Ransomware: Is This New Hack Affecting Your Computer?
We're surrounded by technology everywhere and a good part of our life depends on it so of course it's the first thing someone would want to attack. Recently you may have seen in the news the word "Ransomware" being thrown around, let me explain.
Called WannaCry, this is the biggest cyberattack the world has ever seen, according to CNN, it hit at least 150 countries and over 300,000 machines.
This isn't the kind of virus that is looking for the common person's computer but rather those of hospitals, universities, or government agencies who are still using Windows XP. Ransomware is usually spread via emails or random pop-up windows and threatens to destroy your data unless you pay a ransom to stop the destruction. This ransomware has attacked national companies like FedEx and Nissan as well as the US Department of Homeland Security but not to any large degree that we should be worried about.
The important question: have you been attacked? If you were infected, you would have seen something come up asking you to pay money with a time clock attached. Microsoft has already issued a way to fix this so chances are your computer is fine. As usual though, click smart through the Internet:
1. Don't click links sent from people you don't know
2. Don't open emails from people you don't know
3. If something looks suspicious, it probably is
4. You did not win a random contest with something that randomly popped up on your screen, ignore it
5. An email may look like it's from someone you know, but double check the email address because it could be a scam.