Backing up important data is the single most effective way of combating ransomware infection.Unless you are absolutely sure that this is a genuine email from a trusted source, do not enable macros and instead immediately delete the email. Be especially wary of any Microsoft Office email attachment that advises you to enable macros to view its content.Be wary of unexpected emails, especially if they contain links and/or attachments. Email is one of the main infection methods.Software updates will frequently include patches for newly discovered security vulnerabilities that could be exploited by ransomware attackers. Keep your operating system and other software updated.Always keep your security software up to date to protect yourself against them. New ransomware variants appear on a regular basis.Patches are being released for this particular variant of malware.įor more long-term prevention of ransomware attacks, follow these ransomware tips for businesses and consumers: The VERY first thing you should do is update your computer’s operating system. Norton products cover a large number of these newly discovered samples, including Ransom.Wannacry. After you have completed the backup, be sure you have unplugged your hard drive from the machine for safe storage.Īs of 05/14, Symantec Security researchers have collected a large number of new samples and are currently trying to identify the new and emerging versions of this malware. Patches have already been released by Microsoft, including patches for previously unsupported operating systems (XP, 2K3, Windows 8).Īdditionally, once you are sure your computer is clear of infection, perform a backup of your hard drive. Be sure you are using and updating security software in order to stay protected from the latest discovered versions of this ransomware. This ransomware threat is still very active on the internet, and you should take immediate care in order to not become one of its victims. According to Europol, in just the short time since it was first discovered, the outbreak has increased to more than 200,000 users in 150 countries.

Unfortunately, this malware not only spreads itself rapidly, it also evolves quickly to avoid any attempts at mitigation. Security researchers caught on to the threat quickly and have made attempts to curb its infection rate. If payment is not made within a week, the files will be deleted. If the user does not pay within three days, the amount will be doubled. In this particular case, WannaCry demands that users pay a $300 ransom in bitcoin. If the user doesn’t pay the cybercriminal a certain amount of money within a certain amount of time, their data will be lost forever. A well-known form of malware, ransomware ruthlessly holds a computer’s data for ransom via encryption.

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