Ransomware Groups Repeatedly Attack Victims Despite Collecting Ransom — How to Avoid Cyberattacks?

Ransomware groups do not stop attacking a victim after the ransom is collected. A recent cybersecurity study claimed that they repeat it multiple times to increase profit, and speed up the process.

To avoid it from happening to you, here's how to protect yourself from similar cyberattacks.

A recent study conducted by Cyberreason saw that 80% of the cyberattack victims who have settled their ransoms still experience the scheme, as per CBS.

Moreover, the study was not limited to the United States. It has surveyed organizations from the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Spain, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates. A total of 1,263 industry professionals participated in the research.

Repeated Attacks

The ransomware attacks that broke the headlines in recent weeks echo what the research implies.

For instance, the attack on the IT system of the world's largest meat supplier, JBS, did not stop in a single cyber offense. The ransomware gang compromised its system from different locations.

Later on, the meat supplier had to pay the ransom worth $11 million. The extent of the ransomware has affected restaurants, farmers, and even consumers.

Nevertheless, JBS faced the attack with much more grace than the Colonial Pipeline.

CBS said in the same report that an Australian logistics company, Toll Group, also experienced repeated cyberattacks in three months.

The multiple attempts to infiltrate the system of ransom paying organization is part of the business scheme that the criminal minds play out.

How To Avoid Cyberattack?

Before anything else, it is necessary to know how ransomware works.

It infects a computer just like any malware. In addition, it could come from a phishing email attachment or an infected website.

For instance, it could come from an email pretending to be from a bank with an attachment pretending to be a statement of account. However, upon accessing it, the attackers are planting ransomware into your computer.

As such, it could now encrypt files and refrain its rightful owner from using them. To gain access again, that's when the ransom comes in. If the payment has not been settled in the promised time, the files could be corrupted and gone forever.

According to Business Insider, avoiding ransomware is the same as protecting yourself from viruses. Here are some of the ways to keep them away from your precious files.

• Install a reputable anti-malware software
• Keep up to date with the latest security updates, regardless if you're using a Windows or Mac.
• Lastly, be wary of the links that you click. Check the email addresses and URLs of emails and websites before opening them.

This article is owned by Tech Times

Written by Teejay Boris