[SES1066]

[cont.]

When so many staff / network / security functions are now being done from home AND when more people are concerned about the Pandemic, messages like the one below show the scum are still active!

In early March, the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District got hit and had to pay $350k to the blackmailers to regain access. As advised by Interpol and so many others, these are the minimums for security here;
Only open emails or download software/applications from trusted sources;
Do not click on links or open attachments in emails which you were not expecting to receive, or come from an unknown sender;
Secure email systems to protect from spam which could be infected;
Backup all important files frequently, and store them independently from your system (e.g. in the cloud, on an external drive);
Ensure you have the latest anti-virus software installed on all systems and mobile devices, and that it is constantly running;
Use strong, unique passwords for all systems, and update them regularly.

[Robert DeLong]

The only problem with the following advice is if the ransomeware was put on the system awhile ago and remained inactive for a set period of time. Then you run the risk of it being on the backups as well.

Backup all important files frequently, and store them independently from your system (e.g. in the cloud, on an external drive);

[GailA]

Step Daughter has our computers as tight as she can get them. Still getting Spam. FB is letting it through. Nearly every other post is a Shill ad for Diabetes cures, Sue happy lawyers. And the same Freaking woman in ads from different companies trying to sell sandals. I report as spam.

[MayflowerMadam]

One of our personal PCs was hit with ransomware about a year ago. We have a yearly contract with a tech support company, and gave them a call. It took about five hours, but they got everything back to where it should be, and we paid no ransom.

We’re pretty sure it got through in an email identified as UPS — but wasn’t.