Ransomware Attacks: How They Happen, the Threats and Risks. (2024)

Ransomware attacks are on the rise, and businesses need to be aware of the dangers they pose. In this blog post, we will discuss how ransomware attacks take place, the threats they pose, and the aftermath for businesses. We will also provide tips for protecting your business from Ransomware attacks.

If you prefer a watch over a read, our consultant breaks Ransomware down in the video below.

How Does a Ransomware Attack Take place?

Ransomware attacks usually start with a Phishing email. The attacker will send an email that appears to be from a trusted source, such as a bank or government organization. This email will contain an attachment or link that, when clicked, will download and install the ransomware onto the victim’s computer. Once the ransomware is installed, it will encrypt the victim’s files and demand a ransom be paid in order to decrypt them. The attackers often use bitcoin as the currency of choice for the ransom, as it is difficult to trace. Businesses that are hit with ransomware can face a number of risks, including financial loss, data loss, and reputational damage. In some cases, businesses have even had to shut down completely.

Ransomware Attacks: How They Happen, the Threats and Risks. (1)

What are the Threats of Ransomware Attacks on Businesses?

There are many threats that businesses face when they are hit with a ransomware attack. One of the biggest dangers is financial loss. The ransom demands can be very costly, and if businesses do not have the money to pay, they may lose everything. In addition, data loss is another big threat. Ransomware can encrypt important files and render them useless. This can lead to serious problems for businesses, such as the loss of customer data or confidential company information. Finally, ransomware attacks can also damage a business’s reputation. If customers find out that their personal information has been compromised, they will likely take their business elsewhere.

What is the Aftermath of Ransomware Attacks?

The aftermath of a ransomware attack can be devastating for businesses. In some cases, businesses have had to shut down completely. Nearly all will face financial losses, data loss, and reputational damage. It is important for businesses to be prepared for the possibility of an attack and to know how to protect themselves.

Top Tips To Preventing Ransomware:

  • Keep your software up to date: Outdated software is one of the most common ways that attackers gain access to systems. Be sure to keep all of your software, including your operating system and antivirus software, up to date.
  • Train your employees: Employees should be trained on how to spot phishing emails and other signs of an attack.
  • Using strong anti-malware and anti-virus software, and keeping it up to date.
  • Invest in a Penetration Test to fully secure your system’s network.
  • Backing up data regularly, so that if files are encrypted by ransomware, they can be restored from backup.
  • Reporting the attack as soon as possible.

Ransomware is a serious threat, but by being prepared, businesses can minimise the risk of an attack. By taking these steps, businesses can help to protect themselves from the dangers posed by ransomware attacks. However, it is important to remember that no security measure is perfect and that even businesses that take all the necessary precautions can still be vulnerable to these attacks.

Ransomware Breakdown

Ransomware Attacks: How They Happen, the Threats and Risks. (2024)

FAQs

Ransomware Attacks: How They Happen, the Threats and Risks.? ›

Ransomware attacks usually start with a Phishing email. The attacker will send an email that appears to be from a trusted source, such as a bank or government organization. This email will contain an attachment or link that, when clicked, will download and install the ransomware onto the victim's computer.

How do ransomware attacks happen? ›

Ransomware is often spread through phishing emails that contain malicious attachments or through drive-by downloading. Drive-by downloading occurs when a user unknowingly visits an infected website and then malware is downloaded and installed without the user's knowledge.

What is the risk of a ransomware attack? ›

Data Encryption: Ransomware attacks render critical business data inaccessible, hindering operations and potentially causing data loss. Financial Loss: Businesses may be forced to pay significant ransoms, incur costs associated with data recovery and system repairs, and face lawsuits from those affected by the attack.

Where do most ransomware attacks come from? ›

The most common ransomware infection methods include the following: Phishing emails. Phishing email scams infect systems when users download malware in email attachments or links. According to IBM's Cyber Resilient Organization Study 2021, a total of 45% of ransomware attacks used phishing.

What is the most common way ransomware attacks start? ›

Deceptive phishing emails are the most common way for ransomware attacks to start, but they can also begin with infected portable devices like USB drives, unsecured public Wi-Fi networks, exploitation of zero-day vulnerabilities, and covert drive-by downloads from malicious websites.

What are the top 3 causes of successful ransomware attacks? ›

Phishing, remote desk protocol (RDP) exploitation and software vulnerabilities are the principal root causes of ransomware infections.

How often does ransomware happen? ›

There are 1.7 million ransomware attacks every day, which means there are 19 ransomware attacks occurring every second. This just goes to show that cybercriminals have no intention of easing up on their attacks, so IT teams should never ease up on their security efforts.

How long do ransomware attacks last? ›

Length of impact after a ransomware attack U.S. Q1 2020- Q2 2022. As of the second quarter of 2022, the average length of interruption after ransomware attacks at businesses and organizations in the United States was 24 days.

Who does ransomware target the most? ›

1. Education. The education sector had the highest ransomware attack rate as of 2023, according to Sophos' most recent "State of Ransomware" report. Eighty percent of elementary, middle and high schools and 79% of higher education institutions reported sustaining attacks in the year leading up to the survey.

Can ransomware spread through Wi-Fi? ›

Yes, ransomware can move through wifi networks to infect computers. Ransomware attacks that sleuth through wifi can disrupt entire networks, leading to severe business consequences. Malicious code that translates to ransomware can also spread across different wifi networks, operating as a computer worm does.

What is the most effective defense against ransomware? ›

10 Best Ransomware Prevention Practices
  1. Backup Your Data. ...
  2. Keep All Systems And Software Updated. ...
  3. Install Antivirus Software & Firewalls. ...
  4. Network Segmentation. ...
  5. Email Protection. ...
  6. Application Whitelisting. ...
  7. Endpoint Security. ...
  8. Limit User Access Privileges.

How quickly does ransomware spread? ›

According to Microsoft, nearly 97% of all ransomware infections take less than 4 hours to successfully infiltrate their target. The fastest can take over systems in less than 45 minutes.

How do hackers deploy ransomware? ›

Ransomware groups can use an IoT device to bypass the company's network security, while also remaining undetected. Once inside the IoT device, the hacker can pivot to the main IT network where they can pull off a larger attack.

How does ransomware lock your computer? ›

Ransomware is malware that encrypts your files or stops you from using your computer until you pay money (a ransom) for them to be unlocked. If your computer is connected to a network the ransomware may also spread to other computers or storage devices on the network.

How hackers do ransomware? ›

Ransomware allows hackers to browse valuable and confidential documents or data from the infected device to send themselves a copy. They do this before encrypting the victim's data. Once they receive the data, they ask the victim to make ransom payments. The amount of the payment is concluded as per the data stolen.

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