Option 1. Back up your data regularly.
Let's say that you back up your files every Sunday night. If you receive a ransomware threat on—worst-case scenario—a Sunday afternoon, you'll lose only a week's worth of data. If you would like to start backing up your files, you'll have to take the time to devise your own schedule and method. When establishing a backup plan, remember to keep these two things in mind:
- Regularly test your backups. You'd be surprised how many people wait until an attack or hard drive failure before they restore a backup for the first time, only to find that it doesn't work!
- Store your backups separately from your computer. If backup media is connected to your system during an attack, your backup data could be targeted as well.
Option 2. Be wary of phishing. Approximately 91 percent of cyber attacks start as phishing scams, according to Wired. When checking e-mail, remember to:
- Hover over all links to verify that they're safe
- Avoid clicking links whenever possible by typing URLs directly into your browser
- Delete any suspicious e-mails
Option 3. Update your systems ASAP.
Attackers know the vulnerabilities of yesterday's technology. The longer you avoid regular updates, the more time attackers have to exploit those vulnerabilities. Most of us haven't experienced ransomware, but as the number of attacks increases, so does the probability of becoming a victim. If the day comes when it does happen to you, will you have a plan for handling the situation?