Under attack: Tulane expert offers tips of how to avoid falling victim to ransomware attacks

May 11, 2021

3 min

Ransomware continues to be a hot topic as attacks against large and small organizations continue to rise. Ransomware is a type of malicious software, or malware, which locks a person out of their computer until they pay a sum of money, usually in Bitcoin, which allows for relatively anonymous transactions.


According to an article by CNN, Colonial Pipeline Energy regulators are calling on leaders in the energy sector to step up their cyberdefenses after a weekend ransomware attack that knocked the Colonial Pipeline offline. The chief US policy strategist at AGF Investments said the latest hack by so-called cyberpirates should be a "red alert" for the White House following years of hackers blackmailing local governments, businesses and hospitals. Colonial Pipeline, which delivers nearly half the diesel and gasoline consumed on the East Coast, is still trying to get its systems restarted. If the shutdown continues for more than a few days, many Americans could be looking at $3-a-gallon gas for the first time since 2014.


Randy Magiera, a cybersecurity expert and professor of information technology and information security in Tulane University's School of Professional Advancement, is available to speak about ransomware attacks, what exactly happens and how to avoid these attacks. For interviews, contact pr@tulane.edu or Roger Dunaway at (504) 452-2906.



Most ransomware attacks are aimed at individuals, but criminals are increasingly attacking businesses as they can potentially get more money from a company than an individual. Modern-day attackers often look at a business's income when determining how much they should charge the victim.


As the number of successful ransomware attacks continues to increase, there are many examples to note. One recent breach at the end of April 2021 was the systems of the police department in Washington, D.C.


The attackers locked the police department out of a server and steal large amounts of personnel files of police employees, almost 250GB worth. According to Magiera, this type of data can be incredibly valuable to criminal organizations and shows how important it is that companies protect their systems. The brazen attack exemplifies how severe attacks can be and demonstrates that no system may be off-limits.


When a system is attacked, the ransomware will often lock out the user and encrypt the files on the system. More recent versions of ransomware encrypt the data and lock the user out and allow hackers to steal the data. Attackers commonly use social engineering attacks, such as phishing, to infect a system, though there are other methods.


Magiera notes there are several ways to protect yourself against ransomware attacks:

-Purchase a high-quality antivirus product. The next-generation antivirus product protects such as Bitdefender, Crowdstrike, Cylane and Sophos are specifically designed to prevent ransomware attacks on your computer, but they are not entirely foolproof.

-Make sure you are browsing safely and not clicking links you do not recognize. Doing this will significantly enhance your protection from ransomware attacks.

-Between a good quality antivirus product, being cautious with sites you visit and avoid opening strange emails, you are protecting your computer against ransomware.


You might also like...

Check out some other posts from Tulane University

1 min

Expert: Historic password breach creates public urgency for better password protection

Cybercriminals recently executed a significant breach, stealing the world’s most extensive collection of passwords. These stolen credentials, a staggering 10 billion unique passwords, have been uploaded to the notorious RockYou2024 database, a hub for cybercriminal activity. Tulane University cybersecurity expert Demetrice Rogers says the stolen passwords are a significant vulnerability for most users and underscore the need for strong password management. With malicious actors now armed with an extensive database of nearly 10 billion unique passwords, the risk of successful hacks on unsuspecting users is significantly higher. "The massive growth of the RockYou2024 password list shows just how tough it’s getting to keep our accounts safe. Hackers will love this list, making it a go-to tool for breaking into accounts. We need strong, unique passwords and multi-factor authentication to stay one step ahead. Think of it like locking your doors and setting the alarm—essential steps to keep the cybercriminals out." Rogers can cover: • How users can check to see if their information and passwords are included in the leak. • The importance of creating strong, unique passwords for each account and using reputable password managers to generate and store them securely. (Many users use the same password across multiple websites, making an attacker’s job much easier.) • Why adopting multi-factor authentication is increasingly important to ensure account security.

2 min

Are soaring home insurance rates in Gulf Coast states coming for the rest of the country?

The Gulf Coast faces an expected active 'above-normal' hurricane season, with many insurance carriers withdrawing from the market. Homeowners are left with skyrocketing rates and dwindling coverage options. Louisiana bore the brunt with four major hurricanes in 2020 and 2021, causing $75 billion in combined damage. The state passed a series of insurance reforms to attract more insurance companies, following in the footsteps of Florida. Insurance woes for homeowners aren’t just a coastal issue. Homeowners in the Midwest are struggling with insurance carriers because of damage from the record amount of tornadoes. Wildfires in the US are also a growing threat to insurance carriers, accounting for an annual total cost between $394 billion and $893 billion. Christopher Otten, an insurance and legal expert at Tulane University’s A. B. Freeman School of Business, is available to speak about the impact of new hurricane insurance regulations in several states, the challenges of holding insurance carriers accountable from state to state and the difficulties property owners face in finding hurricane insurance. Christopher can also discuss: • Why insurance markets differ among the states in the Gulf Coast region. • The Fortified Roof incentive programs • Affordability and the need for more carriers to improve competition and pricing risk. Christopher Otten Quote: “The Gulf States are the canaries in the coal mine right now for insurance markets,” Otten said. “It’s probably going to get worse before it gets better. A quiet hurricane season, as unlikely as that is, will help things some – but that doesn’t mean rates will not go up or down. They may increase less than they otherwise would have. With these new laws, particularly in Louisiana, it will take a hurricane for us to know how the new regulations are shaping out.” Contact Roger Dunaway, assistant director of media relations, for interviews at roger@tulane.edu.

2 min

Vulnerability exposed: Car dealerships grapple with fallout from cybersecurity attacks

Nearly 15,000 car dealerships across North America are still struggling to operate after a massive cyberattack has crippled their software systems. As more vehicles become connected to the Internet and reliant on digital systems, cyberattacks pose a serious risk to businesses and consumers. Tulane University cybersecurity expert Demetrice Rogers is available to discuss the next steps in auto industry recovery efforts and what other industries can learn from the incident to avoid repeat attacks. Professor Rogers can speak about: 1. The implications for data security and privacy and the possible compromise of sensitive customer data, including personal information and financial details. 2. Specific cybersecurity weaknesses within the automotive industry that made these car dealerships targets for the cyberattack. 3. Offer insights into effective cybersecurity measures and best practices that car dealerships can implement to strengthen their defenses against future cyber threats. Quote from Demetrice Rogers: “The preliminary reports indicate that the attack on CDK Global was a ransomware incident. Their systems will essentially be held hostage until specific demands, likely monetary, are fulfilled. Initial reports indicate CDK plans to pay the ransom, which could be tens of millions of dollars, to the attackers. I would expect systems to slowly come back online, with some data and processes unavailable until they have fully recovered.” “This situation highlights the critical need for an effective backup and disaster recovery program. Organizations should routinely test their recovery capabilities to ensure preparedness for such incidents. Additionally, it is generally recommended not to comply with hackers' demands or pay the ransom. While it is true that some companies opt to pay (though this is rarely publicized), it is usually more prudent to activate a well-prepared disaster recovery plan.” Contact Roger Dunaway, assistant director of media relations, for interviews at roger@tulane.edu.

View all posts