Businesses nowadays need to have computers to track data, interact with customers, and more. In the majority of cases, these computers have to be connected to the internet to work properly. However, this also leaves them open to viruses that can damage the computers or delete the data stored on them. Business owners need to know about the viruses like ransomware they can experience and what to do about them.
What is Ransomware?
Ransomware is a type of computer virus that locks some or all of the files on the computer and refuses to release them unless the person who owns the computer pays a certain amount of money to the creator of the ransomware.
How Does it Get on the Computers?
It must be downloaded onto the computer, but this can be done inadvertently if a person visits a website in an email from someone they’re not familiar with or opens a document sent to them in an email by someone they don’t know. Once downloaded, some will automatically start to install and lock the files while others will need to be installed and will use various tricks to convince the user it’s safe to install them.
What Happens Once It’s on the Computers?
Once the virus is on the computers and installed, it locks some or all of the files. This means no one can access them and they’re typically encrypted to ensure they cannot be accessed again without the proper key. A message will pop-up that alerts the user to what has happened and lets them know how they can pay the ransom to recover their files or to gain the key that allows them to access the files again.
How Can it be Removed?
If the person pays the ransom, the virus is still on the computer and can relock the data and demand a new ransom at any time. These viruses need to be removed completely for the person to avoid paying the ransom and to ensure it doesn’t occur again. Most of the time, it will require expert help to completely remove the ransomware.
If you’ve received a message requiring a ransom to access your documents, you have some sort of ransomware on your computers. Do not pay the ransom and hope it’s enough. Instead, contact an expert for ransomware removal to get rid of the problem immediately.