More and more cyberattacks are being launched every day, putting at danger all of our digital information. Several sorts of assaults have persisted for many years and remain very hazardous. Ransomware is one kind of assault like this. This guide will teach you about ransomware attacks, how they function, and what you can do to avoid becoming a victim.
Overview of Ransomware Attacks
It’s estimated that thousands of gamers were hit by the TeslaCrypt malware in 2015. Players would log out for the night to find a text file with the words “RANSOM NOTE” on their desktop.
Within its confines, this text file revealed that a hacker organization had rendered inaccessible the game data and personal papers of multiple players. They were all instructed to send $500 in bitcoin to a predetermined bitcoin address. The data were encrypted using a master key that was sent to them only after this happened.
The TeslaCrypt ransomware has been described; now let’s move on to learning about ransomware attacks and how to defend yourself against them.
Ransomware: What Is It and How Does It Work?
Ransomware is malicious software that encrypts user data and files and then requests payment to unlock them. Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are often used for ransom payments, although alternative methods are possible. After the victim’s files have been encrypted or password-protected, a text file will be made accessible to them detailing how to pay the ransom and regain access to their data.
Some cases are so delicate that victims pay the ransom anyhow in the hopes that the hackers would deliver the decryption key or release the material.
The next step is to study the mechanics of a hack.
What Steps Are Involved in an Attack Using Ransomware?
1. Phishing assaults are often where the propagation of ransomware gets its start. A ransomware attack encrypts the data stored on a victim’s device once it has gained access to that device via the use of infected emails, texts, and malicious websites.
2. The ransomware employs straightforward asymmetric encryption techniques, restricts access to a user’s data, and makes it challenging to decode such files in the absence of the key.
3. Additionally, it maps the locations of specified file types, such as locally stored files as well as mapped and unmapped devices that are available via the network.
4. They may also be spread by malware, which is passed on via the installation of applications that cannot be trusted, or even a wireless network that has been infiltrated.
5. Utilizing the Remote Desktop Protocol, often known as RDP access, is another method that may be used to get into a machine and install ransomware. Through the use of this protocol, it is possible to get remote access to a computer, giving a hacker the ability to install dangerous software on the machine while the owner remains oblivious of these developments.
6. Ransomware will first upload instruction files to the system that describe the pay-for-decryption procedure, and then it will utilize those files to display a ransom note to the user.
7. In most cases, ransomware will shut down and delete itself, leaving behind just the files with the payment instructions.
Different kind of ransomwares
There is a wide variety of ransomwares accessible, however most of them may be divided into the following three categories:
1. Locker ransomware is a sort of virus that prevents access to ordinary computer operations until the demanded ransom payment has been made to the hackers. It displays a lock screen that prevents the victim from using the computer for its intended purposes and prevents them from doing so.
2. Crypto ransomware is a kind of malicious software that locks users out of their own files and documents by demanding a ransom payment. Once the files have been encrypted, it is hard to discover the decryption key unless the ransomware strain is an older version and the keys are already accessible on the internet.
3. Scareware is bogus software that pretends to have found a virus or other issue on your computer and then prompts you to pay money in order to fix the issue. Some scareware may really lock the computer, while others will just flood the screen with pop-up notifications without causing any damage to the contents on the computer.
What Can Be Done to Protect Against Ransomware?
Learn what you can do to shield yourself against ransomware attacks now that you know what they are.
1. Always having backups of your data is an essential. While backing up to the cloud is simple, it is still a good idea to have a copy of your data on an external hard drive.
2. Maintaining a system up-to-date with security updates is recommended.
3. Reliable antivirus software should always be running in addition to keeping the operating system up-to-date. Many antivirus programs, including Kaspersky and Bitdefender, contain anti-ransomware tools that routinely scan encrypted files.
4. The appearance of the lock icon in the address bar indicates the usage of the more secure HTTPS protocol, which users should always look for while surfing the web.
5. Nomoreransom.org is a resource for those whose computers have already been compromised with ransomware. It includes decryptors for the majority of ransomware families. Additionally, it may assist in decrypting encrypted data in the event that the victim’s attempts to use the recommended anti-ransomware tools were unsuccessful.
Popular Ransomware Attacks in History
The following are the five ransomware attacks that have been the most widely publicized in recent years and have captured the attention of people all across the globe.
1. The WannaCry ransomware was discovered for the first time in 2017 and quickly spread to infect thousands of machines across more than 150 countries.
2. Petya, sometimes known as the Petya ransomware, is a kind of malware that encrypts files and first appeared in 2016. It will encrypt important data and then keep them hostage until you pay the ransom.
3. In 2016, a ransomware strain known as Cerber made its debut, spreading via phishing emails and encrypting victims’ files and data using sophisticated encryption techniques.
4. The malware known as BadRabbit is said to be a more advanced variation of the ransomware known as Petya. It encrypts the computers, servers, and other data of the victims, making it impossible for them to recover access unless a ransom in the form of Bitcoin is paid.
5. Locky is a sort of ransomware that was released in 2016, and it demands payment via an invoice that is sent in the form of a corrupt Microsoft Word document that contains infectious macros. Locky was distributed using emails.
Conclusion
As a result of the change in corporate work culture away from in-office hours and toward remote work from home, ransomware assaults have become more widespread. In March of 2021, CNA Financial, situated in Chicago, was hit by a ransomware assault that locked out approximately 75,000 employees and customers. The cost to regain access to the system was $40 million, which the business ultimately had to pay. Businesses lose more than $75 billion annually to ransomware attacks, so we need to do everything we can to limit the damage. That, in a word, was ransomware, an increasing worry for security experts everywhere.
In today’s ransomware attack tutorial, you learned the basics of what ransomware is and how it operates, as well as the many varieties of ransomware attacks.