There are several different versions of ransomware, but all of them have one thing in common. They all deny a company access to their files by encrypting them until a ransom has been paid. Not only can ransomware encrypt the files on a local PC, it can travel across your network and encrypt any files located both on mapped and unmapped network file shares. This can lead to disastrous situations; a single infected user can bring a department or an entire organization to a halt. Just consider what would happen if all of your customer files were suddenly encrypted. What impact would this have on your business? How much revenue would you lose if you could not access these files or use your main computer system?
Most ransomware software uses 2048 bit encryption to encrypt your files. If you hired someone to try and crack the encryption, it is estimated that it would take around 6.4 quadrillion years to crack. According to a public service announcement from the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Cerner (IC3), the CryptoWall variant of ransomware cost US Businesses and consumers at least $18 million from April 2014 to June 2015. With new variants on the increase, this number is expected to significantly rise.
According to Microsoft, the United States has more cases of ransomware than any other country. Of all the cases of reported ransomware, the United States has 50%.
If you are unsure about how protected your company is when it comes to ransomware we would be happy to help. Bankers Equipment can help you access your current status, provide recommendations and improvements, provide training, and help you to implement preventative measures. — Give us a call today! — 952-808-4290
Dale Kalsow, Tech Services Manager
