The No More Ransom project is celebrating its fifth anniversary.
The No More Ransom website has become one of the first ports of call for any individual or company whose computer has been hit by a ransomware attack.
I don’t know whether to be pleased or upset that free ransomware decryption tools have been downloaded from No More Ransom’s webpages over six million times. I’m pleased that No More Ransom has clearly proven to be such a useful resource, but it’s depressing to think that it’s a reflection of just how prevalent ransomware attacks have become.
So many people and firms have had their PCs struck by ransomware, and found themselves facing a demand for cash from an extortionist.
Impressively, the No More Ransom project provides over 120 free tools to counter the damage done by ransomware, decrypting more than 150 different families of ransomware. There’s no guarantee that the ransomware your computer has been hit with can be cured through the tools available, but every little helps – especially if you find yourself in the sticky pickle of not having kept secure backups of your important data.
Home users can learn from the constant headlines of organisations being compromised by hackers, and having their infrastructure shut down by a debilitating ransomware attack.
Ensure that your security defences are in place, that you are cautious about the links you click on and the programs you run, that you keep your PC patched, your passwords strong and unique, and that you have an automated secure backup process in place if possible – copying your data to the cloud and to a separate physical device, which is disconnected when not required.
More advice can be found on, yes you guessed it, the No More Ransom website.
As part of its fifth birthday celebrations, No More Ransom has revamped its website with a fresh new look.
If you haven’t already visited it, I recommend it as a resource both on how to prevent ransomware hitting your computers and (should the worst happen) how to recover.
