WPS Releases Guidelines for Protecting Files from WannaCry Ransomware

WPS Office Software, an office productivity suite for PC and mobile devices, is providing guidance on data protection and recovery relating to the h current WannaCry Ransomware threat.

While the recent WannaCry ransomware is being addressed by authorities, the threat is not over and experts warn of additional attacks globally.

The software development experts at WPS Office note there are steps that can be taken to prevent ransomware attacks. Additionally, WPS Office customers have the additional safeguard of remedies to retrieve encrypted files if an attack has already occurred.

According to reports, more than 200,000 victims in 150 countries have already been impacted by the WannaCry ransomware virus, with many individuals and organizations seeking expert opinions to determine if they are a potential victim of these threats. The WannaCry ransomware virus uses a flaw in Microsoft’s operating system that was discovered by the U.S. National Security Agency and leaked by individuals, spreading the virus rapidly across local and wide area networks around the world.

Ransomware is in the early stages and will continue to have a severe impact on individuals and businesses, said Cole Armstrong, senior director, marketing, for WPS Office, noting that the WPS development team is working to prevent the potential damage of these threats by providing fast recovery of data that has fallen subject to WannaCry or threat. WannaCry affects computers running the Windows operating system, but many systems have been untouched by the virus through simple IT housekeeping, the company says.

The guidance for WPS Office users on the Microsoft operating system includes the following:

• Ensure that the Windows Update is run regularly to install the latest operating system patches and fixes on servers, desktops, and laptops.
• Confirm that the computing device has anti-virus software installed and is checked to make sure the anti-virus software is up to date.
• Set anti-virus software to scan automatically in order to identify and protect against possible threats 24/7, making it more difficult for these viruses to succeed.
• Back-up all critical folders and files to a remote location or device so that in the event data is being held for ransom, a second recent copy is available for use.
• All computer users should inspect links sent through email before clicking on them and avoid downloading any unknown software as a best practice.

According to WPS, WPS Office users who have been impacted by ransomware have options available to them that can be used to retrieve files lost to criminal encryption. Once attacked, customers storing their office files in WPS Cloud may log into their account and download the imprisoned files to either the affected computer or any other computing device available.

WPS Office users with files stored only on their PC have the ability to use the WPS DataRecovery Master tool. This new tool is for those files stored on a local device (desktop or laptop). Originally developed by WPS Office to recover accidentally deleted data, the WPS DataRecovery Master tool has been optimized and can now be used to recover any office file on the user’s device. This includes Writer, Presentation, or Spreadsheet files that have simply disappeared as a result of ransomware encryption.

More information can be found at http://www.wps.com.