We all know that malicious software is quite common on any PC. Although you may be familiar with countless pieces of software of this type, you may not know about ransomware. Back in 1989, a Harvard-trained evolutionary biologist named Joseph L. Popp created ransomware. The main motive for creating it was to block access to a computer system until a sum of money was paid.
Originally, it was designed to secure user devices, but in recent months, there have been many victims of ransomware. Ransomware will affect 66% of an organization in 2021, and the same number will reach 78% in just one year. In this case, the question arises whether ransomware affects Android phones or not. So, to clear up this confusion, let’s move on to the below guide.
Can Ransomware Affect Android Devices? Possibilities and Security Measures
Android phones are unique in the sense that you can download third-party apps from different sources. That is to say, they are not reliable sources. And here is where ransomware can be launched. Afterward, ransomware will take your data, and you may lose it. An example of ransomware is “Wannalocker,” a copy of WannaCry that claimed to be a game plugin and later demanded 5 USD from its victim to restore his data. After this example, you might be wondering what measures we can take to eliminate it.
Use Google Play Protect.
Google Play Protect is Google’s security measure to ensure that devices are safeguarded from harm. In any case, if you have disabled this feature, you can enable it by opening the Google Play Store. Tap on the profile icon >> Play Protect >> Settings >> Scan apps with Play Protect on/off. Additionally, if you downloaded an app from an unknown source, you should send it to Google. You can do that through your profile >> Play Protect >> Settings >> Improve harmful detection on/off.
Always use two-factor authentication.
I agree that you have enabled password protection for your dedicated data files or apps. But hackers are so clever that they can get an idea of what password you can use and easily access your data. For that, we recommend you always use two-factor authentication. Thus, you should be doubly sure that your data will not be shared with anyone. In the event your primary password gets revealed, two-factor authentication allows you to access your data.
Make sure to download from trustworthy sources.
We need to protect our data, and the only way to do that is to download from trusted sources. There are many outstanding apps, but we also must protect our personal information. This gives you peace of mind knowing that if any issue arises, you can contact the developer and get justice for it. While it may be difficult for you to do so through third-party sources, so, always use trusted sources like the Google Play Store or any store that respects your phone’s privacy.
Besides that, you can also use some usual life hacks, such as hard passwords, knowing the permissions of your apps, and making use of online backups. These security measures can protect you from ransomware attacks. I am sure anyone affected by a ransomware attack is wondering what to do next. Follow the below steps.
- Simply hold down the power button.
- Then you will see the power-off prompt on your screen.
- Now long press the “power off” option until a new dialogue box appears.
- Tap OK to reboot into safe mode.
- As a result, your phone will reboot and show safe mode written in the left corner of your screen.
- Next, go to settings >> Application management.
- From there, uninstall the ransomware and related applications.
There are several steps you can take to protect yourself, such as updating your phone’s operating system, using an antivirus, avoiding clicking on suspicious links, etc. There are several ways to get away from this, and it all depends on you. I explained ransomware with an example. In the future, whenever you find such apps, apply these measures to get rid of them. With that set, if any user has queries about ransomware and related security measures, please ask them all below.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. How does ransomware impact security?
Ans. It is a malicious actor that encrypts user data and demands some amount from the user to access it.
Q2. What is the biggest risk when it comes to ransomware attacks?
Ans. The major thing we all see in front of us is financial loss.
Q3. Who is most affected by ransomware?
Ans. Usually, big companies are affected. Around 56% of a company’s respondents say they are victims of ransomware.
Q4. Can we never stop ransomware from being created?
Ans. Since it is a malicious component, it will create a bit, but we can stop it through some rigid measures.