FTC Proffers Tips for Businesses, Consumers to Guard Against Ransomware

The FTC, which held a September workshop on ransomware, is offering advice on guarding against the growing threat (see 1609070044). It has provided guidance and an accompanying video for businesses that become ransomware victims. In a Thursday blog post, staff attorney Ben Rossen said that the Privacy and Identity Protection Division also during the workshop proffered some tips for consumers, including updating software, thinking before clicking on questionable links or downloading attachments and backing up data. Rossen said consumers should try to contain an attack, possibly restore their computer and call law enforcement. "Law enforcement doesn’t recommend paying the ransom, although it’s up to you to determine whether the risks and costs of paying are worth the possibility of getting your files back," he wrote. There's no guarantee that criminals would restore files and they could possibly target people for other scams, he added.