialized IT security teams for ransomware removal and has action plans in place to tackle a ransomware situation instantly.
One would suppose that in a ransomware attack, original files cannot be recovered. Well, they can be, but before we get into how you can recover your crucial data in case of a ransomware attack, it is crucial to figure out the kind of ransomware attack perpetrated.
Scareware Attack
As the name suggests, scareware incorporates fake anti-virus pop-ups to scare and trap the user into installing the bug into the device. In that case, disconnect your device and reboot it. You’ll be good to go.
Lock Screen Attack
In this type of ransomware attack, the perpetrator temporarily locks your device and asks for a certain amount as a ransom to unlock the device and allow you to use it.
Encryption attack
The most dangerous of the three, during an encryption ransomware attack, all the data on your device is encrypted and restricted to you. In order to retrieve the files, a ransom must be paid, or you lose the files permanently.
Recover directly from an external source or cloud
People are now becoming more aware of ransomware attacks, and since it is better to be safe than sorry, people are resorting to ransomware removal software in case of an unexpected ransomware attack. Another great way to deal with an unexpected ransomware attack is to store copies of your original data through outlets such as USB or SD card. If you think carrying a USB with you at all times is uneasy, you have the option of cloud storage on which you can upload your data through an internet connection wherever, whenever you like. So, if you are in the habit of uploading your data regularly to the cloud or keeping a copy of it on an external source, you don’t have to worry about paying the ransom to restore your files.
Using external data recovery software
If you have no copies of your data or have no data stored on the cloud, and are struck with a ransomware attack, you don’t have many options. In this case, opting for a data recovery software is your best shot at restoring your data, but that too is not guaranteed. For data encrypted by viruses such as CryptoLocker and Locky virus, there is a variety of data recovery software available that works ideally as long as the software can detect the deleted files.
To prevent being in a situation like this, it is suggested that you regularly monitor your device through a professional ransomware removal software to get rid of any bugs that might have infected your device. Moreover, always keep a backup of your data. This way, you’re protected against ransomware attacks.