Ransomware is one of the most significant threats in cyberspace. Even the simplest form of ransomware can cause serious problems for a company . The most sophisticated ones can completely destroy victims . Unprepared users and businesses can lose valuable data and money in an instant
There is no easy victory in the war against ransomware attacks. The only way to combat this threat is to fully understand how ransomware works, who it targets, and how.
The following facts, statistics, and trends will help you realize how dangerous ransomware is to your business and personal life.
ransom demanded by ransomware attacks average , and evidence suggests that hackers will continue to raise the ransoms. A few thousand dollars may seem insignificant to large businesses, but not to smaller ones. Furthermore, many gangs attack the same victims over and over again, if the first attack is successful.
Additionally, some hackers destroy or even delete parts of victims' fileswhile waiting for the ransom payment to show that they are serious. Regardless of the criminal's final actions, the real cost of a ransomware attack is much greater than the amount of money demanded.
In many cases, companies may lose valuable data. They may also be unable to work until the ransom (as systems stop working). A business outage can result in millions of dollars in lost revenue. Worst of all, the attack damages customer trust.
Even in countries where companies have access to the most advanced security technologies, there is still risk. In the US, more than half of businesses reported falling victim to a ransomware attack in the past year.
Saudi Arabia, Turkey and China are the three countries with the most ransomware victims. In North America, victims are most often government agencies (15.4%), followed by construction companies (13.9%).
Governments (local and national) are a favorite target for hackers because they know that a successful attack can affect many lives. This increases the likelihood that ransoms will be paid. For example, the city of Atlanta “shut down” for 5 days after an attack that affected nearly 8,000 computers . Even after the ransom was paid, it took weeks for full recovery.
Although emails to be a primary method of infection, people still fall victim to criminals using social engineering techniques. Emails are often the first stage of a ransomware attack. Lack of education in basic security practices and awareness of cyber threats are significant causes of a successful ransomware attack.
Ransomware is a relatively new threat that is constantly evolving. Over the past year, the number of new variants has increased by 46%.
Who is most vulnerable?
85% of MSPs say that Windows is the most common target of ransomware attacks. This is because Windows computers are typically more affordable, and therefore used by more users. More users equal more potential victims. In addition, there are many people who do not update their systems, leaving them unprotected.
Of course, this doesn't mean that macOS, Android , and iOS are safe.
From 2018 to 2019, the number of threats to devices Mac , and this increase is expected to continue.
Popular SaaS applications are also targets of ransomware. A study found that Dropbox, Office 365, G Suite, Box, and Salesforce have all experienced attacks ransomware in some form.
We're not going to get rid of ransomware
As we have seen above, ransomware is effective. Therefore, it will continue to pose a threat to both ordinary users and businesses. URLs, embedded in emails, remain the number one way to infect computers. Therefore, users should be suspicious. Finally, the most effective method of preventing a ransomware attack is to regularly update systems and applications.
