India is the ninth-most impacted region by ransomware, while countries such as the US, Japan, the UK, Italy and Germany top the charts, according to a study by Symantec.
Crypto ransomware and locker ransomware both have 3 per cent each detections in India, the study – ‘The evolution of ransomware’ - added.
Ransomware is a malware that blocks users from accessing their systems, and forces victims to pay the ransom through online payment methods. Certain ransomware encrypts files (crypto locker).
In the Asia-Pacific region, India ranked third for ransomware attacks with more than 60,000 attacks received per year or about 7 attacks per hour. Of which a staggering 86 per cent was crypto ransomware, it said, quoting an earlier study conducted in April.
According to Symantec, ransomware is likely to leap from mobile phones to wearable devices such as smartwatches. It also adds ransomware attackers could have wearables and other connected devices in their crosshairs.
Symantec advises users infected with locker ransomware not to pay as even after the payment, the ransomware may not unlock the user’s computer. Further, most locker ransomware can be removed from computers using free tools such as Norton Power Eraser or SymHelp.