Busting the Top 3 Ransomware Myths

Ransomware attacks are becoming increasingly frequent, sophisticated and costly. With cybercriminals constantly evolving their tactics and targeting businesses of all sizes, organizations of all sizes must proactively safeguard your data and systems. Unfortunately, many companies fall prey to common ransomware myths, which can leave them vulnerable to attacks and unprepared to respond effectively in the event of an incident.

Let’s debunk three of the most popular ransomware myths and provide the accurate information you need to protect your business. Understanding the realities of ransomware and taking proactive steps against it can mitigate the risk and ensure you’re prepared to fight against cybercriminals. Without further ado, let’s debunk the ransomware myths you should avoid at any cost:

Myth #1: When my business gets hit with ransomware, I’ll pay the ransom and return to business.

Many businesses believe that paying a ransom is the quickest and easiest way to recover encrypted data. However, that’s just a dangerous assumption and naive. Paying a ransom does not guarantee the attackers will keep their word and provide the decryption key. Also, paying a ransom only encourages cybercriminals to carry out more attacks in the future. The best way to protect your business is to have a solid backup strategy and a comprehensive security plan in place.

Myth #2: When I get hit with ransomware, backups will get me back up and running.

While backups are very essential to ransomware prevention, it’s a popular myth that backups will always save the day. The cybercriminals have upgraded their tactics to compromise backup files as part of their attack strategy. With the rise of double extortion attacks, cybercriminals not only encrypt data but also steal it. This means that even if you have a backup strategy in place, your data most likely is still at risk if attackers threaten to leak sensitive data unless a ransom is paid.

Myth #3: Antivirus software (or any other security solution) provides complete protection from ransomware attacks.

Antivirus software is essential to a comprehensive defense against ransomware, but it’s not enough. Relying on a single security product to defend against ransomware is a mistake. There’s no silver bullet solution to ransomware. However, implementing a defense-in-depth strategy can help your business build the most robust possible defense.

Partner to succeed

While it’s true that no security measure is foolproof, taking proactive steps to secure your data and systems can significantly reduce the risk of falling victim to a ransomware attack. Do you have a plan to mitigate ransomware? We can help ensure your organization is well-prepared to fight against ransomware and other cyberthreats with our custom cybersecurity assessment. Feel free to reach out to us for a no-obligation consultation. Contact iT1. We’re here to help.