By now, we’re all familiar with the threat of ransomware, which accounts for nearly 20 percent of all spam.
One wrong click on a seemingly legitimate email and your network is held hostage.
Until you pay a ransom to the cyber hackers who managed to catch the unlucky email recipient off guard, your network remains vulnerable.
What Is Locky?
Locky is the latest ransomware to wreak havoc and works.
It contains a hidden JavaScript file in the attachment that evades most common malware detection software because it appears to be a harmless file.
Locky has proliferated so quickly that it now accounts for more than 16 percent of all ransomware attacks.
While the U.S., Japan, and France have been the most severely targeted, Locky has made its way to Canada.
Canadian businesses must take precautions against the threat.
How Does Ransomware Work?
Ransomware works by creating fear.
The messages are usually designed to make the recipient of the email believe that the email was sent by someone they trust.
It makes the recipient believe that the action needed to take (opening the file or clicking on the link) is necessary to conduct business and that it is an urgent matter.
Cyber hackers are clever, so businesses have to be constantly on alert.
In addition to implementing robust email security as well as offsite backup and recovery solutions, the most important step is to immediately warn staff.
It is easy to be fooled by emails that seem to be coming from legitimate sources, and once the person has clicked on the link or opened the file, there is no recovering.
Employees must learn to treat every email with caution and follow the ITeam Email security guidelines every time.
Download the ITeam Email Security Guide Here.
