How to Close the Cyber Front Door to Remote Working Ransomware Attacks

The new trend of work from home has changed the working pattern, but it is done at risk. Though the pandemic has increased the number of challenges for employees, it has made them an easy target for a ransomware attack.

Many times, we are not aware that we are being viewed by someone. The ransomware attack is a threat to the corporate network because money can be extracted easily through employees.

Therefore, you need to mark the entry points and ways to shut the door for them.

Ransomware Attack Trends

The figures for the ransomware attack have increased globally since 2008 and are even increasing till today.

At the root level, it works by encrypting the files, making them unusable. The victim is then asked to pay a certain amount to get access to the encrypted files.

If the victim is unable to pay and does not have a backup, then the data will be lost forever. Now, the trend is to target the employees of public and private sector organizations that work from home.

The moto behind their selection is that they will not be able to defend themselves. Those employees act as a stepping stone into corporate networks by stealing their sensitive data.

By doing so, there is a possibility to get a big ransom rather than a small amount from small prey.

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Reasons for a Ransomware Attack to Home Workers:

1. They might be having more distractions than those in the office.
2. The network and endpoint security might not be up to the level of the company.
3. Systems such as routers, PCs, smart home devices might not be updated and act as an entry point for the ransomware attack.
4. With home workers, there is more possibility of their visit to insecure websites, downloading, and apps. Besides, they share sensitive information, as well.
5. The IT team of the corporate company might be busy with other tasks, unable to provide appropriate security support.
6. The employees might not be updated with the security awareness programs, leading to bad practices at homes.

How Is the Ransomware Attack Made?

There are common and unknown ways for attackers to attack; they might use VPN or cloud-hosted systems to steal and encrypt the data.

Some of the common methods are:

• Trick you into dangerous behaviour– they do this through e-mail phishing. The victims are transported to unsafe websites the moment they click on the links or attachments.

You might download an infectious file by mistake.

• Steal your logins– to get access to your e-mail account, desktop tools, and cloud-based network before they let the ransomware attack enter with full speed.

This happens with a phishing e-mail that appears to belong to a legitimate source or might try to scan to get access to your tools to guess the password and other login details.

Some ransomware has built-in keyloggers to steal the data with a click.

• Target malware– it targets the VPN and remote desktop software. Another way to do it is by phishing that hides in the software or torrent sites.
• Targeting home devices and routers– the password can be cracked easily for these devices to step into the corporate network.

Prevent ransomware attack when working from home

Besides the danger of a ransomware attack, the good news is that you can shut the door for its entrance.

Here are the following tips:

• Be vigilant for phishing e-mails. You can take help of the security courses offered by the company from time to time.
• Keep the devices, such as routers, PCs, mobile devices, and software updated with the latest versions, which include remote access and a VPN.
• Use an efficient network and endpoint AV for protecting the home network, PCs, and mobile devices.

Note: the solution must incorporate anti-intrusion, anti-web threat, anti-spam, anti-phishing features, and many more.

• Prefer multi-factor authentication for remote access tools and accounts.
• Microsoft macros is a typical attack vector; therefore, disable it.
• Use the 3-2-1 rule to backup your data.

Latest Technology Trends That Can Help You

You can use the latest trends to keep yourself and your company protected from the ransomware attack.

• Home Network– it gets attached to the router to give protection to all the devices connected to it, including laptops and mobile phones. The devices get protection from not only ransomware but other threats also.
• Desktop Endpoints– this is the advanced protection that includes a folder shield for the best protection of your files and data from encryption. With this, you can store the data locally.
• Mobile Endpoints– protects iOS and Android.
• Secure management of password– password manager allows users to make strong passwords for websites, apps, and accounts.
• VPN at home– it helps in maintaining Data privacy while getting shared across PCs, Mac, Android, and iOS devices.

Trend Micro comes with all the above trends of the technology. It provides you with all the solutions to stay protected from ransomware.

Concluding Words

Though it is tough to fight ransomware, easy for you to shut doors for its entry, Trend Micro helps you to do so and ensure complete protection from ransomware without much effort.