#WhatsApp #Ransomware #Telegram

Humans are the weakest link among many attacks



#Ransomware is now one of the most potentially damaging — and prevalent — types of malware. With this lucrative crime, hackers break into a firm’s computer system, encrypting the data, which they will only release for a fee. A Sophos report revealed that the majority (83%) of IT teams in India said the number of phishing emails targeting their employees increased during 2020. Even government agencies are not spared. In February 2021, a number of senior Indian government officials, including those from the ministries of defence and external affairs, were targeted in a phishing campaign. According to the government officials, the attackers were using compromised government domain email accounts to launch their hacking attempts. Back in July 2020, a major Indian snacks manufacturer, Haldiram, faced a ransomware attack on its servers by hackers who allegedly encrypted all its files, data, applications and systems and demanded a ransom of 7 hundred thousand USD for giving access to the stolen data. Cybercriminals have now resorted to stealing information during an attack and threaten to publish this information on leak sites on the dark web or sell it, increasing the pressure for victims to pay the ransom.

In February 2021, India’s national airline, Air India, reported a cyberattack on their SITA passenger service systems containing personal identity information, passport data, ticket information, frequent flyer data and credit card information of about 4.5 million customers around the world. Cybersecurity Ventures predicts that ransomware damage costs will exceed $265 billion by 2031, with attacks on businesses, consumers, or devices occurring every two seconds. Whether the prediction is right or wrong, the message stays the same. Businesses need to plan, implement effective data protection and ransomware prevention solutions, and back up their data. Whil.