“We have encrypted your files with CryptoLocker Virus. Click here to pay to pay for files recovery.”
If you see this message displayed on your computer, it could cause a disruption to your productivity since you may not have access to files on your computer until you pay the ransom.
Or at least so it looks.
Before we dive into how you can protect your business from the CryptoLocker Virus, it’s essential to explain what the CryptoLocker Virus is, and what your options are if you are infected.
What is The CryptoLocker Virus?
The CryptoLocker is a virus that encrypts files on an affected user’s computer, preventing access to files on the computer. The CryptoLocker virus is reported to be prevalent on computer systems running Microsoft Windows. And with over 1.5 billion people worldwide using windows, the virus is said to have collected over 3 million in ransom from its victims. The virus was first reported in on the Internet in 2013. Two years later, we see clients that are protected daily from a possible infection due to their firewall. So before you dismiss this post because you think it’s about virus that you may never have to worry about, think again!
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How Do You Get Infected?
There are many ways by which your computer can get infected by the CryptoLocker virus. Most notable includes, clicking on links from emails, or websites that download malware unto your computer.
Alarmingly, the transmission can come from “legitimate” websites that have been hacked. Meaning, if you don’t have the right protection in place, you could be visiting websites that you may deem as safe, but still run the risk of an infection. Reports also show that victims are sometimes infected from downloading software and making regular updates to already existing software.
What Can You Do If You Are Infected?
If the Trojan – CryptoLocker, infects you you have a few options for recovery.
Pay Ransom
The first option that users desperate to gain access to encrypted files usually take is to pay the ransom asked. This can range between $100-$300. It is important to note that, there have been reports of victims that have not had their files restored even after paying the ransom so there is really no guarantee, you pay at your own peril. We don’t recommend paying under any circumstances.
Recover Files from An External Drive
If your organization employs a frequent and reliable backup and data recovery service either externally or internally, you may have the option of restoring your data up to the last backup. For instance, with CompuData, we have data backup services that take snapshots of your data every hour, so at worse you may only lose less than hour of unsaved data. This is much better than that losing all your data or paying a ransom to unscrupulous source.
Other Recovery Options
If you still want to recover your files than have been encrypted by the CryptoLocker virus but don’t want to pay the ransom, you can follow these steps from malwaretips.com, that may help you remove the virus but does not guarantee file recovery. No matter the approach that you take, be sure you know what you are doing to prevent further damage to your computer or files. In most cases, it’s better to consult with your IT services provider such as CompuData, or your internal IT team.
Preventing the CryptoLocker Virus and Other Similar Viruses
Unfortunately, there is no silver bullet when it comes to preventing a virus/ransomware outbreak or security breach. Antivirus and firewall are no longer enough.
It’s important to have in a multi-layered approach when it comes to systems security. We make recommendations on security choices based on the type of business, the business’ needs, tolerance for risk and compliance or regulation needs.
The layers of security employed usually start with a backup and disaster recovery plan, but essentially end with instilling proper security measures and constant monitoring by your IT team and security education for your workforce.
For instance, recently we had a customer that was affected by the Cryptolocker virus. Luckily, a vigilant employee noticed that something “just didn’t seem right” when trying to open files and was able to report it CompuData in time. Within 45 minutes we were able constrain the threat and restore the customer’s data from a backup.
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Here are a few tips to help you keep your business information much more secure:
Perform regular systems monitoring.
System monitoring usually allows you to keep an eye on what’s going on with your business workstations, servers, firewall, and network devices, allowing you to prevent and fix issues in a timely manner. We recently had a client that was protected from the CryptoLocker virus due to the firewall and system monitoring from our Managed Services team. Regular system monitoring in addition to having the right systems in place can prevent the catastrophic attack from this and many other viruses.
Download Software from Only Trusted Sources.
This tip is an obvious but sometimes overlooked one. Whenever you are downloading software from the Internet, be sure that you check the list of applications been installed onto your computer to make sure that you don’t have any malware that might installed in the process. Additionally, as a good practice, be sure to verify if the publisher has the right security authentications and is a verified publisher. When in doubt, consult with your IT team or IT services provider to prevent possible virus infections in the future.
Proper Antivirus Management and Spam Filtering Process.
It’s important to have proper antivirus management and spam filtering process in place to avoid getting malware and other viruses such as, the CryptoLocker virus. In the event that you have people downloading applications or clicking links that may have malware, a proper spam filtering process could be the difference between a having virus infection or not.
Backup Management Service
As a preventative measure, you should always have your business data backed up regularly should anything happen to your current business files or computer. And preferably this should be offsite. This is because, if there is something wrong with your entire network system, you could still have access to your backed up data.
In Conclusion
All in all, Security should always be a top priority for your business. Having the right security measures in place could be the difference between a massive data breach or virus infection that could be disruptive your business.
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