What is Ransomware|Explained For Beginners
Summary
TLDRRansomware, a type of malware, has evolved to use sophisticated cryptographic methods to lock and encrypt files, demanding untraceable cryptocurrency payments for decryption. Common distribution methods include phishing, exploit kits, and malvertising. To protect against this growing threat, users should regularly back up files, be cautious with email attachments and links, install reliable antivirus software, keep systems updated, and use secure websites. The video also highlights examples like Grand Crab, WannaCry, Bad Rabbit, and Locky, emphasizing the importance of prevention and the role of no-more-ransom.org in offering free decryption tools and advice.
Takeaways
- 🔒 Ransomware is a type of malware that encrypts files or locks systems, demanding payment in cryptocurrency for decryption.
- 📈 The sophistication of ransomware has increased since its first occurrence in 1989, making it a significant cybersecurity threat.
- 💡 Modern ransomware uses cryptographic methods to make files inaccessible, often targeting individual systems and business networks.
- 💸 Ransomware is financially motivated, with the goal of coercing victims to pay a ransom for file recovery.
- 📧 Phishing emails are a common method of ransomware distribution, tricking victims into opening attachments or clicking links.
- 🛠 Exploit kits are used to spread malware by exploiting vulnerabilities in software applications and operating systems.
- 📰 Malvertising involves attackers using advertising networks to spread ransomware through infected ads.
- 💡 To protect against ransomware, regularly back up files externally and be cautious with email attachments and unknown links.
- 🛡️ Install reliable antivirus software and keep all software and operating systems updated to reduce vulnerability.
- 🔍 Enable file extension visibility in computer settings to help identify potentially malicious files.
- 🔒 Visiting websites secured by SSL is recommended, but be aware that SSL alone does not guarantee website legitimacy.
- 🆓 NoMoreRansom.org offers free decryption tools and prevention advice for ransomware victims, supported by law enforcement and IT security companies.
Q & A
What is ransomware?
-Ransomware is a type of malicious software that can present itself in various ways to affect individual systems and networks, including businesses, hospitals, airports, and government agencies. It uses encryption to make files inaccessible and demands a ransom for decryption.
How has ransomware evolved since its first occurrence in 1989?
-Ransomware has evolved significantly since 1989, with modern variants using sophisticated cryptographic methods to encrypt files and lock computer operating systems, making them inaccessible without decryption keys.
What is the primary goal of ransomware attacks?
-The primary goal of ransomware attacks is to convince victims to pay a decryption ransom, usually in hard-to-trace cryptocurrencies, to regain access to their encrypted files or systems.
How has the popularity of ransomware changed over the last decade?
-The popularity of ransomware has grown significantly in the last decade, making it the most prominent malware threat globally, driven by financially motivated cyberattacks.
What are some common methods of ransomware distribution?
-Ransomware is commonly distributed through phishing emails, exploit kits that exploit vulnerabilities in software and operating systems, and malvertising, which uses advertising networks to spread the malware.
How can individuals and organizations protect themselves from ransomware attacks?
-Protection against ransomware includes regular backup of files, caution with email attachments and links, installation of trustworthy antivirus software, keeping software and operating systems updated, and enabling file extension visibility.
What is the significance of visiting 'no more ransom' website for ransomware victims?
-The 'no more ransom' website is a resource created by law enforcement and IT security companies to offer free decryption toolkits and prevention advice to ransomware victims, helping to disrupt the spread of ransomware.
What was unique about the Grand Crab ransomware that appeared in 2018?
-Grand Crab, first seen in 2018, was notable for infecting over 50,000 victims in less than a month and was the first known ransomware to demand ransom payments in cryptocurrency.
How did the WannaCry ransomware attack in 2017 propagate and what was its impact?
-WannaCry propagated through an exploit known as Eternal Blue, targeting Microsoft Windows systems, and infected over 300,000 computers in four days, causing significant disruption worldwide.
What was the modus operandi of the Bad Rabbit ransomware in 2017?
-Bad Rabbit spread through fake Adobe Flash update advertisements on compromised websites, infecting computers that manually installed the executable file, with a ransom demand of roughly 280 US dollars.
How did the Locky ransomware affect the Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center in 2016?
-Locky ransomware affected the Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center in 2016 by encrypting their systems, leading the hospital to pay a 40 BTC ransom, equivalent to 17,000 US dollars at the time, to regain access.
Outlines
🛡️ Understanding Ransomware Threats
This paragraph introduces ransomware as a form of malicious software that has evolved since its first occurrence in 1989. It discusses the sophistication of modern ransomware, which uses cryptographic methods to encrypt files, rendering them inaccessible and demanding a ransom in cryptocurrencies for decryption. The paragraph also highlights the significant growth in ransomware's popularity over the past decade, emphasizing its status as a leading financial cyberattack threat. It warns that there is no guarantee of decryption even after ransom payment and encourages awareness of the various methods through which ransomware is distributed, such as phishing emails, exploit kits, and malvertising.
🚨 Protecting Against Ransomware Attacks
This section provides guidance on how to protect oneself from ransomware attacks. It suggests regular backup of files using external sources to ensure restoration post-infection. Advises caution with email attachments and links, avoiding unknown ads and websites, and the installation of reliable antivirus software. It also recommends keeping software and operating systems updated and enabling file extension visibility in computer settings for better security. The paragraph further advises against visiting non-SSL secured websites and checking for the HTTPS protocol, while noting that SSL alone is not a guarantee of a site's legitimacy. It directs viewers to 'No More Ransom', a collaborative website offering free decryption tools and prevention advice.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Ransomware
💡Malware
💡Encryption
💡Phishing
💡Exploit Kits
💡Malvertising
💡Backup
💡Antivirus
💡Software Updates
💡SSL
💡WannaCry
💡Cryptocurrency
Highlights
Ransomware is a type of malicious software that can affect individual systems and business networks.
Ransomware has evolved since 1989, with modern variants using cryptographic methods to encrypt files.
The primary goal of ransomware is to extort money through decryption ransoms, usually in untraceable cryptocurrencies.
There is no guarantee that paying the ransom will result in the decryption of the victim's information.
Ransomware has become the most prominent malware threat worldwide, with significant financial motivations.
Phishing emails are a common method for distributing ransomware through disguised legitimate attachments or links.
Exploit kits, containing malicious tools, are used to exploit vulnerabilities in software and operating systems.
Malvertising involves using advertising networks to spread ransomware through infected ads.
Regular backups can protect against ransomware by allowing file restoration after an infection.
Caution with email attachments and links, and avoiding unknown sources can mitigate ransomware risks.
Installing a reliable antivirus and keeping software updated are essential for ransomware protection.
Enabling file extension visibility helps in identifying potentially harmful files.
Visiting websites secured by SSL and checking URLs beginning with HTTPS can prevent some ransomware attacks.
NoMoreRansom.org offers free decryption tools and prevention advice for ransomware victims.
GrandCrab ransomware, first seen in 2018, demanded ransom payments in cryptocurrency.
WannaCry was a global cyber attack in 2017 that infected over 300,000 computers using the EternalBlue exploit.
Bad Rabbit ransomware spread through fake Adobe Flash updates, affecting primarily Russian computers.
Locky ransomware was distributed via email, posing as invoices requiring payment with infected attachments.
Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center paid a 40 BTC ransom to regain access to their systems after a Locky infection.
Transcripts
what is ransomware ransomware it's a
type of malicious software or malware
for short ransomware may present itself
in a few different ways affecting
individual systems as well as networks
of business hospitals airports and
government agencies ransomware is being
constantly improved and is getting more
and more sophisticated since the first
registered occurrence in 1989 while
simple formats are typically non
encryption ransomware modern ransomware
makes use of cryptographic methods in
order to encrypt files making them
inaccessible encryption ransomware may
also be used on hard drives as a way to
completely lock a computer operating
system preventing the victim from
accessing it the final goal is to
convince victims to pay for a decryption
ransom which are usually requested in
crypto currencies that are very hard to
trace however there is no guarantee that
payment of the ransom will decrypt your
information the popularity of ransomware
has grown significantly in the last
decade and is a financially motivated
cyberattack ransomware is currently the
most prominent malware threat in the
world how is malware distributed fishing
in the context of ransomware
phishing emails are one of the most
common forms of malware distribution the
victims usually get infected through
compromised email attachments or links
that are disguised as legitimate within
a network of computers one single victim
can be enough to compromise a whole
organization exploit kits an exploit kit
is a package made of various malicious
tools and pre-written
exploit code these kits are designed to
exploit issues and vulnerabilities and
software applications and operating
systems is a way to spread malware in
secure systems running out of date
software are the most common targets
malvert izing attackers making use of
advertising networks to spread the
ransomware through infected
advertisements how can you protect
yourself from ransomware attacks use
external sources to backup your files
regularly so you're able to restore them
after a potential infection is removed
be cautious with email attachments in
links avoid clicking on ads and websites
of unknown sources install a trustworthy
antivirus and keep your software
applications and operating system
up-to-date enable the show file
extensions option on your computer
settings so you can easily check the
extensions of your files avoid visiting
websites that are not secured by an SSL
by checking that the URL begins with
HTTPS keep in mind however that many
malicious websites are implementing the
SSL in order to confuse victims and an
SSL alone does not guarantee that the
website is legitimate or save visit no
more ransom org a website created by law
enforcement and IT security companies
working towards the disruption of
ransomware the website offers free
decryption toolkits for infected users
as well as prevention advice a few
ransomware examples grand crab 2018
first seen in January 2018 the
ransomware made over 50,000 victims in
less than a month before being disrupted
by the work of Romanian authorities
along with BitDefender and Europol
grande crab was spreading through
malvert izing and phishing emails and
was the first known ransomware to demand
a ransom payment and - cryptocurrency
the initial ransom varied from 300 to
1500 US dollars wanna cry 2017 a
worldwide cyber attack that infected
over 300 thousand computers in four days
wanna cry propagated through an exploit
known as eternal blue and targeted
Microsoft Windows operating systems the
attack was stopped due to emergency
patches released by Microsoft bad rabbit
2017 a ransomware that was spread is a
fake adobe flash update that was
downloaded from compromised websites
most infected computers were located in
Russia and the infection was dependent
on manual installation of an executable
file the price for decryption was
roughly 280 US dollars at the time locky
2016 usually distributed by email as an
invoice requiring payment that contained
infected attachments in 26
the Hollywood Presbyterian Medical
Center was affected by lucky and paid a
40 BTC ransom 17,000 u.s. dollars back
then in order to regain access to the
hospital's computer systems for more
information about security and other
interesting topics don't forget to watch
our other videos on by Nantz academy
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