You may have seen news stories about businesses, hospitals or government organizations which have been attacked by a ransomware virus and be wondering how to keep your personal computer protected. Check out some best practices to prevent a ransomware attack.

How does ransomware get onto your computer?

A ransomware attack can be triggered by clicking on a sketchy link in a phishing email or a legitimate-looking message that is actually a virus. Once clicked, the link downloads the virus onto your computer. An attack can also be activated by opening a document containing macros — a type of computer command — and downloading the virus onto your system. Unknowingly visiting a site with infected web ads can also open the door to malware.

How to reduce the risk of ransomware

• Do not take the bait with phishing scams — emails appearing to be from a trusted source can really be scammers “phishing” for sensitive financial information 
• Only allow pop-ups you trust on a case-by-case basis to keep out unwanted and dangerous pop-ups in your browser 
• Enable all software patches from known sources to close back doors into your system 
• Adjust your file settings to prevent macros from running 
• Back up your files regularly to a removable drive or cloud storage that keeps multiple versions so you always have the most recent files 
• Consider purchasing backup software for your files and images to securely store important data

You have fallen victim to ransomware, now what?

If you were too late in taking precautions and you pay to have your files unlocked, it is even more important to monitor all financial accounts like credit cards and bank statements to ensure no unauthorized access. Members can use Civic online banking to access their accounts anytime to view transactions and catch potential issues sooner.