No Need To Panic And Pay A Ransom If You Get A Ransomware Attack

Illustration (Pixabay)

JAKARTA - Ransomware attacks are quite annoying because they can lock user access to computer systems. Moreover, perpetrators of this type of cyber attack usually ask for a certain amount of ransom from their victims.

Kaspersky cybersecurity expert Dony Koesmandarin warns against paying anyone a ransomware ransom. Because, paying the ransom for ransomware will only give the perpetrator the opportunity to continue carrying out other cyber attacks.

"There is no need to pay anything," said Dony in his virtual press conference, Tuesday, September 2.

Based on Kaspersky's research, as many as 20 percent of ransomware victims who paid the ransom did not get back files that the perpetrator had taken. So according to him, the most appropriate step when becoming a victim is to immediately report it to the local law enforcement agency.

"Cyber crime also needs a budget, if you don't have money and don't earn, then you can't operate. So there's no need to negotiate with them," he said.

Even if you are hit by a ransomware attack, Dony suggests turning off your laptop or computer immediately. This step is taken to minimize access to ransomware attackers to enter through internet security holes and steal important data.

"So, not all data is encrypted or this can protect untouched data," he added.

Dony also recommends that laptop or computer users update the operating system of all computers on your network to the latest version regularly. "Update the software, if it doesn't update there will be a security hole that can be used."

To anticipate this, Dony said it is very necessary to back up data regularly. It's a good idea to keep multiple copies in different places: for example, an isolated physical drive, and other copies in the cloud. "Anticipating backups, continuing to backup is very important. But not on the same computer."