Ransomware Attacks: Protecting Your Business Online
In 2016, a whopping 74% of online businesses were exposed to some form of security breach.
Last Friday, more than 200,000 computers across 70 countries were affected by a ransomware attack that plunged organisations such as the NHS into chaos. ‘Wana Decrypt0r 2.0’ sent unsuspecting victims audacious ransom demands after encrypting data and locking users out of their devices.
How Did Wana Decrypt0r 2.0 Gain Access?
This form of malware is allegedly utilising the ‘EternalBlue’ exploit discovered by the National Security Agency (NSA) which was recently leaked by a group of hackers known as ‘The Shadow Brokers’. The malware reportedly took advantage of the SMB (Server Message Block) protocol which is utilised heavily within the Microsoft operating system with an exploit to gain remote system access. Servers which weren’t updated after March 14th with the MS17-010 patch were affected whilst serves which were updated remained untouched.
Being Vigilant Online
Whilst Wana Decrypt0r 2.0 isn’t known to have been distributed via email, it is likely that emails will lead to further spread of the malware. For this reason, it is vital that you are cautious when opening email attachments, emails from unknown senders, or when clicking on unknown links. These measures should always be followed as your website can fall victim to any number of threats which put customer data and your reputation at risk.
What Should You Be Doing?
The disruption caused by this, and any attack, emphasises the importance of investing in a robust hosting environment and performing regular website security audits. Hosting over 500 websites, at Netbiz Group, we understand the financial impact a security breach can have on a business which is why we have a number of comprehensive hosting and website maintenance packages available to help keep your investment secure and online. For more information about how we can help you, contact us today.