Please be advised that there is an new RANSOMWARE scam going around sending emails claiming to be Microsoft urging you to install a critical Microsoft update.  DO NOT INSTALL anything that comes from an email. Now is a good time to remind users that Microsoft NEVER emails security updates.  Your Windows and Office updates happen automatically on your computer with no intervention from you the end user other than the occasional “please reboot to complete update installation”.

What is Ransomware? Ransomware is a malicious piece of software that when run on your computer, encrypts all of your stuff, changes file extensions to all your data and then informs the end user to send digital currency (bitcoin) to get the encryption key to unlock their files.  Downside is: In most cases if the ransom was paid, then end user still doesn’t get their data unencrypted and not only do they lose their data but now they are also out a significant amount of money. 

We have backup solutions in place that would help minimize damage if Ransomware was installed, and we have Antivirus solutions in place to help prevent the download of these malicious pieces of software, but these types of programs evolve and can not always be stopped from arriving in an end users inbox.  User awareness is always the best practice to help avoid critical data loss due to ransomware.  

Remember NEVER install anything that has been set to you via email.  Feel free to leave notes for yourself, fellow Team Members and even your friends and family to remind them that Microsoft NEVER SENDS update notices via email.

If you receive an email claiming to be form Microsoft referring to “Please install the latest critical update from Microsoft  attached to this email.”  DELETE it right away and contact the Westview Co-op Help Desk.

FYI no one in our organization has come across this issue so far.  I have received this bulletin from reliable IT new resources and I am merely passing this notice on to our Team Members.