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Business Guide to Ransomware
Expert Guidance
Technology Engineers and Architects (TEA), an IT, computer and consulting company, is a leader in providing practical and affordable technology solutions since the late 1990's. Our mission is to provide you with the best service and solution without major additions to your current expenses.
TEA provides Customized technology solutions to fit and improve your business. We are looking to have a long term relationship where we can help your business thrive and prosper. TEA can assume the role of your IT department and support needs which allows you to focus and manage your own business. We can also supplement your operation with the proper disaster and recovery solution, network and application development, anti-spam and anti-virus solutions and more. All services are designed to help you stay in business and meet today's challenges.
Our certified technologists are constantly being trained on the newer technologies giving you, through knowledge, the confidence that we will always provide you with the best technology options so that you can make an informed investment and decision. You can be confident that our professional staff has your best interest and can do the job right. We never charge for consultation and will often give you insight on understanding how your own technology is performing.
Contact us to learn more about our services and how we can service and help your business.
Updates & Resources
More and more, ransomware has emerged as a major threat to individuals and businesses alike. Ransomware, a type of malware that encrypts data on infected systems, has become a lucrative option for cyberextortionists. When the malware is run, it locks victim’s files and allows criminals to demand payment to release them.
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you are probably well aware that ransomware is a hot topic in the news these days. Organizations of all types and sizes have been impacted, but small businesses can be particularly vulnerable to attacks. And ransomware is on the rise. In a recent study conducted by security software vendor McAfee Labs, researchers identified more than 4 million
samples of ransomware in Q2 of 2015, including 1.2 million new samples. That compares with fewer than 1.5 million total samples in Q3 of 2013 (400,000 new). Ransomware is distributed in a variety of ways and is difficult to protect against because, just like the flu virus, it is constantly evolving.
There are ways to protect your business against ransomware attacks. In this e-book you’ll learn how the malware is spread, the different types of ransomware proliferating today, and what you can do to avoid or recover from an attack. Hiding your head in the sand won’t work, because today’s ransom seekers play dirty.
Make sure your organization is prepared.
RANSOMWARE TODAY
There are a few dominant types, or families, of ransomware in existence. Each type has its own variants. It is expected that new families will continue to surface as time goes on. Historically, Microsoft Office, Adobe PDF and image files have been targeted, but McAfee predicts that additional types of files will become targets as ransomware continues to evolve.
Most ransomware uses the AES algorithm to encrypt files, though some use alternative algorithms. To decrypt files, cyber extortionists typically request payment in the form of Bitcoins or online payment voucher services, such as Ukash or Paysafecard. The standard rate is about $500, though we’ve seen much higher. Cyber criminals behind ransomware campaigns typically focus their attacks in wealthy countries and cities where people and businesses can afford to pay the ransom. In recent months, we’ve seen repeated attacks on specific verticals, most notably healthcare.
How ransomware is spread
Spam is the most common method for distributing ransomware. It is generally spread using some form of social engineering; victims are tricked into downloading an e-mail attachment or clicking a link. Fake email messages might appear to be a note from a friend or colleague asking a user to check out an attached file, for example. Or, email might come from a trusted institution (such as a bank) asking you to perform a routine task. Sometimes, ransomware uses scare tactics such as claiming that the computer has been used for illegal activities to coerce victims. Once the user takes action, the malware installs itself on the system and begins encrypting files. It can happen in the blink of an eye with a single click.
Another common method for spreading ransomware is a software package known as an exploit kit. These packages are designed to identify vulnerabilities and exploit them to install ransomware. In this type of attack, hackers install code on a legitimate website that redirects computer users to a malicious site. Unlike the spam method, sometimes this approach requires no additional actions from the victim. This is referred to as a “drive-by download” attack.
The most common exploit kit in use today is known as Angler. A May 2015 study conducted by security software vendor Sophos showed that thousands of new web pages running Angler are created every day. The Angler exploit kit uses HTML and
JavaScript to identify the victim’s browser and installed plugins, which allows the hacker to select an attack that is the most likely to be successful. Using a variety of obfuscation techniques, Angler is constantly evolving to evade detection by security software products. Angler is just one exploit kit, there are a variety of others in use today as well.
Spam botnets and exploit kits are relatively easy to use, but require some level of technical proficiency. However, there are also options available for the aspiring hackers with minimal computer skills. According to McAfee, there are ransomware as-a-service offerings hosted on the Tor network, allowing just about anyone to conduct these types of attacks.
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