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Ransomware attack: beware! Your company could be the target
With the increasing adoption of new technologies by companies, new problems arise that need to be addressed. One of them is the so-called ransomware attack , a growing method of intrusion that targets organizational data.
To give you an idea, in Brazil alone, these breaches have reached enormous proportions in recent times, to the point of placing the country among the four with the biggest problems with ransomware and other malware. According to research by Microsoft, it is estimated that these intrusions will increase by 30% in 2021 alone, resulting in losses of R$ 32.4 billion in Brazil alone.
Therefore, despite being a widespread attack model, many organizational leaders still have doubts about its impacts and how to combat it. For this reason, we've compiled valuable information in this article to help you raise the security level of your business. Keep reading and find out more!
Do you know what a ransomware ? To begin with an analogy, you could say that this malware works like a kidnapping. That's because the goal of kidnappers is always to demand a ransom for what they took by force, right? Well, this method used by hackers follows the same logic.
The difference lies in the fact that it's not about a victim, but rather the data that person or company possesses. Therefore, cybercriminals seek to affect unprotected computers that may contain valuable information.
The word "ransom" in English can be translated as "rescue," and the malware received this name precisely because it forces people to pay a sum of money to get their data back.
This is an ingenious technique, which has several variations, and each one must be treated differently. But before knowing what to do, it's necessary to understand how this virus works.
How does it work?
Cybercriminals have been targeting small and medium-sized enterprises , given that they are often less prepared when it comes to security measures and employee training.
On the other hand, large companies are not immune to threats either. This is because human error is evident in organizations of any size, since simple clicks on incorrect links and weak passwords act as entry points for this powerful malware.
But how does it actually work? Well, after entering and infecting the computer, some of the data (files) may have their names and extensions changed. This is one of the first signs that problems are occurring.
Increased hardware usage, such as memory and processor, is also an indication of an intrusion. This is because the cybercriminal is using the machine to orchestrate their grand plan: to block the computer's data.
The final blow occurs when, upon attempting to open a specific file, a notification is received stating that it has been encrypted and requires a password. At this point, a ransomware attack can be distinguished. This is because these viruses are divided into four categories:
- Blockers: These cause the entire PC to be locked, thus preventing the user from using their machine in any way. They are not as common as Encrypters , which focus only on data.
- The company may still run the risk of encountering Doxware , which, in addition to threatening to block information, also copies this data. The intention is to have these files published on the internet if the ransom is not paid.
- Scareware , finally, takes a different approach. In it, the compromised user receives a notification that vulnerabilities have been found in their system and that a fee must be paid to fix them .
Thus, despite all the technological ingenuity, it's clear that most of the time the real target is unprepared people. After all, some may believe the message from scareware, while others may simply not have prepared for a ransomware attack.
To give you an idea of the negative impacts of a ransomware attack, we highlight two cases that have occurred recently.
In October 2021, Atento, a call center company, suffered a major ransomware attack.
For her, it was crucial to ensure that her data was not leaked, which resulted in the interruption of all connections with her clients. In other words, even with agile security protocols, the company had to deal with a pause in operations.
Another case, also occurring in 2021, was that of JBS. The world's largest meat processor had its system compromised by a ransomware attack, which paused all operations in several countries, including the United States and Australia.
To make matters worse, as reported by the G1 , the company claims to have paid approximately 11 million dollars to recover its data. This amount could impact and even eliminate the operations of numerous small and medium-sized businesses.
Both data breaches and the need to recover them involve significant risks and costs. Therefore, these breaches need to be prevented or remedied in the early stages.
Furthermore, ransom costs can be high, and in most cases paying them should not be an option. This is because, in addition to losing a huge amount of money, the company is fueling one of the fastest-growing cybercrimes.
That's without even mentioning the need to trust the hacker, that they will release the files after payment – which may not happen. These end up being the direct ethical and financial costs, but there are still other problems.
When data breaches occur, companies can suffer a severe blow to their reputation and credibility. Furthermore, there are the challenges posed by the General Data Protection Law (LGPD).
There is no 100% effective method to guarantee that a ransomware attack will not happen. After all, human error is the biggest culprit. However, there are always security measures that should be taken to protect your system from intrusions.
The first thing that should be implemented is the training and development of your team.
Whether in small businesses or large corporations, for employees with basic computer skills or expert IT teams, all knowledge is valuable in ensuring better efficiency in protecting systems.
In this regard, several experts in the field cite Brazil's lack of preparedness as the main cause of the high number of invasions, and one way to combat this scenario is precisely through the training of employees.
Furthermore, protecting your company from ransomware attacks involves robust defense strategies such as adopting more complex access controls or limiting data transfer by low-permission agents.
Furthermore, using cloud backups can also ensure greater security, as your data is duplicated in the service, preventing operations from stopping even if the data is stolen.
In practice, it becomes clear that all these measures are complementary in creating a truly secure environment and mitigating the chances of cyberattacks.
What to do in case of a ransomware attack?
In cases of ransomware attacks, rapid detection is necessary, based on the principles already mentioned in this article. These include identifying files behaving strangely, sudden increases in hardware usage, unauthorized network access, etc.
The Atento case shows a little of what can be done. They blocked the connection with all external agents, preventing data from being leaked and even the virus itself from being transferred to other systems.
After detecting an intrusion , it's time to find out which virus infected the computer or network, so you can then act to decrypt the data. This won't always be possible, but it's a path to follow to avoid as much contact with the hacker as possible.
It is also of utmost importance to verify that there has been no data breach before adopting a strategy to break communication with other networks. This can be done by looking for traces left by the malware.
There are many options available, so experts should be consulted at this time.
Local data centers may not be the best option for protecting data from a ransomware attack. This is because they rarely have external backups, and an infection can spread throughout the system rapidly.
In these cases, the company is at the mercy of an efficient response or will have to pay a ransom to the attackers. Actions end up being limited due to lack of connectivity and low system redundancy.
In this way, in addition to promoting greater data security , cloud data centers support the optimization of operations, such as data storage, increased security, and cost savings in offices, among other advantages for business growth.
Migrating to the cloud can be one solution to minimize ransomware attacks for several reasons. Firstly, companies that provide these services are always attentive to security, as it's part of their product and identity.
Another issue is that there will be greater data redundancy, such as more efficient backups that will not be located in a single data center. Furthermore, cloud specialists possess experience and various certifications that guarantee secure and efficient use in this environment.
However, it's always important to emphasize that simply adopting cloud solutions may not be enough. This is because it's essential to develop a set of best practices, such as employee training and the use of extra layers of protection , through, for example, EDR solutions.
Therefore, it is crucial that data in the cloud is always monitored by a specialized team committed to the main cybersecurity measures. In this context, migration becomes a highly effective solution against a ransomware attack.
Want to learn more about cloud security? Download the Cloud Security Guide to find out how to protect your system from intrusions!
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