Are you still using older versions of various desktop softwares? If so, you may face ransomware attacks.
Cisco discovered hackers exploited vulnerabilities in older versions of Follett which is Library management software used by a number of libraries worldwide. This software uses JBoss Web servers. By using these hackers install backdoors in the targeting systems.
This is not limited to Follett. Most of the computer era still using outdated Windows and Linux applications in their systems.
There are plenty of security loopholes existed in those age old apps. For example, in India DTP operators still using Aldus Pagemaker 5 which is later taken over by Adobe. Aldus is no more, there are no security updates for that software. It doesn’t matter to PC users. This sort of security innocence leads to serious attacks like malware infections, ransomware etc.
Same applies to Adobe Photoshop 7. Adobe changed naming pattern in Photoshop after Photoshop 7. Photoshop is now a part of Creative Suite, which in in other words considered as CS. Begging from CS, CS1 now CS6 is the latest version in the market. But this also doesn’t matter to end users. Because of various compatibility issues they are continuing with Photoshop 7.
Attacks like ransomware doesn’t come through isolated apps mentioned above, those apps connects to internet on a regular basis are the main targets of ransomware attacks. But to bring lack of security awareness in to your notice I took Aldus Pagemaker and Photoshop examples.
What is Ransomware?
Ransomware is also a software which encrypts your hard disk data, and stores the private key to decrypt it on the remote server located at the hacker’s place. They demand premium amount to provide the private key to decrypt your valuable data. The amount they demand ranging from 100 USD to 5000 USD. For organizations which are huge financial support this may be affordable, but for individuals such a huge amount is not comfortable.
So try to upgrade to the latest versions of your regular softwares, otherwise you may become the victim for more security attacks.