Articles about Ransomware

According to a new report, 90 percent of SMBs are extremely or somewhat concerned about a ransomware attack, yet 65 percent don't think or aren't sure that they're a ransomware target.

The latest Cybersecurity Global Ransomware Survey from OpenText show a similarity in how small-to-medium sized businesses (SMBs) and enterprises (more than 1,000 employees) think about ransomware attacks, including this disconnect about who is a target and growing concern about the use of AI by threat actors.

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OpenText Cybersecurity has released its sixth annual look at the threat landscape to reveal the most notorious malware trends.

This year four new ransomware gangs, believed to be a new generation of previous big players, top the list. Newcomer Cl0p takes the prize for this year's nastiest malware after commanding exorbitant ransom demands with its MOVEit campaign.

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A new report from GuidePoint Security's Research and Intelligence Team (GRIT) shows a total of 3,385 publicly posted ransomware victims in the first three quarters of this year, claimed by 57 different threat groups, representing an 83 percent year-on-year increase.

Attacks directed against US-based organizations decreased, but there has been a marked increase in attacks impacting other nations. Other countries consistently affected, like the UK, saw an approximate 41 percent increase in attacks in Q3.

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Imagine if you were attacked and you didn’t know the identity of the assailant. Not knowing who they were, what their motivations are, or their attack track record would leave you feeling helpless.

There is a disturbing new trend in ransomware attacks: anonymity. In the "halcyon" days of early attacks, the group attacking the victim would always say who they were. Now though, we are seeing a spike in attacks where the offending group is concealing their identity, and finding out who they are is a complicated process. If you’re lucky enough to have a wealth of dark web and other data to examine, threat actors are human, which means they usually make a mistake that reveals them.

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Ransomware is being deployed within one day of initial access in more than 50 percent of engagements, according to research from Secureworks Counter Threat Unit.

In the last 12 months the median dwell time identified in the annual Secureworks State of the Threat Report has fallen from 4.5 days to less than one day. In 10 percent of cases, ransomware was even deployed within five hours of initial access.

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According to a new survey from Censuswide for Veeam Software, UK business leaders rate ransomware as a more significant threat to their organization (43 percent) than the economic crisis (41 percent), skills shortages (34 percent), political uncertainty (31 percent), and Brexit (30 percent).

The survey 100 directors of UK companies with over 500 employees who had suffered a ransomware attack in the past 18 months finds 61 percent are anxious about the prospect of another attack.

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A new report from cyber insurance provider Coalition shows a 12 percent increase in cyber claims over the first six months of this year, driven by the notable spikes in ransomware and funds transfer fraud (FTF).

Companies with over $100 million in revenue saw the largest increase (20 percent) in the number of claims as well as more substantial losses from attacks -- with a 72 percent increase in claims severity from the second half of 2022.

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A new report from SpyCloud shows that while 79 percent of organizations say they are confident in their ransomware defenses, 81 percent were affected at least once in the past 12 months.

The study also shows that infostealer infections preceded 22 percent of ransomware events for North American and European ransomware victim companies in 2023. 76 percent of infections that preceded these ransomware events involved the Raccoon infostealer malware.

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New research shows that only 14 percent of businesses get back 100 percent of their data following a ransomware attack -- even if they agree to the ransom demand.

The study sponsored by Zerto and conducted by Enterprise Strategy Group also reveals that nearly 60 percent of organizations reported an impact to regulated data, such as personally identifiable information, in successful ransomware attacks.

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Between the rise of competition, the changing regulatory landscape, the evolution of AI and the rise of new threat actors, the role of the CTO can be a challenging one.

What characteristics are needed for the role and how can incumbents ensure that it remains relevant? We spoke to Ajay Keni, CTO at OneSpan, to find out.

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Of over 200 IT security decision makers surveyed, data theft is cited as the biggest concern by 55 percent, followed by phishing (35 percent) with ransomware taking third place on 29 percent.

The study from Integrity360 shows that in terms of actual incidents phishing is the most common (46 percent), with data theft second on 27 percent. Ransomware, at only 15 percent, is ranked among the least common incidents being seen by businesses.

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Last year, 85 percent of organizations were hit by at least one ransomware attack, according to the  Veeam Data Protection Trends Report 2023. With almost all organizations suffering these attacks, it’s clear that the problem is not only widespread but almost inevitable these days. Though this might sound daunting, it’s by acknowledging this fact that we can manage this ever-present threat. So, let’s look at what solutions organizations can utilize to be able to live alongside ransomware.

It’s clear that ransomware attacks are a very real and present threat -- we see this every day, whether we’re watching the national news or sitting in the boardroom. Considering the ubiquity of these attacks, organizations need to be aware that a ransomware attack is no longer a case of ‘if’ you’ll be the target of an attack but ‘how often.’ While a vast number of organizations experienced at least one attack last year, the Veeam Data Protection Trends Report also showed that just under half (48 percent) suffered two or three attacks. This can feel like an overwhelming prospect for an organization of any size, and the natural consequence is that many turn to cyber insurance in search of some peace of mind.

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A new survey from Claroty of 1,100 cybersecurity, engineering, IT, and networking professionals from healthcare organizations finds 78 percent of respondents experienced a minimum of one cybersecurity incident over the last year.

Perhaps more concerning is that 60 percent of those incidents had a moderate or substantial impact on patient care and 15 percent had a serious impact that compromised patient health and/or safety.

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A new report from GuidePoint Security shows a startling 100 percent increase in publicly posted ransomware victims from Q2 2022 to the last quarter.

The study from the GuidePoint Research and Intelligence Team (GRIT) also shows a 38 percent increase in public victims compared to Q1 of this year.

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Ransomware remains a persistent threat with real-world consequences, with the ability to halt business operations, and cause significant reputational and financial damage.

Ransomware incidents have gained the attention of the general public with attacks like the Colonial Pipeline that led to fuel shortages, and WannaCry that led to British hospitals diverting patients. Despite an increased level of awareness at the board level, ransomware attacks continue to plague organizations.

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