Ransomware Damages: Possible Feasible Solutions

Ransomware Damages
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Ransomware Damages
Feasible Solutions
Ransomware attacks continue to plague cyberspace with devastating repercussions for individuals and organizations. As indicated earlier, the attacks result in huge losses in terms of the ransom paid, extended downtime, and brand reputation damage, among others. Therefore, there is every conceivable reason to formulate feasible mechanisms to counter the attacks.
One of the most common approaches individuals and organizations can use to prevent ransomware attacks is enforcing strict access control. Without a doubt, using a user’s credentials is one of the ways ransomware uses to gain access to files (Beaman et al., 2021). That usually happens if the user has a high level of permissions. To counter such occurrences, users can use role-based access control by implementing least privilege and duties separation. The approach, therefore, entails restricting data access to the highest possible directory hierarchy. In addition, it involves auditing permissions and roles as routinely as possible.
The other strategy that organizations can use to mitigate ransomware attacks is by enhancing user awareness. Organizations can teach individual employees preventive measures they can undertake to fend off attackers. The precautionary measures include installing anti-virus or anti-malware software on computers and mobile devices (Beaman et al., 2021). They can also show the employees how to choose strong and unique passwords for their accounts. Similarly, they can illustrate the importance of never opening suspicious email attachments and how to use mirror shielding technology.
Justification of the Solutions
Access control takes different dimensions and techniques; the bottom line is that all of them are effective. For instance, according to Beaman et al. (2021), researchers have invented software known as AntiBotics. The solution prevents the deletion or modification of data through the use of biometric identification and human response. To enforce access control, the software presents periodic identification challenges. This makes it absolutely impossible for attackers to infiltrate systems fitted with the software. In addition, researchers have developed a system that stops unauthorized applications from calling. The strategy works by controlling access to users' APIs. In a test carried out against identified ransomware samples, the system foiled 94% of them. This clearly underscores its effectiveness and reliability.
Enhancing user awareness has also had significant positive consequences. It is worth noting that ransomware has increasingly continued to target institutions. As such, it has become imperative to give employees of these institutions tips on how to avoid falling victim to the attacks. Organizations can use training sessions to demonstrate how ...