Open AccessRansomware Attack: Rescue-checklist Cyber Security Awareness Program
Author(s) -
Mohammed Daffalla Elradi,
Mohamed Hashim Mohamed,
Mohammed Elradi Ali
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
artificial intelligence advances
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2661-3220
DOI - 10.30564/aia.v3i1.3162
Subject(s) - ransomware , computer security , phishing , ransom , computer science , internet privacy , business , malware , the internet , world wide web , law , political science
Ransomware attacks have been spreading broadly in the last few years, where attackers deny users’ access to their systems and encrypt their files until they pay a ransom, usually in Bitcoin. Of course, that is the worst thing that can happen; especially for organizations having sensitive information. In this paper we proposed a cyber security awareness program intended to provide end-users with a rescue checklist in case of being attacked with a ransomware as well as preventing the attack and ways to recover from it. The program aimed at providing cyber security knowledge to 15 employees in a Sudanese trading and investment company. According to their cyber behaviour before the program, the participants showed a low level cyber security awareness that with 72% they are likely of being attacked by a ransomware from a phishing email, which is well known for spreading ransomware attacks. The results revealed that the cyber security awareness program greatly diminished the probability of being attacked by a ransomware with an average of 28%. This study can be used as a real-life ransomware attack rescue plan.