How to Prevent Ransomware? | Cybersecurity for Ransomware from PC Matic Computer Security Solutions | Why Ransomware Pays and the Economics of the Cyber Security Industry

Application Allowlisting Ransomware Protection Made Easy

Ransomware Prevention security software uses automated whitelist technology which removes the added amount of work that IT administrators usually need to perform with typical whitelisting solutions. The automated, global whitelist used with PC Matic's Ransomware Software Solutions is managed by our team of experienced anti-malware researchers that automatically analyze malicious scripts, Trojans, viruses, and blocked unknown applications to categorize them globally. If IT staff know the program is safe, there is no need to wait for categorization. Locally override with two clicks of the mouse using our cloud-based console.

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PC Matic Anti-Ransomware Protects Against Cyber Attacks

Ransomware attacks are occuring every 30 seconds. All industries are affected including small, medium and enterprise sized businesses, government offices, schools, hospitals, supply chains, manufacturers, energy, gas, mining, agriculture, transportation, banking and financial institutions are all becoming ransomware victims. Read more about Ransomware Attacks and how to prevent them.

PC Matic Ransomware Software Solutions by Industry

Protection Against Ransomware – How to Prevent a Malware Infection?

The Best Protection Against Ransomware is to prevent an infection with a layered approach. Some of the most important elements of cyber-safety include cybersecurity best practices, training and awareness, use of whitelists, password and email security. Keep in mind that Blacklisting Antivirus software can't detect new or unknown viruses or infections, only the use of Application Allowlisting Antivirus software like PC Matic can fully protect your device.

Here are some important steps you can take to avoid your device or system from getting infected:

Email Security - Links. Never click on a link or image unless you know it is safe. If there is even a small chance it may be an unsafe link, don't click on it! Absolutely never click on a link in a spam message, text message, a pop-up window, or on an unknown website - especially if you are suddenly redirected to it. If you purposely or accidently click on a malicious link, an automatic download, also known as the "viral payload" could begin downloading in the background and you wouldn't even detect it. The malicious payload script (malware) is then "unpacked" leading to your computer or device becoming infected.
Email Security - Attachments. Do not download suspicious email attachments including images or photos. Ransomware scripts can infect your device through email attachments. Always check who the sender is, and that the address is one you recognize and is correct. Spoofing an email address is very easy to do and creating very sophisticated fraudulent mails with grammatically correct content is now easier than ever before. Never open an email attachment that prompts you to run a macro to open or view them. If you open an infected attachment, it can run a malware script that will give unauthorized access and control of your computer or device to a hacker.
Privacy Protection. To prevent ID theft and targeted cyber attacks, do not disclose personal data or information online. If you receive an email, SMS text message, or phone call from an unknown source requesting your private personal information, do not respond at all. Hackers preparing for a ransomware attack try to collect personal, company, owner and employee data in advance to help them to penetrate a device or system network to steal and ransom sensitive data. They also use contact lists and address books to send Phishing, Spearphishing, Whaling and Smishing messages to you and your unwitting contacts. If you are unsure at all if a message is trustworthy, contact the person directy before opening or responding.
Superior Password Hygiene. Use a new, unique password for each and every account, and don't reuse old ones. Use at least 13 characters in your password using upper and lower case letters, numbers, and special symbols. Change your password frequently, and if in a company, provide company assign passwords vs allowing employees to select their own.
USB Sticks and Flash Drives. Don't use unknown an USB stick or flash drive. Connecting an unknown or other person's USB stick to your computer can result in an infection. A very well-known tactic is for cybercriminals to leave an infected flash drive in a public place or to gain unauthorized access to a workplace to leave an infected USB stick for some ususpecting employee to pick up and use.
Operating System Updates and Security Patches. One of the most important malware prevention methods is to keep your application programs and operating system up to date including immediately installing all security patches. Updating your OS, applications and drivers makes it more difficult for hackers to exploit software and system vulnerabilities. In fact, certain types of ransomware such as Wannacry and NetPetya are specifically scripted to exploit business and enterprise networks whose operating systems are out-of-date.
Legitimate Known Applications. Only download and run good known programs from certified and licensed sources. An application whitelist ensures your device can only run legitimate, safe programs. To minimize the risk of downloading ransomware malware, never download an executable program or file from an unknown website or email. Many ransomware infections come from new or unknown software and mobile apps. Blacklisting antivirus products can't detect a new or unknown virus or infection so use whitelisting antivirus software like PC Matic and only rely verified and trustworthy official software publisher websites for downloads. Make sure the web address of the site is correct and that the browser address bar of the site you are visiting is secure and using SSL encrytion. Always look for the "https" and padlock in the address bar.
Legitimate Mobile Applications. Before downloading a mobile app make sure to check the trust seals, for example Google Play Store has the "Play Protect" symbol next to verified safe apps. While many users trust the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store, and these are safer than many other third-party download sites, that doesn't mean they are free from harmful or malicious apps or extensions. Before downloading an app, make sure you have mobile security protection on your device, read the app reviews, and carefully screen what app permissions you are granting. PC Matic for Android is an example of application allowlisting software for mobile devices.
Use a VPN (Virtual Private Network). To protect your online privacy and browsing, use a legitimate VPN service especially on Wi-Fi and public networks. Use of public Wi-Fi hotspot networks can put you at risk from snooping hackers and potential malware or ransomware attack. A public Wi-Fi network makes your computer or laptop more vulnerable to malware attacks. It is best not to use a public Wi-Fi network or hotspot for private, sensitive, banking or financial transactions unless you have a secure VPN service.
Computer Security Solutions Installed. You should always have a good antivirus software installed such as PC Matic Home Security with Privacy Protection and Supershield Whitelist Security, or PC Matic Pro Security Software. PC Matic software solutions have real-time whitelist technology that is able to prevent unknown program files from running effectively blocking any infected files when you download, visit a website or stream online. This real-time anti-malware protections prevents ransomware from infecting your computer or device keeping cybercriminals from unauthorized access. PC Matic's Anti-Ransomware tools specifically detect and block ransomware intrusions by performing on-going system scans protecting your sensitive and private data including RDP remote-desktop-access ransomware attacks.
Cybersecurity Training & Awareness. Provide staff and students cyber-safety awareness training including email and password security training. Cyber-awareness is the first line of defense against cybercriminals and highly effective at minimizing cyber-attacks. Set up a penetration testing regimens to ensure that security protocols are in place, and that they are being followed. Refresher courses and reminders for employees to stay vigilant regarding hacker breach techniques whether it be Smishing attempts, Manager Spearphishing, CEO Whaling, Phone Vishing, Fake Virus Scam, or traditional Phishing with spoofed emails containing links and attachments.
Ransomware Attack Recovery Plan & Remediation. Ensure there is a comprehensive disaster recovery and business continuity plan in place in case of a ransomware breach.
Zero-Trust Security Architecture and Cloud-Based Technologies. Cloud-based architectures can be more difficult for cybercriminals to exploit. Cloud network segmentation can prevent lateral movement of cyber threats while providing data and system backup capabilities to restore operations from cloud storage with unencrypted files. Zero Trust Security while not as effective as "Application Allowlisting Security, strives to protect the most valuable and critical data, applications, assets and services by creating a software-defined "microperimeter" and reducing the overall attack surface to a knowable "protect surface" allowing for better access management and enforcement of security policies.
System, Data and Application Backups. Always have clean backups and system images backed up and stored safely offsite. While system redundancy is important, all critical data should be routinely backed up to external devices and stored offsite. Critical system and data protection including databases through clean, secure backups may be the only way to recover from a successful data breach and ransomware incident.

Ransomware Malware Types - Trojans, Viruses, Worms

Ransomware Types and Attack Vectors. The development of ransomware malware includes Encrypting (Cryptovirus), Non-Encrypting Lockerware, and Exfiltration (Leakware / Doxware). Cybercrminal may deploy a variety of script types using viral, Trojan, worm, fileless infection, and zero-day cyber-attacks. How do hackers penetrate? At the advent of ransomware, malicious scripts and Trojans were originally delivered by Phishing spam emails as the main point of attack vector. While Phishing e-mails are still the most prevalent vector for infection, more sophisticated social engineering techniques such as Spearphishing, Whaling, Vishing, and Smishing with malicious SMS text messages are frequently used. Furthermore, Remote Desktop and VPN vulnerabilities, zero-day attacks, filess infections, APTs or highly targeted Advanced Persistent Threats, and the use of unprotected routers, CTV systems, smart appliances, IoT devices, and zombie botnets are increasingly common. In the past, certain operating systems were less prone to attack. Now however, Linux, Mac OS, iPhone mobile devices as well as Windows, Chromebook and Android are open to ransom attack.

Why Ransomware Cybercrime Pays?

Little Barrier to Entry for Malware. There is little barrier to entry to making ransomware. Rather than focusing on perpetrators, more attention should focus on the security holes through which the ransomware enters. Once a ransomware attack is under way, data encryption and ransom extortion is imminent, it's too late.

Simple Business Model The team that hit CNA Financial created a simple business model on how to become a millionaire almost overnight and get away with it. They hit the mother lode when they breached CNA Financial. This small ransomware team are millionaires ... in their local countries, this little team of cybercriminals are now among their country’s financial elites.

Untraceable Ransom Payments Hackers use PayPal, Bitcoin and other cyptocurrencies because it is very difficult for law enforcement to track. Read more about the ransomware crisis.

Best Tools to Block Ransomware

Ransomware Attack Protection is part of PC Matic Cybersecurity Solutions including Small Business & Enterprise Security, Endpoint Protection, Federal Agency Security, Hospital Ransomware Protection, Education Security Software, and Server Network Security products. The use of Application Allowlisting is the only sure way to prevent malware attacks to ransom your data or network systems. In addition to application control through automatically updated whitelists and blacklists, the best way to prevent an infection is not to click on unsafe links, proactively protect personal information, and never open suspicious emails or texts unless a person is absolutely sure it is safe to do so.

IT administrators can help an organization prevent a ransomware attack by using a layered security approach, and if necessary, survive one by maintaining secure, up-to-date backups of all essential data and files. Secure remote desktop management, automated patch management, software driver updates, and endpoint user authentication can help ensure only verified programs and users are on the network. PC Matic uses Unified Performance Management to help IT security professionals accomplish that.

Whitelist Cybersecurity Solutions. Explore our award-winning, Whitelist Security Software with automated Application Allowlisting Technology to prevent ransomware, malware and advanced cyber threats - PC Matic Business Security Software, PC Matic Endpoint Security, PC Matic Server & Network Security Software. PC Matic Security Software Solutions are made entirely in the USA and has won many awards for being the best antivirus and ransomware protection for small business, enterprise, federal and state government, industry, technology companies, and critical infrastructure concerns including schools, hospitals, and law enforcement agencies.