The opinions expressed in this article are the writer’s own and do not reflect the views of Her Campus.
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Aberdeen chapter.
Ransomware is malware that employs encryption to hold a victim’s information at ransom. A user’s files are encrypted, making them unable to access files
Ransom is often spread through phishing emails that contain malicious attachments or drive-by downloading, which occurs when a user unknowingly visits an infected website and then malware is installed without the user knowing
Cybercriminals collect the ransom in bitcoin because it is an untraceable currency, allowing them to remain anonymous
Ways in which you can prevent your computer from being infected by ransomware:
- Be aware when opening email attachments and clicking on links
- Don’t click on suspicious websites
- Don’t give out personal or financial details unless it is a secure website, or you trust the person
- Use antivirus or a firewall to protect yourself
- Create passwords which are long and difficult to guess
- Back up important information on drives not connected to the computer
- Set up a separate email and remove your mobile from your accounts just in case your mobile is hacked so they can enter your account