Last updated on March 26, 2024
Ransomware is a type of malware that encrypts your files, making them inaccessible. First, a malicious actor gains access to your system and encrypts your data. Then, the malicious actor demands a ransom in exchange for the decryption key.
Ransomware tactics vary. The scheme often involves pressuring the victim into paying by threatening to release or delete important data. Attackers constantly come up with new ideas. A lock screen displaying the ransom demand, an endless loop of popups, or a destructive file deleter: these are only some of the possible forms of a ransomware attack.
Alarming Rise of Ransomware Attacks
The last few years have seen a considerable increase in the frequency of ransomware attacks, with some ransom demands reaching as high as $11 million. A successful ransomware attack may be devastating to any organization. Whether the extortion was successful or not, a compromised company puts its reputation at risk and faces possible data loss, downtime, and high labor costs. Due to all this, it is of paramount importance to know how to prevent a ransomware attack.
How to Prevent Ransomware Attacks
While regular backups, software updates, and phishing awareness campaigns are all sound recommendations, your ransomware protection strategy has to start from the ground up.
In a joint effort to enhance the understanding of ransomware, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MS-ISAC) released a best practices Ransomware Guide.
The guide recommends employing Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for all your services. In addition to that, MFA gets a separate mention in a list of best practices for RDP. The Ransomware Guide recommends that you apply MFA to all your RDP logons.
Rublon Secures Your Remote Services
Most ransomware attacks require a hacker to access your network before they can encrypt your files. Malicious actors often gain access to a network through poorly secured remote services.
Rublon recognizes the vulnerabilities of remote services and delivers MFA for:
- Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP)
- Remote Desktop Gateway (RD Gateway)
- Remote Desktop Web Access (RD Web)
- Remote Access Software (VPNs)
Rublon builds a robust additional layer of security into your everyday workflow and keeps your data away from hackers. Rublon MFA helps you prevent fraudulent logins: when unable to log into your network, malicious actors cannot access your data.
Since RDP is a common ransomware infection vector, we recommend that you enforce only the most secure authentication methods. With Rublon, you can create a custom policy that makes Mobile Push and WebAuthn/U2F Security Key the only two choices for your users logging in to RDP. Users will still be able to log in to other applications using all authentication methods.
Rublon Believes In Early Detection
Early detection of suspicious behavior might be a life-saver. While getting past the first factor of authentication (breaking the password) is easy, the second strong factor will thwart most hackers. Rublon logs all login attempts in the Authentication Logs tab of the Rublon Admin Console. A series of shady login attempts from an unknown IP address is enough to arouse suspicion. Once you realize you are under attack, you can completely block the offending user and report the attack.
Are You Secure?
Ransomware is on the rise, and attacks will only happen more and more often. Today is a good time to ask yourself: Am I secure? It is best to prevent ransomware before it strikes. Do not wait until malicious actors invade your system, wreaking havoc and deleting your files. Act now and prevent other parties from accessing your system later. MFA can block over 99.9 percent of account compromise attacks. The best response to ransomware is prevention, and MFA should be the number one prevention shield in your company.
