Miscellaneous 3 min. read

7 Tips To Prevent Ransomware Attacks

7 Tips To Prevent Ransomware Attacks

With more than 300,000 detections in 2017, there is no question that ransomware infections are more rampant and dangerous than ever. So the question is, how do you avoid becoming a victim of the ever-increasing number of attacks? The key is being proactive and not just waiting to get attacked. If you want to prevent ransomware attacks, you need to start with yourself. So, here are some points to consider.

  1. Use Virtual Private Network (VPN) software.

    A VPN is one of the best anti-ransomware programs you can have. It provides you with a secure connection and is designed to encrypt your data traffic whenever you go online. Your information can neither be seen nor accessed by cybercriminals who may be on the same network, which means they also can’t inject ransomware into your system.

  2. Do not open suspicious-looking emails.

    This might seem like a such a simple thing, but plenty of people still fail to do it. In fact, 2017, around 60% of ransomware attacks were done by email. As a general rule, do not open any email if you are unsure of its contents—even if it appears legitimate. If you think you know the person or company the email could be from, contact them first to verify if they did in fact send the email.

  3. Install adblockers on your devices.

    Pop-ups and other online ads are notorious vehicles for malware, and the best way to get rid of them is with an adblocker. From the name itself, an adblocker is a software that filters out web advertisements and stops them from appearing on your browsers. With a high-quality adblocker, you no longer have to manually close the pop ups one by one. The great thing about adblockers is that there are plenty of them available, and are usually free.

  4. Back up all your data.

    The goal of ransomware is to hijack a target’s data and disable access to it or threaten to publish it if a ransom is not paid. However, some cybercriminals are more sinister and either don’t return access to the data or destroy it completely even if a ransom is paid. This is why you should regularly back up your data, and do it across multiple platforms. You can prepare several backups with an external hard drive and services like Dropbox or Google Drive.

  5. Steer clear of public Wi-Fi networks.

    Cybercriminals love hanging out on public Wi-Fi because they can easily inject ransomware into the devices of those logged into the network. This is why you should stay out of public Wi-Fi networks at all costs. There aren’t any good enough reasons for you to use them, anyway. If you insist on using the free Wi-Fi offered by your local coffee shop, though, turn on your VPN first to make device invisible to anyone else on the network.

  6. Keep your firewall on.

    On your computer, you have the option to turn your firewall on or off. However, there’s a reason your computer recommends that you keep it on at all times. This is because your firewall is responsible for fending off any external attempts to control your computer and gain access to the information on it. While it isn’t always effective, your firewall is still an indispensable tool for deterring ransomware attacks.

  7. Be wary of what you download.

    On your computer, you have the option to turn your firewall on or off. However, there’s a reason your computer recommends that you keep it on at all times. This is because your firewall is responsible for fending off any external attempts to control your computer and gain access to the information on it. While it isn’t always effective, your firewall is still an indispensable tool for deterring ransomware attacks.

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Stop ransomware attacks before they happen. Visit our website and download Hotspot Shield VPN today. It’s available for free on Windows, Mac OS, Android, and iOS. For more updates in the world of cybersecurity, feel free to check out our website.

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