Protecting your PC from Ransomeware
<div> </div> <div> <b>CryptoLocker Ransomeware at ODU</b></div> <div> </div> <div> The United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) has issued an advisory concerning CryptoLocker Ransomeware Infections in which documents on the computer and on the user’s home drive and shared drives become encrypted and unrecoverable ( http://www.us-cert.gov/ncas/alerts/TA13-309A ). </div> <div> </div> <div> In the past three months two computers at ODU have been infected with this malware. Since that time we have taken a number of steps to protect computers on our network. However, nothing can replace the use of safe computing practices by our computer users.</div> <div> </div> <div> US-Cert, and the ODU IT Security Office recommend these preventative measures to protect your computer from this and other infections:</div> <div> </div> <ul> <li> Maintain current security patches </li> </ul> <ul> <li> Maintain current McAfee anti-virus updates</li> </ul> <ul> <li> Backup important data to an offline repository. </li> </ul> <ul> <li> Do not follow unsolicited web links in email messages or submit any information to webpages in links</li> </ul> <ul> <li> Use caution when opening email attachments. Refer to the Security Tip “Using Caution with Email Attachments”<a href="http://www.us-cert.gov/ncas/tips/st04-010"> (http://www.us-cert.gov/ncas/tips/st04-010</a> )</li> </ul> <ul> <li> Refer to the “Recognizing and Avoiding Email Scams” document ( <a href="http://www.us-cert.gov/sites/default/files/publications/emailscams_0905.pdf">http://www.us-cert.gov/sites/default/files/publications/emailscams_0905.pdf</a> )</li> </ul> <ul> <li> Refer to the Security Tip “Avoiding Social Engineering and Phishing Attacks” ( <a href="http://www.us-cert.gov/ncas/tips/st04-014">http://www.us-cert.gov/ncas/tips/st04-014</a> )</li> </ul> <div> </div> <div> If you think your computer is infected, you can call the ITS Help Desk at 683-3192, email a<a href="mailto:itshelp@odu.edu">t itshelp@odu.edu, or</a> fill out an online incident report at <a href="http://occs.odu.edu/security/incident/form/">http://occs.odu.edu/security/incident/form/ .</a></div> <div> </div> <div> Doug Streit</div> <div> </div> <div> Director, Information Security</div> <div> Old Dominion University</div> <div> http://www.odu.edu/ts/security</div>
Posted By: Scott Harrison
Date: Mon Dec 16 06:40:58 EST 2013