Ransomware Hit Your New Jersey Business? Don't Pay.
Your files are encrypted. There's a ransom note on every desktop. Your team is panicking. Take a breath — there's a path forward that doesn't involve paying criminals.
Right Now
What to Do If You've Been Hit by Ransomware
These four steps should happen in the first 15 minutes. The order matters.
Disconnect the infected machine from the network
Pull the Ethernet cable. Turn off Wi-Fi. Don't shut the machine down — just isolate it. Ransomware spreads laterally, and every second it's connected it can encrypt more machines.
Do NOT pay the ransom
Paying doesn't guarantee you'll get your files back. It funds the next attack. It marks you as a willing payer. And in some cases, it may violate federal sanctions. There are better options.
Document everything you see
Take photos of ransom notes, file extensions, error messages. Note what time people first noticed the issue. This information is critical for response and potential law enforcement reporting.
Call your IT provider immediately
If you have a managed IT provider, call them now. If you don't — or they're not responding — call SeedTech at (914) 362-8889. We handle ransomware emergencies for non-clients.
Recovery
How SeedTech Handles Ransomware Recovery
Containment → Assessment → Recovery → Hardening. We follow a structured process to get you back online without paying.
Containment
Isolate affected machines, identify the ransomware variant, and determine the blast radius. Which systems are encrypted? Which are clean? Are backups intact?
Backup assessment
Check backup integrity. If you have monitored, cloud-based backups (like those in SeedCare plans), we can identify the last clean restore point and begin recovery.
Clean recovery
Wipe infected machines, restore from clean backup, verify file integrity, and bring systems back online in a controlled sequence. No ransom payment necessary.
Hardening
After recovery, we close the vector that allowed the attack — whether it was a phishing email, unpatched vulnerability, or compromised credential. Then we deploy SentinelOne and proper monitoring.
Should You Pay the Ransom?
No. Here's why:
- No guarantee of recovery. Some groups take payment and never deliver decryption keys. Others deliver keys that only partially work.
- You become a repeat target. Paying marks your business as willing to pay. Many victims are attacked again within 12 months.
- It may be illegal. OFAC sanctions prohibit payments to certain threat actors. You could face legal penalties for paying.
- It funds the next attack. Ransom payments directly fund criminal infrastructure and future attacks on other businesses.
The real answer is clean backups. If your data is backed up, monitored, and recoverable — you don't need to negotiate with criminals.
Prevention
How to Prevent Ransomware Attacks
The best ransomware response is making sure it never executes. Here's what SeedCare clients have in place.
SentinelOne endpoint security
AI-powered endpoint detection and response (EDR) that catches ransomware before it executes. Not signature-based antivirus — behavioral detection that stops zero-day attacks.
MFA on everything
Multi-factor authentication on email, VPN, admin accounts, and cloud services. Most ransomware attacks start with a compromised password. MFA stops that chain.
Email filtering & anti-phishing
Advanced email filtering catches malicious attachments and links before they reach inboxes. Combined with security awareness, this blocks the most common ransomware delivery method.
24/7 monitoring
Real-time monitoring through NinjaOne catches suspicious activity — unusual file modifications, unexpected encryption processes, lateral movement — and alerts us immediately.
Isolated cloud backups
Cloud backups are air-gapped from your production environment. Ransomware can't encrypt what it can't reach. We monitor backup health daily to ensure recovery is always possible.
Patch management
Automated patching closes the vulnerabilities that ransomware exploits. Unpatched systems are the second most common entry point after phishing.
Ransomware Response Across New Jersey
SeedTech responds to ransomware incidents across New Jersey. Remote response begins immediately. On-site support available for critical situations throughout northern and central NJ.
Ransomware — Frequently Asked Questions
Should I pay the ransom?
No. Paying doesn't guarantee recovery — some groups take payment and never provide decryption keys. It funds criminal operations and can violate OFAC sanctions. If you have clean backups, recovery is possible without paying. If you don't, contact us immediately to assess options.
Can you recover our files without paying?
In most cases, yes — if you have monitored backups. SeedCare plans include cloud backup that's isolated from your production environment, so ransomware can't encrypt it. We restore from the last clean backup point. Without backups, options are more limited but we can still assess the situation.
How did we get infected?
The most common vectors are phishing emails (a malicious attachment or link), compromised credentials (weak or reused passwords without MFA), and unpatched vulnerabilities. We determine the specific vector during response so we can close it.
Do we need to report this to law enforcement?
It depends on your industry and the data involved. Healthcare organizations (HIPAA), financial services, and businesses that handle personal data may have mandatory reporting requirements. We can advise on reporting obligations during the response.
How long does recovery take?
A single machine can often be restored in hours. A full environment recovery depends on the scope — number of machines, data volume, and whether infrastructure needs rebuilding. We define recovery timelines during the containment phase.
How do we prevent this from happening again?
SentinelOne endpoint security, MFA on all accounts, email filtering, automated patching, and monitored backups. All of this is included in SeedCare plans. The goal is to make ransomware unable to execute, and if it somehow does, to recover without paying.
Ransomware Emergency? Call Now.
Don't pay the ransom. Don't restart the server. Call SeedTech — we'll help you contain the attack and begin recovery.