Advanced Malware Protection – How to Protect Yourself Against Ransomware Attacks

Sanjay Seth, PJ Networks Pvt Ltd

It’s just after my third coffee, and I’m parked at my desk pondering ransomware — again. Been at this, since I was a network admin in 1993. Yes, that long! Way back when we had to balance voice and data over PSTN muxes, even saw the Slammer worm hit networks like a tornado the trailer park. Wild times. Those early days — rife with lessons and, no kidding, some dumb mistakes I made — were formative in how I view cybersecurity now.

Now I run PJ Networks, and we spend a ton of time blocking malware attacks (Fortinet’s been a huge part of that) and recently helped three banks improve their zero-trust game. Just back from the most astounding DefCon I have ever attended last week and still high about the hackers of the world gathering in hardware hacking village. So yeah, ransomware? It’s personal. Allow me to explain how to put an end to this before it ruins your business — and your life.

How Ransomware Works

Here’s the thing about ransomware: it’s straightforward but vicious. It’s malware that encrypts your data and then holds it hostage until you pay up — usually in cryptocurrency. Unlike some worms or viruses that simply disrupt things, ransomware is almost a business in and of itself… and a highly lucrative one at that.

Phishing emails, dodgy downloads, or exploiting unpatched vulnerabilities in your systems are the most common ways ransomware gets in. Once inside, it stays quiet for a while, frequently escalating its privileges so that it can infect as many devices as it can reach. Then bam! Your files are locked, and a ransom note appears—for hundreds, thousands, sometimes millions of dollars.

That sounds like an old-school heist, but it’s all digital.

And here’s the kicker: If you pay the ransom, the attackers don’t have to return your data. In fact, it’s most often the reverse. That’s why prevention is so important.

How Malware Fits into the Ransomware Puzzle

You can’t discuss ransomware without discussing malware. Ransomware is malware — just a specialization of malware. But not all malware is ransomware, are they? Then there are the polymorphic malware variants that keep mutating its code to avoid detection by antivirus.

Why mention this? This is because your ransomware defense begins with full malware protection. If your system cannot block malware at the door, how do you expect to guard against ransomware that rides in on the coattails of malware?

Here’s a short story from a recent job: Three banks had legacy firewalls in place. Sure they had antivirus here and there but nothing like a cohesive malware prevention strategy. After deploying Fortinet’s advanced malware protection, which came built-in as part of their zero-trust architecture, we saw a rapid decrease in threat incidents. The Fortinet solution prevents known and unknown malware from gaining a foothold — a true game changer.

So you have to think about malware not as some irritating background static but as the bedrock of ransomware defense.

Best Practices for Protection

Okay, listen, I’m going to level with you. There’s no magic bullet, no silver bullet, no AI-powered wand that magically makes everything work. I’m somewhat skeptical of that hype. What does work is something more layered — a good old-fashioned defense-in-depth model mixed with the latest tech.

What I always tell businesses to do:

• Patch. Patch. Patch. Vulnerabilities are holes in your boat. You’re not going to sail if there are a dozen leaks, right? Make sure that all your systems, firmware and applications are up to date.
• Lay siege to the perimeter with Fortinet Security. I’m biased here because I directly witness it in the wild. This is their next-gen firewalls and malware protection combo—block, detect, mitigate threats with little fuss.
• Adopt Zero Trust: Trust no one, inside or outside your network, automatically. So we upgraded three banks this way, recently. No more trusted insiders who become gateways for ransomware.
• User training. This is non-negotiable. Your people are your first line of defense. Show them how to recognize phishing, strange URLs, suspicious attachments. I’ve watched entire outbreaks of ransomware triggered by one careless click.
• Backup like a paranoid sysadmin. And I say that with love. Get your back-ups offline or immutable always. Test restore procedures. Because if ransomware strikes, your best friend is a good backup, not the ransom money.
• Put granular access controls in place. Fewer people who can gain access to critical systems means less opportunity for ransomware to spread. This ties in with zero trust, but we’re giving it its own bullet.

Just remember, occasionally it’s the fundamentals that save you. Ponder one example, namely, password policies. Ugh. I’ve said many times that most corporate password policies are frustrating to endure and provide little value when it comes to security. But the absolute number one: use multi-factor authentication. It’s 2024, folks.

Anti-Ransomware Solutions by PJ Networks

So yes, I run my own company — it’s not something I took lightly. Ransomware has emerged to be the threat vector for businesses, particularly in finance, healthcare, and manufacturing. Our secret sauce here at PJ Networks? Utilization of Fortinet ransomware protection tools and customized architecture plans.

What sets us apart:

• Movement of Fortinet’s traffic segmentation and advanced malware protection solutions to block and contain malware before the ransomware has a chance to execute. Not just reactive scanning.
• Layered defense and integration with existing network infrastructure — servers, routers, firewalls — specific to your business.
• Sharing of real-time threat intelligence that ensures you are one step ahead of emerging strains of ransomware before they arrive at your doorstep.
• Real zero trust transformations; without zero trust, ransomware defense is as useless as trying to fix a flat tire with duct tape.

We have witnessed firsthand how these solutions can save our clients from disasters. One bank? Our deployment alone blocked mid-strike malware detections and resulted in an 80% drop-off in their ransomware attempts.

But enough bragging—I’m proud of our work, of course. But cyber security is a marathon, not a sprint. We continue to adapt and enhance because attackers do.

Quick Take

For anyone skimming (no judgment—I’m all about efficiency):

• Ransomware is malware that holds you hostage of your own data.
• Malware protection is your first line of defense. Don’t skip it.
• Religious patching of your systems; enforce multi-factor authentication.
• Zero Trust isn’t simply a buzzword — it’s mission-critical.
• Fire Fortinet Security, (trust me, I deploy it multiple times, it works perfectly).
• Two examples, but train your staff and always maintain offline backups.

Conclusion

Here is the bottom line: Your company isn’t immune from ransomware attacks — and they aren’t just something that happens to other people. It’s a vicious, ever-shifting threat that can shipwreck even savvy organizations. Considering I’ve been in the trenches predating Slammer and learned hard lessons, I’ll say it: prevention is always better than cure.

And yes, the tools matter. But it’s your mindset, your architecture and your commitment to continuous protection that will end up making the difference for your ransomware defense.

Sure, I’m burnt out on the hype—AI this, machine learning that—but no matter what shiny label sells hottest, you still need strong, reliable tactics: patching, anti-malware, zero trust, back-ups. That’s as good a recipe as any for surviving this cyber jungle.

At PJ Networks, we’re all about teaching you how to prepare those ingredients, mixing the old with the new. Because I’ve been around long enough to understand this:

Cybersecurity is not an endpoint. It’s a journey.

And on this journey, you want the right guides, the right tools and a whole bunch of coffee — preferably all at once.

Stay safe out there,
Sanjay Seth
PJ Networks Pvt Ltd
Cybersecurity Consultant (for as long as I can remember)