I have previously written posts regarding Ransomware. Ransomware is malware that once on your system encrypts your data preventing you from being able to open or use your files. Files targeted include Microsoft Office documents, PDFs, your pictures (jpeg) files and many more. You will then see a message that your files have been locked and that you must pay a ransom to receive the key to unlock them.
I had reported previously about ransomware after seeing in the regional news about local businesses and police departments that had been hit by ransomware. This past week ABC national news reported the news that Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital had paid $17,000 to a hacker to stop an attack on it's computer system.
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/hospital-hack-spotlights-medical-devices-systems-risk/story?id=37032717
One ransomware threat that has been in the news quite a bit lately is Crytolocker. I have witnessed this attack twice at 2 different clients. It often arrives via email disguised as a PDF or Zip file. The people behind this attack have been emailing it to large numbers of people and it often arrives with a variety of other bad news, backdoor trojans, downloader, spammers and password stealers. However email is not the only way these threats spread.
Another way the spread of Ramsomware is accomplished is by hacking a website and uploading a script which automatically generates hidden frames within a visitor's browser, this acts as a gateway between the visited site and a server that contains the Exploit Kit. Wordpress and now Joomla, two open source web publishing tools have been exploited to spread the ransomware payload.
Once you receive the message it is too late.
Things you can do to protect yourself is to be sure you have a well thought out backup plan that includes having multiple dates of backup, i.e. if you are backing up to the same media and overwriting the previous days backup that is no good. If you are hit by a cryptovirus and don't catch it prior to the backup you may end up having a backup of worthless data.
It is advisable to unplug external drives from the computer after a backup if that is your method.
Check your anti-virus and make sure your subscription is current and definitions are up to date.
The following link contains more detailed/technical info on protecting yourself.
Be proactive with your security and vigilant when surfing the internet.
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