Ransomware attacks have been rising abundantly, making the world rank it as the second most dangerous pandemic in the world after Covid-19.
During the past year only, ransomware attacks have doubled in number and volume. As the world emerges from the Covid-19 lockdown, people are finding themselves face to face with a threat just as dangerous as the global pandemic.
Ransomware attacks have shut down large sectors of the economy worldwide, especially in the United States.
What Is a Ransomware Attack?
Ransomware is a kind of malicious malware (software) that is installed or leaked into the victim’s device to encrypt data and steal them for mischievous intentions.
A ransomware attack is tricking someone into clicking on a link, message, or any media. The attacker then gains access to the data on the victim’s device.
This type of attacker usually encrypts the data and blocks its access or threatens to publish it if the victim does not pay a certain amount of money.
This type of attack is relatively popular because it is an easy process to carry out. The victim is tricked into thinking the attacker is a trusted source (a popular phishing scheme) so that they accidentally download malicious malware.
Victims almost always pay the ransom to end the attack, making them an easy target to phish and driving more cybercriminals to target them.
Most Recent Ransomware Attacks
- Colonial Pipeline in April of 2021: This is the biggest ransomware attack of 2021; it led to a shortage of gas supplies all along the East Coast of the United States—which caused panic among people. The ransomware gang DarkSide carried out this attack, and the Colonial Pipeline had to pay $4.4. billion to stop the attack.
- Brenntag in early May of 2021: The same notorious gang that attacked Colonial Pipeline strikes again to attack another large business. The group had stolen 150 GB worth of data and asked for $7.5 million in return for it. This time, the chemical distribution company was forced to pay $4.4 million to retrieve their data.
- ACER in May of 2021: The REvil attack gang attacked the computer manufacturer and demanded $50 million—the largest known ransom to this day!
- JBS Foods in June of 2021: The same group that hacked ACER came back and attacked JBS, demanding $11 million as ransomware. After consulting cybersecurity experts, JBS decided to pay the ransom.
- Read More: World News Website sisidunia.com and comeonspurs.com
An Urgent Call for Cybersecurity Measures
The recurrent ransomware attacks open the eyes of people to the serious threats of the internet. Unfortunately, no one is 100% safe from attack gangs or cybercriminal individuals who work alone.
That is why there’s a dire need for everyone to start using software that would protect them from such malicious attacks.
So what can you do to stay safe?
- Use a Secure Browser that can protect your data: In one article on Avast Secure Browser VS Chrome, Several.com pointed out the importance of using a secure browser in order to protect your device from malicious malware.
- Use a reliable VPN: A strong VPN will encrypt your information so that it is useless to any attacker who tries to intercept your connection. You can read the comparison article between one of the two strongest VPNs, ZenMate VPN VS Hola, so that you can decide what’s best for you.
- Use a good antivirus: A trustworthy antivirus will detect any attempt of phishing and warn you after it blocks it. It can also identify and remove any malware that could be on your devices, threatening your security and privacy.
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