Jerry James

Ransomware. The term itself has an eerie ring to it. It is one of the newer threats, a serious one, plaguing businesses and individuals alike. Gone are the days when malicious files would simply cause headaches and inconveniences such as duplicating folders and spamming you with ads; they could be removed with a couple of simple scans using an antivirus. However, ransomware is a much greater threat to anyone who has digital information worth safeguarding. What is ransomware? Before we begin solving a problem, understanding it is paramount. Ransomware is defined as software that runs with the intent of locking you out of your files, or at least claiming that your files have been infected while requesting payment or ransom to unlock them. It is the digital equivalent of kidnapping, where instead of people, your data is held hostage. There are several grades of ransomware prevalent on the internet: • Low-Grade – Also termed as ‘scareware,' they are aimed at only scaring the user into believing that their files are infected and will continually spam links pointing to fake antivirus tools that promise to remove them for a fee. This type of ransomware is usually simple to remove on your own with the assistance of a quality antivirus. • Mid-Grade – These types of ransomware are relatively more problematic; they lock your screen and browser while showing official-looking pages that claim to belong to the Government, ‘notifying’ you of illegal activity detected on your computer. Moreover, they provide a link to pay a ‘fine’ to unlock your PC or browser. • High-Grade – One of the most dangerous types of malware out on the internet, it locks you out of your files by encrypting them. In addition to this, they demand payment within a set deadline, failing which, they threaten to destroy your data. Businesses with sensitive information on their PCs should be aware of these threats and should take steps to safeguard themselves.