This has been spreading over the last few days but in case you've not heard there's a new and rather nasty type of ransomware called Wanna Cry. Currently estimated to have infected over 200k+ PCs but total is probably exponentially bigger.
It's spread extremely easily, typically simply by hitting a phishing link in an email or on a website. The NSA derived script then encrypts all your cool important files and asks for a ransom payment. Unlike other payloads this one is not embedded in a file or image or downloadable attachment, it's simply a link which makes it that much nastier.
Moral of the story:
1. Don't click links from untrusted sources and even trusted ones should be avoided for the moment
2. Patch your Windows OS (if you're running Windows)
3. Your virus software should pick this up, make sure you've patched that also
4. Most importantly keep at least 2 backups (including offsite) of your really important files.
Wanna Decryptor: The NSA-derived ransomware worm shutting down computers worldwide
What is 'Wanna Decryptor'? A look at the ransomware that brought down the NHS
It's spread extremely easily, typically simply by hitting a phishing link in an email or on a website. The NSA derived script then encrypts all your cool important files and asks for a ransom payment. Unlike other payloads this one is not embedded in a file or image or downloadable attachment, it's simply a link which makes it that much nastier.
Moral of the story:
1. Don't click links from untrusted sources and even trusted ones should be avoided for the moment
2. Patch your Windows OS (if you're running Windows)
3. Your virus software should pick this up, make sure you've patched that also
4. Most importantly keep at least 2 backups (including offsite) of your really important files.
Wanna Decryptor: The NSA-derived ransomware worm shutting down computers worldwide
What is 'Wanna Decryptor'? A look at the ransomware that brought down the NHS