Ransomware has been a major cybersecurity issue for a number of years now. It’s a new year, but it shows no sign of going away. The goal of ransomware is simple; deploy file-encrypting malware and then make money by demanding a ransom payment in exchange for a decryption key to unlock the encrypted systems.

Ransom demands can run into millions of pounds. Governments, law enforcement agencies and cybersecurity companies warn that victims should never pay the ransom because it only encourages further attacks. However, many victims pay up either because they are unable to recover from the attack themselves or because they think it’s the quickest way of getting their encrypted files back. Not that all crooks can be trusted to send you the decryption key to unlock your files once they’ve got your money.

For those organisations that do have the ability to recover from an attack it can take weeks or even months, which is why a significant number of victims do pay and why ransomware continues to be a major threat. It works and it makes criminals money.

Relying on law enforcement to track down the cyber criminals behind ransomware attacks is not going to work. The attacks are typically international in nature, with gangs often hiding beyond the reach of law enforcement agencies. Ransom payments are usually demanded in cryptocurrency, making it hard to trace.

Small-to-Medium-Enterprises (SMEs) often rely on the organisations that provide the email and hosting services they use to provide cybersecurity, but what if that prevention fails? All organisations, irrespective of their size, should consider the impact of a ransomware attack and put steps in place to minimise the risk of an attack occurring.

EnterpriseRed has the expertise and cybersecurity solutions to help you prevent ransomware. Together with other cyber defences, we provide a complete set of solutions to improve your cybersecurity resilience. Talk to us to see how we can help you.

The EnterpriseRed team.