On a regular Monday morning, Sam was just settling into his new job, with no idea of the big problem that was about to come.
The trouble started at 8 a.m. with a frantic call from a big client. Their whole operation was stopped by a serious online attack. Their main computer files were locked by ransomware – a kind of cyberattack where hackers demand an unreasonable amount of Bitcoin. This was a common but no easy feat problem.
He and his team had to jump in and help out. The funny thing was – those companies who often ignored online threats were the ones who needed help the most when trouble arose.
Those companies who often ignored online threats were the ones who needed help the most when trouble arose.
The team hurried to the client’s office, thinking about all the files stuck in the cloud, which many people wrongly think is a safe place. Once there, he started tackling the problem. The first step was to check the backups.
But things got worse. The backups hadn’t been checked since the last technician left months ago, and the password was lost. Even though the backups were there, they couldn’t be accessed. This happens a lot in tech, but it’s always a harsh reality. But every password comes from somewhere, and this one was hidden in a hard-to-understand file. Could this be a lucky break?
The hackers said they would decrypt three files for free. The team took this chance and tricked them by sending two decoy files and the encrypted config file. When the hackers unlocked the files, the team got the information they needed, including the password. Kudos to his team for their smart move – teamwork is key in IT.
At 4 p.m., they started the long task of restoring the files from the backups. By then, the office was empty, the workers had left long ago. The team worked tirelessly, bit by bit bringing the office back to its normal pace. By morning, things were back to normal.
So, just another busy Monday unfolded for the new IT guy.
Being prepared for cyber attacks is not just an option but a necessity for companies.
After all, in this digital age, it’s not just about preventing attacks, but about how well you can recover and bounce back when they do occur. Always remember – a stitch in time saves nine, especially in cyber security.
