The RCMP is sending out a warning to Alberta businesses after a St. Albert company reported being the target of ransomware.
Ransomware is a form of computer malware that installs on a victim’s computer, encrypts the files on the system and than demands payment to decrypt them.
Malware attacks often come from an infected email attachment or app that seizes control of a computer, a 2014 internet security report by Symantec found.
READ MORE: Ransomware on the rise in Canada – How to protect your data
The local business reported the attack to St. Albert RCMP, which prompted a wider public warning.
Mounties want people to be aware of ransomware and the preventative steps they can take to avoid an attack:
- Don’t open a file that’s attached to an email from an unknown source.
- Spam emails may display as being from someone you know but have a subject line that seems unusual. If it seems out of character, don’t open it.
- Be vigilant when choosing which internet extensions to install.
Cyber security experts also suggest keeping security software up to date and backing up computers regularly to a drive that isn’t plugged into the system.
READ MORE: University of Calgary pays $20,000 ransom to cyber attacker
In June, the University of Calgary said it paid a $20,000 ransom demanded by anonymous cyber attackers who knocked out about 9,000 email accounts for faculty and staff and impacted communication with students for days.
After the university sent the ransom, it received encryption keys but was able to fix many of the IT systems without using what they paid for.