So what is Ransomware anyways?
Ransomware has been in the news a lot lately, and we thought it would be a good time to update our customers on just what exactly Ransomware is and how to protect yourself from getting infected or ransomed.
In many ways Ransomware is like a traditional computer virus. It is a malicious program, that usually infects people’s computers when they accidentally download or open something that is different than what they thought it was.
Once infected, Ransomware then encrypts all the files that you care about on your system (photos, documents etc.) The hackers then demand a ‘ransom’ (usually in the $300-$500 range) to unlock all of your files. The encryptions are so strong that once infected, it is often times impossible for even computer security experts to de-crypt the files. We have read many stories lately even of large corporations who were forced to pay the ransom to get their data back.
So how do I protect myself?
Protecting yourself from a ransomware attack it no different than any other virus. By playing it safe with the files you download and open, you can easily protect yourself from being infected. It is also wise to always run a virus scan on any new file you download that you are unsure of. If you become infected, we recommend turning your computer off immediately and giving us a call. The longer an infected machine is turned on, the more opportunity the malware has to infect additional files on your machine.
Secondly, and even more importantly, it is imperative to keep a backup of all your important data that is not directly connected to your computer. We recommend cloud solutions like iDrive, Dropbox or Carbonite… as these back up companies can go back in time 30 or more days to retrieve your data, even once you have been infected and uploaded your infected files to them.
As always, please call us if you have any questions or if we can be of any assistance.
– Michael Grippi, Owner of Yoga Bear Computer Repair
Yoga Bear Computer Repair is the best Sacramento computer repair company according to reviews on both Yelp and Google. With a thirty mile service area in every direction, and computer technicians who know how to deliver the type of Sacramento tech support you deserve. Yoga Bear Computer Repair does Apple Repair, PC Repair, and both laptops and desktops. Please contact us today if we can be of service to you. 916-800-3035