How does ransomware encrypt files?

Ransomware.  The very word strikes fear in the hearts and minds of CEOs, CSOs and IT security managers alike. So much trepidation over the word is caused by the fact that it is usually mentioned after an attack has struck. The majority of the time, companies do not even consider protecting their systems from a ransomware attack until it is too late. A reactive approach to ransomware has time and again shown to be a case of “too little, too late”. However, no one seems to have learned, and mistakes on how to prevent or handle them are still being made. There are those within the IT security community that believe that one of the reasons why ransomware has become so prevalent is due to the lack of general knowledge regarding their method of transmission and activity. Sure, people sort of know that such  attack is usually characterized by a....