The Newest Threat You NEED To Protect Against: CryptoWall 4.0

When it comes to protection for your data and systems, there’s no such thing as being too diligent. Have you heard of CryptoWall? It’s a form of ransomware designed by hackers to encrypt your data and hold it ransom.

The potential dangers to your business are obvious – from lost documents, to disruption and downtime, to compromised information and a damaged reputation.

Cybercriminals are smart and incredibly adaptive. They’re continuing to make their bugs more complex and malicious, and recently there’s been a new version of a familiar bug developed: CryptoWall 4.0 has been found infecting systems.

What Separates this New Threat from the Original CryptoWall?

The most noteworthy change in that this new bug also encrypts the filenames of encrypted files. Each file will have its name changed to a complex and unique title.

It’s likely that this new level of encryption was created to make it more difficult to know which files would need to be recovered – creating an even more frustrating experience for victims. What hasn’t changed is the delivery method.

Be Proactive and Cautious to Stay Protected

Cybercriminals are continuing to send out ransomware predominately using Emails. We can’t stress enough the importance of exercising caution when it comes to your inbox.

• Never click on downloads or attachments that you weren’t expecting.
• Don’t be afraid to pick up a phone and verify with the sender. In this case, that caution could save your business from disruption, downtime, and lost data.
• There’s currently no way to retrieve locked files without restoring from a backup – so its crucial that you have a business continuity plan in place, so that should your business fall victim to CryptoWall 4.0, you maintain access to your essential data and resources.

Reach out to CTECH Consulting Group to discuss the most effective ways to keep your network safe, and learn more about emerging threats. Contact our team of technology experts at info@ctechgroup.net or (403) 457-1478.

Written by Carl Fransen

posted on November 17, 2015

Carl Fransen

My passion is to make my mark on the world in a positive and lasting way. I want to set an example for my son that his father can compete with integrity in today’s world, be very successful, and leave the world a better place for him.

Combining my technical/business-based education with a long career steadily progressing up the corporate ladder, I decided to build a company that held true to my values. So, I founded and designed the next generation of IT support firm: CTECH Consulting Group Inc. We are a completely automated, cloud-based IT company designed to compete against any other IT firm without the overhead. We promote a lifestyle to all our staff where they can work anywhere, at any time, access any information on any device that is relevant to their job, and collaborate with anyone they want to.