A mid-sized company’s IT team discovered something odd at 8:00 a.m. on a Monday: employees couldn’t access shared documents, and important medical data had been altered with odd filenames. Shortly after that, a message appeared on each screen, demanding a large ransom as a substitute for a decryption key to access the company’s data. Employee workstations were suddenly locked, confidential data was in jeopardy, and the company came to a complete stop. This was a ransomware attack, not an IT error.
The business was unprepared for this type of attack, even though firewalls and anti-malware software were in place. As they rushed to determine the magnitude of the harm done and how to recover, panic broke out. Every day, this situation occurs in a variety of businesses, leaving many with a similar question: What should we do now?
Recovering from a ransomware attack involves more than just expertise in technology; it necessitates a comprehensive, well-planned recovery plan capable of restoring data, minimizing harm, and returning operations to normal. This blog will discuss how to recover from a ransomware attack, including how to restore encrypted files and create a robust data recovery plan. Let’s get started.
What Exactly Does Data Theft Mean?
Data theft occurs when data and personal information are taken or intercepted from a computer system without authorization. Numerous techniques, including phishing, malware, hacking, and insider threats, can be used to achieve this. Sensitive personal data, corporate records, customer databases, intellectual property, and other priceless digital assets can all be among the stolen material. Cybercriminals may utilize this information for a number of evil activities, such as financial fraud, business espionage, identity theft, or information sales on the dark web.
What is a Ransomware Attack?
Malicious software known as ransomware is made to encrypt a victim’s files and prevent them from being accessed until a monetary ransom is paid. Since cryptocurrency, like Bitcoin, provides anonymity, attackers usually demand payment in this payment method. Devastating ransomware attacks can result in extended outages, the theft of private information, and harm to one’s reputation. These attacks can target both individuals and companies of various sizes.
Ransomware Types
Although ransomware can take many different forms, the two most prevalent ones are as follows:
- Crypto Ransomware: Without the decryption key, this type of malware encrypts your data and renders files illegible. The key is offered by the attackers in return for a ransom.
- Locker Ransomware: This type of malware locks individuals out of their gadgets or important apps instead of encrypting their files. Access is restricted until the price of ransom is paid, but the files stay intact.
Now, how can one recover or respond to this loss?
Data Recovery Strategy for Ransomware
Without a strong data recovery plan, a ransomware assault might completely destroy your company. Having a well-planned strategy guarantees that you can get your data back and carry on without having to pay the ransom.
Essential Elements of a Data Recovery Strategy
Regular Backups
Keeping frequent backups is one of the most important components of a recovery strategy. Observe the 3-2-1 rule:
- Maintain three copies of your data.
- Keep them on two distinct kinds of media ( For example, cloud and local storage).
- Make sure one copy is kept off-site or in an environment that is air-gapped, meaning it is not linked to the network.
Assessing Your Recovery Strategy
A strategy is only as good as how it is carried out. Plan to test your recovery and backup systems on a regular basis. This includes simulated exercises and mock drills to make sure that every employee in your company understands their responsibilities and that the backup plan operates as planned in real-time scenarios.
Cloud Backups
Redundancy and scalability are features of cloud-based backups. Services like Azure and Amazon S3 provide highly secure automated backups. However, it is critical to guarantee that these copies are also safeguarded and help to recover from a ransomware attack by utilizing immutable storage, which restricts any changes to the backup data for a predetermined period of time.
Training for Employees
A recovery strategy is not only technical; it also incorporates people. Teach your staff secure file-sharing methods and phishing prevention as well as other safety precautions. Human mistake is one of the most common sources of effective ransomware attacks, thus putting money into training can help to reduce this risk.
Now, let us discuss some steps to recover from a ransomware attack.
10 Steps to Recover from a Ransomware Attack
In the case that one or more of your company’s devices have been compromised, what should be done right away? When ransomware strikes, you should follow the steps on the following checklist to recover from a ransomware attack.
Refrain from Paying the Ransom
Even if it might seem like the fastest method to recover your data and move on with your life, there is no assurance that the individual on the other side will release your files once you pay the ransom. It might be challenging to decide whether to pay a cyber threat performer to unlock your files or devices, and you could feel under pressure to comply with their demands. Report the cybercrime to your local police agency before making any payments. Generally speaking, it is not recommended to pay the ransom because of the following:
- Even after the initial ransom payment is made, attackers may still demand more money, so it won’t ensure you have access to your files.
- Because they believe you will keep paying for each attack, it incentivizes the threat person to keep attacking your equipment or that of other businesses with ransomware.
- After the ransom is paid, the threat person can utilize wiper software, which poses as ransomware, to change or erase your data permanently, rendering it unrecoverable.
- It’s possible that your data has been duplicated, and the attacker may use it to further extort you or leak it for financial gain.
- Your money might be used to fund terrorist groups or other ransomware assaults.
Locate the Origin
Now that you’ve taken efforts to mitigate the immediate harm, investigate your IT infrastructure for clues as to the origin of the assault. Any outdated system can be readily penetrated, and it’s important to keep in mind that even SaaS applications, such as Microsoft 365, are susceptible. Get in touch with every user to find out who was the first to notice the malicious activity and when it happened. Did that happen after they opened an email link? Alternatively, was there an odd web browser prompt?
Determine the Strain of Ransomware
Researching the type of ransomware may assist you in finding the security code you require to open your device. You can get decryption codes from decryption websites to fix the problem without having to pay a ransom. Identifying the ransomware strain is also useful when reporting a breach to authorities.
Note the Attack’s Specifics
Photograph the ransom letter that pops up on your screen, which is easily done with your phone. This can assist recovery experts in identifying the type of ransomware that infected you, as well as providing information on how to fulfill the ransom, which is NOT advised. In the event that you need to complete any reports for the police or insurance companies, this information is also beneficial.
Unplug External Storage Devices
It is critical to keep backups of your work, which can be saved in the cloud or on external drives. Many virus types have trouble attempting to infect your external hard drive as well, which renders recovery attempts futile. In the case of a ransomware attack, make sure external storage devices are kept clean by removing them right away.
Disconnect All of The Devices from The Network and Turn Them Off
As soon as you’ve discovered which devices are compromised, unhook the network wire, turn down the WiFi connection, and shut them down. Since many ransomware variants can propagate through a network connection, your chances of controlling the intrusion increase with the speed at which the compromised devices are disconnected.
Additionally, until you have identified every compromised system, you must momentarily take all shared folders offline. At this point, you should keep an eye on systems to see if any new files are vanishing or becoming encrypted.
Turn off Maintenance Duties
Many maintenance procedures on your machine will continue to operate as planned, independent of a ransomware assault. Until the ransomware problem is fixed, you should put off tasks like automatically clearing conversations, removing old files, and clearing your Recycle Bin. Something may be erased that is subsequently required to remove the malware or lead officials to the source.
Notify Every User
Sending an email notification and posting alerts on an organization’s message board to notify users about a ransomware assault is a solid tactic, but it is insufficient in the case of a ransomware assault. For everyone to understand what has transpired and what they require to be on the lookout for, you will need to physically visit and speak with them one-on-one.
Reimage Corrupted Components, Servers, and Virtual Machines
Once a space has been damaged, the only method to ensure that the infection has been totally eliminated is to erase every single device, including virtual appliances, and start again with a fresh image. In the interim, if you have a cloud recovery strategy in place, your firm can continue to function by recovering key apps and data in virtual servers in a virtual personal cloud.
Restore to a Pristine Device from a Backup
Once the harm has been limited, guarantee that all customers are conscious of the current hazard so that they do not infect others. Data can be retrieved without paying the ransom amount by recovering it from a backup saved on a reputable cloud provider. With an enterprise-grade automatic backup solution and knowledge of when and where the assault occurred, you may quickly restore an uninfected, indexed copy of each system’s data.
Also Read – Top 10 Cyber Security Threats You Should Be Aware
How Can Data Security Platforms Help
Data Security Platforms provides a complete ransomware protection solution that helps in attack detection, prevention, and recovery.
- Real-Time Risk Detection: These tools keep an eye out for questionable activity, such as frequent file changes or odd access patterns, and immediately notify you of any suspicious activity so you can take appropriate action.
- Automated Response Mechanisms: To reduce damage and limit the size of an attack, automate responses to threats such as deactivating accounts or isolating affected systems.
- File Activity Tracking: To identify any threats early and learn more about data access, keep track of and report all file modifications, including encryption and deletion.
- Audit and Compliance Reporting: Create thorough audit reports to monitor user activity and access patterns, which can help with post-attack compliance and recovery.
- Recovery and Backup Support: Reduce interruptions and loss of information by integrating backup systems to enable quick recovery and restore clean copies of compromised files.
- Insider Attack Protection: Protect against insider threats by keeping an eye on privileged user behavior and access modifications. This will help identify and eliminate internal threats that might enable ransomware assaults.
Conclusion
It can be a terrifying experience to deal with a ransomware assault, which can cause resource pressure, damage sensitive data, and interrupt operations. However, businesses may move through the aftermath with confidence and resilience if they have a well-though-out recovery strategy, the appropriate resources, and smart initiatives.
Businesses can recover from a ransomware attack without having to pay the ransom by putting strong backup plans in place, using decryption software, and getting expert assistance when necessary.
Furthermore, it’s critical to improve your cybersecurity posture after an assault. Using tools, training staff, and improving security procedures can all help strengthen your defenses and stop such situations in the future. Although the road to recovery is difficult, your company may come out stronger and more stable if you take the initiative and have the necessary tools.
Keep in mind that readiness is essential. By making an investment in thorough data recovery strategies and strong security measures now, you can protect your company from future uncertainty. Keep your defenses up, be knowledgeable, and remain alert.
