What Will You Do If Your PC Is Infected With Ransomware

Ransomware is a piece of malware, which when enters into your PC blocks users to access their files. It takes control of your PC and do not allow you to operate it. To undo the infection it demands for certain ransom. Like Winlocker, type of a locker-ransomware which makes it impossible for the victim to operate his system’s desktop and any files or data saved there-in. Thus, hackers demands for ransom to pay to unlock the infected computer system.

One of the other types of harmful ransomware program is a Crypto-ransomware, which is the most major attacking program used by attackers. It encrypts all your files stored on your computer, which becomes unreadable and at the end you would be blocked to have access to your files. Thereby hi-jacking contents of your computer, it demands for ransom.

Ransomware has ability to encrypt all kinds of files, whether it is audio, videos, and pictures or any other document. To unscramble those files you would need decryption key. It asks for ransom to undo the scramble, by showing you via image a message that you need to pay certain amount. Generally there is a time limit to pay the ransom amount and if you cross the deadline, you might have to pay the double amount later or you may suffer data loss. This is the serious trouble and one definitely needs to know, how to troubleshoot this disaster.

The Following Steps You Can Take to Secure Your PC If It Caught Ransomware Infection:

• First have patience and check which kind of ransomware did infect your computer. It could be screen locking ransomware, crypto-ransomware or any other. Try to get access to your files and data.
• Try closing your web-browser. If you are unable to do that by simple clicking, press ctrl-shift-Esc keys at the same time to end the task. Check if it is serious, if it was a mere note to scare you then ignore it.
• Disconnect your computer to any network and remove any external device, so that it won’t spread to your whole system.
• Use anti-malware, Malwarebytes to remove the infection. Re-boot your system and check whether there is still any infection.
• Removing ransomware will only prevent virus from being spread. Thus, this will save other files of your computer. But it will not give back your files that are encrypted by ransomware.
• If any of the above methods are not working then paying ransom, remains the last solution to get rid of that ransom attacks. But paying ransom will only encourage more cyber attacks.
• Also you are not sure that by paying the whole amount you would get out of this trouble safely. Most security analysts say no to ransom for a screen-locking ransomware.
• But if you have not backed-up your valuable data and files and you could never get them by any means, then paying ransom remains the only remedy for it. But you are not sure of receiving your files still.
• Therefore, it is good to always follow a protective approach. To prevent these infections before they develop is the best practice. By using a good reputed antivirus protection, you can keep your system secure.
• Also, having back-up of your data will keep you safe from all future troubles.

Sophia Smith is a full time internet marketer, content writer and blogger. She works as an associate and correspondent for many websites, along with being a guest author on Huffington Post.