What to Do if You Become a Victim of Ransomware

For Cyber Threat — it is all about Ransomware Recovery & Incident Response. A ransomware attack can take your business out at the knees, encrypting files and demanding a ransom. But don’t panic! There is a way through this. If you move quickly, you can limit the damages and get back to where you want to be.

Here’s a guide to steps you should take if you are struck by ransomware.

1. Isolate Infected Systems

What’s the first thing you do? Disconnect everything!

Ransomware spreads like wildfire across connected systems, and the quicker you can muster containment, the better. Here’s how:

• Disconnect from the network – Disassociate the affected device from Wi-Fi or ethernet connections.
• Turn off Bluetooth & wireless access — some malware can leap over even weak network connections.
• Disable shared drives – Stop the infection from encrypting more (critical) files.
• Block external access — Disable remote desktop protocols and VPN access to minimize dissemination.

This physical disconnection sets a boundary, preventing the ransomware from spreading any further.

2. Report & Assess Damage

Now that you’ve quarantined the infected system, the next step is damage control. Assess the scope of the attack and notify appropriate stakeholders.

• Notify your IT/security team — If you have a team in-house, make them aware.
• Report to law enforcement – In many areas, it’s a requirement to report ransomware events to law enforcement.
• Determine what was impacted – Include the servers, devices, and files that were impacted.
• Look for ransom demands — Take a screenshot of the ransom note for reference.

Proceed with caution when paying a ransom — it is not always the best option. Instead, see if data recovery can be done without you parting with money.

3. Restore from Backup

This is where your disaster recovery plan comes to the rescue — if you have valid backups.

Ask yourself:

• Have you got an unaffected backup? If yes, you’re in good shape.
• Was the backup encrypted? If so, your system may have been infected by ransomware before you realized it.
• Are backups stored offline? The best backups are air-gapped (not on any network).

If your backups are intact, then you can take these steps:

1. Erase infected systems — Wipe all affected machines, eliminating the ransomware in the process.
2. Restore from clean backup – Use a copy that is prior to the attack.
3. Test restored files – Make sure everything works before reconnecting.

If no backups are available, other alternatives can be decryption tools (if they are available) or professional incident response services.

4. Incident Response Team of PJ Networks

If you’re feeling daunted by this process — the details, the math, the what-ifs — you’re not alone. PJ Networks helps with rapid ransomware recovery.

This is how our Incident Response Team comes into play during a ransomware attack:

• Initial containment — stopping the spread of ransomware.
• Damage assessment — A forensic examination to determine how far the attack penetrated.
• Safe recovery options — We recover data from backups or provide other solutions.
• Ransom negotiation (when applicable) – We evaluate if the ransom demand is viable and assist in mitigating risks.
• Future-proof security – Putting stronger safeguards in place so this doesn’t happen again.

Ransomware is hard, but you’re not alone in dealing with it. You have our cybersecurity experts guiding you through it all.

Conclusion

While ransomware attacks cannot be predicted, businesses can bounce back with an effective Incident Response plan. As Cyber Threats will continuously develop, you can remain one step ahead by securing your Ransomware Recovery strategies.

Preparation is key. Backup, train your people, and have an incident response plan to ensure your business will rise stronger than ever.