Imagine this…
It’s Monday morning, and you’re ready to start your work week. You log in, expecting to check emails and get down to business. Instead, you’re met with a message:
“Your files have been encrypted. Pay $50,000 in Bitcoin within 72 hours, or they will be permanently deleted.”
Your entire business is at a standstill. What do you do next?
Unfortunately, this isn’t a far-fetched scenario—it’s happening to businesses in Rochester, NY and beyond at an alarming rate. Ransomware attacks are getting more sophisticated and can cost businesses hundreds of thousands of dollars in ransom payments, downtime, and recovery efforts.
What Is Ransomware?
Ransomware is a type of malware designed to lock you out of your own systems by encrypting your files. Hackers then demand a ransom in exchange for the decryption key.
In many cases, cybercriminals go a step further by stealing your data and threatening to release it publicly if you don’t pay up—a tactic known as double extortion.
Most attacks don’t happen overnight. Hackers often lurk in a company’s network for weeks or even months, stealing credentials, mapping out critical files, and waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
And when they do?
The average ransom demand is now over $479,000, which doesn’t even include recovery costs.
Ransomware & Cybersecurity Attacks in Rochester, NY
Attacks are happening across the world, impacting schools, healthcare providers, local governments, and businesses of all sizes. Some make the headlines, but many don’t.
Here are a few real-world attacks that have affected Rochester-area organizations recently:
- University of Rochester (May 2023): A ransomware attack compromised the personal data of 88,050 individuals due to a vulnerability in third-party software. Affected individuals were offered identity protection services. (Source: Rochester Beacon)
- Change Healthcare (February 2024): A ransomware attack by the BlackCat group disrupted hospitals and pharmacies, including in Rochester, affecting billing and prior authorization requests. (Source: Rochester First)
- CDK Global (June 2024): A ransomware attack shut down auto dealerships nationwide, including in Rochester. Dealers lost access to critical sales and service systems, forcing them to revert to pen and paper. (Source: Rochester First)
- Rochester City School District (December 2024): A breach of the PowerSchool system exposed personal information of 134,000 students, including medical records. (Source: 13WHAM)
- Town of Webster (November 2024): A sophisticated phishing scam led to a $520,000 financial loss, with attackers impersonating a trusted contractor. (Source: Spectrum News)
- E-ZPass Scam (February 2025): A widespread text message scam targeted Rochester residents with fake toll payment alerts, attempting to steal personal information. (Source: WHEC)
- ESL Federal Credit Union (December 2024): Members reported phishing attempts via fake calls and texts requesting sensitive account details. (Source: Democrat & Chronicle)
How Ransomware Attacks Happen
Hackers often spend weeks—or even months—inside a network before launching their attack. They silently collect data, steal credentials, and identify high-value files before encrypting them and demanding a ransom.
Once an attack is in motion, businesses have limited options, and the consequences can be severe.
Step 1: The Silent Break-In
Hackers get into your network through:
✅ Weak passwords or compromised credentials.
✅ Phishing emails with malicious attachments or links.
✅ Outdated or unpatched software.
✅ Vulnerabilities in third-party tools or vendors.
✅ Social engineering tactics.
They quietly steal data, map out critical systems, and wait for the perfect moment to strike.
Step 2: The Lockdown Begins
Once the attackers execute the ransomware, your business is frozen:
❌ Files are encrypted, locking you out of critical data.
❌ A ransom note demands payment in cryptocurrency.
❌ Operations grind to a halt, costing you money every minute.
Step 3: The Ransom Demand & Tough Decisions
At this point, businesses face a dilemma: pay the ransom or risk losing everything. Don’t think it’s as easy as writing a one-time check. Paying the ransom fuels the cybercrime industry.
As long as victims keep paying the ransom, cyber criminals are kept in business. We have been moving in the right direction as more companies are declining to pay attackers. It’s important to keep in mind that:
- Paying the ransom doesn’t guarantee you’ll get your data back.
- Hackers might demand more money after the first payment or attack again.
- Even if files are restored, your business is already disrupted and may face compliance issues.
How to Respond to a Ransomware Attack
If your business falls victim to ransomware, time is critical. Every minute that passes gives the attackers more control while your operations remain frozen. A well-structured response can help contain the damage, reduce downtime, and prevent future incidents.
Contain the Infection
To stop the ransomware from spreading, disconnect infected devices from networks, Wi-Fi, and external storage. Avoid shutting everything down immediately, as forensic investigations may require system memory analysis.
Identify and Assess the Impact
Identify which systems and files have been encrypted and check the integrity of your backups. Many ransomware variants target backups, so they should be verified before restoration. If a ransom note appears, do not engage with the attackers—paying doesn’t guarantee recovery.
Report the Attack
Ransomware is a criminal act, and reporting the attack is not only advisable but may be legally required depending on the nature of the data breach.
- Contact your IT or cybersecurity provider: If you work with an IT or managed security services provider, notify them immediately. They can help assess the situation, contain the threat, and begin the recovery process.
- Contact law enforcement: Report the attack to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3.gov) or your local FBI field office.
- Consult legal counsel: If customer or employee data has been compromised, you may need to comply with state or federal data breach notification laws. A lawyer can help you navigate NY SHIELD Act requirements, potential liability issues, and regulatory compliance (such as HIPAA or GDPR). They can also advise on contractual obligations if third-party data is involved.
- Inform your cyber insurance provider: If you have cyber liability insurance, reporting the incident promptly is crucial to ensuring coverage for recovery efforts.
Stop the Spread and Investigate the Attack
Understanding how the attack happened is key to preventing future incidents. IT professionals should review logs, identify vulnerabilities, and reset compromised credentials. Since ransomware groups often leave behind additional malware, a thorough security audit is essential.
Restore Systems and Data
If secure backups are available, data recovery can begin, but it must be handled carefully.
- Only restore data to newly wiped or rebuilt systems. Ransomware often lingers, and simply restoring files without cleaning the infected system can result in a reinfection.
- Verify the integrity of backups before deploying them. Some businesses don’t discover their backups were compromised until they try to restore them.
- Implement additional security measures before reconnecting systems to the network to prevent another attack.
What Can You Do to Protect Your Business from Ransomware?
Instead of wondering what to do during a ransomware attack, the best thing you can do for your business is focusing on preventing one in the first place.
- Employee Training
Phishing emails remain the #1 entry point for ransomware. Train employees to recognize suspicious emails, attachments, and links.
- Backups (Stored Offline)
Hackers actively seek out online backups to encrypt them too. Maintain offline, encrypted backups that can’t be accessed remotely.
- Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
MFA makes it much harder for hackers to use stolen passwords. Enable it on all accounts, especially admin logins.
- Advanced Security Tools
Invest in firewalls, endpoint protection, and 24/7 network monitoring to detect threats before they escalate.
- Incident Response Plan
Have a written and regularly tested response plan. If ransomware strikes, your team should immediately know what to do.
- Zero Trust Security & Least Privilege Access
Adopt a Zero Trust approach—assume every device and login could be compromised. Employees should have only the access they need, limiting potential damage if an account is breached.
Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late
Ransomware attacks are crippling businesses every day, but with the right protections in place, you can stay ahead of the threats. Even if you end up on the wrong side of an attack, having the right recovery plan and cybersecurity support can make all the difference.
Many companies assume they won’t be a target—until it happens to them. Ignoring the threat won’t make it disappear, but that doesn’t mean you have to live in fear. Instead of worrying about what would happen if you lost access to critical data, focus on strengthening your defenses so an attack doesn’t bring your business to a standstill.
Ransomware Protection & Data Recovery in Rochester Ny
The best approach is prevention. A strong cybersecurity strategy, secure backups, and an incident response plan can stop ransomware before it ever becomes a problem. Cyber threats aren’t new, but many businesses are just waking up to the consequences as attacks become more frequent and sophisticated.
At Just Solutions, cybersecurity has always been a priority. Our team has industry certifications and years of experience helping businesses protect their data and minimize risk. Your business data is too valuable to leave unprotected.
Let’s make sure you’re ready. Schedule a ransomware risk assessment with Just Solutions today.