What is Ransomware?

Ransomware is malicious software (malware) that encrypts and makes data inaccessible to the victim. The malware contains threats from the attacker to delete, sell or leak the data if payment is not made. Types of ransomware include crypto malware, lockers, scareware, and doxware.

Over £15 billion

in total global damage is caused by ransomware attacks annually.¹

11 seconds

is the time it takes for another
business to be attacked.¹

304 million

ransomware attacks were reported
in 2020, a 62% yearly rise.²

How to prevent ransomware attacks

Preventative actions are essential to protect against falling victim to ransomware. Use these Synology solutions in addition to your antivirus software of choice.

Prevent access
Reduce the spread of ransomware by setting file, application, and access permissions, and configure secure login credentials using Secure SignIn and C2 Password.

Protect devices
Outdated systems are at greater risk. Update all your NAS at once with Synology CMS, and safeguard other devices using group policies in Synology Directory Server and C2 Identity.

Avoid suspicious files
Spam and phishing emails containing suspicious files are common methods of spreading ransomware. Synology MailPlus provides strong anti-malware protection and spam prevention.

Check for vulnerabilities
Use Synology Security Advisor to routinely scan for malware, system vulnerabilities, and abnormal login activities. Implement recommended changes to improve your NAS security.

How to recover from a ransomware attack

If a ransomware attack is successful, having backups of your data can reduce the damage caused. Your Synology NAS comes with robust backup features to help you continue operations with minimal disruption. Before restoring backups, it is important to make sure your device has been cleaned.

Safeguard important files
Avoid getting locked out of your files and folders by setting up real-time versioning or scheduled backups. Your NAS can retain up to 32 previous versions of files from any computer to keep them safe from folder encryption.

Protect entire systems
Prevent threat actors from holding your deployments to ransom by backing them up to your NAS. You can easily back up data from physical computers, virtual environments, or SaaS applications to your NAS.

Leverage another NAS
Defend against ransomware attacks by taking snapshots of shared folders or LUNs and replicating them to another Synology NAS.

Store data on an external device
Copy your NAS data and configurations to a separate device for safekeeping. Back up your NAS to remote servers or cloud destinations with powerful customisation options to reduce storage usage and protect data against unauthorised access.

Reduce your risk, protect your data

Having an effective data protection plan can mitigate the risk of being locked out of critical data. Synology has a complete collection of data protection solutions to secure home and work environments from data loss.

Speak to a specialist today to learn more about ransomware prevention and protection

Speak to a Specialist