Ransomware still the #1 cyber threat
A new report from Check Point Research shows that ransomware remains the top cyber threat, with RansomHub emerging as the fastest-growing group, operating through Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS).
As of September 2024, RansomHub accounted for 19 percent of all ransomware victims published in shame sites, marking a shift in the cybercriminal landscape. Meanwhile, Lockbit, once dominant, has seen a significant decline, responsible for only five percent of new victims, many of which are recycled from previous attacks.
Ransomware still a major threat despite disruption to RaaS groups
Ransomware remains a formidable threat facing organizations, with 49 active groups impacting more than 1,000 publicly posted victims in the third quarter 2024, according to a new report.
The report from GuidePoint Security's Research and Intelligence Team (GRIT) shows threat actors are increasingly leveraging legitimate services and platforms to deliver targeted phishing messages. While the abuse of trusted notification services is not a new approach to delivering malware, the research team has recently observed novel -- and progressively sophisticated -- delivery techniques.
Severity of ransomware attacks increases by 68 percent
A new report from insurance provider Coalition finds that that ransomware claims severity spiked by 68 percent in the first half of 2024 to an average loss of $353,000.
While high ransomware demands have come back into vogue, funds transfer fraud (FTF) has also seen a notable decrease in both frequency (two percent) and severity (15 percent).
Defending healthcare systems against ransomware attacks [Q&A]
Ransomware attacks target industries across the board, but they're of particular concern in the healthcare sector where an attack can mean not only data is at risk but lives too.
We spoke with Amitabh Sinha, chief strategy officer and co-founder of Workspot, to discuss the productivity and patient care aspects of these attacks as well as how modern ransomware recovery strategies can help to ensure mission-critical operations can continue, even during an attack.
Data resilience and protection in the ransomware age
Data is the currency of every business today, but it is under significant threat. As companies rapidly collect and store data, it is driving a need to adopt multi-cloud solutions to store and protect it. At the same time, ransomware attacks are increasing in frequency and sophistication. This is supported by Rapid7’s Ransomware Radar Report 2024 which states, “The first half of 2024 has witnessed a substantial evolution in the ransomware ecosystem, underscoring significant shifts in attack methodologies, victimology, and cybercriminal tactics.”
Against this backdrop, companies must have a data resilience plan in place which incorporates four key facets: data backup, data recovery, data freedom and data security.
84 percent of enterprises suffered security incidents in the last year
According to a new survey, 84 percent of organizations in the enterprise sector spotted a cyberattack within the last 12 months, compared to only 65 percent in 2023.
The study from Netwrix shows the most common security incidents are phishing, user or admin account compromise, and ransomware or other malware attack.
75 percent of organizations affected more than once by ransomware
A new report from SpyCloud finds that Ransomware is seen as the biggest cybersecurity threat across every industry, with 75 percent of organizations affected by ransomware more than once in the past 12 months -- a jump from 61 percent in 2023.
Based on a survey of 510 individuals in active cybersecurity roles within organizations in the US and the UK with at least 500 employees, the report shows some industries are more at risk than others, with insurance firms 6.3x more likely to experience a ransomware attack and healthcare 2.1x more likely.
Ransomware poses a threat to education
As we begin a new school year, a survey of 250 IT leaders from educational institutions in the US and UK highlights the potential damage from cyberattacks on schools.
The study from Action1 shows 20 percent of respondents believe that the current level of support from their school board is insufficient, with a high risk of significant impact on education quality due to ransomware.
Number of active ransomware groups increases over 50 percent
A new report from dark web intelligence specialist Searchlight Cyber shows a 56 percent increase in the number of active ransomware groups this year compared to the first half of 2023, reflecting a diversification of the ransomware landscape.
LockBit has retained its top position despite the disruption caused by Operation Cronos, though its number of listed victims has fallen compared to H1 2023.
Vulnerabilities surge by 43 percent over 2023
Published vulnerabilities have increased by 43 percent compared to H1 2023, with 23,668 vulnerabilities reported in H1 2024 according to a new report from Forescout.
The average number of new CVEs per day is 111 or 3,381 per month, and 20 percent of exploited vulnerabilities affected VPN and network infrastructure.
Vulnerabilities rise in first half of 2024
So far this year, vulnerabilities have risen by 11 percent and the availability of publicly known exploits has increased by six percent.
The latest Cyber Threat Intelligence Index from Flashpoint reveals 17,518 newly disclosed vulnerabilities in the first half of the year. Also, over 45 percent of all vulnerabilities disclosed in H1 2024 are rated high to critical in CVSSv3.
Ransomware productivity shows signs of leveling off
According to a new report, ransomware productivity has shown signs of leveling off in 2024, however, the frequency of attacks and ransom payments collected remains higher in the first half of 2024 compared to the same periods in 2022 and 2023.
The report from WithSecure suggests law enforcement actions, notably the take down of the Lockbit ransomware group in February 2024, have played a critical role in disrupting major ransomware operations.
Ransomware attacks rise over 60 percent
In the last year, the US has experienced a dramatic 63 percent increase in ransomware attacks, with the UK seeing an even greater rise of 67 percent.
The latest State of Ransomware report from Malwarebytes shows the share of attacks carried out by gangs outside the top 15 increased from 25 percent to 31 percent, indicating that ransomware is becoming more accessible to a broader range of cybercriminals.
Tracing the destructive path of ransomware's evolution
The year is 1989. “Rain Man” wins the Academy Award for Best Picture. Motorola releases the world’s smallest and lightest phone. The Berlin Wall falls. Taylor Swift is born. It also begins the dawn of a new era of cyber extortion.
The AIDS Trojan arrived innocuously, distributed via floppy disk to public health professionals. But it harbored a nasty surprise. After the 90th PC reboot, it cryptographically locked victims’ hard drives, demanding a $189 payment to unlock files. While this attack was thwarted easily, it changed the game. Over the next 30 years, ransomware proliferated from curiosity to a catastrophic threat fueled by an unrelenting arms race between extortionists and security teams.
Ransomware groups develop more sophisticated business models
Ransomware groups continue to refine their craft, building and scaling business models that resemble legitimate corporate enterprises according to a new report.
The latest Ransomware Radar Report from Rapid7 finds smaller organizations are becoming a more frequent target too. Companies with annual revenues around $5 million are falling victim to ransomware twice as often as those in the $30-50 million range and five times more frequently than those with a $100 million revenue.
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