New Ransomware Gang Targeting Businesses: What Families Should Know

A new ransomware gang has emerged with the name The Gentlemen. Despite the polite-sounding name, this is a serious cybercriminal operation that attacks businesses and organizations. Like other ransomware groups, they break into computer systems, lock up important files, and demand payment to restore access. These attacks can cripple businesses, schools, hospitals, and other institutions that families depend on every day. This ransomware operation targets organizations rather than individual home computers. However, you could still be affected if The Gentlemen attack a business or service you rely on. If your employer, your child's school, your local hospital, or any company that holds your personal information gets hit, you might face service disruptions.

Your personal data could potentially be stolen and leaked. You might not be able to access online accounts or services temporarily while the organization recovers. For most families, there is no immediate action to take right now unless you receive a notification from an organization you interact with. If you do get notified about a ransomware attack affecting a business or service you use, here is what to do:

1. Read the notification carefully and follow any specific instructions provided.
2. Change your password for that service immediately, and change it on any other accounts where you used the same password.
3. Watch your bank and credit card statements closely for several months for unauthorized charges.
4. Consider placing a fraud alert on your credit reports if sensitive personal information was compromised.
5. Be alert for phishing emails or phone calls from scammers pretending to be from the affected organization. The best defense is preparation. Create strong, unique passwords for every account and use a password manager to keep track of them. Turn on two-factor authentication everywhere you can, especially for email, banking, and shopping accounts. Back up your important files, photos, and documents regularly to an external hard drive or cloud service. Keep your computer, phone, and apps updated with the latest security patches. By taking these steps, you will be better protected no matter what new threats emerge.