Imagine you come to work one morning, and you can’t access the files on your computer. On your desktop is a message informing you that your computer is locked, and the only way to regain access is to pay a heavy ransom. Otherwise, you will never see your files again.

What would you do in this situation? It’s not an easy question to answer, especially considering the pressure you would likely be under to take swift action.

A recent study shows that half of American ransomware victims have cracked and paid a ransom to regain access to their data. And 40 percent of respondents claimed they would meet the hackers’ demands if the situation ever arose.

Just because half of Americans are caving to the demands of their hackers doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the right thing to do. In fact, the U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) recently released an advisory warning that organizations should never give in to ransom demands.

“Paying the ransom does not guarantee the encrypted files will be released,” the advisory stated. “It only guarantees that the malicious actors receive the victim’s money and, in some cases, their banking information. In addition, decrypting files does not mean the malware infection itself has been removed.”

What’s more, paying the ransom will only perpetuate ransomware attacks.

A much safer—and proactive—approach is to invest in a managed services provider, like Apex Technology Services, that can monitor your network and improve your security measures. A computer consultant serving New York City and Fairfield County, Apex will back up your files and store them offsite in a secure location, so that even if your network is affected by a ransomware infection you can feel better about not paying to keep your files. Plus, our team has the expert knowledge to thoroughly rid your network of malicious software.

So heed this advice, and don’t wait for ransomware to enter your network. Contact Apex Technology Services today.