Ransomware operators use the media to pressure victims into paying them to prevent either the destruction or release of stolen data. These groups and individuals also use social media to take credit for attacks, make threats against those who try to shut them down, and to inflate their egos when they defeat a well-known target.
Now attackers are upping their extortion game by threatening not only the organizations that they steal the data from, but also the victims themselves. In one example, the cyber-extortionist reported a victim organization to federal regulators, which prompted an investigation into their cybersecurity program and fines for not meeting their requirement to protect data. In another, patients of a plastic surgery practices were contacted directly and pressed to pay or have the photos of their bodies made public. Sickening? Yes. Ridiculous? Yes. But it happens a lot.
Your best defense against ransomware attacks is a strong offense, and that’s where Stratix Systems can help. Stratix Systems delivers a full suite of effective cybersecurity and compliance services –multi-layer protection to prevent cyber threats from damaging your network, applications, data, and confidential information. Visit https://stratixsystems.com/managed-it/cybersecurity/ to learn more about cybersecurity services from Stratix Systems.