Introduction to How to protect yourself from ransomware:
First I explain to you what Ransomware is and what it does. First Ransomware is not a virus. Viruses infect files and software and have the ability to replicate. Ransomware encrypts (scramble) your files, render them unusable, and demands you to pay a (Ransom) for them to give you the code to decrypt (unscramble) your files.
How to protect yourself from ransomware.
1.Backup
Always make a backup of your computer files on a separate drive that is not connected to the internet. Always make backups, the more the merry. In the cloud, and on a physical drive. If you get a Ransomware attack, you still have a backup.
2.Stay up to date
Keep your computer up to date with the latest security updates. And all the software that is on the system Adobe Reader, browsers, email, including your Antivirus and other security software Also make sure to keep the virus definitions are up to date.
3.Don’t open email attachments you don’t expect
Be careful opening email attachments from senders you don’t know, and also you do NOT expect. Verify with the sender you know that that person sends you an attachment. Browse the Internet with care.
Read the screen message, don’t click yes or no without reading the message, do not install software from sources you don’t know. Ask someone if in doubt.
4.Acronis Ransomware protection.
I don’t sell this product or have any affiliation with Acronis. Download and install the free Acronis Ransomware Protection it warns you if something is trying to alter a file. It adds a layer of extra protection. If you do notice suspicious activity scan your system with a malware scanner and Antivirus like MalwareBytes.
If you are infected.
- Disconnect the infected device from the internet, turn the device off, and immediately contact your local FBI office or local U.S. Secret Service office to request assistance.
- Change all system passwords once the ransomware has been removed. You can submit the infected files to CISA for analysis via https://www.malware.us-cert.gov/MalwareSubmission/pages/submission.jsf. (See Choosing and Protecting and Passwords and Supplementing Passwords.).
- If you found out the name of the ransomware you are dealing with go to The No More Ransom Project for the decryption tools.
Or any of the following list of decryption tools
- Heimdal Security – Free Ransomware Decryption Tools
- The Windows Club – Free Ransomware Decryption Tools
- WatchPoint – Free Ransomware Decryption Collection
And the list of individual Antivirus companies decryption tools pages for brand-new tools.
- Avast: https://www.avast.com/ransomware-decryption-tools
- AVG: http://www.avg.com/us-en/ransomware-decryption-tools
- Bitdefender: https://www.bitdefender.com/free-virus-removal
- Emsisoft: https://decrypter.emsisoft.com
- Kaspersky Lab: https://noransom.kaspersky.com
- McAfee:
- https://www.mcafee.com/us/downloads/free-tools/shadedecrypt.aspx
- https://www.mcafee.com/us/downloads/free-tools/tesladecrypt.aspx
- https://www.mcafee.com/us/downloads/free-tools/wildfiredecrypt.aspx
- Trend Micro: https://success.trendmicro.com/solution/1114221-downloading-and-using-the-trend-micro-ransomware-file-decryptor
Some personal tips, download a Linux distribution like Ubuntu 18.04 to do banking or other confidential tasks. Nothing gets stored on the computer, and you are not vulnerable to viruses or ransomware because it is not a Windows operating system. it gives you a lot of peace of mind knowing you have nothing to worry about, once you are done, remove the USB thumb drive and reboot back in Windows 10. And you can also use Ubuntu for regular web browsing too.
I also did an extensive review of Zorin OS 15, which is based on the Ubuntu Linux distribution.
Windows 10 came a long way, it’s a great OS these days, although it has a lot of privacy issues in my opinion which mostly can be fixed with O&O ShutUp 10, it is as good as Windows 7. It’s more from this time. I wish the Control Panel features were more integrated into the settings. To get rid of the legacy Control Panel. Stability, speed, features, and usability is great, security is good. And it is mostly free to upgrade if eligible if you don’t use it yet.
Windows 7 is not supported anymore, although if not connected on the internet you can keep using it, I personally would not recommend that, it’s not worth risking a Ransomware attack. The reason for that is because it is free to upgrade and security-wise. I highly recommend everybody to upgrade. If it runs Windows 7 or 8, it will run Windows 10 will run fine, at most you might want to upgrade your memory from 4GB to 8GB, just to speed up things.
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