Ransomware cyber attack: These are the 5 steps to protect your computer

An aggressive new strain of ransomware is shutting down Windows operating computers all over the world. Although the virus known as WannaCry has already infected over 250000 PCs in 150 countries, it is actually not that hard to secure your digital data.

Once your computer is attacked by the Wannacry Ransomware attack, images appear on victims’ screens demanding payment of $300 (Dh1101) in the virtual currency Bitcoin, saying: “Ooops, your files have been encrypted!” Payment is demanded within three days or the price is doubled, and if none is received within seven days the locked files will be deleted, according to the screen message.

One of the first things to do today is updating your Windows software as soon as you log into your computer because that’s where the vulnerability is.
you can follow these steps to secure your laptops:

1. Avoid visiting unknown websites

2. Avoid downloading any files from the unknown websites

3. Avoid opening or saving of attachments received through unknown emails. Even though an email received from a known person, please click on the sender’s email address to verify the actual email id of the email received before opening any attachment. This is to make sure that the email received is not a spoofed email.

4. Take a backup of your PC/laptop on a daily basis which is the best way to avoid data loss at the time of malware attack.

5. If you suspect your PC/laptop is infected, immediately disconnect the device from the network to avoid it spreading to other devices and inform your IT support team.

But if you are unfortunate and the ransomware is already installed in your machine today, there is not much you can do. Once you are affected, you have to go for a complete wipe and restore with the backup you hopefully have created.