Be aware of ransomware or v9

Ransomware is a growing cybercrime trend in which hackers essentially gain control of a user’s computer and demand a ransom be paid. Unfortunately, many people are unaware of the growing threat of ransomware and how their everyday online behavior can be making them susceptible to it. In this situation a perfect computer optimizer tool you should have is the UPCleaner—one of the best pc accelerator.

What is ransomware?

Ransomware can come in different varieties and will snake its way through a computer’s operating system in a matter of seconds. From popups claiming to be law enforcement agencies collecting fines to more blatant versions where the victim’s computer is locked and their files will not be accessible unless a ransom is paid, ransomware comes in many stealth forms and can happen to anyone.

Ransomware hackers are not picky when it comes to their target demographic, and their demands are the same for everyone. Additionally, there is no guarantee that paying the fine or doing what the ransomware hackers demand of you will give you access to your PC or files again. This means if you do become the victim of ransomware, your best option is to not pay the hackers, because doing so will likely encourage them to create more advanced malware and in turn target more victims. 

The best way to ensure you don’t become the victim of a ransomware attack is to be aware of what these hacks usually look like. The most common types of ransomware include:

• Scareware

• Lock-screen viruses or Winlock

• CryptoLocker

Over the years, hackers have become increasingly intelligent and sophisticated, using a multitude of tricks and tactics to demand ransoms. Recently, the most common form of ransomware payment demanded by hackers is through an open-source network called Bitcoin, a relatively new form of currency that cybercriminals take full advantage of. 

I’ve been hacked—what are the next steps?

This computer has been locked and will not be unlocked until payment in X amount is made by XX date.” If you are a victim of ransomware, in most cases a message reading something like this will pop up onto your screen. This is a cheap and effective way for hackers to make a pretty penny. What do you do then? If you are dealing with the lock-screen type of ransomware, you’ll need to download a trustworthy best system cleaner system, for example the UPCleaner. But downloading the anti-virus alone won’t ensure your protection; you’ll need to continuously update your software to account for constant security patches. Keeping it up-to-date will guarantee the highest level of protection against the most recent online threats.

Backing up your system is the next step, whether it’s on a USB drive or an external hard drive, it’s important to have your files elsewhere if your PC is compromised by hackers. Doing this should be made a habit and it is best to be done at least once per week. Once you’ve completed the back-up—disconnect the external source. The idea here is to keep your backup files virus-free. That way, if you get infected, you’ll have a resource to replace your infected files.