Ransomware has evolved into blackmail. We are all familiar with the concept of ransomware, whereby critical operational data, which includes personal data is encrypted by hackers, and hence inaccessible to the business. In order to get access, i.e. the decrypted data (the key is owned by the hacker), they need to pay a fee. The fees are significant, this article gives an insight, e.g. a recent case resulted in a fee to be paid of $350 000.
So the business gets back their operational files, and this is where the blackmail kicks in. The hackers will request a second ransomware fee of between $100 000 and $2 000 000 for the data to be deleted or they will make it public!
What is surprising, or maybe not, is that the victims are actually paying. Especially those in private healthcare, who can’t afford the damage to their reputation should it get out that they have been hacked, and sensitive data has been stolen…. and they don’t report the breach as is required by law (in the U.S.) and Europe, and other countries globally.
If you are worried about this trend, and we all should be, then protect your data as it should be (GDPR Art 32 requires this is done). Get the experts in, they cost much less than what a ransomware demand will, if they get to you first. And it could be that it is not so difficult to fix, you maybe surprised!
Edited: PrivSec have a free ‘fireside chat’ session on ransomware, and what to do if it happens to you, you can book here.
I’ve been thinking more about the Sony Pictures story…. it has been mentioned that it could be an insider job… what this means is that all information needs to be protected, not just within the organisation, but between each individual, identity.