Why Cryptomining Is the New Ransomware<\/a><\/p>\n Cybercriminals Move from Ransomware Attacks to Crypto Mining<\/a><\/p>\n The Decline of Ransomware and the Rise of Cryptocurrency Mining<\/a><\/p>\n Nevertheless, the statistics gainsay the decline of ransomware. The headlines don’t tell the whole story. Ransomware is still alive and thriving. Look at the following statistics.<\/p>\n Organizations of all sizes are impacted by ransomware attacks, even as rumors of ransomware\u2019s decline float around the internet. These attacks are inconvenient and expensive. For instance, the town of Matanuska-Susitna, Alaska had its phones, servers, computers, and email exchange crippled by ransomware, forcing the town\u2019s employees to use typewriters<\/a>. Likewise, the city of Atlanta had to pay 17 million<\/a> to clean up the devastating SamSam ransomware attack.<\/p>\n In summary, ransomware is still active and pernicious.<\/p>\n You may have noticed the examples above (Atlanta and Matanuska-Susitna) involve public sector organizations. It\u2019s true that many high-profile ransomware salvos are against municipalities. At the same time, there is a myriad of ransomware attacks against the private sector. Here are some headlines that show the private sector is not immune to ransomware assaults.<\/p>\n You can find a myriad of examples of private sector companies that have fallen victim to ransomware. Here\u2019s another point to consider: some ransomware attacks are never reported. Municipalities and hospitals typically have government regulations that demand disclosure. Conversely, many private sector businesses are bound by no such regulations and wish to stay out of the press. Therefore, the rate of ransomware attacks against private organizations is likely much higher than we know.<\/p>\n Inventory Your Internet-Facing Assets-<\/strong> When your network is connected to the internet, your security is tested. Your internet-facing assets are open to being probed by hackers. The first step to securing these ports is to catalog them. Once they\u2019re totally archived, you can ensure they\u2019re protected by your security measures.<\/p>\n Filter All Email for Spam Messages-<\/strong> Email attachments with ransomware infect millions of computers<\/a>. You can protect yourself by not opening up unsolicited attachments in unverified emails.<\/p>\n Macros-<\/strong> Disallow macros unless they\u2019ve been verified by your IT admin or your managed IT team.<\/p>\n Limit RDP Access-<\/strong> Require all RDP access to be routed over a VPN secured by 2-factor authentication.<\/p>\n Comprehensive Backup System-<\/strong> Disaster recovery as a service and a potent cloud backup will help remove the sting of ransomware.<\/p>\n Ransomware Protocol for Employees-<\/strong> Don\u2019t allow bad company policy to compound the negative effects of ransomware. Employees must know who to alert in case of a ransomware attack. Also, employees often fear retribution when coming forth about a cyber-attack. Time is critical in these instances, so it\u2019s imperative you alleviate these concerns so employees feel comfortable coming forward. Lastly, employees should have a clear directive about what can be discussed with the outside world.<\/p>\n\n
No Industry Is Safe From Ransomware<\/h2>\n
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Practical Ways to Protect Your Company From Ransomware<\/h2>\n
Should You Pay a Ransom<\/h2>\n
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