It seems like the headlines just keep coming about businesses of all sizes getting hit by ransomware. And with each instance, it becomes painfully clear that it’s not a question of if your business will get attacked, but when. We don’t need to tell you that ransomware is serious business that could end up costing your company precious data and up to millions of dollars.
But while the headlines are scary and disheartening—they’re also empowering. Knowing about the threats that threaten your business can help you understand and take steps to protect your data. That’s why today, we’re taking a deep dive into all things ransomware so you can understand what it is and how to protect your company against it. Read on for everything you need to know about ransomware, including preventive measures, best practices, and remedial solutions.
What is Ransomware?
Ransomware is malicious software designed to disrupt data or systems operations and hold them for ransom. It is used by cybercriminals to encrypt the files and databases of vulnerable organizations, locking these resources until a ransom payment is received. The criminals threaten to publish or delete the data permanently if the requested ransom isn’t paid. Even if the ransom is paid, there are no guarantees that the affected organization will regain access to their files and their data will remain secure.
Ransomware can take many forms. One example is a type of malicious code known as CryptoLocker, which attackers use to scramble important files on an organization’s computer systems and demand a large ransom payment – usually in Bitcoin – in exchange for unlocking it. Other common forms of ransomware include Trojans, phishing campaigns, and malicious email attachments that are used to spread malware.
The argument can be made that ransomware attacks are enabled by a lack of security safeguards, such as unencrypted data stored on corporate networks or employees failing to update anti-virus software on their computers. Ransomware operators have become increasingly sophisticated in their tactics, utilizing social engineering tactics, ransomware-as-a-service tools, and encryption algorithms that make it very difficult for organizations to recover their data even after paying the ransom.
- According to a 2018 report by Kaspersky Lab, an estimated 200,000 machines were infected with ransomware every day.
- A study published in 2017 found that over 75% of organizations impacted by ransomware experienced data loss.
- According to a 2020 article by the FBI, ransomware attacks have cost U.S. businesses $7.5 billion in damages since 2016.
What are the Risks Associated with Ransomware?
The risks associated with ransomware are very real and should not be taken lightly. A hacker’s malicious attack can significantly disrupt your organization and your operations, leading to costly delays and repairs, and potentially exposing you to significant financial losses. Ransomware is also uniquely malicious because it encrypts files so they are inaccessible, making them unlikely to recover without paying the ransom. Businesses have experienced significant financial losses due to data breaches caused by ransomware—ranging from hundreds of thousands of dollars to millions in some cases. Ransomware attacks can result in a loss of customer trust, damage reputations, and lead to regulatory fines.
This form of attack puts companies at risk of privacy violations as hacker’s may exfiltrate sensitive data such as intellectual property or personally identifiable information (PII). Malicious actors who employ ransomware often employ other forms of malicious tactics such as phishing scams and malware. Organizations need to remain vigilant if they don’t want to become victims of these highly sophisticated attacks that can cause great damage in a short amount of time.
Taking the necessary steps towards protecting one’s self against ransomware means understanding all its possible risks and taking proactive measures to secure systems and devices. This means ensuring that employees are aware of the latest threats and educated on how to spot potential attacks. It also means having endpoint protection solutions in place that can detect malicious activity before it spreads throughout the network and causing damage. To minimize the risk posed by ransomware, organizations should take an integrated approach along with a preventative mindset when it comes to cybersecurity.
Data Loss and Security Breaches
Data loss and security breaches are two of the greatest risks associated with ransomware. Ransomware can be used to both lock users out of their data and to steal information, such as personal or financial data. If a business’s customer information is stored on their systems, ransomware could be used to access that information and sell it in the dark web or use it for malicious purposes. The resulting damage would be untold if this happened. Even if a business pays the ransom, there is no guarantee that the criminals will honor the agreement and not keep the data they have taken.
With data loss comes an irreparable toll on businesses. It may take days or even weeks for a company to recover from a successful ransomware attack, depending upon how much information was lost. Companies may incur significant financial losses due to lost revenue as operations are halted while attempting to deal with the ransomware attack. Complete shutdown of the business might result due to extensive data being lost or stolen from their systems.
When faced with a security breach triggered by ransomware, businesses may face lawsuits from customers or regulators if confidential customer data is leaked or compromised during the attack. The cost of defending against such lawsuits can jeopardize a small business and create new financial strains on companies that were already struggling from recovering from a ransomware attack.
Effect on Consumers and Businesses
Data loss and security breaches that occur due to ransomware attacks don’t just affect businesses – they can also have a devastating effect on consumers. When the highly-publicized 2017 WannaCry attack hit, it caused disruption at roughly 200,000 companies and organizations around the world, including banks and hospitals. Consumers were left without access to their financial records or medical services. Even after the machines were released from ransomware extortion demands, experts suggested that many system reinstallations would need to take place in order to ensure data security.
The effects of ransomware can be especially damaging in cases involving customer records or confidential client information. On top of the damage to brand reputation, businesses can face costly fines if personal information is breached and shared with third parties – leaving both business owners and their customers worse off than when the attack began. It is essential for business owners to have robust defenses in place to protect customer data from being compromised by cyber criminals.
These potential costs – both financial and relational – highlight why it is so important for businesses to protect themselves from ransomware attacks before an incident occurs. Business owners must prioritize ongoing cybersecurity measures and create plans for responding quickly and effectively should a breach happen. By taking the necessary steps, organizations can ensure that both their businesses and their customers remain safe from ransomware threats. Ongoing risks of ransomware must be thoroughly explored and accounted for to make sure all future incidents will be dealt with efficiently and effectively.
Ongoing Risks of Ransomware
Recognizing the insidious nature of ransomware, businesses must never assume they are completely safe from potential attacks. Despite preventive measures, organizations may still be hit with this malicious attack vector at any time. Ransomware criminals have become increasingly creative when targeting victims, using tactics such as email campaigns to spread their malicious software. Hackers rely on exploiting weaknesses in systems and networks to gain access and spread their ransomware attack.
There is a debate among cybersecurity experts over whether ransomware is a more serious threat than other types of cyber crime, including data breaches and phishing attacks. Proponents of the view that it is the most dangerous claim that it can cause more financial damage since it holds organizations’ data hostage until they pay a ransom fee. Opponents claim that these other types of cybercrime can also be damaging if organizations do not take the necessary security precautions against them.
Due to clever techniques such as encryption techniques used by attackers and the inability to detect suspicious activity before it happens, organizations remain vulnerable to ransomware threats regardless of their cyber security measures in place. Protecting against ransomware requires constant vigilance and oversight from IT teams to respond appropriately in the event of an attack.
To ensure that devices and networks remain secure and free from malicious content, businesses need to identify vulnerable points in their IT infrastructure and mitigate against them before they are exploited by malicious actors. Doing so will go a long way towards preventing infection with ransomware and safeguarding businesses from an immense financial burden due to data loss or distress caused by its effects.
Infected Devices and Network Vulnerability
The ongoing risks of ransomware become especially severe when the virus infects a device or part of a network. Data encryption can result in complete system lockdowns, leaving businesses vulnerable to extortion and other financial risks. Development of security-minded software and hardware is always an option; however, many organizations lack the resources to adequately manage and monitor these solutions.
Larger organizations do have the capacity to invest in protective systems—but this is not always the most effective solution. Investing in protective mechanisms can leave businesses with large bills that may be difficult to justify, given that no one can know how serious or frequent the threats will actually be. Upkeep of such systems requires constant coordination and oversight from IT experts, which can prove costly in both money and time.
Organizations therefore need to consider whether their investments are proportionate to their risk assessment. If a company finds that it has never been victim of ransomware attack before (and thus does not anticipate any future attacks), then investing in expensive ransomware security may be overkill—especially when cheaper options exist.
Strategies to Mitigate Risks
When dealing with ransomware, the best defense is a good offense – meaning that proactive strategies to mitigate risks are most effective in preventing and defending against ransomware attacks. The first step is understanding what makes up an organization’s risk factors when it comes to ransomware. This involves all the devices and network connections used by employees, customers, or vendors to access the company’s data or systems. All devices connected to the network should be protected through firewall security, authentication, encryption, etc. By pre-emptively installing protective measures for each device on a network, the risk of an infected device can be greatly reduced – as even if there is an infiltration, it will likely be neutralized before any real damage can occur.
The next measure is raising awareness among personnel about identifying and avoiding phishing scams and suspicious links that lead to malicious websites or downloads. Employees should understand the importance of never clicking suspecting links within emails and to not download anything from unverified sources. This will require both technical know-how as well as vigilance on the part of personnel when they are online. Companies should consider creating rules and regulations to make sure staff members are conscious of cyber threats when they are engaging in online activity that affects their work environment.
Organizations need to find solutions which balance cost effectiveness with strong enough security protocols to prevent dangerous cyber intrusions from happening in the first place. That’s why frequent backups for sensitive data should be considered a last line of defense against debilitating ransomware attacks — backing up your data doesn’t always protect you from suffering data loss due to the impact of other malicious attacks, but it means that if attacked with ransomware your business will still have access to its own data without having to pay ransom demands or suffer financially from lost production time due to the downtime associated with recovering lost data from any new attack.
Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
How is ransomware spread?
Ransomware is typically spread through malicious email attachments or links. Cyber criminals use social engineering tactics to make their emails look legitimate, in order to convince the recipient to open the malicious link or attachment. Other methods of spreading ransomware include exploiting vulnerable software and drive-by attacks. These involve taking advantage of weaknesses in certain websites to inject malicious code onto a user’s computer, without consent or knowledge. Exploiting outdated software can also provide an attacker with access to a system and install malicious software such as ransomware.
How do I know if I’ve been the victim of a ransomware attack?
If you think you may have been the victim of a ransomware attack, it is important to take action immediately. First, you should check any backups or shadow/seek copies to make sure that they are secure and current. You should also look for unusual activity on your machine, such as strange file extensions or processes running in the background. If your files appear encrypted with no way to access them, this indicates a more serious ransomware attack. Finally, if you receive a ransom message demanding payment (often via Bitcoin), this strongly suggests that you have been the victim of an attack. In short, if you notice any strange activity on your system and/or encounter ransom demands from an attacker, these are all strong indications that you have been the victim of a ransomware attack.
What measures can I take to protect my data from ransomware attacks?
There are several measures you can take to protect your data from ransomware attacks, such as:
1. Back up Your Data Regularly: It’s important to back up your data on a regular basis so you can quickly restore files should they become infected or encrypted by ransomware. Make sure to back up your data in a secure location that is not connected to the internet, such as an external hard drive or cloud storage system.
2. Keep Security Software Up To Date: Keeping your security software such as anti-virus and firewall programs up to date is essential to protecting against ransomware. These programs help prevent malicious software from entering your system in the first place.
3. Disable Remote Access: Make sure to disable any remote access features on your computer or device. This will help ensure that unauthorized users cannot gain access to your system remotely and attempt to install ransomware.
4. Practice Safe Email Habits: Do not open emails or download attachments from unknown senders, even if they appear legitimate. Accordingly, take extra precaution when clicking links embedded in email messages, as cyber criminals often use these links as a vehicle for delivering ransomware payloads.
5. Regularly Update Operating Systems and Applications: Ensure you are running the latest versions of operating systems and application software installed on your devices, as these newer versions usually contain critical security patches designed to prevent malicious attacks from occurring.
Taking all of these steps can greatly reduce the risk of a successful ransomware attack on your business, and help you keep your data secure and protected from malicious attackers.
