Ransomware Rises as Hackers Target Remote Workers

To cope with the pandemic, many businesses have encouraged employees to work from home, thereby minimizing close interactions with colleagues that could potentially spread the virus. With the success of remote work solutions, there has come another pandemic to worry about – the scourge of ransomware.

Analysis of malicious activity published in Skybox Security’s 2020 Vulnerability and Threat Trends Report notes that ransomware attacks have increased 72% in the first half of this year, primarily due to the work-at-home response to COVID.

As the frequency of ransomware attacks continues to grow, many organizations find themselves ill-equipped to deal with this situation…

COVID has drained the financial resources of many organizations, leaving them without the means to mount an effective ransomware defense.
Many remote workers fall outside of the corporate security umbrella, making them easy prey for attackers.
Additional risk comes with security vulnerabilities in remote-desktop protocols, the use of weak passwords, and continued susceptibility to phishing schemes.
The general lack of security training for employees has increased the attack surface for cyber criminals.
IT staff, already overworked before the COVID pandemic, are not likely to catch up soon as they continue to grapple with the realities of remote work.

Ransomware is so effective at locking down infrastructure, rendering systems and networks unusable, that victims often feel the only option is to pay up – which can cost tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars in Bitcoin.

Getting the security support you need in these challenging times is of critical importance to the continued success of your business. If your IT security capabilities need a boost, DataLink can help you get where you need to be.