2020 is the Year of Ransomware
Security researchers around the globe who monitor such things have noted a sharp uptick in the use of ransomware this year, with well-known threats like REvil, Ryuk, and Maze being the most common variants deployed by hackers.
That's bad enough by itself, but it gets worse. In recent months, much of the ransomware attack activity has been aimed squarely at the healthcare sector, which is grim news indeed, given that we are relying on that very sector to help put the still-raging global pandemic behind us.
Ransomeware in the US nearly doubled
Based on data collected by Check Point, Ryuk ransomware alone was responsible for more than twenty attacks on corporate networks a week, on average, which is a huge spike. In fact, in the US, ransomware activity has nearly doubled, increasing by 98.1 percent this quarter, compared with the same period from last year.
While that's far-and-away the largest increase, globally, ransomware attacks are up nearly 50 percent, with several countries reporting incredible surges in ransomware activity, including:
- India, with a 39.2 percent increase
- Russia, with a 57.9 percent increase
- Turkey, with a 32.5 percent increase
Ransomware increases because it is extraordinarily successful
None of these, however, can hold a candle to the buffeting that poor Sri Lanka is currently enduring, with a staggering 436 percent increase in ransomware activity reported.
From the perspective of the hackers, it's easy to see the attraction. Most companies are terrified of such attacks because they can bring corporate operations to a screeching halt in the blink of an eye, and can be notoriously difficult to recover from.
Our perspective
Given that, hackers have had a great deal of success in extorting large sums of money from companies of all shapes and sizes, and now we know they're also in the habit of making copies of sensitive data for themselves before they encrypt all your files. Keep your guard up, it's probably going to get worse as the year rolls on.
~ As Hill Street Blues' Sgt. Esterhaus always advised: "Hey, let's be careful out there! " ~
By Denis Wilson and Melissa Stockwell
Thanks for reading this short post. For more tips on thriving with small business technology, check out the other blog posts at DWPIA Blogs. You can also find me on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.
I'm Denis Wilson, President and Principal Consultant for DWP Information Architects. We build people/process/technology solutions to create better business outcomes for smaller enterprises in Los Angeles.
I am also a published author and speaker, working extensively with business and professional associations to provide small business technology education programs. Contact me if you would like me to speak at your association
