Ransomware is an especially nefarious type of malware. It usually finds its way onto a computer through unsafe messaging attachments, and once it infects a computer it looks for any storage it can access. It then attempts to encrypt your files, effectively locking you out of them, then it demands payment to restore access. If you pay the ransom there’s no guarantee that your files will actually be restored.
While antivirus software can handle familiar threats, it is of little to no use against attacks that use new malware or variants of existing ransomware. Reasonable countermeasures can be put in place to help prevent ransomware from entering your organization, and to minimize its consequences should you be infected.
To learn more on this topic see our blog post Combating Ransomware in Post Production Operations for tips on prevention and mitigation.