SAPanoptikum March 2017

2016 the year of ransomware

The past year was undoubtedly dominated by ransomware. The criminals, who use blackmail Trojans to encrypt their victims' data and only release it again for a corresponding fee, increasingly targeted companies.

The blackmailers' approach is becoming increasingly sophisticated and perfidious. The specialists at Fast LTA, a manufacturer of products and services for storing large volumes of data with integrated data backup, have compiled the global impact of ransomware attacks to date in an infographic.

For example, a particularly difficult to detect wave of attacks took place at the beginning of December 2016. Correctly addressed and grammatically correct emails were used to target HR departments. The attached data in the emails, which were infected with malware, made specific reference to actual job advertisements at the respective company.

In 2016, 62 new ransomware families were developed and the Cryptowall ransomware Trojan alone caused damage of 325 million US dollars. Too few and outdated protective measures make it difficult to prevent infection.

Companies should therefore focus on a mature backup strategy so that systems can be restored and a ransom payment does not have to be made. Unfortunately, criminals were able to extort 209 million US dollars in ransom money from ransomware in the first quarter of 2016.