SentinelOne offers customers a $1 million ransomware guarantee
Ransomware is one of the biggest threats that companies face and it can have severe consequences if important files are corrupted or lost.
Endpoint security specialist SentinelOne is underlining its confidence in its product by launching a threat protection guarantee to provide customers with financial protection in the event of ransomware attacks on their networks.
New solution tackles ransomware at source
Ransomware is one of the biggest cyber threats businesses and individuals face and tackling it requires a customized approach.
Israel-based illusive networks is launching a new Advanced Ransomware Guard product that uses deception techniques to spot threats across the entire network, endpoints and servers and neutralize ransomware activity at the source hosts.
Average ransomware demand doubles in six months
Remember that recent article I wrote about how people value their online data much more than what extortionists are asking for when they hit them with ransomware?
Well, extortionists seem to have caught on. Newest research paper from Symantec tells us that the average ransom demand is now £525, up from £223 at the end of last year.
Everything you need to know about ransomware
Ransomware is one of the most feared security threats today and it is fast becoming one of the most profitable areas of cybercrime for attackers. It allows criminals to monetize their cybercrime efforts quicker than previous tactics allowed. Historically, they would have to steal their target’s data, and then find an avenue to resell that data to make it profitable. With ransomware, criminals are simply stealing a person’s data and selling it back to them for a price.
The victim already owned the data so they will definitely want it back. This therefore means the cybercriminal does not have a hard sell ahead of him. In addition to this, with the rise of anonymous currency, such as Bitcoin, there is even less of a chance of cybercriminals getting caught. Attackers can make hundreds to thousands of dollars per infection and get paid immediately, instead of going through other risky steps to make a profit.
Stampedo ransomware available for just $39
A new variant of ransomware has been found for sale on the dark web for an incredibly low price that allows its victims 96 hours to pay a fee.
This new piece of ransomware is called Stampedo and it is available for only $39 which includes a lifetime license. Once it has infected a user’s system, a fee must be paid within the allotted time in order to regain access. If a user fails to pay the fee, Stampedo begins to delete random files on their computer within six hour intervals.
Ransomware victims pay less than they expect
If you’re a cyber-criminal looking to enter the ransomware game, but not sure how much money you should demand for the unlocking of a victim’s files, don’t worry. Kaspersky Lab has done the research for you.
The security firm, together with B2B International, says people value their smartphone data, on average, at $682. In 39 percent of cases, the figure exceeds $1,000. On the other hand, cyber-criminals which have managed to lock a victim’s device through ransomware, usually demand $300.
CryptoDrop can stop ransomware early on in the encryption phase
New software, designed by scientists at the University of Florida (UF), just might be the answer to thwarting the ever-growing problem of ransomware.
Ransomware is a form of malware used by cybercriminals to exploit users into paying significant sums of money to retrieve their own files. When an infection happens, the files on a user’s system are encrypted by the virus and the only way to regain access to those files is by paying a ransom to the hackers behind the attack.
AVG announces 6 new tools to free your data from ransomware
Ransomware has gone mainstream with several high-profile attacks. It essentially locks your data away and demands money to free it – essentially mob protection money. While some tools have been released to aid frantic people in these times, most versions have gone unfixed.
Now AVG, the free antivirus company, has come out with six new tools designed to fight this affliction. Each is for a different form of this malware.
New version of CryptXXX ransomware is harder to decrypt
Researchers at endpoint protection specialist SentinelOne have uncovered a new variant of the CryptXXX ransomware family which is being spread via spam and possibly other means.
The latest version fixes previous flaws in its file encryption methods which prevents use of free decryption tools and makes it impossible to decrypt files without paying the ransom.
New ransomware targets Office 365 users
A new zero-day malware has been discovered in Australia that affects all of Microsoft’s Office 365 products including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.
The malware was discovered by the cyber security company Check Point and comes in the form of an invoice sent by email. The attack is designed to catch unsuspecting victims according to security analyst Raymond Schippers who said: "The email sent to Office 365 users via Outlook gives the appearance of an invoice in the form of an Office document. When they go to open it, a message will appear telling people the document was created with a previous version of the software, so they will need to click something to enable the content".
Crypto-ransomware attacks increase five fold
Ransomware has become a big problem in recent years, particularly crypto-ransomware, which encrypts data on users' systems. New research by Kaspersky Lab looking at how it’s evolved over the last two years points to just how big.
Among the findings are that the number of users attacked with crypto-ransomware rose 5.5 times, from 131,111 in 2014-2015 to 718,536 in 2015-2016. The total number of users encountering any type of ransomware between April 2015 and March 2016 also increased by 17.7 percent compared to the period April 2014 to March 2015.
SMBs lack the resources to combat ransomware
Owners of small and medium businesses in the US recognize the potential of ransoware to disrupt their operations, but 84 percent say they wouldn't pay cyber criminals in the event of an attack.
Yet the survey by data security company IDT911 also shows that company assets and business operations are left highly vulnerable as nearly 75 percent don't have cyber insurance, or are unsure if their policy includes cyber protection.
Ransomware now targets your smart TV
While the ransomware threat is growing at an alarming rate, many consumers remain oblivious to the dangers posed by this form of malware. It is no wonder that infections are at a record level. And things will only get worse as ransomware creators target new types of devices.
Security researchers at Trend Micro have discovered a new ransomware, referred to as FLocker, that targets Android-powered smart TVs. When activated, it locks the device and asks the user to pay "a fine" to enable full functionality again. Interestingly enough, it takes the ransom in iTunes gift cards, not Bitcoin or another cryptocurrency.
New application uses behavioral analytics to fight ransomware
Ransomware is one of the most important security threats for business to deal with as it has the potential to cause serious damage and financial loss.
User behavior specialist Exabeam is launching its Analytics for Ransomware, a new application designed for early detection across the corporate network. Unlike other security products, Exabeam can detect ransomware movement and activity in the network, servers, workstations, BYOD devices, and cloud services.
Ransomware emails see incredible jump in Q1 2016
PhishMe, a security company providing anti-phishing solutions, has released a new report, analyzing the state of phishing attacks worldwide, and the numbers are staggering, though expected.
The first quarter of 2016, compared to the last quarter of 2015, has seen an incredible 789 percent jump in the number of phishing emails containing malicious code, mostly ransomware.
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