In recent days, you may have heard about the Locky ransomware.
The media are starting to report on it. This ransomware now seems to be affecting Switzerland too, as malware knows no borders.
Description of Locky
Locky is so-called ransomware (or malware) that takes your files hostage by encrypting them and then demanding a ransom to decrypt the data.
Locky is currently spreading rapidly across Europe, and Switzerland has not been spared.
Like most ransomware, Locky is spread by e-mails containing an infected attachment.
– The subject of these emails can vary.
– The body of the message contains a (properly worded for once) request to pay an invoice, view an attached document, etc.
– the attachment is often in “invoice_J-XXXXXX.doc” format.
– the sender’s name is never the same.
Maximum caution with attachments
This virus is wreaking havoc despite the firewalls and other anti-virus software used by SMEs.
These technological tools are not infallible.
What’s more, this ransomware evolves every week, using new propagation methods.
To protect yourself, there’s only one solution: NEVER open an attachment sent by e-mail, with a dubious extension and origin.
Corporate impact
In corporate environments, if a variation of ransomware manages to slip through your anti-virus protection, data encryption can take on dramatic proportions.
Shared network drives can also be infected.
And of course, this is where some of your company’s intelligence lies.
No access to files = production stoppage = disaster.
Backing up your data
It’s imperative to have backups of your files.
In the event of a ransomware infection, the last resort will be to restore files via your backups.
Obviously, these backups must not be on a network drive, as you would then have encrypted backups that would be unusable.
A reliable backup solution involves making an off-site backup (tapes, outsourced online backup, etc.).
If you have any doubts about your backup solution, don’t hesitate to contact us so that we can audit the solution you have in place.
Other rules not to be overlooked
- Be equipped with a true professional antivirus software
- Update your software and operating system regularly.
- Use the administrator account only when really necessary
- Limit user permissions on network shares
- Limit the use of Office macros to certain groups of users who really need them
- If in doubt, use a document viewer to open your attachments (rather than directly in Word or Excel).
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