Four Things to Do in the Event of a Ransomware Attack
There are a variety of factors to worry about when going online, but one digital attack that has become more prevalent in recent years is the ransomware attack. Here are a few things you should do if you find yourself dealing with this ugly situation.
1. Ask for Help
Ransomware attacks are serious, serious business. Do not hesitate to bring in the CISA, FBI, or US Secret Service. Taking this lightly is not the thing to do and you can use all the help that is possible. Do not hesitate to call in the authorities.
2. Work with an Advisor
While the attack is happening, you can work with an experienced advisor that can help you to best recover from this attack. Going at it alone is not recommended under any circumstances, so don’t hesitate to bring in the pros.
An experienced IT firm will be able to help you recover from the attack and plan ahead to prevent future attacks from taking place. Keeping yourself protected going forward should become a top priority in the wake of an attack.
3. Isolate Any Infected Systems
If this ransomware attack has taken place in an office setting, the first thing to do is isolate the affected machine. Take it off of any networks that it is connected to so you can prevent potential attacks on other systems attached to your network.
In the short term, take measures to check your firewall settings, virus scan settings, and any other preventative measures to ensure that no other systems are affected by an attack. With the impacted computer segregated, you can focus on repairing it without the fear of attacks on other computers tied to that network.
4. Check in with Customers or Clients
One of the most important things to do in the event of ransomware is to make certain that your clients are aware. Even if there is not a breach of information, they will be able to take preventative measures on their end to prevent attacks to their system.
By not telling them, you can not only jeopardize the potential digital health of their organization, but ruin the relationship that you have with them as well as opening up other slippery slopes. Be proactive and let them know just what is going on. They will understand that these things happen and take the measures necessary to protect themselves.
