Ransomware Trends in 2021
Ransomware attacks are one of the most common types of cyberattacks. Although the past year has seen a downward trend of the number of ransomware attacks, the cost of attacks is on the rise. This means the good guys are not winning. This is mostly due to malicious actors targeting large corporations that have the resources to pay large ransom amounts and attacks that are more widespread than targeting a single individual. What are some of the other ransomware trends we saw in 2021?
The shift from targeting small organizations to large is not the only change in attacks. The nature of the attacks has also changed to double extortion. Attackers exfiltrate sensitive corporate data before they extort money from their victim. The attacker can lock victims out of their data/systems and can threaten to release victims’ sensitive data to the public.
Another increasing trend is supply chain attacks. Instead of targeting a single victim, supply chain attacks extend an attackers’ reach. In 2021, we saw this type of attack affect people’s ability to get healthcare, gas up their vehicles, and even buy groceries.
Long gone are the days when every attacker had to write their own ransomware code and run a unique set of activities. Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) is a pay-for-use malware. It gives attackers access to a platform that provides ransomware code and instructions to carry out a ransomware attack. RaaS is scary because it opens the playing field for inexperienced attackers to carry out sophisticated attacks.
Attacking unpatched systems and phishing campaigns continued to be on the rise in 2021. Unfortunately, these basic attacks are not going anywhere. We are going to see them continue to be a problem in 2022 and beyond.
If 2021 taught us anything, it’s that ransomware does not discriminate. Everyone is at risk. To help ensure you are protected, let 2W Tech help. We are a technology service provider specializing in cybersecurity solutions. Let us help ensure you are deploying the best cyber defense.
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