07/17/2023
If you see either of these screens on your computer then it's probably already too late. Say "welcome" to ransomware Big Head, Variants A & B. And paying the ransom doesn't guarantee you'll get your files released back to you. The MOVEit hack was bad enough. Ask the residents of Louisianna and Oregon with a state-issued driver’s license, ID, or car registration who have likely had the following data exposed to the cyber attackers:
1. Name
2. Address
3. Social Security Number
4. Birthdate
5. Height
6. Eye Color
7. Driver’s License Number
8. Vehicle Registration Information
9. Handicap Placard Information
We are under attack from everywhere (that includes me as well) and we must be even more vigilant than ever before. So what steps do we need to take protect ourselves?:
1. Avoid sketchy-looking emails. If you receive an email from an address you do not recognize, don’t open it. If you open it by mistake, avoid clicking any links or opening any attachments within the email.
2. Have good antivirus software. I have my own preference... Malwarebytes. And the free ones? Remember, you get what you pay for.
3. Back up your files on an external hard drive or use a cloud-based service.
4. Keep software up to date. Regularly update your operating system, antivirus software, web browsers and other applications to ensure you have the latest security patches and protections.
It never hurts until you lose it all. 🏴
