Ransomware Cyber Attacks Spike to Over 1.2 mn per Month
Barracuda is a company dedicated to safe internet browsing. Think of the security of e-mail, networks, data, and applications. They have recently conducted a large-scale investigation into cybercrime. We can safely call the results shocking. In the past 12 months, they have scrutinized 106 different ransomware attacks.
Almost all of these attacks focus on five different sectors, namely:
- Education (15%)
- Municipalities and government agencies (12%)
- Healthcare (12%)
- Infrastructure (8%)
- The financial sector (6%)
Every year they see the number of ransomware attacks increase in these five industries. It is striking that the number of attacks on the education sector has doubled, while attacks on the health care and financial sector have even tripled! To get a better picture of the attacks, the Barracuda researchers examined 106 cyber-attacks more closely.
It is important to note that many cyber attacks do not even make it into the public eye. Large companies, in particular, choose not to be in the spotlight when it comes to cyber-attacks, while some companies do not even know how to deal with them. In many cases, the smaller companies are used to attack the larger companies.
In total, these cyber attacks cost 1.2 million per month in the first six months of 2022. It is, therefore, extremely important for an individual not to get involved in such cyber attacks. You can already take various measures yourself to considerably limit the chance of a ransomware attack. So let’s take a look at some important measures.
Using VPN
First of all, it is recommended to use a VPN. But what is VPN? A VPN offers you as an individual a number of advantages, including surfing the internet safely. This is primarily because your IP address remains hidden, and the data you send and receive is encrypted. As a result, it is of no use to hackers if they intercept this data.
It also gives you the ability to remotely connect with your business in the sectors mentioned above and, of course, beyond. You can still handle all the company’s data if you work from home. A VPN ensures that you can also download and upload documents more securely. These documents are also provided with encryption to make the exchange of files more secure. Finally, some VPNs even offer additional features, such as malware removal.
Antivirus software
A second option is to purchase antivirus software. This is a type of software that identifies, detects, and stops viruses. These viruses are also removed from your computer or laptop. Malware attacks can also cause damage to your device. The types of viruses that are distinguished to be addressed are:
- Malware
- Trojan horses
- Spyware
- Adware
Antivirus software analyzes hundreds of thousands of files simultaneously and looks for characteristics of viruses. These are kept in so-called virus lists. As soon as a new virus is discovered, it is added to the virus list. If a file is found in which a virus is active, the antivirus software can make three decisions:
- The software tries to recover the file by removing the virus from the file;
- The file in which the virus is found is placed in a separate location so that the virus cannot spread further;
- The file will be completely removed from your computer or laptop.
Change passwords & password manager
One last measure that we would recommend to everyone is to take a good look at your passwords. Many cyber criminals try to hack your passwords and only release them once a ransom has been paid. It is, therefore, extremely important to use good passwords. It is recommended to use a different password for each account. That way, you ensure that the other accounts are not at risk if one of your passwords is hacked.
A password manager is also recommended. This offers you two advantages, namely the possibility to store passwords securely and to generate new passwords. If you have created a new account online, you can also change passwords in the password manager generated with numbers, characters, and letters.
