How to Protect yourself from Ransomware?

The best way to defend against ransomware is to prevent it from happening in the first place. This can be done by taking the following steps:

• Keep your operating system and software up to date with the latest security patches. This can help prevent attackers from exploiting known vulnerabilities in your system.
• Use a reliable antivirus program and keep it up to date. This can help detect and block ransomware before it can encrypt your files.
• Be cautious when opening email attachments and avoid downloading files from unknown or untrusted sources. Ransomware is often distributed through email attachments or malicious links.
• Regularly back up your important files and keep the backups in a secure location. This way, even if your files are encrypted by ransomware, you will still have copies of them that you can restore.
• Enable the “Show file extensions” option in Windows, so you can see the full file name and extension. Ransomware often uses file names that are similar to legitimate ones, but with a different extension (such as .exe or .vbs) that indicates it is a program.
• Be careful when clicking on links, even if they look legitimate. If you receive an email or a message that asks you to click on a link, hover your mouse over the link to see the full URL before clicking. If the URL looks suspicious, do not click on it.
• Use a pop-up blocker to prevent malicious websites from opening automatically. Some ransomware is distributed through pop-up ads that appear on websites.

By following these steps, you can significantly reduce your risk of falling victim to ransomware. However, it’s important to remember that no defence is foolproof, so it’s always a good idea to be cautious and stay alert for potential threats.