As the saying goes, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” This also rings true with ransomware. Here are some prevention practices you can utilize to do your part to manage the risk of ransomware to your personal devices and the university system.
- Maintain regular and current backups of your data
- If possible maintain encrypted backups of your data on a hardrive that is kept offline.
- For your personal devices, most devices now offer a way to image the machine in case you need to restore your device to factory settings. This allows you to restore your machine back to the last backup in case you need to set it.
- Don’t download software from an unknown source
- Make sure to update your software and Operating System on a regular basis
- Updates provide patches to known vulnerabilities. Cybercriminals utilize vulnerabilites to attack systems. Making sure that you have the latest patches will help reduce the risk of a successful attack.
- Ensure that your devices are properly configured
- Follow the instruction manual on any personal devices. Make sure that you change any default passwords and follow the manfacturer’s recommended configuration settings.
- For your university-owned devices, contact IT Customer Care to assist you with the proper configurations of any newly acquired devices. Your IT team will ensure that your devices meet the configurations required by the organization.
- Maintain an updated antivirus and anti-malware software
- Ensure that you run regular scans of your machine to detect any malware.
- Use strong passwords for all devices and accounts
- Enable Multi-factor Authentication
- MFA helps protect access to your accounts. Enable MFA on any accounts or applications that offer the option.
- Be suspicious of unexpected emails
- Avoid clicking on any links in emails from untrusted and unverified sources.
- Avoid giving away personal information
- Be vigilant about where and to whom you give out personal information to
- Never share your passwords
If you suspect you have been infected with ransomware contact IT Customer Care immediately at (718) 817-3999 or via email to: HelpIT@fordham.edu
Sources:
cisa.gov