Ransomware is one of the most serious threats in the world of information security, increasingly targeting users and organizations. After infiltrating a system, this type of malware encrypts the user’s data and demands a ransom in exchange for the promise of data recovery. Although these attacks can be highly destructive, with the right and timely actions, the damage can be significantly reduced. In this article, we review the most important steps you should take when facing ransomware.
1. Create a Backup: The First and Most Important Step
If you have a clean and healthy backup of your data or database, immediately make another copy and move it to an external hard drive or a secure offline location. This prevents the malware from accessing the backup.
2. Avoid Restarting the System
Many ransomware variants react to system restarts, potentially expanding encryption or making data recovery more difficult after every reboot.
3. Disconnect from the Network
Quickly disconnect the infected system from the internet and internal networks. This prevents the spread of the infection to other devices or servers.
4. Identify and Stop the Malware Using Proper Tools
Use professional tools such as PC Hunter or Process Hacker to identify and stop the ransomware process.
However, remember that removing the malware alone will not recover encrypted files, and in some cases, the original malware sample may be needed for data restoration.
5. Do Not Install an Antivirus
Although antivirus software is essential in normal situations, installing it after a ransomware infection may interfere with data recovery. Encrypted files are not viruses, and an antivirus might delete files required for restoration.
6. Create a Full Image of the System
Before taking any further action, use a bootable backup solution like Acronis True Image to create a full image of the infected hard drive and save it to an external drive. This ensures you have a complete snapshot of your current state.
7. Do Not Modify Encrypted Files
Changing file extensions or editing encrypted data may make the files permanently unrecoverable. Keep them exactly as they are.
8. Avoid Unreliable Tools
Some free data recovery tools available online may contain new malware, making the situation worse. Only use verified and trusted software.
9. Avoid Dangerous Operations on the Hard Drive
Operations such as Scandisk, Chkdsk, Format, or Fdisk may damage the disk structure and make data recovery impossible.
What Should You Do?
If your system is infected with ransomware and you need assistance, our expert team is ready to guide you through the recovery process. For more information about our services and how we can help you handle ransomware attacks, visit our Information Security page.
