Quick answer
Ransomware is malicious software that locks your files and demands payment to restore them — the best protection is up-to-date backup that isn't accessible from the same computer.
Ransomware is today one of the most common and most damaging threats to small businesses — but there is a clear, achievable defense.
How the attack works
It usually starts with a phishing email or an infected attachment. Once triggered, the software encrypts all your files, making them inaccessible, and displays a message demanding payment for the decryption “key.”
The real defense
Even if you’re hit, with a recent backup that isn’t directly accessible from the infected computer, you simply restore your files — without paying the attackers anything.
- Never open suspicious attachments/links
- Backup that isn’t accessible from the main computer
- Up-to-date security software on every device