Ransomware Poses a Huge Cybersecurity Danger to Manufacturers

Hackers consider the manufacturing industry a high-value target and the manufacturing sector is at great risk of ransomware attacks. Storing files locally may raise the chance of being hit by ransomware at some manufacturing sites, leaving them largely defenseless, according to The Manufacturer.

Ransomware is a type of software that encrypts files on your system and holds your files hostage unless you pay a ransom. Such malware normally gets installed on your machine when you open email attachments or click on web links that contain it. Because of this, manufacturers should be wary of clicking on unsolicited emails and sites that appear dubious.

Two varieties of ransomware exist one that is transmitted through email attachments and another transmitted through website visits.

Virus protection software can be useful for manufacturing organizations, but it is far from a cure-all and cannot offer full protection. However, after installation, enterprises must follow the update notices of their antivirus software so that they know when new ransomware is being developed. In addition to the aforementioned benefits, manufacturing organizations can get real-time alerts when a ransomware epidemic occurs.

Companies also need to educate their employees on safe browsing practices and cybersecurity. Employees must be made aware of how to identify and respond to questionable emails and attachments, as well as how to check for malware on their systems.

The solution to ransomware is not solely caution

Even if the safeguards listed above are followed, manufacturers are still at risk of becoming victims of ransomware. A Trend Micro analysis from late last year discovered that 84% of American companies had been hit by phishing or ransomware attacks in the preceding 12 months.

Manufacturing organizations should collaborate with security specialists to develop sound cybersecurity plans to ensure full protection. Manufacturers should consider implementing automated backups in their plans in case they were targeted by ransomware.

To help fight ransomware attacks, the Manufacturer has teamed up with Nasuni, a provider of enterprise cloud storage, to host a webinar about how to prevent falling victim to ransomware. Moreover, the webinar will demonstrate how to thoroughly safeguard your information and systems against the devastation of a significant attack.