Stop Ransomware In Philadelphia
[2022 Insights]

Stop Ransomware In Philadelphia: How to Keep Your Data Safe in 2022

The internet is filled with peril nowadays, but nothing makes businesses and internet users more afraid than the threat of falling victim to a ransomware attack.

A ransomware attack can cripple operations, damage your reputation with employees and customers, and invite more attacks, given that cybercriminals will view your organization as susceptible. The recent attacks on Kaseya and Colonial Pipeline indicate that no organization is safe. Even entities with the strongest cybersecurity infrastructure have difficulty managing the consequences of a ransomware breach, and there’s no easy solution.

The good news is that with proper cybersecurity measures, organizations can mitigate ransomware vulnerabilities and prepare for the worst-case scenario. This post will take a comprehensive look at how to stop ransomware in order to keep your business safe.

What Is Ransomware?

Ransomware is a type of malware that is fashioned to encrypt files on a given device, thereby rendering them unusable. Threat actors then demand ransom in exchange for decrypting the files. Ransomware actors usually target and threaten to leak or sell authenticated information or exfiltrated data if the ransom isn’t paid.

In recent years, ransomware events have become increasingly common among the nation’s state, tribal, local, and territorial government organizations and critical infrastructure entities. Threat actors continue to come up with new ransomware tactics every other day. The U.S government, private sector players, and local and state governments remain alert in maintaining ransomware attack awareness and associated techniques, tactics, and procedures across the nation and around the world.

Best Practices for Ransomware Prevention

Whereas ransomware can cause calamitous damage to your business and reputation, it isn’t invincible. By following ransomware prevention best practices, you can prevent your business from becoming a cybercrime target and minimize the chances that an attack could take down your business. Let us take a look at some of the best practices:

Stopping Internet Facing Vulnerabilities and Misconfigurations

Typically, most ransomware attacks are conducted via the internet. Among the most common internet-facing vulnerabilities include broken authentication, injection flaws, security misconfiguration, and exposure of sensitive data. When measures aren’t taken to rectify these vulnerabilities, the consequences can be severe. Among the measures that you should take to stop these vulnerabilities include:

• Conduct regular vulnerability scanning to identify and address vulnerabilities, more so those on internet-facing devices, in order to limit the attack surface.
• Ensure that all your devices are properly configured, and all security features are activated. For instance, disable protocols and ports that aren’t being used for business purposes.
• Regularly update and patch software and OSS to the latest version available (patches on internet-facing devices should be timely).
• Block or disable Server Message Block (SMB) protocol outbound and disable or remove outdated versions of SMB.
• Ensure that you use RDP (remote desktop protocol) and other remote desktop devices properly. Malicious actors usually gain initial access to a network through vulnerable and poorly secure remote devices and then, later on, propagate the ransomware.

Stopping Phishing Attacks

Phishing is a form of social engineering attack that is often used to steal data such as login credentials and credit card numbers. These attacks usually occur when an attacker masquerades as a trusted entity, tricks the victim into opening an email, text message, or instant message. Afterward, the recipient is duped into clicking an unsafe link, resulting in malware installation. Some of the best practices for stopping these attacks include:

• Implement a cybersecurity user awareness and training program that guides your staff on how to identify and report suspicious activities. You should undertake an organization-wide phishing test to gauge user awareness.
• Implement Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance (DMARC) to lower the chances of modified or spoofed emails from valid domains.
• Use filters at the email gateway to filter out emails with identifiable malicious indicators such as malicious subject lines.
• You should also consider disabling macro scripts for Microsoft Office files that are transmitted via email.

Stopping Precursor Malware Infection

A precursor malware is a specific type of malware that compromises a victim’s email account, enabling the threat actor to use that account to further expand the infection. These attacks can be prevented by using the following strategies:

• Ensure that anti-malware and antivirus software are up to date. Moreover, you should turn on automatic updates for both of these software.
• Make use of the application directory allowlisting on all of your assets to ensure that only authorized software can run and that all unauthorized software is blocked from executing.
• You should consider using an intrusion detection system (IDS) to identify command and control activities and any other potentially malicious activities that occur before a ransomware attack is deployed.

Stopping Attacks That Result From Using Third Parties and Managed Service Providers

Ransomware attacks on third parties aren’t new, but their increasing prevalence means that you need to treat them as an inevitability. Some of the best practices for mitigating third-party ransomware risks include:

• Consider the cyber hygiene and risk management practices of third-party or managed service providers (MSPs) your organization partners with to meet its goals. If a MSP or a third party is tasked with securing and maintaining your organization’s backup, ensure that they follow the applicable best practices that we’ve outlined above.
• Understand that your adversaries may exploit the trusted relationship your organization has with MSPs and third parties.

Besides the practices outlined above, it is crucial to maintain offline, encrypted backups of data and regularly test your backups. It is vital that backups be maintained offline as most ransomware variants attempt to find and delete any accessible backups. By maintaining offline backups, there won’t be any need to pay ransom for data, given that it is readily accessible to your organization.

Menark Technologies Can Help You Stop Ransomware Attacks

Are you searching for a new IT services provider to help with your cybersecurity? Menark Technologies is your go-to provider. We offer a wide range of IT security services, including managed IT security, Managed firewall services, Endpoint protection, Cybersecurity training, and Incident response planning. Contact us to learn more about our services.

Thanks to James and Jon with 4BIS.COM in Cincinnati for their help with this video and article. Discover more about 4BIS here – https://www.4bis.com/cincinnati-it-services/