Yes you did read it right, and no it's not a typo. Hackers are now taking computers hostage, and are requiring a ransom to give owners access back to their own computers.

The software,  called "Ransomware", can get through to your computer through phishing emails, outdated software, and downloads from dodgy websites. It works like this:  the hacker gets a virus installed on your machine and then uses the viruses to lock your computer - and the only way to unlock it is to pay a fine. Some of them have charged up to $5000, and even displayed the NZ Police or the FBI logo on the screen to make the scam more believable. And if you're thinking this is one of those things you only hear about and would never happen to you, more than 100 cases of Ransomware have been reported this year, by both home users and small businesses as well.

This week is NZ Cyber Security Awareness Week and we at System 7 thought we would share some ways for you to avoid paying a ransom to get your precious computer back from the arms of the kidnappers.

1. Make sure your software is up to date. Scammers can get easy access to your computer through outdated software like Java.
2. Choose a strong password.The days your password could afford to be your name followed by the last two digits of the year you were born with are gone. Make sure you chose a password that is hard to predict, and has nothing to do with anything everyone has access to, like your name or your birthday.
3. Use different passwords for different websites.That one speaks for itself - keep them different, write them down in a piece of paper and keep it in a safe place. Do not write them as a file in your computer.
4. Beware of phishing emails.Hackers tend to send emails pretending to be someone you know, and attaching a file with the virus for you to download. Always pay attention to who is sending you files, and why. If that old co-worker you don't really know well sends you an email with "a photo from that amazing party you went to last year", it is probably a scam.
5. Avoid suspicious websites. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Trust me you are not the 1,000,000^th visitor, and you didn't win a trip to Bali for it.

Hopefully these tips will be enough to keep you safe. However, if you do find yourself having to negotiate with crooks to get  your computer back, give us a call, and our team at System 7 will do their best to help you through those tough times.