Whenever we browse the Internet we are exposed to many computer attacks. We can mistakenly download malware, have passwords stolen when we log in where we shouldn’t, or take advantage of a system failure. In this article we are going to focus on what seems to be the predominant threat in 2023. At least it will be the one that can cause the most damage. We will explain how it will evolve and what to do to avoid it.
Ransomware will be very present in 2023
If we think of a really harmful type of malware for a computer or mobile, that is ransomware. It is a type of threat that aims to encrypt the files on the device. Then, what it does is ask for a ransom in exchange for decrypting them and making them available again. A serious problem, since in many cases it means the loss of important data.
One of the reasons for the increase, according to information security expert Dave Trade who has released his forecasts for 2023, is the ease of executing a ransomware attack. He assures that currently it is not necessary to be a sophisticated hacker, nor to have great knowledge. In fact, he believes that a simple child could collect the necessary information and know how to provoke an attack of this type.
In addition, ransomware attacks have been effective during 2022. That is, they have achieved great income if we think of many companies that have been attacked, as well as private users who have clicked where they should not and were attacked. This invites cybercriminals to continue having ransomware as one of their main sources of income.
Another reason for the rise of ransomware in 2023 is going to be unfixed vulnerabilities and bugs. It is a problem that is still very present. Attackers take advantage of these vulnerabilities and manage to exploit them to sneak in the malware and start encrypting documents on the system.
How to protect yourself from ransomware
So what should you do to avoid ransomware in 2023? Undoubtedly the most important thing of all is common sense. Attackers are usually going to need you to make a mistake. For example, if you click on a link and enter certain data, if you download a file that is not safe, etc. So, avoid those mistakes.
It is also essential that you have everything updated. As you have seen, one of the cybercriminals’ weapons is to exploit potential uncorrected vulnerabilities. Always update the system and any application that you use in your day to day and you will be able to avoid many problems, not only related to ransomware.
On the other hand, it is always advisable to have a good antivirus. Having security programs will be essential to avoid problems. These tools can alert you in the event that you download a suspicious file by mistake or have a program that may be compromising your data.
In short, as you can see, ransomware is going to be a major problem in 2023 as well. It is essential to take action and be protected. You can always enable ransomware protection in Windows. That will also help you avoid security issues.