Data and Operations Recovery from Ransomware
Hit with Ransomware? Not sure who to call or where to turn? 4BIS is here to help with all your ransomware recovery needs.
Whether you are a victim seeking the best ransomware recovery services in Cincinnati or wish to protect your company from future attacks, here are five essential steps for your ransomware recovery plan.
Five Essential Steps for Ransomware Recovery
Ransomware is a major risk for organizations of all types and businesses of all sizes in every industry. Ransomware has grown to become the most prevalent and the most devastating form of cyberattack. Statista reported that there were as many as 317.59 million reported ransomware attacks worldwide in 2023 alone.
Most criminals use ransomware to completely encrypt the victim’s file systems, causing service outages and potentially irreversible data loss. Small to medium-sized businesses in the US are at most risk from ransomware. In some cases, an attacker can demand a ransom (a seven to eight-figure sum)to decrypt the files held hostage.
Here are some common types of ransomware to be aware of include:
- CryptoLocker. This ransomware encrypts files on the victim’s system and demands payment for decryption. It often spreads through email attachments or malicious links.
- WannaCry. Notorious for its rapid spread in 2017, WannaCry exploits vulnerabilities in Windows systems and demands decryption payment in Bitcoin. It spreads through the EternalBlue exploit, making it highly contagious within networks.
- Locky. Locky ransomware is distributed via malicious email attachments. Its variants may use different file extensions and ransom notes, but they operate similarly in terms of encryption and demands.
- Ryuk. Unlike many ransomware strains, Ryuk is often deployed in targeted attacks against large organizations. It encrypts files and demands high ransom payments tailored to the victim’s financial capabilities.
- Dharma. Dharma ransomware targets businesses by encrypting files and appending various extensions to them. It spreads through phishing emails or compromised RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol) connections.
- Sodinokibi (REvil). This ransomware is distributed through exploit kits and targets both individuals and businesses. It encrypts files and demands payment in cryptocurrency for decryption.
- SamSam. SamSam ransomware targets vulnerable servers and networks, infiltrating through unpatched software or weak credentials. Its manual deployment allows attackers to customize the ransom demands based on the victim’s profile and resources.
Cybercriminals constantly adapt their tactics to bypass security measures and exploit vulnerabilities in systems and networks. Only by implementing proactive measures can you enhance your business’s resilience to ransomware attacks.
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REQUEST A QUOTEThe recent Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack that forced the organization to part with $4.4 million in ransom has been a wake-up call for many businesses and organizations. As cyber-attacks of this nature continue to grow both in frequency and severity, it is crucial now more than ever that small businesses learn to protect themselves from these dangerous attacks.
Whether you are a victim seeking the best ransomware Recovery in Cincinnati or wish to protect your company from attacks, here are five essential steps you should take.
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At 4BIS, we are proud to offer a comprehensive IT outsourcing program that includes all of the services mentioned above and more. We have over 20 years of experience in the IT industry, and our team is passionate about providing top-notch customer service. We’ll work with you to create a customized IT solution that meets your specific needs and budget.
REQUEST A QUOTEEssential Steps for Ransomware Recovery
Step 1: Detecting a Ransomware Malware Infection
The first and most crucial step in dealing with a ransomware attack is figuring out if your system is infected and what operating systems or files are affected. The sooner you detect ransomware in your system, the less sensitive data it may get a hold of. Today’s ransomware is built to be stealthy and may only be detected after it has encrypted all user files in a system.
It is never too late to run a scan to ensure file integrity, including those on mobile devices and virtual machines. A proactive cybersecurity solution should identify any anomalies in the system and processes that behave abnormally. It is important to have a reliable IT specialist that can help you establish the nature of the malware and mitigate the attack’s severity.
Step 2: Contain the Damage of the Attack
From offering cloud-managed services to data recovery in Cincinnati for more than 25 years, we have deep experience with various hardware and software applications. Our managed security services work employs a multi-faceted strategy to recover critical data compromised by viruses and malware.
- Isolation of Affected System. Our priority is to disconnect compromised devices and network segments to contain the ransomware infection and minimize its reach.
- Network Segmentation. We’ll create barriers between different network infrastructure segments. This prevents the malware’s lateral movement, limiting its ability to compromise critical data repositories.
- Endpoint Quarantine. Implementing endpoint quarantine measures restricts access to infected devices. It facilitates the remediation process by providing a controlled environment for security analysts to investigate and remediate the infected devices.
- Traffic Filtering and Firewall Rules. Leveraging advanced traffic filtering techniques and firewall rules, we actively control network traffic to identify and block malicious communication associated with the attack.
- Real-time Threat Intelligence. Our ransomware recovery services use real-time threat intelligence feeds and security analytics. These tools continuously monitor network activity and detect anomalous behavior indicative of data breaches, further bolstering our containment efforts.
Uncontained malware could continue encrypting files, spreading to additional systems, or even exfiltrating sensitive data. This containment step is crucial to avoid exacerbating the damage and prolonging your recovery process.
Step 3: Recover Your Affected Files
The sooner a ransomware attack is detected and contained, the higher the chance that you can recover your data before they are encrypted and rendered inaccessible. This may require having a robust disaster recovery or a system of data backup in place.
If you have backups of the most important data, you’ll need to have your system cleaned, and security beefed up to prevent ransomware reinfection after backup restoration. If you have backups but lack the decryption key, professional assistance may be required to regain access to your files.
The 3-2-1 backup system is the best protection against ransomware. When you have this backup system in place, recovering your data from a ransomware attack is much more effective. This is a simple backup system with three guidelines:
- Keep 3 copies of all important files. In the event a ransomware finds one, you already have two stored securely elsewhere.
- Store backups on 2 different media types. For instance, you can keep one backup on a local drive and another in the cloud.
- Maintain 1 copy of your backup off-site.
What should you do if you have no backups in the cloud or off-site? Sadly, there is no guarantee that a professional company can decrypt the files the ransomware has encrypted without paying off the attackers. However, you should make backups of the encrypted data because it may be possible to decrypt and recover them in the future.
Step 4: Quarantine the Infected Systems and the Malware
If you suspect or are already sure that you are a victim of ransomware, do not panic. Never expressly delete, remove, reimage, or format the affected systems and instead quarantine the affected systems. This will allow a recovery specialist to analyze the strain of the malware and analyze the infection holding the system hostage. A recovery team will need a sample of the malware or affected files to figure out ways to disarm it without paying off the criminals.
Our ransomware data recovery process in Cincinnati often peaks at disassembling the malware responsible for the attack. A professional may need a memory dump of the quarantined system to understand the attack paths of the malware and even extract essential clues they can use to decrypt the files.
Step 5: To Pay or Not To Pay the Ransom?
If you have not made any backups or all the backups are damaged or inaccessible and the recovery team fails to decrypt the affected files, you have a difficult decision to make. Attackers often demand high ransoms, but the FBI strongly advises against paying it. The reason is that there is no guarantee the criminals will provide a decryptor or that it will work. Besides, paying a ransom will substantiate the ransomware enterprise and will encourage further attacks.
Exhaust all potential avenues of recovery before considering paying the ransom. You should only weigh this option if your company could go out of business should you not recover the files held hostage. Even in such a case, partner with a professional cybersecurity company to guide you in making a decision that serves the business best.
4BIS is the Cincinnati IT Company You Can Trust
Local Businesses in Cincinnati have great things to say about 4BIS. Recover from ransomware and gain access to your critical data with our trusted services.
REQUEST A QUOTECall 4BIS For Ransomware Recovery In Cincinnati
Your company can significantly reduce the risks of a malware attack with a proactive approach to cybersecurity. Hiring a specialist IT services provider to secure your systems is a sure way to have peace of mind knowing that an expert is watching your files.
The right service provider will set up a proper backup and ransomware recovery system to prevent the attacks in the first place. Contact 4BIS to get top-notch ransomware protection.