Digital Smarts - Data Held for Ransom

You may remember several months ago when Sony Pictures was hacked and nasty emails sent by studio executives were released. What got lost in the hype was that the hackers first attempted to extort money from Sony in return for not releasing the private data and e-mails. When Sony refused, the embarrassing communications emerged.

Taking data for ransom is done through ransomware and it doesn’t just effect corporations and governments. You can download ransomware by unwittingly clicking on tainted links, downloading infected attachments or clicking on phony advertisements. Even seemingly legitimate sources, such as Federal Express, UPS, the U.S. Postal Service and security software companies McAfee and Symantec have been reported as victims of phishing e-mails containing ransomware malware.

What can you do to keep ransomware off your devices? According to the article Ransomware is threatening your computer , it can easily be avoided by following general Internet safety practices. Refrain from clicking on links or downloading attachments regardless of how valid they may look until you have independently confirmed that the links and attachments are legitimate. In the case of advertising, it is better to go directly to the company's website rather than click on a link in an advertisement, because you can never be sure if it is safe or not. Even e-mails from friends can actually be e-mails from friends whose email accounts have been hacked by scammers, so use good judgment before clicking on a link in an email from anyone.

If you do find your data is being held for ransom, remember that paying the ransom is rarely a good choice. Rather, you should consult your security software company for help or a reputable security expert for assistance in removing the malware. In addition, two security companies, FireEye and Fox-IT, have created a website that offers free assistance in unlocking systems infected by CrytoLocker, one of the most widely used ransomware programs.