Six years after the birth of the initiative No More Ransom, more than 10 million people have already downloaded its decryption tools.

Ransomware attacks have been increasing in number and severity in recent years, with headlines focusing on ransom demands, which have risen to amounts that were previously unthinkable. Although the data is alarming, this does not mean that you are defenceless against these extortion attempts or the high technologies used to carry them out. The No More Ransom initiative offers more than 136 free decryption tools to rescue files taken hostage.

On its sixth anniversary, No More Ransom provides keys to unlocking encrypted files, as well as information on how to evade getting infected in the first place.

Launched by Europol, the Dutch National Police (Politie) and IT security companies, the No More Ransom portal initially offered four tools to unlock different types of ransomware and was only available in English.

Six years down the line, No More Ransom offers 136 free tools for 165 ransomware variants, including Gandcrab, REvil/Sodinokibi, Maze/Egregor/Sekhmet and more. More than 188 public and private sector partners have joined the program, regularly providing new decryption tools for the latest varieties of malware.

So far, the scheme has helped more than1.5 million people successfully decrypt their devices without having to pay the criminals. The portal is available in 37 languages to better assist victims of ransomware around the world.

The best technique for protecting oneself against hijacking software remains diligent prevention. It is recommended to:

– Make regular backups of the data stored on your electronic devices.

– Keep an eye on your clicks: do you know where a link will take you?

– Do not open attachments in e-mails from unknown senders, even if they look important and credible.

– Make sure your security software and operating system are up to date.

– Use two-factor authentication (2FA) to protect your user accounts.

– Limit the ability to export large amounts of corporate data to external file sharing portals.

– If you become a victim, don’t pay! Report the crime and check No More Ransom for decryption tools.

You will find more information and prevention tips at http://www.nomoreransom.org.

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