How Does Ransomware Reach Your Organization?
- Feb 8, 2023,
- TG8 Security
Ransomware is a specific category of malware that encrypts the victim’s sensitive information. With the victim’s information encrypted, this renders it useless and inaccessible to the owner of said data. This can be extremely troublesome since after the encryption has been made, there is no recovering that information back. Cybercriminals use different techniques to install their malicious codes on your IT infrastructure. These attack vectors can be put into two different categories, external and internal attacks.
External Ransomware Attacks:
Attacks that are originated and initiated from outside the local network are considered external attacks. External attacks are the most common amongst the two categories. Here is to list a few:
- Email Attacks
Hackers apply multiple ways to launch their attacks through emails. They can send phishing emails with links to direct your users to web pages with malicious codes. Phishing attacks can be hard to avoid because cybercriminals use different phishing techniques that typical email security gateways find it hard to detect.
Cybercriminals send email attachments to download their malicious codes. The email attachments come in different forms to include documents, encrypted files, and zip files. These phishing attacks can either be custom made for a certain business or sent in mass.
- Internet Attacks
Attackers can use multiple ways to start their attacks when users surf the internet. Social media is common. It’s easier for users to click malicious links from Facebooks, social media posts or Messenger and cybercriminals take advantage of this.
Many legitimate advertisements are used to hide hackers’ attacks. Malicious codes hidden in these advertisements can reach your IT infrastructure once they are clicked.
Many applications and programs downloaded via internet contain malware. Cybercriminals can bypass typical gateway antiviruses by enclosing malicious codes with large files.
- Drive-by Infection
Visiting websites can lead ransomware onto your IT infrastructure. This is known as “Drive by infections.” Visiting a legitimate web page can be compromised if a malicious javaScripts code is injected into the page’s content. Malicious codes can reach your IT infrastructure when users browse websites or closing a pop-up. This isn’t exclusive to malicious websites. In the past, some legitimate websites were compromised leading to the spread of ransomware.
- Application and network Attacks
Hackers implement advanced ransomware attacks which are inserted in the network packet payload to reach your network and applications. These attacks cany bypass typical firewalls and UTMs. Attackers can also exploit your applications and network for vulnerabilities to pass on their malicious code. Web-based applications are targeted by hackers because vulnerabilities are common and it’s easier to bypass existing security measures without a proper Web Application Firewall in place.
TG8 provides powerful engines in one device- TG8 All-in-One Protection to close the links that cybercriminals use to launch their ransomware attacks.
Internal Ransomware Attacks:
Some of the most harmful cases of ransomware attacks originated from within the network. Attacks from within the network typically bypass network security, as the blame isn’t on the security itself but more on the layout of the network. Here are a few categories of internal attacks:
People Threats
When we talk about people, we talk about rogue and ex-employees intentionally deploying ransomware. This can happen due to several reasons, such as retaliation, financial gain, and competitive advantage in the market. These attackers abuse their administrative privileges and are typically the most successful at completing the attack. Since ransomware can be deployed at a delayed date after injection, this makes it hard for attackers to be caught.
Lack of Security Awareness Threats
Internally speaking, not all attacks are with intent. Security and the basics of network safety is vital to surfing the web, even with top end devices. Most of the public are not aware of such basics. Examples would be sharing passwords, network vulnerabilities or sharing accounts for convenience. This causes employees to unintentionally expose the organization’s network to malicious malware, one of them possibly being ransomware. This could either be mindlessly downloading applications or bringing infected devices from an unprotected network such as their home or café.
TG8 provides powerful engines in one device- TG8 All-in-One Protection to close the links that cybercriminals use to launch their ransomware attacks.