With the world reeling from the WannaCrypt
attack –
an ongoing cyber-attack of the WannaCry
ransomware computer worm targeting the Microsoft Windows operating system –
fears are rife that the viral attack may soon spread to Nigeria, with dire
implications for individuals and businesses whose devices are compromised.
Described as unprecedented in
scale, the attack which started on Friday May 12 2017 has infected more than
230,000 computers in 150 countries, with the software demanding ransom payments
in the cryptocurrency Bitcoin in 28 languages.
In this piece, the
Research/Development Unit of Yudala – Nigeria’s fastest growing composite
e-commerce outfit – shares five ways to stay ahead of the WannaCry attack which
has been likened to a ‘pandemic’.
1.Update
Windows as a matter of urgency: The world heaved a brief sigh of
relief when the WannaCry ransomware was halted in its deadly tracks by a
security analyst who discovered a kill switch in its code last week. Sadly, the
ransomware has been updated without the kill switch, allowing it to spread. Apart
from businesses, institutions and governments; individuals are equally at risk
of this viral attack as WannaCry targets a Windows operating system flaw in
older versions that have not been patched. If your system runs on one of the
newer versions of Windows and you have kept up with automatic updates, you can
protect yourself by updating your computer immediately with the software patch
released in March 2017.
2.Invest
in a ransomware blocker: The WannaCry attack is indeed an eye-opener
to the growing global scourge of Ransomware – described in an earlier research
piece as an increasingly popular mode of attack where attackers encrypt data
taken from the victim and in return for decrypting the data, they ask for an
acceptable amount from the victim as ransom. These victims include individuals,
small or medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and large corporates.
Most anti-virus software hardly offers
any protection against ransomware, especially if you are using the outdated
version of the anti-virus. In view of the increasing prevalence of these
attacks and if your checks reveal you are not protected, perhaps now is the
time to consider investing in a dedicated ransomware blocker. Before purchasing
one, please check out the features and cost. There are also a few free options
you can download and install at no cost.
3.Turn
Windows Update on if currently disabled
Most users can be forgiven for
disabling Microsoft Windows’ automatic updates. This is especially considering
the annoying tendency for earlier versions to auto-install even when one is in
the middle of a pressing work schedule or tight deadline. Thankfully, Microsoft
has, to a large extent, fixed that issue with the current version of Windows
10. So, if you currently have automatic updates disabled, please go back to
your Control Panel to turn them back on and leave them on.
4.
Stay alert for new strains/mutations
According to research from Heimdal
Security, new strains or mutations of the WannaCry ransomware have popped up,
with some bearing the name Uiwix. Also, the virulence of the ransomware can be
seen from the way it rebounded from the initial attempt to deploy its kill
switch. This clearly shows the need to remain on the alert for new strains or
mutations. Suspicious links in emails and on websites should be regarded with
caution to avoid becoming a victim.
5.Consider
cloud storage and file back-ups
In view of the likelihood of
falling prey, there seems no better time to consider cloud storage and other
forms of back-ups for your sensitive files and other information. Cloud storage
is particularly useful because in the event of an attack, you may be able to
recover your affected files by accessing earlier versions of them. Some
effective cloud-storage services keep snapshots of all changes made to files in
the past 30 days.
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