Original release date: January 23, 2015
The FBI has released an article addressing ransomware campaigns that use intimidating messages claiming to be from the FBI or other government agencies. Scam operators use ransomware – a type of malicious software – to infect a computer and restrict access to it until a ransom is paid to unlock it.
Users and administrators are encouraged to review the FBI article "Ransomware on the Rise" for details and refer to Alert TA-295A for information on Crypto Ransomware.
Infections can be devastating to an individual or organization, and recovery can be a difficult process that may require the services of a reputable data recovery specialist.
US-CERT and CCIRC recommend users and administrators take the following preventive measures to protect their computer networks from ransomware infection:
· Perform regular backups of all critical information to limit the impact of data or system loss and to help expedite the recovery process. Ideally, this data should be kept on a separate device, and backups should be stored offline.
· Maintain up-to-date anti-virus software.
· Keep your operating system and software up-to-date with the latest patches.
· Do not follow unsolicited web links in email. Refer to the Security Tip Avoiding Social Engineering and Phishing Attacks for more information on social engineering attacks.
· Use caution when opening email attachments. For information on safely handling email attachments, see Recognizing and Avoiding Email Scams.
· Follow safe practices when browsing the web. See Good Security Habits and Safeguarding Your Data for additional details.
Individuals or organizations are not encouraged to pay the ransom, as this does not guarantee files will be released. Report instances of fraud to the FBI at the Internet Crime Complaint Center or contact the CCIRC(link sends e-mail) .
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