On Friday, May 12, a massive cyberattack hit worldwide, engineered by an unidentified hacker group. The Russian cybersecurity firm, Kaspersky Lab, said it recorded approximately 45,000 attacks in as many as 74 countries. The attackers used emails with links carrying ransomware, a type of malware that encrypts data, thereby, locking users out of a computer. Several entities were grossly affected, including Spain’s Telefónica, Britain’s NHS system, and FedEx. Although computers with Microsoft systems were compromised, don’t be fooled that your Android device is safe. With the BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) philosophy being implemented in many companies, it’s vital to run scans and protect against hackers, like the ones that masterminded this attack. Activate Full Virus Scan now to check for any threats when you’ve clicked on a link in an email:
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Ransomware Attacks Are Increasing
The type of ransomware used in the attacks is called Wanna Decryptor, which encrypts a computer’s files and then deletes the originals. The hackers demanded $300 in Bitcoin to decrypt the files, with the price doubling after three days. After seven days, the files will not be able to be recovered.
Hackers are typically able to infect an entire system with malware and hold it for ransom by targeting individual employees at an organization. This can be accomplished through phishing or social engineering attacks — all it takes is one employee clicking on a malicious link or attachment from an email. Click here to use Anti-Hacking to protect yourself against phishing attempts on your work phone:
A worldwide cyberattack of this scale is a strong reminder that not only are work or home computers at risk, but malware attacks on mobile devices are gaining as well. Be vigilant and aware, and above all else — protect all your devices, not just one.
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