FBI, This Week: Ransomware on the Rise

Audio Transcript

Mollie Halpern: The FBI provides guidance as it sees a recent rise in ransomware.

I’m Mollie Halpern of the Bureau with FBI, This Week.

Ransomware is a type of malware that infects computers, networks, and servers using encryption to make files unreadable. Cyber attackers then demand a ransom to return the files. Jeffrey Coburn, a unit chief in the Cyber Division, makes a recommendation…

Jeffrey Coburn: You should not pay the ransom. However, if you do decide to pay the ransom, there is a chance that you still will not get your files back.

Halpern: The ransomware threat is evolving as cyber criminals target businesses, local governments, and other organizations.

Coburn: They’re seeing that there’s more money in these larger enterprises as opposed to someone like your grandma or my grandma that just has one computer.

Halpern: The best way to protect yourself and your organization is to have a backup of your data, maintain it, and disconnect it from your computer.

Coburn: The second thing is, scrutinize the e-mails and the links that you get in those e-mails. Don’t open attachments, especially from those from unsolicited sources.

Halpern: If you become a victim of ransomware, immediately call your local FBI office.