Ransomware attacks are on the rise. According to a report by AV-TEST, the amount of malware has reached a new high, with over 150m harmful programme variants identified. And the risk of stolen data being released due to ransomware attacks increased from 8.7 percent in 2020 to 81 percent in 2021.
To stay ahead of the hackers and protect your business, it’s crucial to stay on top of the latest ransomware trends. Here are a few to look out for:
1. Ransomware is becoming more like a business
Not only are ransomware groups becoming more organised, they are also investing in developing the tools they use. This has led to the rise of Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS), enabling criminals to buy and use ransomware without knowing how to develop, manage, or collect payments themselves.
2. Cross-platform ransomware is being developed to make it adaptive
To create as much damage as possible, hackers try to encrypt as many systems as possible. To do this, they write the ransomware in a cross-platform programming language, such as Rust or Golang.
3. Geopolitical events are having an impact
As the conflict breaks out in the real world, for example between Russia and Ukraine, it also plays out online. Ransomware groups are taking sides in the conflict, creating a war between groups, with businesses as the victim.
4. Cooperation between groups is increasing
Ransomware groups are forming cartels. This enables groups to unite and launch multiple encryptions in a single attack. This new technique is called “double encryption.”
5. Ransomware groups are targeting the cloud
Whilst many believe data stored in cloud SaaS environments is immune to ransomware, this isn’t the case. And as more businesses are increasingly hosting business-critical services and data on the cloud, the risk of attack also increases.
With this in mind, it’s crucial to maintain good cybersecurity. That includes ensuring the software on all your devices is kept up to date, and enabling ransomware protection for all endpoints. You should also make sure your IT security team have the latest intelligence on cyber threats.