Back to School: Protect Essays, Download Apps Safely

• September 4th, 2017
Online Safety, PC security

It’s time to get back to school. ZoneAlarm brings you 10 tips to help ease the stress and smooth the transition for your family. But before that… here is the tip of the tips! Can you imagine having your kids’ homework, essays and all other school files taken hostage for a ransom? What if they accidentally click on a suspicious link or open an undesired attachment when downloading that super educational app?

Every 10 seconds someone gets hit by Ransomware, and you can be the next victim!

Ransomware is a type of malicious software that prevents you from accessing your files by encrypting them and demanding a ransom to decrypt them back. A deadline is assigned for the ransom payment, and if the deadline passes, the ransom demand doubles or files are permanently locked. Is there a way to prevent it?

Newsweek recently reported that ransomware attacks rose 250% since the start of 2017, and consumers may not be aware of the threat they face. Of the recent WannaCry attack that infected more than 250,000 machines across 150 countries, more than two-thirds of these attacks affected consumers, and of those, 38% went on to pay the ransom demanded.

ZoneAlarm Anti-Ransomware is the solution to detect and block ransomware attacks. The solution identifies, quarantines, and removes even the most sophisticated and evasive ransomware infections from users’ PCs.

Sometimes people fall into the trap of not taking the steps to protect their PCs. They tend to think along the lines of: ‘I just use the computer for Facebook’, or ‘for Skyping the kids’, as if using the computer for simple tasks will somehow cause it to be overlooked by a virus. Or even if they pay attention to the news stories about the attacks, they may see them as remote threats: ‘A rogue state or criminal gang would not target me’. And the problem is that statement is true; they do not target you alone. They target everyone who leaves their computer’s ‘door’ open.

Ransomware attacks can easily bypass traditional antivirus software to blackmail unsuspecting consumers. It’s a very real threat to home PC users, who do not have access to enterprise-grade security systems. These cyber attacks have cost billions of dollars in damages. With ransomware attacks becoming more widespread, it’s critical for consumers to defend themselves with a dedicated tool powerful enough to protect their PCs and precious files from being seized and held hostage by hackers.

That said, check out 10 quick tips to dive back into the school routine.

1 – Discuss what your kids can expect on the first day so they feel more prepared.
2 – Refresh your rules about screen time for the school year. What’s allowed and when?
3 – Set a regular alarm each day that signals the start of homework time.
4 – Create a dedicated space for your kids to store their school supplies and technology.
5 – Remove TVs, video game consoles, tablets and phones from homework areas.
6 – Teach your kids to prioritize their assignments by making to-do lists with deadlines.
7 – Set up the breakfast table and pick out your kids’ uniform before you go to bed.
8 – Arrange playdates with two or three of your kids’ friends to rebuild existing social ties.
9 – Use positive phrasing, such as “You can go outside after your homework is done,” rather than “You’re not going outside until this is finished.”
10 – Have your kids set realistic goals for the new school year. How about reading at least one book every week?

With your PC files safe and your family back to the routine, your kids will rock!

Welcome back to school!

Read more:

Tip of the Week: Dads and Moms United Against Ransomware

ZoneAlarm Explains Ransomware from A to Z

PCMag: ZoneAlarm Anti-Ransomware ‘a Clear Winner’