How to Know If Your Computer is Vulnerable to Ransomware?
In the past few years, the computer security world has been turned upside down with the emergence of ransomware, which has been among the most dangerous and costly malware in existence. Not only has ransomware cost victimized computer users millions of dollars, but the stubborn nature of such threats don't leave victims with many options. The question arises: How do you know if your computer is vulnerable to ransomware?
Ransomware, as many of you may know, is a form of aggressive malware that utilizes ransom techniques to demand money from victimized computer users. The process of ransomware extorting money from computer users starts with its main ability to encrypt files and then claim that the files can be decrypted for a substantial payment in most circumstances. By encrypting files, ransomware is able to lock or limit functions on a computer, which the user will want to restore as quickly as possible.
While there are only a couple primary methods that ransomware infects a computer, most computer users don't know if their system is susceptible to the latest string of ransomware. The scary truth of the matter is that multiple platforms, including Mac, Windows, and even Android OS devices are susceptible to ransomware. However, there is a method to finding out if your PC is vulnerable to ransomware.
No one wants to expose their computer to malware, let alone allowing aggressive ransomware to overtake countless files with encryption while it demands a costly solution. To know if your computer is vulnerable to ransomware there is a test method that can be performed through the use of a program called RanSim Ransomware Simulator.
The RanSim Ransomware Simulator application, created by KnowBe4, is a method for simulating a ransomware attack to ensure your system's defenses are up to par for thwarting ransomware attacks. Use of RanSim Ransomware Simulator tests a system against ten different threat scenarios, which are virtual ransomware threats (InsideCryptor, LockyVariant, Mover, Replacer, Streamer, StrongCryptor, StrongCryptorNet, ThorVariant, WeakCryptor), which are loosely based on known variants. It is suspected that many of the threats applied in the RanSim scenario apply a virtual similarity to well-known ransomware, such as CryptoLocker, Cerber, CryptoWall, and .locky File Extension Ransomware to fully test the vulnerability of your computer.
The method of using RanSim and its ten threat scenarios won't alter files on your computer. Though, the process will reveal which files would have been encrypted if any of the threat scenarios were a real ransomware attack. At the end of the test, which is mostly an automated process, RanSim will reveal to you a vulnerability score that demonstrates which scenario was successful in its virtual attack. The threat scenarios, which act mostly like real ransomware would, are clearly detectable by computer security software. Moreover, running security software, such as an antimalware application may interrupt the testing process mistaking the RanSim scenarios as real threats and then stop them dead in their tracks.
Upon testing your computer for ransomware vulnerabilities, RanSim's results will be a definitive result in letting you know if you must take further action to protect your computer. In most cases, protecting your computer from ransomware is left to your judgment when you choose not to download a spam attachment or download malware from a questionable website. Otherwise, using trusted security software is the primary method for alleviating ransomware vulnerabilities. In selecting the proper protection, you must ensure that whatever security software you use can detect and eliminate ransomware. The truth of the matter is that no computer is 100% safe from ransomware, which is more reason to be proactive in discovering any vulnerabilities and adhering to recommended precautions.