The United States Department of Homeland Security recently issued an updated alert regarding two variations of Ransomware – Locky and Samas. Both of these variations take control of your files and or systems and effectively hold them hostage for a ransom, which is why they are considered Ransomware. Check out the video to learn more about Ransomware, how to prevent it and what you can do if you are infected:

This digital extortion can wreak havoc on your systems and productivity but it can be prevented. Below are a few tips from the pros at Red Level:

• Don’t open emails from people or companies that you don’t know.
• Don’t click on any links or open any attachments with suspicious names.
• Do use the latest anti-virus and malware software available.
• Do update your systems with the latest software and patches.

In the event that you do fall victim to Ransomware it is imperative that you have complete and current back ups of all your critical systems and files. This will help you get back up and running quickly with minimal data and time lost.