The FBI and US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) have issued a warning to the 1.8 billion Gmail users about a growing ransomware threat from the Medusa group, which has already targeted over 300 victims, including hospitals, schools, and major businesses.
How Medusa Attacks
Medusa gains access to devices through phishing emails or by exploiting unprotected software. Once inside, it:
- Locks important files, preventing access.
- Steals sensitive data, threatening to leak it.
- Demands ransom payments, ranging from thousands to millions of dollars.
Preventive Measures
To protect yourself and your organization, the FBI and CISA recommend:
✅ Enabling Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) on email accounts.
✅ Regularly updating operating systems and software to fix security vulnerabilities.
✅ Backing up important data on separate servers or external hard drives.
✅ Printing and storing physical copies of critical personal documents.
✅ Filtering network traffic to prevent unknown sources from accessing remote services.
✅ Restricting administrative privileges to limit potential damage.
✅ Segmenting networks in institutions like hospitals and schools to prevent ransomware from spreading.
Why It Matters
This warning underscores the growing risk of ransomware attacks targeting individuals and businesses. By following cybersecurity best practices, users can reduce their vulnerability and protect their sensitive data from being held hostage by cybercriminals.
