Gartner Research

How to Prevent or Mitigate Ransomware Attacks That Demand Payment in Blockchain Cryptocurrency

Published: 26 September 2018

Summary

Organizations hit by ransomware should avoid paying ransom, especially as payment often doesn’t result in files being decrypted — paying ransom should be the last resort. This report advises enterprise architecture and technology innovation leaders how to avoid such attacks or mitigate the damage.

Included in Full Research

  • Key Challenges
  • Practice Good Security Hygiene Using Gartner’s Adaptive Security Architecture Model to Prevent Ransomware Attacks
    • Continuously Back Up Desktop and Server Files, So You Can Recover Any Files That Fall Victim to Ransomware Encryption
  • Use Publicly Available Resources to Try and Decrypt Any Files Encrypted by Ransomware
    • Paying Ransom Won’t Necessarily Get Your Files Back
  • Avoid the Need to Pay Ransom
    • But as Paying May Be Your Last Resort, Prepare to Acquire Cryptocurrency
  • Secure Cryptocurrency Wallets Using the Strongest Security Measures Your Organization Can Manage
    • Cautions About Online Wallet Security
    • Hardware Wallets That Enable “Cold Storage”
    • Cautions About Hardware Wallet Security

Analysts:

Avivah Litan

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