WannaCry Ransomware: Read application policies, terms, others before you click 'Agree' button, says BigMotions Technologies

Highlights:

1. The users should read application policies, terms and conditions before clicking on the 'Agree' option to prevent such malware, says BigMotions Technologies 

2. “Without reading what is mentioned, when one agrees to terms and conditions, unwanted crypt can get into your system," says BigMotions Technologies MD Sannttosh S Ahuja  

3. It is recommended for companies to keep their network secure and not to make it public 

The news of recent 'WannaCry' ransomware is spreading like a wildfire across the globe and cyber security expert from BigMotions Technologies has cautioned computer users to read application policies, terms, etc., before clicking on the 'Agree' option to prevent their systems from being infected.

The 'WannaCry' ransomware attacked the computers across the world on May 12, Friday. 

According to AFP report dated May 14, computers around the globe were hacked beginning from last Friday using a security flaw in Microsoft`s Windows XP operating system, an older version that was no longer given mainstream tech support by the US giant.

The so-called 'WannaCry' ransomware locks access to user files and demands money -- in the form of the virtual currency Bitcoin -- in order to decrypt them, it said.

The European Union's police agency Europol said the latest cyber-attack is set to have impacted 200,000 victims in at least 150 countries and the number would increase when people return to work on Monday, Reuters reported.

ALSO READ: Here's everything to know about 'WannaCry' ransomware; measures & more

The AFP news report citing the experts said the ransomware programme appears to support dozens of languages, showing that the hackers wanted to corrupt networks worldwide.  

High-profile victims include hospitals in Britain, the Spanish telecoms giant Telefonica, French carmaker Renault, US package delivery company FedEx, Russia`s interior ministry and the German rail operator Deutsche Bahn, the AFP news report said.  

According to Mumbai-based website designing company BigMotions Technologies, the computer users should read application policies, terms and conditions before clicking on the 'Agree' option to prevent such malware. 

“It doesn’t get triggered without clicking on it. A computer is an input and output device, thus nothing enters your system unless permitted to, whether knowingly or unknowingly, either from an external device such as router or Wi-Fi networks or through internal downloads. Therefore, safety of your computer lies in your hands,” BigMotions Technologies managing director Sannttosh S Ahuja said in a press release on Tuesday. 

“Without reading what is mentioned, when one agrees to terms and conditions, unwanted crypt can get into your system” Ahuja further said. 

ALSO READ: WannaCry: Should you stay away from ATMs? 

The website designing company said that ransomware such as Wanncrypt attacks vulnerable systems and encrypts the data with its own algorithm and to decrypt the data back to its original form it prompts user to pay ransom of $300 within three days, after which amount doubles to $600, however, if not paid within seven days all data is lost and permanently deleted from the device.

BigMotions Technologies has instructed users to maintain safety of their computer machines in order to prevent them from being infected by such cyber attacks. 

“Technology today is easy; everybody wants to go digitised without concerning about how their safety is getting compromised. Along with learning and using computer, the focus should also be on being safe and securing your privacy on the internet,” cited Ahuja in a statement. 

There is no solution as of now available to this malware, however, if one is lucky enough and the personal computer (PC) is not attacked yet, experts suggests to install critical updates from windows and install anti-malware on the PC, the BigMotions Technologies said in a statement. 

To protect the computer systems from being infected by the 'WannaCry' ransomware, Ahuja has urged the Indian government to establish a regulatory body to monitor websites. 

“... Hosting companies can create policies for websites,” he said.

Therefore, as a measure against virus threats, Ahuja has recommended companies to keep their network secure and not to make it public. 

ALSO READ: WannaCry Ransomware: Here are 6 steps you can follow to prevent cyber attack