The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has issued an advisory to warn Nigerians about the growing threat of ransomware attacks, which can encrypt or lock users out of their data and systems.
“Ransomware is a type of malicious software (malware) that encrypts a victim’s data or locks them out of their systems,” NITDA said.
“Once the system is compromised, the attackers demand a ransom payment, usually in cryptocurrency, in exchange for restoring access to the data.”
NITDA on protective measures against ransomware
NITDA advises individuals and organisations to implement the following precautions to mitigate the risks of ransomware:
Adopt the 3-2-1 Backup Strategy: Ensure you have at least three copies of your data, with two stored on different storage media (e.g., external hard drives) and one copy kept off-site.
Download Software Only from Official Websites: To avoid malware, only download software from trusted and verified sources.
Avoid Unverified Emails and Links: Do not open suspicious emails or click on links or attachments unless verified.
Regularly Update Applications: Keeping software up-to-date helps protect against the latest security vulnerabilities. Install Reliable
Anti-virus Software: Use trusted anti-virus software and conduct regular system scans to detect potential threats.
Avoid Visiting Insecure Websites: Refrain from browsing websites that do not have proper security protocols.
Be Cautious with Unknown Media: Never plug in external media devices from unknown sources into your systems.
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