In March 2018, security researchers discovered a new malware threat that underscores why Hesperia business owners should take time to implement comprehensive data loss prevention measures for their networks. The threat in question is named Zenis after the hacker who appears to be responsible for its development and initial release; it is particularly destructive ransomware variant that attempts to eliminate data backups in addition to encrypting files and directories.
How Zenis Ransomware Attacks Your Business Data
The way the Zenis ransomware works is by performing a check for previously installed malware; once this check is successful, the program will execute malicious code that will disable the Windows functions that create automatic backups as part of its repair and recovery feature; this is accomplished through a series of commands that instruct the operating system to stop performing shadow volume copies and to ignore recovery options upon rebooting the system.
Protect Hesperia Businesses From Cyber Attacks
Infected computer users may feel tempted to pay the amount demanded by the ransomware note displayed by Zenis, particularly when they realize that their backup files have been deleted; this particular cyber attack feature is quite malicious and designed to leave users no options but to set up a cryptocurrency wallet and make the payment, but there is no guarantee that the decryption key received will work. In fact, law enforcement agents and information security experts warn users against making ransomware payments for this reason.
Advanced threats such as Zenis call for a solid data loss prevention strategy for your Hesperia company, and this should include a combination of endpoint security, external backups, antivirus software, and keeping your system updated with all security patches. To learn more about data loss prevention in Hesperia and across the High Desert, contact Sonic Systems and discuss your options with our data security specialists.