Ransomware Viruses are on the rise, and clients have been reporting more incidents in 2018 than in any previous years. It is now incredibly critical for individuals to (1) double check on their backups and validate them, (2) ensure you have several types of backups, such as cloud and local external drive backups, (3) ensure your devices have adequate antivirus protections, (4) and practice safe internet usage protocols, which means do not open attachments from anyone (including the people you know). Another recommendation is to try not to browse to websites that are unknown and random.
In the past several months, two clients have reported that all of their files, work documents and work applications—which maintain all their work client lists, client details, patient details, account payables etc— have all become useless and inaccessible. Unfortunately, this realization occurred after their computers were attacked by the Ransomware Virus, in which their encrypted files and compromised information have been met with Ransom demand letters from hackers.
Unfortunately for various reasons, our clients did not have backups, and/or their backups were compromised as well. Their only choice was to pay the Ransom demands. Typically, these demands range from paying 1 Bitcoin, which equivalates to $5000 to $6500 per bitcoin. In both cases, the clients paid the Ransom demand amounts. One client was lucky enough where the hacker provided the decryption program which restored all the files back to a normal working condition. The other hacker was not so forgiving, and did not provide any decryption tools.
Therefore at PlaNet CYBER IT Services, we decided to start a new section on our website to expose, inform, and educate the public on various Ransomware incidents. Most importantly, we want to inform the public of how to keep their files and information safe from dishonorable hackers.
(818) 999-9000
(818) 999-9000
info@planet-cyber.net
