It’s not giving away any trade secrets to state that the more you know about a subject, the better equipped you’ll be to handle what comes your way. This especially applies to urgent issues like the prevalence of ransomware, which can have job- and company-altering consequences.
Building an educational foundation around ransomware is more than staying up-to-date on virus definitions and software updates. It’s a process that requires an investment of time and resources to achieve a better understanding about what ransomware is and how to best prevent an attack.
Books are a great way to begin the ransomware educational process. They can be read anywhere, and are usually available in digital or physical format. This makes them convenient, especially when you’re in a position where video or sound is not an option. Perhaps best of all, a physical book will never fall victim to a ransomware attack, making them a vital tool.
There is no shortage of books written on ransomware, but we have found five which are particularly useful as educational or reference tools:
- “Ransomware Defense for Dummies” by Cisco Umbrella. This short but sweet free title offers a quick glance into the world of ransomware, and offers best practice steps for preventing an attack.
- “Ransomware: Defending Against Digital Extortion” by Allan Liska and Timothy Gallo. Although written in 2016, this book offers timeless insights into the methodical nature of a ransomware attack, and outlines different strategies for combating an incident.
- “Ransomware Protection Playbook” by Roger A. Grimes. This title offers blueprints for addressing common security misses which lead to attacks.
- “Ransomware Survival Guide” by Proofpoint. This vendor-provided e-Book is short on sales-speak, and long on actions to take to prevent or address a ransomware attack.
- “Ransomware: with source code” by Dr. Noah.950 (Ed note: this is how the author lists their name). This book takes an interesting angle. The author provides ransomware source code that claims to protect systems against ransomware attacks.
Building your own ransomware book library is a very personal thing, despite these recommendations. Several considerations to keep in mind when selecting a ransomware title optimal for you:
- Book format. Not all books are available in all three key formats—print, audio, and digital. Choosing the one that works best for your learning style is ideal.
- Technical depth. Are you a business owner with limited technical skills, or are you an IT security architect in charge of protecting tens of thousands of terabytes of data?
- Length of content. Some prefer brevity in their reading, while others want to journey along with the author from point A to point B.
- Date of release. An argument can be made that this is the most crucial, given the rapid changes in technology. But while the code or the platforms will change, the basics of common sense and process are based on past experiences and proven results.
Books are a valuable tool in building an educated response to the potential threats offered by ransomware attacks. The more you know about how these attacks are conducted, the better prepared you’ll be when faced with one.
