4 easy steps to confirm a ransomware attack.

Security threats can be much more sensitive than one can ever imagine, especially when one is handicapped by the online threat that snares personal files, information, and access in the bouts of livelihood. 

Having guided you on the 4 types of ransomware every business owner is susceptible to, I thought it wise to also guide you on the easy steps to note that you have been attacked by this malware. 

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This post will guide you through easy steps to confirm a ransomware attack on your computer. 

Online extortion has become a global concern, and there is a need to continue educating people with techniques on how to identify ransomware before it infects their computers. You must know that ransomware creators use military-grade encryption algorithms and pioneering social engineering tricks to take over a victim's computer system and encrypt the data. This act scrambles the target's files and renders them unable to distinguish which file was infected or not. 

During a ransomware attack, the attacker demands payment from the victim in exchange for a unique passkey necessary to decrypt the blocked content. Ransomware attackers often request that their ransom be sent using a cryptocurrency because they understand that it is difficult for law enforcement agencies to track. 

With a staggering number of ransomware victims daily on the rise, learning how to detect ransomware is a must-have skill to possess. This act is so when identifying ransomware can prevent damage if it finds its way to your computer. 

To start with, ensure that you carefully check the email addresses of your received emails. Ransomware creators send malicious emails through a similar-looking email account. They use distinct techniques to make fraudulent emails look similar to the legitimate email address they imitate. An example of this scam is observing that the small alphabet letter ‘L’ is replaced with the upper-case letter ‘I.’ These letters can easily fool potential victims that don’t have proper knowledge on how to detect ransomware or pay less attention to their emails. 

You will need to check all email content carefully as well. Observe the email’s content, especially if it involves essential and confidential information. Modern ransomware creators are more sophisticated as they make fraudulent emails look more authentic. This act is so because they do not just imitate the email address but also the writing voice of the person or institution they are imitating. It is advised that if you are in doubt about the email content, don’t do anything it suggests. Instead, you can do a phone call to the person or institution involved to check its authenticity.