Thailand easy target for hackers and ransomware
Due to limited security and the use of illegal software on computers, Thailand is an easy target for internet criminals. These criminals use malicious software to hold computers hostage, a tried and true Internet blackmail method known as ransomware.
As a result, Thailand is one of the 2016 countries in the Asia-Pacific region with the highest number of ransomware attacks, says Trend Micro, the world leader in internet security. In the first half of 12, attacks in Thailand accounted for 1,5 percent of all attacks in the region and XNUMX percent of all attacks worldwide.
Ransomware boomed in the first half of this year. The number of new ransomware variants has increased by 172 percent. Victims paid US$290 million dollars, says director of technology marketing Myla Pilao.
Ransomware is malicious software that gets installed when users click on an untrustworthy link. These are often sent via email. Criminals can then take a computer or files hostage by encrypting them. Then they demand a ransom to release the PC and/or files. Ransomware not only threatens consumers, but is increasingly targeting company databases.
Pilao believes that the Thai government should allow companies in the financial sector to disclose cyber incidents. In addition, banks, organizations and companies must improve their security. The recent infection and theft from ATMs is a good example of Thailand lagging behind in security.
Piyatida Tanrakul, manager of Trend Micro in Thailand, said Thai banks are shocked by ATM attacks and are ramping up cybersecurity. New safety systems will be installed within two months
Source: Bangkok Post
To deal with ransomware threats, get good security software, but just to be safe, get into the habit of creating a “System Image” on an external drive at least once a month.
If your PC/Laptop gets ransomware, just format your hard disk and do a clean install with that image.
Because once you pay you are a good customer for them, and worth repeating