A recent report by SentinelOne called the Global Ransomware Report 2018 has uncovered some interesting findings around ransomware and the frequency of attacks.
The report found that on average 56% of the firms surveyed had faced ransomware attacks in the last 12 months, this is up from 48% in 2017.
Of those that were attacked, 45% paid a ransom to the hackers, but only 26% actually had their files unlocked. The companies that paid a ransom were then attacked again 73% of the time.
This just goes to show that if your files are locked by ransomware, there is no guarantee that if you pay the ransom they will be unlocked. In fact it actually highlights you as a preferred target, because you have proven you are willing to pay.
The report highlighted that 51% of companies targeted by ransomware said the reason they didn’t pay the ransom was because they had backups and a Disaster Recovery Plan in place.
We already know ransomware is on the rise and there is now an entire industry on the dark web around selling ransomware as a service. The continuous rise and evolution of different forms of malware highlights the need to have a good Disaster Recovery Plan in place, as well as a comprehensive training process for all your staff.
The majority of ransomware are spread via email so make sure you know the red flags to look out for. You should ensure your staff are trained and know how to spot a phishing email. Consider conducting phishing tests on your staff and holding regular training.
Remember to always stay vigilant about what links you click and what information you provide. It’s also important to have a working Disaster Recovery Plan in place in case everything goes belly up.