With a substantial rise in the usage of the internet and advancement in technology all over the globe, a surge in risks of malware attacks, including ransomware attacks, have also increased.
And, if you must have noticed, the malware isn’t the same anymore as well. The world filled with petty viruses and Trojan horses is long gone. Instead, the malware has become much more innovative and stronger than in the previous decade, making computer users extremely worried about their data and information safety.
Ransomware is one of the latest types of malware which is affecting users all across the world. Two of its variants, WannaCry/WanaCrypt0r 2.0, are quite common that users need to be protected against.
There are various ways to avoid a ransomware attack, using a VPN and antivirus being the two significant ones. You can get hold of the fastest VPN service and effective antivirus to protect yourself from ransomware attacks.
Ransomware works a bit differently than other malware. It doesn’t end up leading to your operating system corrupting or any other kinds of software errors.
Instead, it does something that would be hard for you to imagine. It asks you to pay an amount quoted by them, also known as a ransom, after blocking your access to either the web, the operating system of your computer, or any other software.
There have been quite some ransomware attacks worldwide, with an increase in them during the novel Covid-19. Among them, Acer, the computer giant from Taiwan, also became a victim. Acer was hit by a ransomware attack in March 2021, demanding a ransom of $50 million by the cybercriminal group REvil. The cybercriminal group was able to attack Acer due to a reported Microsoft Exchange vulnerability.
Well, honestly, a VPN cannot directly protect anyone from a ransomware attack. However, what it can do is make users less vulnerable to one with its features.
A virtual private network masks your actual IP address and encrypts your entire traffic, making it quite difficult for cybercriminals to target and attack you with ransomware.
In short, it boosts the security of your connection overall, so ransomware creators cannot target you. Using a VPN has its benefits. Let’s look at a few:
Considering these factors, a VPN keeps you safe and secure from various kinds of malware, including ransomware. There are a vast variety of VPN services present across the world. However, you should always subscribe to the one that’s super-reliable in terms of service.
While users mostly opt for a free VPN service, expecting it to do the job that only a premium VPN can do, we do not recommend using a free VPN at all. Free VPNs are quite bad for your security.
So, if you’re confused about which VPN to opt for, then here are the top 3 we highly recommend:
ExpressVPN is the best option in terms of reliability, security, speed, and service. With 3000+ servers present in 94 countries, this VPN can be a great option to protect yourself from ransomware.
This VPN offers industry-level AES 256-bit encryption to keep user connections completely encrypted and secure to avoid data leaks. It also offers a kill switch that disconnects users from the internet if the VPN connection drops, so your online activities stay safe.
Its other security features include a no-logs policy, split tunneling, DNS leak protection, OpenVPN protocol, and much more.
The second VPN we have on our list is Surfshark, a budget-friendly option to enjoy complete protection on the internet and security from ransomware attacks.
This VPN offers a variety of security features of its own. These include a MultiHop feature that routes user traffic through various servers so that snooping into your connection is hard. It also offers an ad-blocker, so users don’t click on any intrusive ads.
Last, we have NordVPN, a VPN service with a massive server network of 5200+ servers in 59 countries. Connecting to any of these servers would offer you a secure connection and complete encryption on your network.
It comes with features like AES 256-bit encryption, OpenVPN protocol, split tunneling, DNS leak protection, CyberSec, Nordlynx, and more to protect users from all sorts of malware.
A virtual private network can aid you in protecting your data from being accessed by malware creators, so you don’t become a victim of ransomware and other kinds of malware attacks.
It keeps all your data safe, so you remain completely anonymous online. However, a VPN would never be enough to protect yourself from malware. You’d have to be cautious about the websites you visit and files you download on your PC for complete safety.