It’s late at night. Unable to sleep, you decide to do some research on a destination for your next vacation. You’re casually scrolling through photos of tropical island resorts, and click on a link for what looks like a legitimate listing. Suddenly, your Computer freezes, and a new screen appears with an ominous warning. According to the very official looking notice — complete with law enforcement logo — you have violated the law and your computer is now frozen and under the control of a government entity.

Panicked, you try to click away from the screen, and nothing happens. You can’t go back, can’t close the window, nothing works. Then you notice the link at the bottom of the page: If you click on it and pay a “fine,” you’ll regain control of your computer and the whole thing will go away.

Sound familiar? If so, congratulations: You’re a victim of Ransomware, a new and dangerous form of cybercrime.

Ransomware: Holding Your Computer Hostage

Most PC users know how to avoid viruses: Don’t click on suspicious links in emails, avoid downloading random files from unfamiliar sources, etc. Yet cybercriminals are always looking for new ways to spread their malware and steal money and information.

Ransomware is, essentially, a type of virus. It’s generally spread in one of two ways. The less common method is via malicious links to either fake websites designed to attract visitors or legitimate websites that have been hacked and contain the ransomware code. Most victims, though, contract the malware by clicking on a link contained in an email.

In most cases, the link resembles something the user would legitimately need. For example, a law firm was hit with ransomware after installing a new voice mail system that delivered messages via voice mail. Cybercriminals sent emails to employees with attachments that resembled voice mails. But when the employees clicked on the attachment, their computers were locked down.

While in the past, ransomware used code to lock users out of their computers or applications, current viruses are more sinister, holding computers hostage by encrypting files. This prevents users from regaining access to their computers by simply removing the malicious code, because even if the code is gone, all of the files on the machine are still unreadable without the encryption key. As a result, victims have few options: Meet the criminal’s demands and pay up to get the encryption key (which doesn’t always happen) or refuse and lose access to their files forever.

How to Protect Yourself

Even though the threat of ransomware is severe, you can protect yourself and your files and avoid the frustration of dealing with this type of virus.

First, make sure you have up-to-date antivirus protection. This is the first line of defense against any harmful virus and cybercrime. Install all of the required updates to your operating system to avoid falling victim to malware exploiting vulnerabilities in common plug-ins and operating systems.

Second, remember the basics of safe Internet use. Never click on a link from a suspicious email, even if it’s from someone you know and trust. If you must click, use your antivirus programs sandbox feature to open the file in a safe environment, where it cannot harm your machine if it is malicious.

Third, make sure to back up your files to a separate location regularly. Use a cloud-based service or an external drive to save your files, so if you are hit with ransomware and cannot unencrypt your files, you won’t lose everything.

What to Do if You Get Ransomware

Sometimes, you can do everything right and a virus still gets through. If that happens:

• Don’t panic. Regardless of what the pop-up says, the FBI, the CIA or local law enforcement, is not controlling your computer.
• Do not pay the ransom. If the ransomware has just locked your computer, you can find instructions for removing the virus by using another computer or by contacting the maker of your antivirus program for help. Doing so will restore your computer’s function.
• Start Over. If your files are encrypted, usually they only way to unencrypt them is via the key that’s only available from the cybercriminals. You may need to decide whether to pay the ransom — which is never recommended —replace your computer or completely wipe your hard drive. If your files are backed up, the switch will be relatively easy, and serve as a reminder to keep your antivirus protection up to date.

Being infected with ransomware is frightening, but with the right precautions, it doesn’t have to happen to you. Be aware, and be cautious, and you won’t fall victim to this crime.

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