Frequently Asked Question - How Can I Protect Against Ransomware?

Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace have weaknesses that can leave organizations unprepared for email threats like malware ransomware. Businesses must know the best practices for email security to combat any risks that cross their servers.

What is Ransomware?

Ransomware typically enters servers through phishing email attacks. Threat actors embed malicious links or infected attachments into a message that victims open, permitting the ransomware to download onto a company server. Once installed, ransomware encrypts a business’ sensitive data and files until victims pay the hackers an untraceable amount of money or Bitcoin.

In 2019, organizations faced malware ransomware attacks every fourteen seconds, and sixty percent of small- or medium-sized Businesses (SMBs) faced an attack within the first six months of their establishment. Such statistics demonstrate how detrimental these email threats can be to a business. Companies can suffer from significant downtime, data loss, reputational harm, and financial theft, so a business must know everything they can about ransomware to combat any phishing email attack that heads their way.

What Types of Ransomware Exist?

Google Workspaces and Microsoft 365 security do not have the phishing prevention tactics they need in email protection software. Therefore, businesses that utilize such platforms can repeatedly suffer attacks by the same ransomware. The prevalence of Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) schemes results from how much knowledge and skill cybercriminals have regarding instigating ransomware attacks. RaaS is when a malicious organization hires a ransomware group that focuses on executing email threats on businesses.

Mobile phones lack adequate security defenses while containing valuable information, which makes these devices a prime target for cybercriminals. Threat actors devote time, energy, and resources to developing mobile ransomware daily since such attacks are becoming more common and beneficial for hackers.

How Can I Prevent Downloading Ransomware?

Protecting your organization from email security threats like ransomware is necessary to keep your business safe. Therefore, you must invest in email protection to provide lasting, reliable software to ensure your server is as safe as possible. Here are a variety of suggestions we offer to you regarding how to prevent ransomware and what to do so you are protected should you download ransomware by mistake:

• Employ a malicious malware URL scanner to detect email spoofing and sender fraud issues.
• Organize protocols like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC email authentication that can pick up on and prevent ransomware attacks.
• Implement multi-tiered cloud email security solutions with real-time security defenses that focus on patching in cybersecurity features built into servers.
• Take your time inspecting new emails and verifying the legitimacy of a sender so you never download or open malicious attachments and links.
• Regularly patch and update your Operating System (OS) to reduce the number of cybersecurity vulnerabilities threat actors could exploit.
• Backup files frequently and automatically so that you can still access the data that hackers might try to encrypt if you face an attack. However, take additional measures if possible since backups can face ransomware attacks just as hard.
• Set up email filters and spam filtering techniques that mitigate ransomware scams before reaching your server.
• Hold email security training events where your staff and employees can learn how to recognize and stop phishing emails that could lead to ransomware downloads.

These are some best practices for email security to consider when strengthening your organization’s ability to combat data breach and phishing email attacks.

How Can I Remove or Recover From Ransomware?

If you face a ransomware attack, you must know how to protect your data and recover your systems as quickly, efficiently, and harmlessly as possible. Here are the steps we recommend:

• Jot down the ransom note information that you see on your screen and pass it to your IT security team or a recovery expert. These people can determine the strain of ransomware you are dealing with and how to approach the attack, whether by finding the correct encryption key or taking additional security measures.
• Disconnect affected devices from the network so you can protect backups on other servers. Avoid turning the device off since the data might be helpful during forensic analysis.
• Keep encrypted files on your system so that recovery experts can attempt to use those files to decrypt and free you by determining the types of ransomware on your server.
• Work with a firm that specializes in ransomware recovery.
• Consider the ransom payment. While it might seem unethical to support illegal activity, it might be the cheapest, most straightforward way to regain access to your files. You can negotiate with the attack and see whether or not paying the ransom would be the best course of action. Just know that forty-two percent of organizations never have their files decrypted, even once paying the ransom. However, hackers subjected to US sanctions cannot receive a ransom, as it is illegal, so keep that in mind when approaching a threat actor.
• Thoroughly wipe and restore all traces of the attack from your system once you recover all your access to the server.

Keep Learning About Ransomware Protection with Guardian Digital

It is valuable to learn from what happened in the incident so that you can figure out what vulnerabilities to patch to keep email security breaches from entering your servers again. Consider installing a proactive, layered cloud email security solution to prevent ransomware emails and other malicious email threats from reaching the inbox.

Read Further: Ransomware Attack Explained - Best Practices For Ransomware Protection