The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) listed some guidelines on how Nigerians can protect their computers from being affected by ransomware.
This follows massive cyber-attack on organisations around the world in the just concluded week, using tools believed to have been stolen from the US National Security Agency (NSA).
The cyber-security firm Avast said it had seen 75,000 cases of the ransomware – known as WannaCry and variants of that name – around the world.
More than 125,000 computers have been infected across 99 countries, including Russia and China.
Ransomware is a computer virus that installs discreetly on a victim’s device, holding his data hostage until ransom, which is usually in crypto-currency, is paid. It is cyber-kidnapping.
To guide against attack, below are general precautionary measures listed by NITDA:
• Regularly update your operating systems with the latest patches.
• Regularly update your software applications with latest patches.
• Avoid downloading and opening unsolicited files and attachments.
• Adjust security software to scan compressed or archived files
• Avoid indiscriminate use of wireless connections, such as bluetooth or infrared ports.
The agency also listed corrective measures to include:
• Remove the system from Network.
• Do not use flash/pen drive, external drives on the System to copy files to other systems.
• Format the system completely and get fresh OS copy installed.
NITDA asked those in need of emergency assistance to contact the agency’s computer emergency readiness and response team (CERRT) on: 800-9988-7766- 5544 or e-mail: support@cerrt.ng.
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