Those who assume that ransomware is a thing of the past are sadly mistaken. In fact, during the first three months of 2016 alone, the hacking victims in the US paid $ 209 million in ransom payments, according to the FBI, against only $ 25 million in 2015. Even large institutions such as hospitals and police found themselves falling victim debilitating virus that keep them locked out of their data until they pay the pirates.
Although the threats of cybercrime ransomware and others are increasing, a way to beat them is with the help of a backup service complete online. However, all people who use the online backup are not aware of the potential protection it offers. One reason for this is that many are abusing the service they have chosen and, in turn, themselves and their data making it vulnerable to hackers. We offer up some tips to keep working effectively to protect against ransomware and pirates, and help keep the remote cybercriminals your online backup system.
Enable automatic backups
One of the most widely aspects undervalued using an online backup service that is top-rated programs are designed so users can set automatic work, which includes backups at a reasonable price. A common mistake that can lead to an attacker to take control of your data will not opt for a service that can store and backup all your data at once without the user having to do it manually. Especially for users with large amounts of data to trend, this is a crucial mistake, and certainly not worth the financial savings rather insignificant to stick with a free option, less complete. When you are looking for an online backup service, you must search plan that allows room for all your data to protect - not just a few particularly important files. There are many cost-effective options (or even free) to choose from, so there is no real excuse for leaving your data goes unprotected.
Once you have chosen and installed an online backup service, it is time to make sure you have enabled automatic backups. Taking advantage of this feature is absolutely essential for online backup users so they can be sure that they are always protected against hackers and ransomware. Automatic backups to make sure you have a copy of your files in a secure location and encrypted other than your hard drive. This way, if a hacker does find a way into your system, or try to lure you with ransomware, you can restore your files almost exactly the way they were and therefore will not feel obliged to give in to their demands.
Test Your Service
Improve your online backup strategy takes time and consideration, especially for users who face multiple types of data files and systems (such as personal and laptop computers work, as well as a smartphone). Understanding how to securely store all your content can be a complex and delicate process, so once you think you've found the perfect system, it is best to put it to the test. Users should perform routine tests on their backups from beginning to end - after all, it is dangerous to assume that no news is good news. Just because there has been no problems reported directly to you as an administrator of your online backup account, does not mean that everything is up to safety standards and that you pay based on. Take time to make sure your system is being backed up completely, and if you are not the named administrator (online backup account business), be sure to check with one who has that access to ensure that all goes well. If there is an error with your automatic backup, you'll be able to catch and fix it to make sure you always have copies of your files to date.
In case of emergency
The problem with the criminal hackers is that they are well aware of how to adapt their technology malware to slip through the cracks and disrupt online backups we do. Often users are not even aware that their computer has been infected, leading them to safeguard dangerous files. Red flags indicating a potentially infected computer include sudden accidents, unwanted pop-ups, the activity of exceptionally high network messages or programs that appear unusual to start automatically.
If for any reason you suspect that your computer has been compromised, there are some steps you can take to reduce damage. First, immediately disconnect from the network you are using and disconnect all devices, it can be connected to. Unfortunately, once the malware has infected a computer, other device sharing the same network becomes sensitive. Second, cancel all scheduled backups online, as you do not want to transfer files or programs infected your online backup service and may compromise as well. Finally, if you can, run your antivirus software until there is no trace of the infection to the left and it is safe to reconnect and, if necessary, restore your files. Online Backup users should be using an Internet security software alongside their backup service to detect potential threats before they can be included in the backup and cause a disaster.
Malware can be removed, but once a computer is infected with ransomware, it is very difficult to recover the files without the necessary encryption key - usually only provided once you pay the ransom . In the case of a hack, users should refer to all previous backups that they have made using their designated service or an external source such as an external hard drive. It is important to verify and ensure the latest automatic backup was made before the infection took place, as you do not want to risk restore corrupt or harmful files. Once you have made sure that everything is exactly saved, you can rest easy knowing that if hackers delete all your documents and files from your device, you still have a copy of them that you can restore.
Dealing with malware, and ransomware is difficult, especially considering how advanced and agile virus can be. Those who use online backup services to encrypt and secure their data must take the necessary precautions to ensure that their chosen online backup service works well. Learn more about how online backup can provide insurance for your online life by following our online backup blog.