Ransomware attacks have become one of the most talked about topics of recent months. Around the world, organizations have fallen victim to groups that steal and hijack information using malicious software in search of millionaire payments.
Cases of corporations having had their operations compromised have turned on the alert within organizations. With this, we can see a growth in investment in cybersecurity teams to better deal with these threats.
How ransomware attacks affect organizations
In recent years, there has been a significant increase in cyber threats to organizations. By exploiting system and network vulnerabilities, and using techniques such as phishing, criminals have taken advantage to plant malicious software known as ransomware to hijack and steal information, causing millionaire losses.
Even adopting protection measures, using firewalls, antivirus and applying layers to ensure their security, organizations still suffer from their vulnerabilities. Let's learn a little more about the ways hackers around the world can extort victims and how to protect themselves.
Gateway
Typically, this type of cybercrime starts with known ways to hack into systems and hijack information.
By infiltrating malicious software designed to encrypt files on a device, groups of hackers can render any data or system that depends on them unusable. Blocking this information, they require millionaire ransoms to normalize the systems and return the information.
Phishing is one of the techniques used by criminals to infiltrate. They impersonate well-known people or brands, sharing a malicious link via email, SMS, or even messages on messaging apps and social media posts.
In addition, they exploit system and software vulnerabilities to perform these attacks. In this way, they look for loopholes in websites and virtual stores, being able to find even more abrupt ways to invade any type of system and access essential information.
What are the consequences of ransomware attacks
Once these groups have access to the information, they can use it however they want. Thus, they can extort victims in different ways, which go beyond blocking the data.
Since paying the ransom is not a guarantee that data and systems will be restored, organizations that rely on a backup of the information choose not to pay. However, criminals threaten to make the information publicly available, forcing payment.
It is worth remembering that with the new privacy and data protection laws, organizations can also face fines if sensitive information is leaked. Even so, paying ransoms may not be the best option, as it does not bring guarantees that the data will not be published.
In addition to these ways, hackers can compromise the operation of systems and servers, overloading them so that they are down.
Even hijacking information and paralyzing operations, attackers can still inform customers and investors about the attack, asking those people to contact the attacked company.
Because the groups act in different ways, they can extort victims in different ways. In addition, these techniques are not necessarily used in an order.
How can organizations protect themselves?
International government organizations focused on information security often share best practice playbooks for protecting themselves from a ransomware attack. Here, we suggest some essential steps to ensure greater security against these attacks.
If where you work, there is still no plan for recovery in case of incidents, maybe this is a good first step. Thus, implementing a plan to deal with and outlining information retrieval strategies is also essential.
Having control of device inventory, keeping everyone up to date, also ensures that criminals don't exploit vulnerabilities from outdated systems. In addition, it is essential to periodically check the security protocols of websites and servers.
Another way to protect yourself is to demonstrate to people that cybercrimes are present in different media. Thus, it is important that everyone involved is aware of threats that can open doors for attackers, preventing phishing attacks.
Making the subject of digital security something closer to people's daily lives is to deal with the most strategic link of information security. And we at PhishX can help you with this challenge.
With constant training, sending simulations and communications through different communication platforms, people are more aware of threats. This causes one more door to close for the criminals.
Thinking about this issue, we created a material addressing the best practices within the Ransomware theme, enjoy! Booklet of good practices.
