Quick Answer: The term malware is a broad term that refers to malicious software. Ransomware is a specific type of malware used by cybercriminals that holds important files and systems hostage and demands a ransom to unlock the files and systems.
Ransomware is a type of malware that, once installed on a user’s computer, can deny a user access to files. Ransomware works by encrypting the files so that a cybercriminal can demand the user pay a ransom to decrypt them.
Ransomware has become a top cyber threat to organizations and can even drive a company into bankruptcy.
This article explains how ransomware differs from other malware, how it can get installed on your device and how to prevent it from happening.
The Differences Between Ransomware and Malware
Malware means “malicious software” and refers to any type of malicious software designed to harm a computer system. This includes ransomware, viruses, trojan horses, spyware, adware and more.
Ransomware, on the other hand, is a type of malware that specifically takes data or systems hostage while a cybercriminal demands a ransom for them to be released. Paying the ransom and retrieving your data doesn’t mean you’re in the clear. If cybercriminals know you’re willing to pay the ransom, they may keep targeting you with more ransomware attacks. In some cases, even if the ransom is paid, cybercriminals will not decrypt the files.
Types of Malware
Besides ransomware, let’s take a look at the other main types of malware.
- Virus: A computer virus is malicious software that infects other programs and causes damage to the system. Viruses depend on other files and programs. It can’t exist on its own and requires a host (like a file or program) to spread.
- Trojan horse: Malicious code or software that runs on a device without the user’s knowledge, disguised as a legitimate application or file.
- Spyware: Software that collects information without the user’s knowledge and sends it to a third party. Cybercriminals can spy on you using your computer’s camera or track your keystrokes using a type of spyware called a keylogger.
- Adware: Software that displays malicious banner advertisem*nts. It acts similarly to spyware without installing software on the device or capturing keystrokes.
- Worm: A computer worm replicates itself over the network and spreads the infection over a large area. The worm operates independently. It can spread on its own without relying on other files or programs.
- Cryptojacking: The act of illegally using another person’s computer to mine virtual currency. This can be done through phishing or by injecting JavaScript code into websites that run automatically on your computer.
How Does Ransomware Get Installed?
There are several types of ransomware and they can infect a network or system in different ways, but here are the most common ways in which it can get installed.
Malicious email attachments and links
Ransomware attackers use phishing attempts to send large numbers of emails with malicious attachments or links to get victims to click on the attachments or links. Once the attachment or link is clicked, ransomware can be automatically downloaded on the device.
Fraudulent advertising on websites
If you see something, such as a pop-up ad, appear on your screen while browsing the web, it’s important to carefully check its content. Your system may become infected by clicking on malicious advertisem*nts, also known as malvertising.
Additionally, you may encounter situations where you are redirected to a suspicious URL, otherwise known as a website address, that has been spoofed to look legitimate and encourage you to download a file. These situations require special attention. Always inspect a URL before clicking on it to avoid falling victim to a ransomware attack.
Downloading applications or software
Downloading applications or software from websites other than official ones is risky. There are many suspicious apps on spoofed websites, and if you click the download button, you’ll be downloading malware.
Always use caution when downloading an application. Only download apps from official app stores such as the Google Play Store or Apple’s App Store.
Avoid connecting to public WiFi
Public WiFi comes with risks, one of them being the possibility of having your device become infected with malware. If a public WiFi network or a device already connected to the network is infected with ransomware or other types of malware, it can spread the infection to your device and any other devices connected to the same network.
Access through remote desktop
If your organization’s remote desktop service has configuration issues or security weaknesses, attackers can exploit these vulnerabilities to gain access to your servers and deploy ransomware. If your remote access system is poorly secured, the possibility of a ransomware infection is even greater.
How To Prevent Malware and Ransomware
Let’s take a look at how you can protect yourself from malware and ransomware.
Keep your OS and software up to date
Keeping your Operating System (OS) and the software you use up to date is essential to stay protected from ransomware. Software updates fix security vulnerabilities and reduce the chance of infection.
Continuing to use outdated versions of your OS and software increases security risks. Therefore, it is recommended that you update regularly and use the latest version.
Use strong and unique passwords
One effective defense against ransomware is to use strong and unique passwords. Strong passwords are at least 16 characters long and contain a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers and special characters. These passwords should not contain consecutive numbers, birthdays, common words or phrases or personal information, and most importantly, they should not be reused for multiple accounts.
Consider using a password manager to generate strong passwords and store them securely. A password manager is an encrypted digital vault that securely stores your passwords, generates new ones, detects weak and reused passwords, and stores 2FA codes and other sensitive information. Keeper® offers a 30-day free trial so you can start protecting your passwords.
Enable multi-factor authentication
Once you have set strong passwords for all your accounts, you should enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). MFA provides an additional layer of security to your accounts by requiring one or more forms of authentication in addition to your password to access your account.
MFA is a great defense against account takeover attacks because even if a cybercriminal somehow manages to compromise your password, they won’t be able to log in to your account without providing additional authentication factors.
Pay attention to emails and attachments
To prevent ransomware, it’s important to pay special attention to email security. Avoid opening emails from unknown senders, emails with suspicious attachments or links, and emails containing a sense of urgency, grammatical errors or too-good-to-be-true offers.
Be sure to take the following measures:
- Confirm sender: Check whether the sender of the email is trustworthy and do not open it if it is suspicious.
- Inspect the attachment: Scan any attachments with reliable antivirus software.
- Validate the link: Do not click on links in emails. Instead, safely copy the URL of the website and paste it directly into the Google Transparency Report tool to check if it’s safe to click.
Perform regular backups
With regular backups, you can recover your data and prevent the worst-case scenario in the event of a ransomware attack. The best way to back up your data is to store all your data in encrypted cloud storage. This ensures that your data is always encrypted, meaning no one can know what your data is, and that you’ll be able to access your data online from anywhere on any device due to it being stored in the cloud.
Check if the software is from an official source
As an important part of ransomware and malware protection, you should always download software from official sources. Use official websites and trusted app stores and avoid downloading from third-party websites and unverified links. Malicious software or modified applications can be a source of ransomware infections, so verifying the legitimacy of the source is critical.
Educate employees about cybersecurity awareness
Ransomware is one of the most serious cyber threats that can damage organizations. It encrypts important data and disrupts business operations. Employee cybersecurity education and awareness is a core part of ransomware protection. Regular training should be conducted to thoroughly educate employees on how to recognize phishing emails and avoid clicking on suspicious links and attachments.
When employees are aware of cyber threats, they can improve the overall security of an organization and protect it from cyber attacks.
Take Precautions To Protect Against Ransomware
Malware, especially ransomware, poses a significant threat to people and businesses. If you don’t take the time to plan and invest wisely, you could end up jeopardizing your business, paying recovery costs, including fines and severely damaging your reputation.
Take the first step in protecting yourself or your company from a ransomware attack by investing in a cybersecurity solution like Keeper®.
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