How Ransomware Targets Employees

The recent rise of ransomware has shaken a fair amount of individuals as well as businesses. Many people try to counter it through the usage of security tools and techniques to remove ransomware. However people need to understand the psychology behind these attacks, especially in the case of employees in an organization.

Internet Behavior

Hackers do not fish for computer systems. The actual target is the employees of the organizations. Hackers try to analyze the activities and psychology of an employee. An employee is mindset is understood through his search queries, behavior on social media websites and other internet information.

Many employees trust their computer system as secure devices that cannot be monitored and hacked. Thus, companies should not only train their employees for security practices but also educate them to be responsible in their internet activities.

How Do They Make the Employee Pay

There are certain mindsets that the hackers try to play in ransomware removal cases.

Firstly, they try to deceive an employee by infecting his computer with a ransomware and threatening an authority about his illegal activities. The employee often caves in and pays the fake fines (ransom) in the fear of his bosses.

Secondly, they encourage the employees to pay in return of files. The employees are frightened about the prospect of losing their jobs. Hackers threaten the leak of data to public which forces employees to pay upfront.

Duplication of Data

The whole ransomware attack works because a cybercriminal withholds your company’s crucial data and you seem to think that there is no alternative except paying him. The situation is considered similar to a kidnapping situation where hostages are kidnapped by criminals and demand money.

However, you are missing an important point. Data is not a human body. It can be duplicated. Hackers cannot get any leverage over you if you have a duplicate of your important data in a portable hard disk or a cloud service. Therefore, having a duplicate can save you from paying any ransom if you are attacked with a ransomware and you can remove ransomware without any pressure and worries.